The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1904-09-08

When we of the cavalry were fall
| ing back before Lee as he WAS headed
for Chantilly and Bull Run. Il squad
ron OF us that had been detailed ID
bring n wounded officer away from !
house that would soon BE- in the pos
session Of the advancing Confederates
| found ourselves shut up in front and
rear. We numbered about thirty nvn
and had twO-horse ambulance IL
which the wounded man had been
made as comfortable rs possible. We
had, indeed, advanced about quarter
of Il mile before we discovered the
box we were in. The Confederates
who had come in behind us were cav
airy, and owing to turn in the road
and bit of woods. had not yet seen
us. The lieutenant in command con
suited with the major whom we We're
bringing away, and explained The sit
ua ton.
Prepare me as well as you can for
the ride, give me n revolver. and then
form your men by fours and ride right
down on the rebs and cut your way
through, was the order of the major.
| was in the advance set of fours.
and the man on my right WAS next TO
the highway ditch. All Of sudden,
just as We were waiting the order TO
advance, littIe negro hey. not over
three years old and as black as the
blackest tar ever made, appeared in
tie ditch alongside OF Parker. lie
seemed to have been hiding in the
weeds, and think he must have fallen
out of car or got parted from the
family as they We're hurrying into the
Union lines before Lees advance. At
any rate, he was there and alone, and
as we saw him, Parker said:
Good lands. but here's a nigger
baby right under fcot and all alone.
What shall We do with him:"
At that moment we got the word to
go ahead, and Parker leaned over.
picked up the child. ana placed him in
front of the saddle Two or three of
us called 10 him to drop the boy, but
he didn't do it. As we moved forward
Pick was there and hanging on for
dear life, his eyes as white as raw
onions and every tooth plain 10 lie
counted. We were right on The rebels
before they saw US. and it was biif,
bang. slash. and we opened Il lane
and went through, every horse on the
keen run and the wounded major fir-
ing away whenever he found target
for his bullets. When we finally got
through Pick" was with Us and all
right, ard he had seen his first battle
of the war. One would have said that
he liked it. for his grin was broader
than before and he did not seem Il Bit
scared.
During the bloody days that fol
lowed the little fellow was with
wagon. and l did not see him
for week. Then Parker took him
down TO Alexandria and left him with
4 colOred woman, but Il few months
later. being made. company commits
sary and having the Use OF Il wagon.
he brought Pick hack 10 the army. got
Il tailor to make him Il suit OF clothes. |
and then the boy was a fixture with
us. lie took to army life. and every
one of the company took 10 him. ana
had any one misused Pick it would |
have gone hard with him. He was
with MS 10 the very last. and | saw |
him munching Il hard tack and look
ing on while Lees ragged old veterans
aid down their arms at AppOmattox. |
lie clung TO Parker above all others, |
md although the trooper was Il rough |
fellow and unmarried. The offer of !!
800 for his little nig"er, which was
made over and over, was no tempts-
ion.
When the war closed Pick WAS |
AIKEN north to Ohio. sent TO school and
hen put to trade. and it was only
month later that | walked in on him
n Cincinnati cooper shop and found
lin Il luSty big fellow with Il home |
md wife and two children. lie had
lever been back 10 Virginia. and al
hough lie had made many efforts to
ind his father and mother, not 4 trace
If them had ever been secured.
Il reckon jist dun got loSted in de
lurry." he explained, AN de family
lad so many odipr chillen dat dey
!idn't fink it Wort while to stop az
COX for me"-Detroit Free Press.