The Idaho Springs siftings-news. (Idaho Springs, Colo.) 1905-19??, 1916-02-04

big room upstairs. and what time did have:
Mr.. Tibbits and his wife came home and found
the lot of us all asleep on the floor. some on
the bed, but all of tipsy and sick from the wine
Was there anything doing then? should say yes!
This whole lark was laid at my door. wal locked
in room to be kept until Monday. when was to
be sent back home to my parents. l did not dare
go home, father would certainly have tried, at
least to whip some Of the meanness out Of me. for
had about used up his patience So after the
house had got quiet at night. dropped out the
window and hked for Lansing. They were then
recruiting for the Sixth Michigan cavalry.
told the recruiting officer had no mother or
father, that sold papers and did odd jobs for
living. and swore was eighteen years old Sure.
he knew better. but they enlisted me regularly
buger, and assigned me to Company G. Sixth
Michigan cavalry. l was twelve years. three
months and twenty three days old. and was in my
third enlistment. but this was the first time was
mustered in. All Madden enlisted with me-
was sent to Grand Rapids where the regiment
camped while being recruited to its full
strength. We were mustered into the service
there. The life that led the officers of Company
anything but pleasant.
In Washington. we camped for time on Meri-
den hill from which place made our first hike.
And tasted war, when we went to Falmouth
and skirmished with Moseby's guerrillas. We had
the opportunity of trading coffee for tobacco with
the Confederate pickets. A white handkerchief
the end Of saber the signal to stop
shooting while the trade was being made between
the "Rebs" on the Fredericksburg side of the Rap
pahannOCk river ana us Iank8 on the FQlmOOtn
side. l must say never knew Of any advantage
being taken to shoot fellow while the trade
being made In the early spring OF 1863, no regf-
ment kept more busy than the Sixth Michigan
looking out for Moseby and his men. We always
had them. but never got them to any great ex-
tent Moseby a wonder
From then to the time ! was taken prisoner
we in eighteen battles and minor engage
ments between June 80 to October II, 1868. The
Little Buger never lost day. but did lose lots OF
meals In that time.
On October II, 1863 at Brandy station, my horse
shot from under me, and was taken pris-
oner. Our regiment charging through a regi-
ment of enemy cavalry that had got in between
the main column and the rear guard, when my
horse struck by piece of shell between the
knee and hoof, throwing me heels over appetite
some feet over his head l was cut and bruised
by the feet of the charging troopers who were be-
hind. When l finally got up 1t was to look into
the barrel Of what appeared to me to be a cannon
but in fact was only AS Colt, and fellow In a
grey suit was telling to strip! He took my
shoes and pants, and darn him, he could not wear
either of them; he much larger than l.
was taken with trainlOad of other prisoners
Richmond. Va, but on the way had traded OF
my blouse for something to eat. We divided
up in punches after arriving at Richmond. Destiny
sent me to old Libby prison. and later to Belle
Isle
had pants, shoes or hist One Of the older
men had given me old coat. The guard would
issue us a few sticks of wood in the evening We
burned our fires as long as possible. and when
the fires had burned out to Goals scattered the
GOALS over the ground to warm It. and then would