Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-14

cut! You boys had better get right
back TO Petersburg. I'm going there
to give the alarm"
A dust covered farmer mounted on
foaming horse. who had come tear
Ing down the Richmond turnpike.
shouted this startling news Ia two
barefooted newsboys who were resting
in the shade OH the side of the turn.
PIKE. few yards from the point where
IL crossed the Richmond .ud Peters
burg railroad.
Inc time was ia the early days of
the siege of Petersburg when General
benjamin r. Butler was operating Oh
the James river
The older OF these two newsboys
was fifteen. will call him lack.
was the Younger one and WAS eleven
years old.
We discussed the gu, I'm W neither
we should 70 home or - on toward
Richmond aud eudeavor IT, get a
glimpse OF Geiferal Butler. whom Con.
federate boys ut that time regarded
as sort of monster.
we started at brisk walk along
the railroad. with Uu!j uusuld stock
or Richmond papers under our arms.
AS we turned curve nrqr The Swift
creek bridge we saw. about n mile 10.
yond. sight that greatly excited US
Inc air was fu!. o: black smoke.
through which we saw An occasiopa,
nash OF flames. Presently we came
close enough 10 discover that the source
or the flames WAS Il great pile or tele.
graph poles aud railroad ties.
Buffers ulen did th,t." said Jack.
wen have TO be mighty cautious
Let's get into the ditch along tie track
and keep sharp lOoeout"
Just beyond slight rise OF the
ground north OF the house was n Tn.
ion encampment. The smoke lazily
rose from hundred campfires. and
the white tents glcamed In the bright
sunshine in manner that was almost
painful TO the eyes
Gradually il dawncd upon us that
the camp had been suddenly abandon.
ed-so suddenly. indeed, that the din.
ners were left cooking OH the fires.
aud all sorts Of camp utensils aud pro.
visions were scattered promiscuously
around.
We made straight for the big tent
In front of which the flag was dying
Jack lowered the flag. With a beating
heart | entered the tent. | found IL
Uttered with torn papers and maps.
In one corner was camp chest upon
which were painted the words. Gen
eral Il. +. Butler. u. S A."
IN a tent in the rear OF General But.
Ier's. which was probably used as 4
kitchen. W" found a stock OF provi.
sions that set us Wild with delight.
We had little 10 eat at home and now
had been for Severa! hours without
food.
\ pot OF coffee steamed on tile fire
in front OF the tent. CBythe shelves in
side was II boiled ham. and about IL
lay variety Of canned meats and
fruits. while chest was found to con.
tain quantity of freshly baked bread.
oh" said lack. IF we only had a
wagon we might carry home lot of
these things"
Well" said |. the ueSt best thug
is to tote home as much as we can on
our backs. What are we going 70
take:"
II reckon" said Jack. "tbut the folks
at home would like tea ana coffee bes,.
They are scarcest."
We decided TO load ourselves down
with those two articles. We found
some empty sacks and divided the
contents OF the sack OF green coffee IN
General Buffers Kitchen tent into two
parts OF thirty or forty bounds each
Then into two other sacks we poured n
chest Of Oolong tea These were tied
up and put inside the sac!:S containing
coffee. and Jack also stuffed .uto IA.
sack the tiag IN front of the geiiern D,
tent. which by had taken down wheI
he first entered the camp
He suggested that give him part
OF my coffee in order 60 ligh-pu thr
load, and at first I was inclined tn 81,
So but when thought how the ppuple
az home after many months use II
. chicory. parched corn. roasted SWEEP
potato parings aud other poor sulJsTi
tutes for coffee would enjoy the g,n
uine article | made UP my mind that
would carry home the contents Of the
sack II / had 10 drag IL over the en-
tire five miles.
We had been 50 much excited witt
/ our discoveries that we had not no
iiced that the sun was very low II
would be dark before we could react
home. We gazed longingly at what
we were leaving behind and started
hOmeward
We took the turnpike with the hop,
~ getting lift in some passing We
hiele. As we trudged along we 50 "
TWO Confederate cayalrymen riding &C.
ward us In our fear lest they sboult
rob Us Of our precious possessions W,
slOuched along rs near the woods ~
we could get, hoping they would pas
without noticing us
Vain hope Halt We heard on
~ them shout just ~ they were
abreast Of ~. ono - them. wac wai
. corporal. dismountcd
Tie was o cruel looking fellow. anC
coon Tf.-...r .0t..T tf..t Sc Toto. Il O..