The Spectator., 1916-02-04

big room upstairs and what a time we did have! Mir. Tibbits and his wife home and found the lot of us all asleep; some 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 wac 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 al least. to whip some of the meanness out of me- for I had about used up his patience. So after the house had got quiet at night. dropped out the window and hiked 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 as bugler and assigned me to Company G. Sixth Michigan cavalry. twelve years three months and twenty three days old. and was in my third enlistment but this was the first time was mustered in Ali Madden enlisted with me.
 sent to Grand Rapids where the regiment was camped while being recruited to its full strength We were mustered into the service there The life that we led the officers of Company anything but pleasant.
 In Washington. camped for a time on Meri- den hill from which place We made our first hike. And tasted war. when we went to Falmouth and skirmshed with Moseby's guerrillas. We had the opportunity of trading coffee for tobacco with the Confederate pickets. A white handkerchief on 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 and us Tanks" on the Falmouth side 1 must say never knew of any advantage being taken to shoot fellow while tho trade was being made In the early spring of 1863, no regi- 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 ex tent. Moseby was wonder.
 From then to the time l was taken prisoner we were in eighteen battles and minor engage ments between June 30 to October IT, 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 l was taken pris- oner Our regiment charging through 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 feet over his head. cut and bruised by the feet of the charging troopers, who were be hind When finally got up 1t was to look into the barrel of what appeared to me to be a cannon, but In fact only 45 Colt. and fellow in gray suit was telling me to strip, He took my shoes and pants. and darn him. he could not wear either of thepI; he much larger than
 taken with a tranload of other prisoners to Richmond Va, but on the way had traded otr my blouse for something to eat We were divided up in punches after arriving at Richmond. Destiny sent me to old Libby prson and later to Belle Isle
 had no pants, shoes or hat One of the older men had given me an old coat. The guard would issue a few sticks of wood in the evening. We burned fires as long as possible. and when the fires had burned out to coals scattered the coals over the ground to warm 1t. and then would