The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-28
OF
MERRY WAR DAYS
Some OF the Fun That Relieved
Anxictics OF Battles Fierce
Alarm.
GOOD THINGS REMEMBERED
At the Cannon's Mouth and
w lille Men Starved There
Was I-Iumor.

Editor of The Times-pispatch:
lSir,-Please give my hearty thanks
to your typesotters for only making
one mistake in my article of last sun
day. They made me call Nandegrift
Scope" instead of ''.Scofe.' but with
my old mans handwriting, it shows
that they know their business.
our regiment had two noted wits in
it, one was Tom Powell. of Company
X Tom had been detailed as regimental
headquarters orderly, and his principal
duty was to look after the servants
and to see after our mess. Tom would
take the headquarters ration of
".breakfast bacon. e. rancid mess
pork about five inches thick,
and not a stream of lean in
it--aud trade it Oft WITH ttlo
farmers for milk. eggs srtabics,
the country enabled him TO keep our
mess on high living" one ttay the
colonel ripped Tom up fog some
slight offense and he came to me and
requested to be sent back to his com
pany. / demonstrated with him and told
him that he would regret ii, for as
said, YOU have IA soft place, with no
fighting to do, and liberty To ride all
over the country, and you are going
to be very sorry for this. Said he, Nd
iutant. don't intend to he any mans
Big Taller" dog The very next
day our command WAS almost double
quickcd TO Richmond, nine miles off,
through the city, and TO Brook Church,
where we were put into the nastiest
little fight l ever was in. " hurried
order came to our colonel to send a
company to support sectiE of ar
tillcry. and as ii happened to be Com
pany Is IS time for such duty. | sent it,.
In less than thirty minutes Lieutenant
Robertson, who was in comand of Is,
sent word, saying: For Gods
sake relieve me. for onc-half of my
men are killed or wounded and L
can't hold the place" SO | sent Com
pany A. that being the next in order.
Soon here came Company Is, the men
as black as negro minstrels from bit
ing off cartridges and powder smoke,
and filed behind the colonel and my
self on their way to their positions
in the line. AS they passed us l looked
back and saw Tom. The bullets Were
flying like hail. Rather sarcasticalIy,
supporting a battery" AS quick as Il
flash he replied: "Adjutant, had
rather support a large family any
day. sir" q wonder if my old friend,
10 BidGood, remembers this. He was
standing by us at the timc,>
our other wit was John Il. DOdd, OF
Company A. niclSnaned Duff Green.
1t was not always that the wits mad
the best ~ il in their contests with
fthe people we Would pass on the road,
In March. 1862, when our army was
retrea ting from Centrevillc and march.
ing down the Warrcnton Turnpike,
the citizens for miles around would
come TO see the army pass. Some would
came in covered wagons anc encamp
on the roadside to view the novel sight
of a big army on the march There was
a constant stream of wit and repartec
between the men and the citizens and
woe to the Young man Of military age
who was in citizens clothes. Our
regiment struck one such, and he was
the greenest specimen of n mountain
hollow boy that | ever saw,
Duff Green seeing him, said: Good
morning" There was instantly hush
demolfsh him The next question was
"When are YOU gwine to iine?'
''As soon as YOU fellows are done
running" said the pumpkin.
The effect of this reply viii he fully
understood without further remark'
by me. So far all ] have told | saw ant
heard myself, but here is one l did no
see
An old. dignlned citizen WAS passine
on horseback when u soldier called
out: Boys, here comes Moses, | al
ways did want to see him" Anothe
said, THAT amt Moses; that is Jere
miah" Another said NO, that is lleze
kah,'
The old gentleman said; Boys, yol
arc all mistaken, | am Saul ioolSinl
FOR his fathers asses and ! have jus
found them
The winter os 1872, when NIcClel
lan's army was nassed at Alexandra
and Washington. and our army wa
at Ccntreyillc, picket duty was Yer,
heavy and rigid AS adiutant, ! had t
ride every third night over seVera
miles OF country between the hours o
sA, NJ and sunrise. The Warrento
from Alexandria south the picket o.
that road was always on the qu
vlve" One night when ii was as dar
rs Erebus and a hoofbeat on tn
macadami2cd road could be heard 70
over a milo, AT about ] o'clock in tn
morning horse was heard comm
down tho road towards our pickle
The sentinel waited until the ride
got within the prescribed distance frol
him when the challenge r1ng out o
the still night air: Who comes there
Halt The reply was: "Be
enacted by the Legislature {
Virginia" etc 'fbe rider was II men
Der Of the Virginia Legislature, an
Che sentineI was Private William
Gordon, of Company D. He had Il
years been the clerk Of oar Vlrgn
q iegisla1ure and the rider had recot
nized his voice
On the retreat from Centreyille
March. 1852, after many days
marching. when we arrived 81 Can
Robertson River we Were given
rest OF two days, Our brisadier-ge
oral. always careful OF the welfare