Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-03
ADOPTED BY BOYS I'M BLUE
HOW Little Colored Boy Attached
Himself Permanently to
Union Army.


Wnen we-of the cavalry were falling
oack before Lee as he was headed for
Chantilly and Bull Run, a squadron of
us that had been detailed to bring a
wounded officer away from a house
taat would soon be in the possession
Oh the advancing confederates found
ourselves shut up in front and rear
we numbered about 80 men. and had
tWo-horSe ambulance in which the
wounded man had been made as
comfortable as possible. We had. in
deed, advanced about a quarter of =
mile before we discovered the box we
were IN The confederates who had
come IN behind us were cavalry. and
owing to turn in the road and a bit
OF woods, had not yet seen us. The
lieutenant in command consulted
with the major whom we were brinp-
ing away, and explained the situation
Prepare me as well as you can for
the ride, give me revolver. and then
form your men by tours and ride rich,
GOWN on the confederates and cut vour
way through" was the order of the
major.
:
ana the man on my right was next n
the highway ditch All of a sudden.
just as We were waiting the order to
advance, little negro boy, not ove~
three years old and as black as the
pIackest tar ever made, appeared in
the ditch alongside of Parker. He
seemed to have been hiding in the
weeds, and think he must have fallen
out OF a car or got parted from the
family as they were hurrying into the
union lines before Lees advance Ar
any rate, he was there and alone. and
as we saw him, Parker said:
GOOD lands, but here's a niger
baby right under foot and all alonei
What shall we do with him?"
AT that moment we got the word IN
go ahead, and Parker leaned over.
picked up the child and placed him in
front Of the saddle. Two or three of
us called to 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 TO no
counted. We were right on the con-
1ederates before they saw us. and it
was bif! bang! slashi and we opened
lane and went through, every horse
on the keen run and the wounded
major hring away whenever he found 4
target for his bullets. When we final
ly got through Pick" was with ms
and all right. and 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 a bit scared.
During the bloody days that fol-
lowed the little fellow was with 4
company wagon. and did not see him
for week. Then Parker took him
down to Alexandria and left him with
a colored woman, but a few months
later, being made company commits
sary and having the use of wagon
he brought Pick back to the army.
got tailor to make him a suit of
clothes, and then the boy was a fix
ture with us. He took to army life
and every one of the company took to
him, and had anyone misused Pick il
would have gone hard with him. He
was with us to the very last, and
saw him munching bareback and
looking on while Lees ragged old vet
Grams laid down their arms at Apo
mattox. He chung to Parker above
all others, and although the trooper
was a rough fellow and unmarried,
the offer of 500 for his little niger.
which was made over and over, was
no temptation. .--
When the war closed Pick was
taken north To Ohio sent IN scbnol
ana then put to trade. and it was