McCABE'S BIG KNAPSACK.
aptain Minnigh at Spottsylvania, was placed in charge of some men, with orders to find the ammunition train, and get a supply of cartridges for the regiment.
The train was soon found, and at no great distance from the command, but the direct intervening space, was open ground and covered by a rebel battery; this necessitated a long detour, in order to reach the regiment in safety. One of the detailed men was McCabe of Co. D, (I think,) a noble and good-hearted specimen of an Irish soldier, and a man who always carried a mule's load in his knapsack; when therefore, each man had shouldered a box of cartridges and started, McCabe turned to the Captain, and said, "Faith and be-jabers Cap'n, an' oi'm goin' shtraight over to the rigament." Suiting his action to the words, he was gone.
All went well till he reached the middle of the open space, when the boom of a single gun was heard, and a hissing shell came down the ravine as if it was hunting for the Irishman. He looked around for an instant, then turned just in time to let the shell strike squarely, the well packed knapsack. It knocked him down, his cap going one way and the box of cartridges the other way; to our surprise he scrabbled up, picked up his cap and deliberately put it on his head, then shouldered the ammunition box, and started again. The fact is, he was not hurt in the least degree. That tremendous knapsack saved his life.
We witnessed a strange sight on one occasion, as we awoke from the slumber of the night. It was a bivouac, and snow had fallen during the night, and as one soldier after another, rose, from under the bed of snow, we thought of the great resurrection morning.
BROKE THE REBEL'S ARM.