The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-04

1T was in o. said the SOL
dierly looking passenger whose name
no one thought to inquire. Il was a
first lieutenant in the One Hundred
and Seventy-ninth New York Volun-
teers. We had done long forced
march that day and had bivouacked
for the night. l had been on duty
many hours and was unusually tired.
Just before it was time for me to be
relieved, something happened that
made 1t necessary for me to remain
on duty for several hours more as
picket officer.
Il shall never forget how sweet
it had seemed to me that l was soon
to turn in and get good sleep, even
though my bed was to be only blan-
ket on the ground and a steely No
vember sky was to be my only shell
ter. But | got drink of hot coffee
and started out on my rounds from
post to post, as wide awake as ever
l was in my life.
Il had passed the second post when
my mind began to run on matters at
home. Next day but one, D. ", my
first furlough of a month in almost
two years was to4begin. Naturally
was thinking about the folks a good
deal just then, especially as | had re-
ceIved word that my mother was
very i'll. l remember distinctly that
pulled out my watch about half way
between the two posts, and that by
the light of the rising moon | saw it
was just four minutes past nine. Sill
houetted against the moons disk |
saw a private loading his musket at
the post which | was approaching.
| felt brewster than | had ever felt
before in my life. | leaned against
a stump and seemed to lose conscious
ness just for an instant
With a start | pulled myself to-
gether, bitterly reproaching myself
for even moments forgetfulness.
Then l braced up, finished my rounds
and turned in. The next day seemed
to pass quickly and without special in
cident. Then came the beginning of my
furlough. | remember with perfect
clearness how | babe goodbye to my
company and to the colonel of the
regiment just as l had imagined |
should a hundred times. | could even
now repeat some of the messages the
boys gave me for their friends and
families, and at this moment | can
almost see the package of letters and
souvenirs that was turned over to me.
l went to Washington by way of City
Point, and at the capital | remember
distinctly stopping at the old Will
lard's. From Washington | went
north to my home in the hills of New
York State, by way of Elmira, and
there is no vivider picture in my mem
DRY than the drive from the little
country railroad station up the val
ley to the farmhouse at its head
where my mother was lying, as
supposed, at the point of death.
remember distinctly, too, my surprise
to the gate to meet me, looking per.
fectly well, younger than | had ever
seen her, and happy beyond measure
because her son was before her. Blu
just as | was about to speak | wa:
startled by an explosion as loud a.
a hundred rife shots, and then | fell
it seemed to me a thousand feet
yes, ten thousand feet Then l open
ed my eyes.
"Siihouetted against the rising
moon 1 saw the picket at the mex
post drawing in his musket which h
had just discharged on suspicion tina
a Confederate was trying to stea
through the Federal lines. 1t had al
been a dream. For a moment
couldn't believe it, since | could re
member distinctly the incidents of a
least four days.
Il looked at my watch again. l
was just five minutes after nine."
"When l was a conductor" sal
the gray-mustached man in the corne