Bugles and bells: or, Stories told again. Including The story of the ninety-first Ohio volunteer infantry. Reunion poems and social tributes

Preface

" BUGI.KS AND BEI.I.S " have been ringing in my ears for many years. They have furnished music for me, and occasionally their sounds have overleaped the bounds of my own consciousness, and others have heard, and have had the kindness to commend and to express pleasure in the overflow. Those nearest me have suggested that they be perpetuated, and I have listened to the kind suggestion until I am at last constrained to do that which may be the delight of my enemy — "write a book." It has been written, and it only remains to gather it together, and to breathe into it such life as may be possible by doing what every one does who writes a book — asking everybody's pardon for the presumption which prompted its publication.

No one need feel compelled to read a word herein contained. If life is too short for him to enter upon the perusal of a single page, in view of the priceless value of time, let him close the book at once. The author never wrote a word of it with a view of prolonging its life beyond the occasion that called it forth. There never was the vision of a solitary dollar between him and his labor of love, for such is every line this book contains. When compensation has sometimes been received, it has

6 PREFACE.

come as a surprise, but to him as sweet as the breath of Spring.

If I were to dedicate this volume, it would be first to my army comrades, and then to my friends who have kindly commended, and so often asked why I have not gathered together my little brood, '* even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings."

A busy life has not favored me in literary work. Almost everj^ word has been written at times that should have been devoted to rest. Much of it has been committed to paper in quiet hours of the night, when sleep, " Nature's sweet restorer," should have claimed me for repairs; while the railroad car has frequently been my workshop, thereby relieving the tedium of travel, and giving play to the thoughts that haunted my fancy, or claimed the warmth of my heart for the friends in whose behalf the " Bells" swung to and fro, or my fancy ran the gamut of the " Bugles," whose echoes came to me from what is now the land of " Long Ago."

I greet you, kind reader, with the love that has prompted every effort this volume contains.

San Francisco, 1899.

Contents

PAGE.

Tun Story of the Ninety-first Rkgiment O. V. I., 15

To My Esteemed Comrade and Friend, Captain

Prologue

T T OW many years have fled since closed ^ ^ This bloody conflict ! Interposed Have many scenes enacted been That move to pity. We begin To look behind us ; for before Seems little cheer for us in store, Unless we look beyond the line Dividing life and death. Resign We must the hopes we long maintained For happiness, since unobtained. It took us long to understand How hard to build as we had planned. Our plans were good enough ; our zeal Was strong; but most have had to feel That Caution may be lulled to sleep. And Care her vigils cease to keep ; And so have learned that every stream A current has, and though our dream Lay hold on scenes where Beauty paints Her bright conceptions, there are plaints That rise among the rippling waves That tell of rocks and hidden caves We could not think had lined the way Till o'er us fell the warning spray That leaped from shoals before unseen,