Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-13

Portable.
We soon found the balance of the
brigade to which we were assigned
had come up behind us and gone into
camp so silently that we hardly knew
they were there. Not fire had been
built, and hardly a man in their camp
could be seen stirring. Not SO with
the Second Michigan. They were
seeking wood and water and such
things as would tend to make them
comfortable IL must needs be ex-
IRENE measures indeed that would
keep a Second Michigan man from his
cup OF coffee before retiring for the
night
l left my bunk-mate to build a fire.
put up our dog tent, and prepared such
things as were necessary for our COM
fort while l took my musket and our
capseens and plunged of into the
darkness in search of water. On, on,
went. stumbling through fields and
climbing over fences, until l began to
think ! was a full mile from camp,
and. quite likely away outside of our
picket lines.
had apparently far outstripped all
my comrades who were on the same
errand. and who had probably become
discouraged by their failure to find
water and had turned back. for II was
deathiy still. l could not hear a
sound anywhere, but determined l
would not give up until found water.
All, what is that dark line ahead? A
few steps more and close scrutiny
proves 10 me it is a piece of woods.
There, surely. I must find water. In
my mind I was already filing my can
teen with fresh, cool water, and think.
Ing of my bunk-mate's delight when
should return triumphant when so
many had failed
Let the reader imagine himself in
an enemy's country, a mile from any
comrade, stumbling through the fields.
over fences and bitches. the night as
dark as a stack of black cats. doubling
whether or not lie could find his way
back to camp. nerves entirely IN
strung by passing events, and expect
ing every moment TO be fired upon by
an ambushed foe. II he can imagine
himself in that predicament, he will
be able TO understand something OF
my feelings as | approached that piece
OF timber. only 70 find a large growth
OF cedars planted for a fence, which
separated two fields or meadows.
picked my way along the fence
very carefully until l found passage
way through. AS passed through the
sky beyond the dark line made it APP
pear much lighter. But, We gods. what
had ! done? AS stepped over the
ridge OF ground that is always found
along these growing fences. stepped
squarely on a man who, with four
others, were lying fat upon their stom-
achs and looking out over the field.
The man 1 trod on turned over, and II
brought me to my knees. as he ex-
claimed. Who the devil are you?"
answered, A Yankee soldier. and the
FIRST man that moves does, for ! am
not alone. so surrender at once" The
devil; so are we" was his reply. He
continued in a whisper. We belong 10
the Second Michigan and we will have
hot work In a minute, for they are just
ahead OF us over IN the field. / am
glad you have come with help" l
then explained that l was alone, but
that ] would stand 10y them.
/ asked why they did not send a man
out TO Teconnoiter. The reply was.
we have. and as soon as he returns
we will go back To camp"
While we were talking in whispers
he came in. and said in hoarse wills
per. Boys, there are about 80 OF them
out there, and IL we are careful we can
capture them all"
What" said l, you certainly do not
expect seven OF us can capture 80. do
your"
"Of course. we can" said he. con
tinuing. My plan is to creep up on
them. each one OF us grab one without
frightening the rest, bring him back,
cut his throat. then 20 for another. In
this way We can capture every one
without firing a shot"
But" | replied. that is against the
rules OF war to cut a prisoners throat"
The answer was. oh. stun, There
is no time for nonsense. and if we try
any other way. some of them will get
away"
We followed the directions of our
guide. and. sure enough, we soon had
every one of the 80 at the gap in the
fence, with his throat cut from ear TO
ear.
What" ! think l hear the reader
say; you don't want us TO believe
seven men captured 80 Confederates
without firing a shot. do you?"
Who in thunder is talking about
Confederates. But | forgot; il is per
fectly natural that the reader should
fall into the same error that / did.
The 80 were good, fat sheep. and the
Second Michigan had excellent fresh
mutton for breakfast, while the rest of
the Ninth corps had 10 put up with
bareback and sowbosom.
But / never heard the last of the
joke of trying to capture FIVE men
alone, and then being afraid to be one
OF seven to capture 80 sheep.
When we got TO camp the boys had
already cooked fresh beef, and there
was plenty OF nice, fresh water within
a stones throw OF the camp