The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-06-07

&SzSSxSy that went into the field thou
sand strong, with a full complement of
officers, and returned from it with 10
ant, a tattered flag and as much expert
ence of the art of war as Ovid himself
perhaps more.
In that time had, of course, like all
of my fellow soldiers, many stirring,
not to say thrilling, adventures and
hairbreadth escapes which l often re-
call over my pipe in my chimney cor
ner, now that am emphatically man
of peace-a justice of the peace, indeed,
a county squire with dozen grand
children about me-never handling a
gun or pistol from years end to years
end or smelling gunpowder save on
the Fourth of July. when l celebrate"
with my grandchildren "the ever glo-
rious," as good a citizen as-well, l
was a good soldier. I'll not pretend
that l wasn't.
l am not quite as enthusiastic ON
these occasions as my favorite grand
son, l must admit, for he generally be-
gins the day with from Al to 81 packs
of tirecrackers, using the kitchen stove
as his base of operations and begin
ming at o'clock a. IN. last summer, to
wind up at Z that evening with his last
pack cleverly attached to the back of
his grandmothcr's cap, exploding it in
person from the rear and provoking
another explosion and a flank move
ment by no means so highly relished.
My wife's temper is that of a domestic
angel, but she can be provoked, and she
wears slippers habitually. | saw her
remove and replace one at dinner time
when, looking through the window, we
saw the young rascal blow himself up
on the most approved scientific prin-
cples two feet in the air by means of
candle box. on which he was seated,
with a siege train laid between his
legs which he touched off with infinite
Zest. However, | must not talk about
that boy or shall never be done. My
wife declares that l talk of him in my
sleep. What l shall try to do is to re-
call a dramatic war experience instead,
which may prove more interesting to
the general public.
1 was out on the picket line in front
of my division one day in the spring
of 1864, just over the Tennessee bor-
der, in such glorious health and spirits
that l waited with impatience for the
engagement to begin which we were
all expecting. The Federals were
massed in front of us, and our guns
We're trying to get the enemy's range,
when suddenly a great blue wave
swept forward; our picket line was
captured. The wave swept farther
forward; there was q short, sharp en-
gagement, and we We're driven back.
1t was the one horror of my life at
that time to fancy myself in prison at
Camp Chase, and when | took i'll what
had happened-the brief struggle over
i took advantage of the confusion
that reigned to roll myself into ii ditch
that was in front of what had been
our picket line, with reelings and
staggerings that quite deceived my
would be captors. There lay as mo-
tionless as l could make myself, not
daring to stir, to wink, scarcely to
breathe. There was no lack of com
pany. could tell that by the cries and
groans of the wounded of both armies.
l had contrived to pull my cap over
my face a bit as l fell, but kept my
eyes closed until the hubbub had sub
sided little. heard "the Feds" walk
ing about and giving orders for
stretchers and ambulances. l heard
the rattle of the musketry as it grew
fainter and fainter in the distance
then the peculiar, unmistakable ring
of cavalry approaching. A squadron
jumped our ditch in hot pursuit of our
retreating division, and l noticed that
one of the horses was sporting a fray
ed belly band, and that all the troopers
were settled deep in their stirrups in
full charge. The batteries were soon
silenced.
After awhile l heard our prisoners
marched to the rear and congratulated
myself that WAS not among them. |
waited long while, and then all was
quiet. cautiously raised myself up
on one elbow and looked down the ra-
vine at the dead and wounded, poor old
Mortimer of my company being among
lue IOTuleT. 1 must get OH DeIOre IDe
surgeons and stewards came up, that
was clear. | turned over and on all
fours era wled up the side of the ditch,
which was quite deep, to reconnoiter
and see what cover the country afford
ed. AS i'll luck would have it, came
plump upon group of three Federal
soldiers. Two of them were lying down
exhausted; the third had his back to
me and was cleaning his gun. dodg-
ed, but he h3G seen me out of the tail
of his eye. He cried "Hello. therev'
and made a bolt for it, but he was a
swift runner and in a few minutes had
pistol at my head. | surrendered
with indescribable chagrin. had
counted on getting off, for it was grow
ing dark, and knew that if | could
once wriggle myself behind some brush
or, better still, to the foot of tree and
up it | had a very good chance of es-
cape in friendly country. There were
some other groups of soldiers at dis
tance. 1t was bitterly disappointing TO
see fine oak not 1000 yards away,
with woodland half a mile back of
that, TO reflect that l might have sue
. nnOln1 z