Smyrna times., 1923-03-21

nOuncing our invasion of Delaware"
The people were pretty thoroughly
aroused. At Dover, the morning of
cur departure, the Capitol grounds
were filled with citizens in anything
but placid mood who were disposed to
resent our presence and actions.
AS l glanced over the crowds l was
very much concerned as to the out
come. 1t was my duty to cline up"
the troops, which l did by clearing
suitable space. After the line was
formed l detailed the left or rear
company as guards for the prisoners,
which were still in the building, and
returned for them, after forming the
guard company in hollow square at
the foot of the steps of the Capitol.
An Ugly Crowd.
Seeing that everything had been
properly left, l went again to the
front door with the prisoners and the
few soldiers which had been guarding
them. l was greatly surprised to find
that the Regiment had gone and left
only the one company. The crowd of
citizens had moved up close about the
guard company at the base of the
Capitol steps, and it looked as if all
Dover was there. ordered the crowd
back, and when l got the prisoners
into the square, returned to the steps,
and at the top of my voice ordered
the soldiers to shoot any man who
came within touch of their bayonets.
The men were all standing at
charge Outwardly. Returning to the
center Of the square, ordered, "FOr-
ward, March!" and away we went
down the street to the depot, the
crowd following us-suIlen and threat
ening.
While we were in Wilmington, |
was ordered to take the prisoners to
Baltimore. With a detail of eight men
and a sergeant, l took the prisoners
to the depot only to find the last train
had left. We, therefore, prepared to
camp in the depot overnight.
One of the prisoners came to me
and said that if l would consent to go
to hotel, they would stand the ex-
penses for all hands. l agreed to this
and arranged to have beds enough in
one large room to accommodate the
prisoners and myself.
This done, | put a guard inside the
room at the door and one outside, and
placed the remaining soldiers under
their sergeant in the office with orders
to change guards every two hours. All
had fixed bayonets. Private instruc-
tions were given all hands, and, tired
out, | lay down and was soon asleep.
Asleep On Duty.
| did not remove a garment, not
even my shoes or sword. awoke
during the night and in the gas light
saw that every prisoner was in place,
but the guard was missing-bue there
were two muskets leaning against the
wall.
Getting up quietly, l found my two
guards, both asleep, sitting on the
floor. The one outside had come in for
company, and both had yielded.
| sat moment studying what best
to do. Finally l crept up to the sleep
ing soldiers and took away their guns.
Then | took my pillow and shook the
feathers all down to one end Of the
case, and grasping the loose end in
both hands, l lambasted them in good
shape. | knocked them down as fast
as they got up. When l got them on
duty again | went down into the hotel
Office and there l found the sergeant
and his six men also asleep!
As l looked at them l thought of
the constant work they had been do
ing for week. Not one of them had
been in bed in that time. | reused
them, said a few serious words to the
sergeant and returned to my bed.
Next morning we turned our prison
ers into the old slave pen at Balti-
more and went back to the Regiment.
| did not report the men.
The company which refused to do
duty outside of Maryland and some
men of other companies were order
ed mustered out without honor"
which debarred them from pensions,
the War Department not recognizing
the claim that they were enlisted only
as Maryland soldiers.
J. +. RASTELL.
Adjutant, 1st Md, Eastern Shore,
Washington. d. C..