The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

BUGLE ECHOES. 387
trying to keep cool, minus his cap, coat and sword, when down came a rebel gunboat
opposite our position on a bluff near the landing. Some of the boys, thinking to have
some fun, double-shotted their rifles and commenced firing at her. They soon had
more fun than they wanted, for the gunboat swung around and opened fire on us from
her big guns. The first notice I received was from a shell that came screaming over
the house, making me think they were firing steam whistles. I ran out to see what
the rumpus meant— saw the lieutenant standing on the bluff, bareheaded and coatless,
swinging his arms and crying out to the boys, " Gee hornet "—his !
favorite cuss word
— "boys, come up out of that or you will get hurt." He thought more of the safety
of his men than he did of the rebel shells or his military appearance. I have to laugh
now as I think how the boys looked as they scrambled up that sand bank and made
for the woods. I did not stop to see who came in ahead, but think the lieutenant led
his company. As the darkey population had all taken to the woods at the first shot,
and of course the biscuit had to be looked after, the hottest time I had was in trans-
ferring them to my haversack. I then executed a Hank movement, came in on the rear
and joined the company in good order, baggage all safe. I found some of the boys
without caps who claimed the wind from the shells blew them away as they came over
the bank.
COUNT ON ME.
E. W. ScHU'iTE, 437 East 22d street. New York City, writes:
I find each and every number of very deep interest to me as an old soldier. You
can count on me to follow the Bugle through all the calls and right up to the time
when the publisher sounds " Taps," which I hope is a long time away still.
A CORRECTION.
Capt. Francis Haviland, of National Military Home, Ohio, writes:
I wish to correct the statement of Col. Fred C. Newhall on the cavalry charge over
the stone bridge at Antietam. It was made by the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, our
Colonel James M. Childs was our brigade commander that day. We got the battery
over the bridge under the enemy's fire. Col. Childs was killed by a cannon ball. We
got our horses down in a ravine out of the range of the enemy's guns. We repulsed
the enemy three times. We were dismounted all day.
SOLID COMFORT.
Preston L. Bennett, Co. D, First D. C. Cav., transferred to Co. F, First Me. Cav.,
of Newport, Me., writes:
Enclosed you will please find five dollars to pay for the Bugle. I am not going to
make any excuses for not paying before, for in tmie of war there was no excuse for a
soldier, but one thing I must say, and that is, I take solid comfort reading the Bugle.
May it always blow.