Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-07-04
Private
BanCrOft'S
Foray
\ STORY FOR MEMORIAL
DAY
BY Captain F. a. mitchell

| k'AlN uNS III NhS III ANCN AVAh NpluH-
| teer infantry, was one OF long line
OF pickets in Virginia. II was the
month OF April, but In that climate the
spring was we'll advanced. The pick.
cts stood 100 yards apart. the ground
sloping before them, the sun shining
on fields of grain OF variegatcd green.
just starting from the soil, Here and
| there was farmhouse, smoke curling
from the chimney. Through the land
scape white turnpike ran southwark,
but there was no travel on II except
here and there a darky driving n
mule cart No enemy was In sight,
with timber doubtless men In gray,
which. being realistically interpreted.
means butteruut. were looking to the
northward.
Nevertheless the halmy air. the birds
twlttering In the trees, the patches of
rising grain and the warm sunshine
gave peaceful hue to the landscape
and seemed to invite the picket for II
stroll Moreover. Jim. having had
nothing to cat for some time except
salt pork and bareback. an occasional
crow or cackles from barnyard he
low suggested fried chicken and fresh
eggs
Hi. you man on my right" called
Jim, az you'll cover some Of the dis,
lance between you and the man on
my left 80 that won't he missed I'll
make raid on that barnyard down
there and divide the plumber with you
and him"
IAN right" replied the man address.
ed. or rather the boy, for most of
those who went out In 1861 were boys.
I'm with you. but II you're caught or
post you'll get shot for desertion,"
| Jim hcsitatcd at this. but he was
young, and the young are reckless
Besides, n cackle of hen that had
Just laid an egg decided him In favor
of fresh food against shooting for
desertion. He made the proposition
to the man on his left. His two flank.
ing pickets moved nearer together. and
Jim, putting his rifle In the hollow OF
his arm, started through the long grass
and stumble down the declivity.
The house seemed to be very quiet
But for the smoke emerging from the
chimney Jim might have considered
that Its occupants had left It. He was
laying out course whereby he might
circle around under cover and make an
assault on the chicken house when q
human being appeared on the scene
A girl about seventeen years old came
out OF back door and threw the ref.
use Of the mornings meal to the chick.
ems She was not dark complexioned,
like most southern girls. but fair. with
q rose In each cheek. Her hair was
cut square just about her shoulders,
and her dress extended no farther than
the tops of her boots
There was one thing during wartime
that had more powerful effect on q
soldier boy than food delicacies. Aft
err he marched away from home In
sight OF futtering handkerchiefs he
struck very different scene The
ceremonies OF military life remained
but there was none to admire. He sa "
men, men. nothing but men, and they
were all soldiers. IL there were won
en- In the country through which he
campaigned they were hostile to him
and kept out OF his way. As to look
ing on at his dress parades and guard
mountings. they scorned to do 30
Therefore the most welcome sight to d
soldier boy Of the civil war was pref
~ girl.
Jim had no occasion to be afraid OF
any one about the place. for there were
likely to be only citizens there, and he
was armed At any rate. throwing
caution to the winds. he suddenly ap
peared to the girl with one leg over the
top rail of fence inclosing the yard
She saw him and started.
Morning" said Jim In as soft d
voice as he could command.
The girl bit her lip and put her hand
TO her breast. signs that she was en-
deavorlng to control her fright.
MAY ! come DOWN. I'd like to buy
a chicken and some eggs" jim added.
The request. though 1t came from d
terrible Yankee with rife. was reas
surfing. She plucked up courage.
IL don't mind" was her shrinking
reply.
Jim swung the other leg over the
fence and went down into the barn
yard The girl tried hard to keep her
eyes off him and to keep them on him
the first because she didn't wish "a
show an interest In him. the second
because she had not entirely recovered
from her fear Of him. Jim never for
moment took his eyes away from
her. and they were brlmful Of admi
ration. By the time he stood before
her and dropped the butt of his rife
on the ground she realized that II was
she and not the young soldier who
was all powerful.
And what was the predominant
thought that occupied Jims braini
Not that he might be taken In by Con
federates. not that II caught OF his
post be might be shot by his own
| comrades NaIthar NJ these cona,dara.