The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1916-02-04

big room upstairs and what a time we did have.
Mr. Tibbis and his wife came home and found
the lot of us all asleep: some the floor some
the bed but all of us tipsy and sick from the wine
Was there anything done then? ! should say yes!
This whole lark laid at my door waa locked
in a room to be kept until Monday. when was to
be sent back home TO my parents. ! did not dare
go home. father would certainly have tried, at
least, TO whip 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 hiked for Lansing. They 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 as a
bugler and assigned to Company g. Sixth
Michigan cavalry | was twelve years three
months and twenty-three days old, and was in my
third enlistment but this the first time
mustered in All Madden enlisted with me.
| sent to Grand Rapids where the regiment
camped while being recruited to it's full
strength. We were mustered into the service
there The life that we led the officers OF Company
was anything but pleasant.
In Washington camped for a time on Meri-
den hill from which place made our first hike.
And we tasted war, when we went 10 Falmouth
and skirmished with Mosebys guerras We had
the opportunity Of trading coffee for tobacco with
the Confederate pickets A white handkerchief
"A
shooting while the trade being made between
the "Rebs" on the Fredericksburg side OF the Rap
pahannock river and us "Yanks" on the Falmouth
side | must say never knew Of any advantage
being taken TO shoot a fellow while the trade
being made. In the early spring OF 1863, reg
ment was 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
tent. Moseby q wonder.
From then TO the time | was taken prisoner
were In eighteen battles and minor engage
ments between June 80 TO October IL. 1863. The
Little Bugler lost day, but did lose lots OF
meals in that time
On October II. 1863. at Brandy station. my horse
was shot from under me- and | taken pris-
oner Our regiment charging through regi.
ment Of enemy cavalry that had got In between
tn main column and the rear guard when my
horse struck by piece OF shell between the
knee and hoof throwing me heels appetite
some feet over his head. ! was cut and bruised
by the feet OF the charging troopers who we're be
hind. When finally got 50 IL 10 look into
the barrel OF what appeared TO me 10 be a cannon.
but In fact only as Colt and fellow in a
gray suit telling me TO strip lie took my
shoes and pants. and darn him. he could not wear
either OF them; he much larger than l.
was taken with trainlosd of other prisoners
TO Richmond. Va. but the way had traded on
my blouse for something % eat. We divided
up in punches after arriving at Richmond. Destiny
sent me to old Libby prison. and later 10 Belle
Isle
had no pants shoes or hat One Of the older
men had given old coat The guard would
Issue a few sticks OF wood in the evening We
burned fires long "a possible. and when
the fires had burned out TO Goals we scattered the
ooals over the ground 20 warm II. and then wesfd