The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-04-26
FREDERICKSBURG, Va, TUESDAY, APRIL 20. 1904

read by the dim light the name o
stephen Biaydes, Commerce st, and
taking on old tin scoop. which stiil bore
the CRIME OF long service In agrocery and
had been, may be, companion ot the
cheese box Tor many years before II en-.
listed IN the Confederate service he
scooped into the skirt pockets OF my
long tail blue about peck of The finite.
/ complained of being loaded too much
Astern. but As there was no remedy,
made the best oi it, and calling my
guard 20 whom ] explained the situA
lion. and gave directions To fix bAyOnet,
and 60 march three paces in my rear 30
a. 10 watch against taekage and 10
prevent any attack upon my ralssons'
proceeded AT once to my ear aud was
soon uit again 10 camp.
The return trip was uneyentiul except
that fierce thunder cloud came up, and
a. the lightning flashed through the
open doors OF the car. aud thought Oi
the probable affinity between electricity
aud gun Hints. my pride Of mission as well
AZ my patriotism received rude sh ck
aad would gladly have d,ssrted and
run home 10 hide within the friendly
iUlis of ms feather bed, which in time VI
thunder storms bad slway been my
fsyOrite retreat for prayer and medita-
tiOn Reaching camp alter nighilAn /
found great cOmmOtiOn among the in-
fantry troop. they had heard Of the Ob
iect ui NV mission and met me at the
station with drums and tiies 70 escort
me 70 the quarters OF the ordnance Off
Ger. 80 anxious were they to draw their
ratlOns of new Hlnts They had long
clAmored for these declaring that the
old ones had been worn to Il iralIle In
the old wars and they were unwilling to
20 into light when IL took three pulls
Of the trigger TO strike q spark. Ii was
the proude.t occasion OF my life a. |
marched at the head Of that procession
with crums beating and tiies play ing al
though ~ have already said, Tny load
was too mnch a-tern 10 preserve strictly
the step and brgrlBg Oi Il soldier. and
the collar of my coat had 80 chAird the
attic sections Of my head as TO prevent
the proper elevation OF my chin
MANY Of the boys received their new
hirits At once and. relighting their ramp
NlFtr Nl1NEA AAEAAl AAA I0HtAAtn AhAA hAA ~
Ii was reported few days later, that
the noise and cOmmOtiOn IN our camp
that night attracted the attention OF
Gen Sicklea. who commanded the Fed
rral forces Just across the Potomac. aud
be telegrsphed a rush Urder TO Washing
ton city, saying. 4 nusual activity in
rebel camps tonight indicate some az
gressive movement send at once five
heavy guns 10 strengthen shore batteries
and brigade OF infantry TO guard ap-
proaches by way OF Cnicksmuxen Greek
and Thorn's Gut CSee HAlleck's War
Journal, Vol. ~, page 1913
My old war coat was never the same
after this experience. lite spirit seemed
70 be broken, not 40 much by the physi'
cal strain put upon IL az from the humil
iation IL seemed 10 suffer in having been
subjected 10 such base uses. Once soon
after the war wore it 10 town and at
tempted 20 execute a military strut 10
front of the Exchange Hotel, but the ei-
tort resulted in dismal failure. friend
kindly called me off and told me how the
skirts tried o. hide themselves between
ny knees Since then il has been bang
ing limp and lileless IN the garrrt 81
home. the sport OF moths and Il hiiing
place for wandering spiders. IL hss
strutted IL last strut. it has seen il = last
battle, no drum eau arouse 1t u rally
again
The doctor showed much emotion a.
he recited the closing part OF his story
and was seen TO brush away q tear, " hich
was inspired. no doubt, by the thought
that he would leave no son upon whose
shoulders the old war mantle might fall (;
that in all these years he had built no
roOitree under which a busy housewife
plies her evening toll. or children run to
lisp their sires return, or-climb his knees
the envied kiss 10 share.
But he soon rallied when invited 70
walk back and take something.