The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-18
FATHER sTRENUOUsLY OBJECTED"

FATHER STRENUOUSLY OBJECTED"
Scott, man, this is serious! Your liver
is wrong. You want to see DOCTOR
No, General, no. My liver is all
right. ! don't want to see any doctor,
but I do want to go to the war. Lots
Of these young fellows around town will
go; and when they come back the lies
they'll tell will make the yarns you and
have been spinning all these years
look like 80 cents. / must go. l want
to fight for the Old Flag. I'd rather be
killed down there in Cuba than to live
and have to listen to some smooth-faced
kid tell about one war that I didn't
see"
The Boot Was There, but No Saddle.
A genuine veteran objects to being
shelved or gagged, and doubtless many
veterans, who speak feelingly of the
privations endured and dangers encoun-
tered, would be willing to exchange
some of the cares and troubles of civil
life for the worst they experienced in
the war.
After the conclusions of hostilities a
certain cayalryman wanted to marry.
The girl was willing, but her father,
who was terror, strenuously objected;
and when the lover persisted in visiting
the house the frate parent kicked, not
metaphorically but actually, the valiant
cavalryman being forced to a speedy
and ignominious retreat.
BILL" said an old comrade, didn't
the old mans action make you think of
| the wartime? Didn't 1t remind you of
boots and saddles'?"
You bet it did," said Bill; "leastways
| when the old fellow was usin' his boot
| was blamed sorry / wasn't settin' on
the saddle"
Capturing Two Generals.
| On an Ohio River steamboat, some
months ago, three "Yanks" and one
| johnny other than myself, were pas
| sengers. Before this meeting we had
been strangers. However, we soon be-
came pleasantly acquainted, as after the
introductory conversation the five OF us
sought the bar. where, In turn, we "set
EN- up" Our speech beginning to flow
full and free. we repaired to the fo'cas-
tie to fight them over" Some or all OF
the stories told may have been fictitious,
but courtesy required that they should
be accepted as true historical nara
tions, no ironclad affidavits being de-
manded. My ex-Confederate comrade
claimed to have been one of McNeil's
Partisan Rangers, mainly natives Of that
part Of West Virginia bordering on the
Upper Potomac and northwestern Mary
land. Substantially his story was as
follows:
| Lieut.. McNeiPs field of operations
extended from Staunton. Va, to Cum
berland, Md. In quest of adventure
Mcneil, with 80 men, started from his
base, Feb. 81, 1865. and, following the
highway, rode to Cumberland. some A
miles due north. The weather was very
cold and the ground was covered with
snow. In and around Cumberland, or
the Maryland side of the Potomac, were
some 5000 or 10000 Federal troops in
/ Winter quarters. Gen. B. F. Kelley
commanding the Department. and Gen
George Crook, both able and gallant
officers, were in the town. the former
having his headquarters IN the Barnun
Hotel. the latter occupying rooms in the
Revier House. His active service as {
Partisan Ranger, and his thorough
| and his men familiar with the location
and numbers Of the Federal troops
| their means Of information were relia
BILE, and they had been especially ad
vised as to the habits Of the two Gen
erals and where they could be fount
between the midnight hour and dawn
To ride into the town, in the midst O
an Overwhelming. hostile force, woui,
be, indeed, bold adventure, but 4
Mcneil and his troopers II seems that
IF a path were dangerous known,
The dangers self was lure alone"
A few miles west OF Cumberland
which, by the way, was a city OF som
5000 or 5000 Inhabitants. Fedora
garrison was stationed at New Greek
When Mcneil approached the city h
was challenged, but when he prompt
replied, I'VE are friends from Ne,
Creek, and are in a hurry TO see Ger
Kelley" he was not detained. Furthe
along the little band captured two pick
cts. and forced them to give the cour