At the battle of Winchester a young soldier was detailed for duty in guarding army property. He stood to his post until about the time his regiment made its famous charge, when he “made a break” for that regiment, joined it, and helped in the two desperate charges that decided the day. The young soldier was brought before a court-martial, and he came up with tears streaming down his face, and between sobs said: “You may shoot me if you must, but ‘dad’ told me, on leaving home, that when there was any fighting going on I must be in the thickest, and I was. Now, if you want your ’stuff’ guarded when there is a fight, somebody besides me must do it.” The boy “Alex,” of Bedford, was let off on that plea, and after ever proved one of the best soldiers in his regiment.

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