Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1887 — THE CAMP FIRE. [ARTICLE]

THE CAMP FIRE.

ROUTED. i Some things are better run away from that faced, even by brave men. It is idle to take risks if nothing is to be gained by doing so. For Our part, therefore, we do not blame the company of soldiers described below, Who refused to enter a certain thicket of ’ bushes, orders or noorders. The story is told by a captain of the Union army. We had halted, one day, for a short rest, and, as blackberries were plentiful in the adjacent fields, the men soon scattered in all directions. Presently a squad came rushing in at headlong rate, and I was startled by this sudden retreat They were flying as if they had been put to rout by a bayonet charge. “Halt!” I cried. “Whatfrdoes this mean? Are we attacked?” “Yes,” exclaimed Saunderson, “and driven back; couldn’t stand our ground in that thicket!” “We ran,” shouted Brixy, “and never stoppea to fire. I’m glad I’m out of it!” . bcA “Then we had better form, and charge, and drive them out,” I said. “You can do it if you like,” said Saunderson, “but I won’t go in there again.” “You will obey orders,” I replied, sternly. “Shoot me for a deserter,” said another, “but you won’t get me into that place again.” There was a comical look on the faces of the men, which indicated that someth ing-’queer was going on. Just then Corporal Vail came in on a run; his hat gone, and his whole appearance showing that he had beaten a hasty retreat. “It’s worse than a Confederate battery!” he exclaimed; “I'd rather lace a charge by 1 ickett s whole division.” “What is it?” I asked, my curiosity being excited. “It's a plague-faked skunk!” answered Brixy, and tnen a shout of laughter burst simultaneously from the whole group. “Well,” I said, “you're a brave set of fellows to be driven away pell-mell by an animal no bigger than a cat; you ought to be ashamed of yourselves!” “That animal,” said Saunderson, “is considerably Ligger than he looks. I don’t estimate him according to his size, but according to his ability, lie’s a good deal like a Gatiing gun—more in him than there looks to be.” “It what's in him would only stay in him,” said Yaii, “l wouldn't care, but it "wont. Try him yourself, captain.” I had no desire to make any such trial, and congratulated my men upon their escape. “f don't want anymore blackberries from that patch,” broke in oaunderson; “they’re green and not IiLLo eat” TIIE FIELD OF GETTYSBURG. The memory of the gallant heroes who fell at Gettysburg grows greener each year. More than $400,0U0 has | been appropriated during the past winter by different legislatures for the marking of positions held by troops of the various .states, and before the close of 1887 more than one hundred : additional monuments will have been erected. The States of Pennsylvania ! and New York have the most dead buried on this historic field, yet, singular to say, they have been derelict in marking the sacred spots. Pennsylvania, however, will provide eightyone monuments this year and New York will erect a large number. Among the beautiful monuments on the field is that erected to the memory of Col. Ellis, of New A'ork. It is situated in the rear of the Devil’s Den, and stands on the line occupied by the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth New Y’ork, of Orange county, in the repulse of Longstreet on J uiy 2. West of Seminary Ridge is the stately and classic monument of the Fourteenth New York. It is 6 feet high and represents a private of the command standing in the attitude of obeying the order, “Handle cariridge”. It is placed on a pedestal 8 feet high, giving it a total height of 14 feet. It cost $3,000 and is considered 1 one of the most elegant structures on the field. The regiment was known as the “Fighting Fourteenth” and the “Redlegged Devils of Brookl} n”. Improvements to the battle-field are continually being made by the Battlefield Memorial Association. A wide avenue has been laid out along the line of battle, which great facilitates a visit to the interesting points of the line and the monuments which mark them.—if. Y. World. - ITEMS. TbeHMinnesota Division, Sons of Veterans, boid3 its third annual encampment at St. Paul, Minn., June 4. . This division has thirty-four camps. The swords presented to Henry Ward Beecher while he was chaplain of the Thirteenth Regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., have been presented to Company G of that regiment by. Mrs, Beecher in memory of her husband. They will hang on the wall of the company room, under a picture of Mr. Beecher. Get. William H. Lytle of-Cincin-nati, author of “l am dying; Egypt, dying,” was one of the heroes of the i war. who gave his life to his country on the field of Chickamauga. A Confederate bfficer Who knew him well tells the Cincinnati Gazette that when Gen. Lytle fell he had on a pair of new L black kid gloves and a cigar in his h mouth. The gallant Lytle was in the thick of the storm and knew it, and handled his men with the greatest intelligence until his death. He had refused to dismount when struck by L four balls—a whole platoon of Mississippians firing upon “the man on the horse,” who was conspicuous above the hazel bushes in which the deadly struggle took place.