Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 19.djvu/106

 100 Southern Historical Society Papers.

On our route down to Kingston by rail we were obliged to make frequent stops for wood and water, and at every station the young midshipmen swarmed into the depots and houses, full of their fun and deviltry, making friends of the many pretty girls gathered there, who asked all manner of questions as to this strange sight of boats on cars filled with men in a uniform new to them.

The young gentlemen explained very glibly what they were going to d to board, capture and destroy as many of the enemy's gun- boats as possible." "Well, when you return," replied the girls, "be sure that you bring us some relics flags, &c." "Yes, yes; we'll do it," answered the boys. " But what will you give us in ex- change?" "Why, only thanks, of course." "That won't do. Give us a kiss for each flag will you ?"

With blushes and much confusion, the girls consented, and in a few moments we were off and away on our journey again. On the return trip the young men, never for an instant forgetting the bargain they had made, manufactured several miniature flags. We old ones purposely stopped at all the stations we had made coming down in order to see the fun. The young ladies were called out at each place , and after the dead were lamented, the wounded in the cars cared for, then the midshipmen brought out their flags, recalled the promises made to them, and demanded their redemption Immediately there commenced a lively outburst of laughter and denials, a skirmish, fol- lowed by a slight resistence, and the whole bevy were kissed seriatim by the midshipmen, and but for the whistle of train warning them away, they would have continued indefinitely.

[From the Richmond Times, October 25, 1891.]

BATTLE OF DREWRY'S BLUFF.

How Butler's Right Flank was Broken that Memorable Day The " Old First" to the Front -Details of the Engagement Never Before Pub- lishedPast-Commander Charles T. Loehr's (Sergeant Company D, First Virginia Infantry) Address Before George E. Pickett Camp, Confederate Veterans, on October 15, 1891.

Drewry's Bluff is a name familiar to all of us, but of the battle which was fought there on May 16, 1864, very little has been said- much less than of any battle of its magnitude and importance which