The National tribune., 1906-08-30

STREET RATHER THAN WALK UN'
DER THE FLAG"
months, and when we reported at In
dianapolis they did not want three
months men; they wanted them fol
three years, or during the war. The
regiment took a vote to go for three
years, and 1t was voted down. We were
then given the chance to enlist for one
year, which we did, and the regiment
was ordered to Evansville to guard the
Ohio River. Our company was station.
ed at Newbu-g, and we had nice quar-.
ters in a college building, and a good
time, but We had a sad accident. We
had just received news of the first bat
tie of Bull Run, and two guards were
talking about 1t, and one of them said
The other guard cooked his gun, and
seeing no cap on, pointed it at the 9TH
er's head and pulled the trigger. The
gun went off, shooting him through the
head. killing him instantly. The one
that shot the gun was relief, and did
not know the gun was loaded" AS he
pointed the gun at his comrade he said:
IF a rebel should point his gun at you
you would rum" | was sitting In my
tent and saw the whole thing. AS
was the fifer of our company and had
to play the Dead March at the funeral
1 selected an old hymn, and il was a
sad time, as we lay our comrade away.
In short time we received orders TO
report to Washington, D. c., but when
we arrived at Harrisburg the order Was
countermanded and we were ordered
instead to Harper's Ferry. We were
stationed in Pleasant Valley for while
near Maryland Heights, and we had a
nice time. We were stationed at An.
tietam all the following Winter, guard
ing the Potomac River. We had nice
quarters at Antietam. While stationed
at Antietam we had another sad acci-
dent. Comrade Newton Bingham was
on guard between Antietam and Har-
per's Ferry, on the banks OF the canal
and Potomac River. A canal boat came
along loaded with shells. Comrade
Bingham got one of the shells, and
thought he would have some fun, sc
he made a fuse and set 1t on fire and
hid behind tree, waiting for it TO ex-
plode. After waiting some time he
thought ii had gone out, and SO wen.
to look. and as he was near the shell ii
exploded and killed him instantly. He
was one of ;he finest boys in the COM
pany.
In March, 1862, we went to Winches-
ter, where we had our headquarters on
one of the main streets, and hung oul
flag over the sidewalk The ladies o.
Winchester would not walk under the
flag. They lifted their dresses and went
out into the street in the mud shcetoI
deep rather than walk under the flag
We were stationed at Winchester sever
days, and were then ordered to Manas.
sas Junction. We had to put down Z
pontoon bridge across the Shenandoah
River. The first night we camped or
the Blue Ridge, and the next day We
got to place called Aidie, and were
putting up our tents and getting supper
when we got orders to return to Win
chester. where there was fighting going
on. We packed up and marched al
night 10 the place we had left the morn
ing before, put down the pontoon bridge
again, and started for Winchester, anC
when within a few miles of that plac,
word came the fight was over, and W.
were ordered back to Manassas juno
tion.
We thought we would take Richmont
before our time was out, but we gave 1
up, and about the 1st of May, 1862, W,
were ordered 10 Washington for dis
charge. We were reviewed by the Pres
fdent at the White House. Presiden
Lincoln came out on the steps and CAV
up some good advice, thanked us 70
what we had done. and said he wishe,
ell that could would enlist again. / vii
never forget his looks. He had just re
turned from the front. He looked lik
farmer. but he did not talk like one
A. r. McCurdy. Co. F, 18th Ind, For
Wayne, Ind