The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-06

W
pleaaantiN known as Camp Adams. up :
vi the 2fth of May. when we came to
w r!iamsburg. BY the way we used
| TO call 1t Kings MILL" being. under
the belief that gentlemen by the
name OF King once ran mill at the
place. but sour distinguished citizen,
antiquary and Archaeological. Professor
Lyon G. Tyler, OF William and Mary,
In his charming book, The Cradle or
the Republic" informs us that the
plantation of "kingsmiil gets its name
from Richard Kingsmill. who had 400
acres patented inc Archer't Hope in
1926" We were camped in Villa m
and Mary College. and while we never
matricuiated from this honorable and
distinguished society. VIC certainly
rubbed our heads against its honored
walls aud slept upon it's carpeted
floors. and therefore we claim her as
our alma mater. Our company was
quartered IN the library OF the college
and other rooms. II was my good for
tune to be in the irst named depart
inent.and selected some OF my favor
lie authors for pillow, hoping TO ac-
qnire knowledge by absorption. BY In
duction as we'll as by the process Of
deduction.
l had here my nrst touch of military
discipline. Having obtained from me
some of the fair ladies OF the town.
was so beguiled by their charms that
! forgot the hour of taps" and was
put ON extra duty for getting in af
ter regulation hour But we were soon
TO learn that we were not to bask In
the smiles Of beauty or learn the cur
riculum OF William and Mary. for the
next day We were introduced 10 the
sappers' and miners tools-the shovel
and pick--in throwing up breastworks
which afterwards became known as
Fort Magruder." Our hands Were
soon covered with blsters and the
perspiration exuded freely from our
unaccustomed labors. From Williams.
burg and Its charming environments
we marched TO Yorktown ana
thence down the Peninsula TO Bethel.
baptism OF fire. August /, 1881. found
us at Camp Adams. where we remain
ed until about September /. We camp
ed at Yorktown, Bethel. Camp De Soto,
near Cockletown: Warwick Courthouse.
Hervard's MIL. Mechanicsville, Lees
Mil, winter quartered at Camp Deas.
Young's Mill, but the most pleasant
encampment Te ever had was Camp
Adams on Kingsmill plantation. be-
cause here we were in pleasant proX-
unity to the girls OF Williamsburg,
W
we visited regularly. ! recall we had
quite an exciting time at Camp Adams
one July night, nothing less than the
long roll-a call TO arms in the mid
die of the night. One OF the Hanover
Guards Company C) was placed on
post on the beach. with instructions
II the enemy's gunboats came UP the
river from Old Point, to fire at them
and thus arouse the camp. This coun
no.
OF course, did not know its shape or
method of approach. The beat was a
very dark and lonely one: nothing but
the whisper OF the wind in the trees
and the ripping waves at his feet as
they kissed the pebbled beach bore
him company. He marched backwards
and forwards. peering cautiously and
curiously over the waste of waters
for the dreaded and expected monster.
, About midnight this lonely sentinel
described a tinge of light on the dis
tant horizon. coming seemingly from
over the waters. His heart began to
beat fast. and his brow suffused with
great beads of sweat as he watched
and waited; the Iight grew brighter
and brighter as the dread object drew
nearer.
When he thought the headlight on
the supposed gunhoat was near enough
to risk shot. ne cooked his musket
and let her have 1t. He continued to
load and fire at will until the corporal
of the guard came at double quick
time to know what was the matter,
when the sentinel excitedly pointed to
the object just about even with the
water. and exclaimed:
CORPORAL. ] think ! hit IT,
Hit what?" queried the corporal.
why" said the sentinel. don't you
see tho ankae rupbOat2"
"Why. you blamed fool" said the
corporal. that is the moon, and not a
Eunboat!
And so 1t proved. and this brave
soldier (who has passed over the river
and sleeps his last Sleep had been
pouring shot after shot at the orb Of
the night. or firing at the man in the
moon. Well. this member of the Han
over Guards was joked nearly to death
bv tina boys. who asked him IL he hit
the man in the moon. II he had seen
another Eunboat, etc, etc. This young
fellow, who was somewhat OF wag,
found on his heat the next time he
was on guard a large hornets nest. so
he tied long string to the branch
UPON which the nest was suspended,
reaching to his beat. and found by ex-
perimenting little that every time
he pulled the string an ominous and
threatening buzz or humming noise en-
sued SO about midnight he yelled for
the corporal of the guard post No. 4
(the same who had twitted him about
the moon)s Down came the corporal,
mad at being disturbed at that late
hour of the, night in a drizzllng rain
and demanded. What is the matter
now? There is neither moon or gun
boat tonight"
The corporal was seriously assured
that he heard a. mysterious buzzing of
n. character he could not account for.
that made him think the Yankees
might have landed on the beach near
him Here he gave the string a Jerk,
which was followed, by curious
sound. The corporal listened. but could
not locate whence it came, nor