The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-02-16
SOLDIERS AT HOME.
THEY TELL SOME INTERESTING
ANECDOTES OF THE WAR.
How the Boys Of Both Armies Whi1ed
Away Life In Camp-Fora2inR Ex-
periences, Tiresome Marches-Thri1.
ting Scenes ON the Battlefield.


ST can't see yet" said Dan R. An
derson, where those Russians and
Japs have any fun on picket. Now,
in the old days there was always
something doing in the First Ken
lucky, and it was more exciting in
the early days of the war to go on
picket than to go scouting. On one
occasion while we were in camp at
Kanawha Falls, I was detailed for
picket with Bob Murphy, Donald
Brick, and John Banister, of my own
company, and five or six men from
other companies. We were sent down
the river road and posted at the lower
end of the narrows. There was only
one post and the reserve held the road.
1.-THE picket post was natural fort,
formed by detached rocks that had
broken loose from the mountain and
fallen so as to make a rock inclosed
bastion large enough to hold comfort
able five or six men. On the side next
the mountain was large rock, nearly
fat on top. this top slipping downward
rock was seven or eight feet high,
with a fat face and a step, or shelf,
about two feet high, which was a
standing invitation to a man OF aver
age parts to sit down.
Il was on first relief and was posted
in the fort. the officer in charge say
ing: If you hear any one coming
down from the direction Of the noun
tain fire and fall back on the reserve
Soon / heard some enc coming-com-
ing boldly and making a good deal Of
noise. / brought my gun into posi-
ton, and the old muzzle loader seemed,
in all its anxiety to get into action, to
describe all sorts OF curves and cir
cles. 1t gyrated like a searchlight
striving to locate the enemy, and the
inclination to pull the trigger was al
most irresistible, and finally / pull
ed it.
There was a tremendous explosion
In my immediate vicinity and noise
in front like the scurry of a cavalry
company Then there was a humping
against the big rock and in three min
utes 1 was REINFORCED by the entire
picket outfit. There was still thump-
ing noise in front and some of the
boys went forward to see how many
cavalrr-men l had put out Of action.
Snug up against my little fort lay a
fine, 2-year-old steer, with short
piece of chain around his neck, and,
mark you, shot in the head. That
meant fresh beef in camp.
At went on duty again at a. m.
The boys had guyed me about my first
adventure, and 1 was on the lookout
for some of Murphy's practical jokes.
He made a full hand at that, and
Brick was not slow, so I was ex-
pecting to be harrassed from the rear
as it were. was sitting with m
back to the big rock, still as mouse,
listening intently, that I might not
be taken by surprise. heard some
one stealthily approaching my strong
hold from the rear, but I was salts
fed that the fellow creeping up was
no ssecesh,' but my friend Murphy,
and planned q surprise for him, no
matter what his scheme might be.
Presently I felt my cap touched
from above, and l lowered my head
so that whoever the man was that
wanted my cap he would have to
reach further and give me my chance.
Pretty soon received quite a scratch
on my forehead, and my cap was
dirted of. I concluded Murphy, with
q stick, was trying to capture my cap,
and l waited quietly for the next
move, when proposed to grab his
stick or arm and yank him OF the
rock did not have long to wait. 1
saw the shadow Of the arm project
over my head, / seized It with decis-
ion and energy, and, throwing all my
strength into the effort, brought the
owner Of the arm off the rock and to
my feet.
But it wasn't Murphy. Great
Scott! No. There was q surprise for
two-a young black bear and myself.
The bear had been having a game
with my hat, and here he was. + stood
iOOhiuS OOWA at ~ WHICH, ue WeDI
into action, giving Y knee a hug, but
not attempting to e. / had a piece
OF fresh beef in N. naversack, and 1
offered 1t to him. He ate it greedily.
After that we were friends, and 1 had
lots of fun playing with him while
I was sitting out my trick.
when / was relieved 1 took him
up in my arms and carried him until
he became too much OF load. Then
put him down, and mich to my sur
prise he kept right at my heels, and
we went unconcernedly to the reserve.
After a square meal he slept until we
were ready to return to camp, and
then followed us in. A man from
Cincinnati named Hemingway took a
fancy to young bruin, and gave me
$50 for him. Hemingway enlarged
on the adventure at the time, but L
had forgotten it until a reference to
the old camp the other day brought 1t
to mind"
'Taik of bringing things to mind. /"
said the Major. 81 saw a striking case
when we were In Boston at the en-
campment. There were a good many
OF the Chicago bays there, and among
them one who had served in the Nine
teenth Massachusetts regiment. One
day q one-legged man came into olir
range and Jim. nv Chicago friend