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road, that the pools of water were all in the possession of other pairs, and he was obliged to wait until some had withdrawn to give his horses an opportunity.
By the time his steeds had quenched their thirst, the other drivers, having reached the road and reformed, were on the return to camp.
Our comrade avers that his off horse was so enraged at finding himself thus deserted by his fellow equines, that he set off at a gallop, and the driver, vainly endeavoring to hold him in, was obliged to spur on the saddle horse, so they made rapid progress for a few rods.
Rounding a curve in the wooded road, the lieutenant, who was in ambush there, lurking to intercept any one who might be running his horses, hailed him, saying: ‘I've caught you; report to me when you have picketed your horses; you shall ride the harnesspole for this.’
The officer then trotted along to camp, leaving the driver following.
The latter, reaching the picket-rope and hitching his horses, perceived that his superior was about to sit down to dinner; doubting the propriety of intruding upon the officers' mess, and deeming that his offence would be treated more leniently after the officer's appetizing meal, he deferred reporting till after dinner.
The result fully justified the conclusion he had reached as to the mollifying effect of a full stomach; for after dinner, the lieutenant listened placidly to the man's explanation of the dust-raising, and dismissed him with an admonition, in lieu of the harness-pole.
Both cannoneers and drivers will recall the bathing in the bay, and the gathering of oysters from the flats.
We were upon parade, Sunday forenoon, May 4, when a general's orderly approached Capt. Platt, Company D, Second United States Artillery, chief of the artillery brigade of our division.
After a moment's interval, the latter rode up to Capt. Porter, who was in position in front of his company; some words were exchanged, and Capt. Platt rode away.
Our commander turned to his chiefs of sections, and with a smile exclaimed: ‘Yorktown's evacuated!
By piece from the right, front into column!’
The remainder of the day was a busy season, being steadily employed in embarking the army corps upon such transports of various kinds suitable for the different arms of the service, as were available at this time and place.
It was after nightfall and quite dark when the last of our horses was picketed upon the deck of
Boston. Press of Deland and Barta, 1886.
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