The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1846-10-15
THE BARREL MOVEMENT.
A Sketch of Camp Life ON the Rio
Grande.
BY SOLITAIRE.

bt oOLhIAAhh.
When the ST. Louis Legion was encamp-
ed on the island, at the mouth Of The Brazos
Santiago, the boys began, for the FIRST time,
to feel the inconvenience Of "UnclS Sans"
fodder arrangements--no that they expect
ed to find "chicken fxins'' every morning,
bat they at least felt confident the beans
would be rourishing. About eleven o'clock,
A. M, every day, the little round vegetables
were put in the camp kettles, in an hour or
probably an hour and half, were served
out. To those skilled in the matter of dried
beans, we need not explain how little effect
one hours beiling would have upon them
The different messes cracked away, howev.
er, chewed the hard pebbles up, and left of
their meals in very unsatisied manner A
few days had scarcely elapsed, when gen
eral grumble was set in circulation against
the cemmissary department, Uncle Sam,
and his beans, in particular. One tall vol
unteer, swore, in the mess, that he weald
Cross 10 the main land and provision himself,
if he had to eat live Ranchero, before he
would starve on such fare; his comrades
chimed in with bis rebellious resolve, and
all of them asked leave Of the Captain to
take short excursion for few hours, in
search of game. Leave was granted, and of
the party started. In the course of a few
hours, one came strollng into camp with
bundle under his arm, as he passed the sentry
on the way 10 their tent, he was accoEted with
"Jo, what luck had youi"
"Oh," says Jo, 81 only killed 'gatfer
snipen"
"Well," says the sentry, s'ihat is tho lar
gest snips, judging from the bundle, I've ev-
er seen. Let me lock at his biN."
| 10 uncovered it, and there was the snoui
efas fine young pig as ever poked his nose
into swll tub. Both winked at each othel
exchanged quiet grins, and then the snip
was carefully covered and carried to quar-
ters. In few moments along came aneth
er of the mess. who reported that hs had ea
IN secured haunch of"a slow DEER" j. Q.
yeung calf; and, to wind up the captured
game Of the party three more appeared, car
ryng quarter Of "shert horned elk" which
some envous members of ether messes do
clared looked as jfit might have been the
sslo,o deer's" mammy!-The spois were
put together and covered over, after which
the mess went into council Of wal
upon how to get somsthiDg TO wash down
the game, and make the whole afflir com
fortable.one.
"Do you think you can execute "barre
movement" boys'" said an Orderly belong
ing to. the mess.
"What is it like?" was the general in
qury.
!; "Simply this,n says the Sergeant; "th'
Commissary General is landing stores dow
at the beach, ameng which is some first rat
/ brandy for the officers, and if we could onl
make one of his half barrels keep step in
hollow square, we might easily execute th
new march Of a barrel movement"
f All the mess express I'd themselves read
for duty instanler, and, having added fe'
more rank and file to the enterprise, of the
: started on a commercially earnest march, t
: practice the new drill. The hollow squar
was admirably formed and reformed half
! dozen times before they reached the beach
{ and, advancing in line towards the Conmis
8 sary's store, with rapid evolution they fo
= med around liquor cask, and commence
9 their march back across the island. Th
: drill was now full Of interest--it was new
a and one Of the Lieutenants, attracted by III
n strange manoevering, approached them iu
u as they were performing a hollow-squal
y couniermarch. lie observed one oflhe me
carrying two muskets, and thought il quee