The National tribune., 1901-09-12

Doctor swore that the Cat was sired by
one of the best stations in the country,
and foaled by a mare. that would knock
bright spots out of Flora Temple. As the
Doctor was up ON horse flesh, no one
contradicted him; but when they went
thumbs upon the nose and invest their
pile upon the other side. Ryan generally
rode the Cat, and by some hocus-pocus-Ql-
ways managed TO come in ahead. So ii
was that the fame of the notwithstanding
Cat went up. There was another noted
horse we saw there, rejoicing IN the mod
est appellation of the War Horse"
Tradition said he was very fast, but the
old fellow never would verify tradition.
He was matched against the Cat, but the
tremendous gap intervening between tho
latter and himself completely destroyed
his reputation for feetness.
1t is but justice, however, to the old
War Horse TO say that he always held his
character for being fast eater"
Many very fine races were run there,
however, in which the horses of Gen.
Griffin, our division commander, took part;
the white Arabian of Col. Quincy; the
fine animal Dick" of Lieut.-COl. Hanley,
and, between horses the property of other
officers of the brigade. Very exciting
times we used TO have; and the brigade
would turn out en- masse to witness these
time pleasantly away.
CELEBRATING ST. PATRICK's DAY.
In this manner we logged along until
the month of March, when we began to
make preparations for the celebration of
st. Patricks Day. Arrangements on an
extensive scale were made for pleasant
celebration. Goodies" were brought from
Washington by the suffers, and u large
nI in, ha
tivities of the day, the officers and their
friends and guests were to assemble and
spend the evening. The morning of the
18th came upon us bright beautiful, and
gracing, and found the camp i'll a line
state of cleanliness, and tastefully
decorated with evergreens and appropriate
notices. tall pole was erected on a
vacant spot, opposite the regimentai
quarters, which was thickly creased; on
the top of the pole was furlough paper
for 10 days, which was to be the prize for
the successful climber.
One tall, stout fellow made n desperate
effort to lift himself from the ground, and,
after trying for about half an hour, was
reluctantly compelled to give it up, having
in that time achieved only about an inch;
he looked wistfully at the paper fiuttering
above him, and then turned away to give
room to an ambitious youngster, who sue
ceeded in getting half way up, when, COM
ing to a spot greasier than the rest, he
began to slip, and did not pause until he
came to ground, amid the roars of the
crowd.
Several other enterprising spirits at
tempted the task, but the pole slipped
through their hands, and the furlough
fluttered tauntingly above them, until, at
last, no more could be found to make the
attempt, and then the crowd adjourned
to the race ground where several fast run
ners We're in line; an exciting race was
then run, when the grand event of the
day came off-a horsc-race, in which
several of the fastest horses Of the bri-
gade were entered.
1t was i'll this race that Quartermaster
Thomas Mooney received the fearful in
juries which eventually terminated his
life.
The Irish Brigade at this time was en-
camped about two miles from US; they
also had a grand celebration, at which
Gen. Hooker was present; some splendid
samples of horse flesh were brought upon
the ground, and, in addition to fat races,
a stecplechase was run in presence of an
immense assemblage.
That Winter at Falmouth was the most
genial and comfortable one we ever spent !;
and, after the toll of marches and the or
deal of battles, we gladly look back on
it with feelings of pieasurable satisfac-
ton.
While at this camp we We're hOnOred
by the presentation to our regiment Of a
splendid green flag, of great vaiue, by the
Irish Brigade. The Damcs of all the
battles we had passed through were in
scribed on the face of it in letters of gold,
while, on the reverse, a large gold harp