The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-01-18

come, when some dark object darted
between his legs and he fell heavily
to the muddy ground Before he
could regain his feet. the pointer,
which had been silently running
along beside him and had been the
innocent cause Of his tumble, came up
and touched his face with it's cold
nose. AT the same moment dcris-
i've laugh broke the silence from the
thicket in front. and with the NUT.
tered threat Of courtmartial next
morning for that scoundrel johnson,
shc ger ,ral, wet, soiled and chagrined,
lie his way back to his tent.
While our regiment was encamped
near Augusta, johnson and two com
panions walked over to the city, q
distance Of about six miles. The
roads were sandy. and it was not the
pleasantest thing in the world to COW
er that distance twice during the same
day on foot.
When the time to return to camp
came the three soldiers began to cast
about for some method of conveyance,
but none was 20 be had.
AS they walked leisurely down one
OF the city's broad streets, they came
upon government coal wagon, the
driver OF which was unloading its oon-
tents into cellar. The strollers
halted and watched the performance.
With the last shovelful cent clatter.
ing to its destination, Che driver wip.
ed his face and made tolerably &C.
curate line FOR q saloon across the
street.
AS the green doors Of the place
swung TO behind him, johnson leaped
into the wagon, politely inquired Of
his oompanions IL they desired 60 ride,
and with an encouraging "g'lang!" to
the six mules, the wagon wss drawn
rapidly down the street and along the
road toward the headquarters of the
regiment.
Nearing the outskirts of the Camp
the wagon was halted. Tho adven.
turers sprang to the ground, headed
the mules back to Augusta, and with
g few kicks judioiously applied to the
RIBS OF the animals, sent them trottipg
back the way they had come.
But the trick was discovered sooner
than the participants had reckoned
upon. When the driver missed his
team, he at once suspected the three
soldiers, and reported the matter. In.
luiry at the camp revealed that only
three permits had been granted to
members of the regiment to visi.
Augusta that day, and the culprits
were arrested and put to digging
trenches around the cpmp. Trench
digging was always considered the
meanest work that could be devised
This particular trench ran immediate.
ly in front Of General As tent, and
that officer seated upon camp stool
and surrounded by his staff, was OBJ.
serving the progress OF the work.
Major K vas among those pres.
snt. The major was then considered
the dandy OF the regiment, being al,
ways attentive TO the polish Of hii
boots and she brushing of his Uniform,
After watching the men foE some time,
Major X walked over to the trench
and said: "Johnson, If you will come
to my tent in the morning and black
my boots nicely, I'll use my influence
With .he general and get you off,"
JohnsoH rose as nearly straight as
nature allowed him to stand, and
leaning upon his spade, replied:
Major X, If you we're sick aud
couldn't help yourself or needed my
assistance in any way, I'd come
around and black your boots for you.
But I'll be id fl wen!as'. dig {
trench from here to Meriwether ooun-
~ peIore q touch sm as 1t isl
johnson had his likes and dislikes
among the men, and he never hesita-
ted 20 let either be known. The un.
ion troops captured two OF our com-
pany in skirmish near Atlanta. The
lines we're quite close together and il
was not difficult to converse with the
enemy. One Of the captured men, q
tall, rather good-looking, but withal
poor soldier, was Johnson'e messmete;
the other. thiok.set, surly citizen,
was his pet aversion. The moon
shone brightly on the night following
the skirmish Of which I speak, and
about 2 O'Clock johnson stopped out q
few paces in full view OF the union
forces and called: '"Hello, Yankr'