The National tribune., 1904-03-17

known as "Plain John Jones' by all the
boys OF the 9V9th Pa. How did we &C
Quire him? Well he came to our camp owe
evening and asked to be attached to the
Kitchen corps." What story he gave the
Lieutenant / don't know; whatever it was
It was effective. He went to the old
colored auntie who presided over the
headquarters culinary department and sa-
luted her with much dignity.
This old NANNY was dignity person
fled, when occasion demanded. as pom
pous as she was black, and as black as she
was fat. She was so black-as one OF the
boys put it-that you couldn't see her
until she rolled her eyes or opened her
mouth. Naturally, she was good -natured,
with most infectious laugh; but when
Plain John Jones appeared before her
she was, for once, in bad humor. The
dough she was kneading was sticky and
hard to work and the persistence of the
flies was more than she could endure.
Il clare TO goodness, she began, her
eyes leaving the dough and flies long
enough TO give the youth a quick size-up,
''ef you doan' gwan way fun heah an
stop postum me I'll glib you one OBJ de was
whollopins you cher had in all you BIO II
days. What good kin you do 'roun' heah.
no how? Hugh! Now you jes pick up
you buds an cl'ah out. Heah me a
VI
doan git me 'rasperated.'
But, Auntie, the Lieutenant orders you
to-
She pulled her hands out of the dough
with a sharp report, and stood as erect
as her rotundity would allow.
What dat? Huh? Dat Eeutenate
man ohdars me? Huh? I'd lax to kno'
who is a-runnin' dis heah kitchen! clah
fo' goodness / nebber in all NAH bon
days heerd Of SIGH omnipertence."
Jones saw he wasn't rubbing Auntie the
right way, so he broke off. branch of
alder and began to brush it slowly back
and forth over the dough, chasing swarm
wounded dignity thereby:
"Auntie, / believe the Lieutenant real
" does think he bosses these headquar-
fers.'
This bit Of diplomacy worked. Auntie,
Indignant, grumbled for few minutes at
the officiousness OF "dat upstaht Lieuten-
ate man." but presently she began to
beam; Plain John Jones had caught on.
He served the table, ''shoed" the flies
and carried water for Auntie.
He carried water from a spring below
the hill, and had to pass through our camp
going and coming. One morning he sat
his kettle down in front Of my tent, where
rest his tired arms. SOldier-like, the boys
collected and began to tease him about his
loese-htting clothes, and particularly his
slouch hat, which almost covered his face
and was held secure by band under the
chin.
/ was about the only one in the crowd
who didn't taunt him. The boy interested
me; why, don't know, unless it was be-
cause OF his sad face and friendless APP
pearance. BE was, apparently, 13 or Il
years old; slight build, well nodded fea-
lures, blue eyes, and what few tufts of
hair showed beneath his hat were light,
almost golden. He had not been used to
the hot sun-his skin was too white. In
TACT, as my bunky remarked, his manner
iSms and appearance were downright girl
ish.
picked up his bucket and carried it Tor
+ him, and got grateful smile for nay trou-
bic.
One day. about week later, Jones came
to my tent. -.
I'VE are going to move tomorrow" -
How do you know2" asked.
1 am not DEAF" he answered simply,
smiling.
He seemed glad. He sat down in the
shade beside me and took a small pack
age from his pocket, unwrapped a da-
guerreotype. He handed it to me. The
picture was Of young man Of II, greatly
resembling the youth before me.
Did You ever see himY'
NO" / answered; who IL he-a
bretherY' =
Eyes, sir. think he enlisted in one of
the Pennsylvania regiments. My father is
dead, but mother and sister are very anx-
Ran awayr
"Yes, sir"
And you're hunting him?"
Yes, sir. Do You think we will Join
Aeade's army s0onY he asked, pleading
with his eyes for an Affirmative answer.
Well, now, that's more than / can
say. / don't know that we will. Do you
think your brother is with Meade,s army r.
4 don't know that he is with Meade,
but there are great number OF Pennsyl-
Sania troops there"
why don't you 60 to Washington, and
inquire at the War Department.
Il did. He must have enlisted under an
assumed name. ! could find no Harry
How do you know he enlisted; does
he write homer / asked.
he told me he was going to enlist.
Mother didn't want him to leave home.
and opposed him. She thought he was too
young. She has heard nothing Of his
know il he is alive"
Jones's lip quivered. He arose and said
he must be going.
My company belonged to the 0O9th Pa.
We were detached, under command of
LaeuL bronson, and doing scouting duty
In the Cumberland Valley. 1t was re.
ported that Early's men were doing some
damage and creating much terror aboul
Hagerstown, Williamsport and in the i'm
teryening valley to Harper's Ferry.
Jones told me the. truth. By 7:30 III.
next morning We were on the pike. headed
south. 1t was the latter part OF June
1854, and the morning air was exhiIo
rating and delightful. We passed through
rolling country-an ever changing paTo
rama OF beautiful scenes. The hazy. pur
pie Blue Ridge showed up dimly on tn,
left, while the Tuscarora Mountains wer,
more clearly defined on the right. Field,
We're .well-tilled, and beloved with ripen
Ing grain. Cherries bent their boughs low
with their vivid clusters, and it was
continuous feast for US. The people alonl
the way were so grateful to the bin
coats for going to their relief that the,
invited Us to help ourselves to the ius
eious fruit besides giving US fresh milk
fried chickens. buns and pies withou
stint.
We camped that night three miles soutl
OF Greencastle. Crossing into MARIAN,
the next day, we yeered to the rieht
struck a dirt road and came to the Cor
ococheague, . small stream Of pure. col,
water, flowing from the Tuscar0ra NOM
talns and entering the Potomac at Wi