Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-06-07
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND'AMEcpoTEs OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans of the Rebellion Tell of
Whistlins Bullets, Bright Bayonets,
Bursting Bombs. Bloody Battles.
Camp Fire, Festive Buxe, Etc, Etc.

1t was when we were stationed at
Harrodshurg. Ky. in 1863. Our regi-
ment. the Seventh Olio. was pitted
against John Morgan and his. follow
ers, and we We're kept as busy as a
nest of wasus.
Descrters and stragglers from his
command Wee continually coming to
us with reports that the forces of their
chivalrous cEicf;ain were fading away.
n that only Il handful of men We're
with him. His raiders were always
"gOin' llom'a" and comm back" and it
did seem to us IFS if they all returned
before we found them.
To tell just how a social game was
interrupted one night in H%arrodsburg
by two of them comm lack ui.an-
nounced is the object of this ''ower
true tale" Tho writer, 81 real sergeant,
but a brigadicT general in his mind.
sat playing euchre with the sister of
two of Morgan's tiycrs-,lle latter sup
posed at the tiInc 10 be with their chief
somewhere ir the mountainous portion
of the State. Hand after nand in the
seductive game had been played. when
the conversation turned upon the war
and its terrible consequences.
Just think of it," said the fair sister.
Here you are tonight in my house,
protesting tho greatest Friendship for
me. and yet the fates may compel you
TO engage in mortai combat With these
dearer to me than life"
The sergeant hoped the fates might
always hurl him against some other
girls brothers.
But YOU can't TELL" said the sister.
whom you are fighting. and you might
kill botll my brothers before the week
ends"
The sergeant here glanced at tile
chevrons oil his cavalry jacket. and
said If he did kill them he hoped he
would never know it.
"Or your regiment might capture my
brothers and hold them as prisoners of
war, right here in sight of their own
house." continued the girl.
The sergeant said that if the last pic
ture ever came to be a reality, the Sis
ter should see her brothers every night;
and that, If he could help 1t, they
should never be sent away to a mill
tary prison. SO help him Moses, or
words to that effect.
''That settles it," said a deep, quiet
voice from behind the sitting-room
door, and both brothers stepped into
the parlor. armed, booted and spurred,
but smiling exceedingly "childlike and
bland"-two handsome and good-na-
tured looking raiders as could be found
between the Potomac and the James.
For nee in his life the sergeant felt
as if his chevrons indicated as much,
If not more, than all the military rank
he possessed. He declared himself as
having always been in favor Of that
factor which in due time is not only to
be the salvation of individuals but of
nations as well. namely, arbitration.
The big brothers did arbitrate. and to
such an extent that a four-handed
game of euchre, a social lunch, and the
firing of jokes instead of pistols was
the consequence for the evening.
Months afterward the Seventh Ohio
met Morgan in battle Mt C%ynthiana,
and captured many of his command,
driving the raiders, including the chief,
into and across the river. Among the
captured We're the two brothers, and,
though the sergeant did what he could
to prevent it, both of them were sent
away with the rest of the prisoners to
CG!EE Chase, Ohio. Another
tic truth which we are obliged to re-
cord. and which is out of the usual vein
Of story-writing, is that the sister never
became the s%ergeant's wife.