The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-11
AN IRISH PATRIOT.
How Uncle Tony slept ON Post s.Tsernin.t
the Ininy.s

William H. Anderson. First Lieuten-
ant, Co. II, 80th Ohio, writes from
Highlands, n. c., to tell an interesting
story of a noble Irishman who entered
the service Of his father in the DAYS of
the Lieutenants boyhood. The Irish
man came to his fathers house
stranger. footsore and weary This was
In Ohio. The Irishman was about 35
years old, with just sufficient OF the
brogue to give an indication of his ma
tonality and its. drOllery He was
man of agreeable manners. and pre-
vailed upon the Lieutenant's father to
give him job as a man-of-all work
about the place. He was fond of chill
dren, and was soon on the best of terms
with the four boys, to whom he was
Uncle Tony William was his fav-
orite. and as the years rolled by the
good and faithful servant came to be
as one of the family. When Fort Sum-
ter was fired upon William was big
enough and old enough to enlist, and
responded promptly to his country's
call. One day while ia Camp Meigs he
was surprised to see Uncle Tony" in
brand-new suit of blue, come march
ing in. We'll, well, Uncle Tony, I'm
glad to see you: but tell me how II came
about William said. Uncle Tony
replied: Its this way, William. When
| was in Belfast in As. and the grand.
good ship Columbia come a sailing into
the harbor, and flying the Stars and
Stripes. loaded down with food for the
starving Irish, then and there 1 raised
me guide right arm to hiven, and tuck
me solemn oath that If, so be, that flag
should liver be attacked by an inimy
I'd fight for it, and die for it If need
be-
Maggie. 1.-The wife, came down to
visit her Tony, and was SO proud of him
as he stepped off" in his soldier uni
hnf CT, To hD fnll 10.
her soldier husband was 1.-The only man
IN the squad that can kape step"
One day in February. so. we left
Camp Meigs for Paducah, from whence
we embarked on a steamboat up the
Tennessee, arriving at Pittsburg Land
Shiloh. Uncle Tony stood soldier life
pretty WELL but it began to tell on his
health, and he became quite sufferer
from rheumatism. One night in May
he was stationed on post duty, within
hearing distance of the rebel pickets.
William was making the rounds, and
when he came to "Uncle Tony's" post,
he found him sitting against a tree
asleep. When William gently laid his
hand upon Uncle Tony's" shoulder,
ne aroused with start. and exclaimed:
Och! an it's yerself, is it. William?''
Yes. and very fortunate it is, for you,
Uncle Tony, that it is myself" an
situation he bewailed it as follows: "I've
slept on post feminist the inimy an a
battle pending. I'll be coort-martialed
an shot"
William assured him that it would
be all right; that no one should ever
know but himself that he had slept
on post. However. William had Uncle
Tony relieved from picket duty, and
reported him as sick. which he really
was. He was sent to the hospital at
keokuk. and was discharged from the
service later on a certificate of dis
ability.
He returned to the old Ohio home.
where he shortly answered the last roll
call.
The war over, William. too. returned
to the Ohio homestead, and there by
mound i'm the church
yard reads on little white headstone:
Anthony CossH, 80th Ohio.
Died at the age Of 50,"Nand how very
glad he was that no one ever knew that
Uncle Tony" had slept on his post
feminist the inimy," except William