Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-19
Nj | S C E l. l. A N Y,
THE BARREL MOVEMENT.
A SKETCH OF CAMP LIFE ON THE RIO CRANDE.
BY SOLITAIRE.

When the ST. Louis Legion was encamped on
the Island, at the mouth of the Brazos Santiago
the boys began, for the first tlme to feel the incon-
venience f"Uncle SaIn's'' fodder arrangements
not that they expected to find "chcken fxins' ev-
cry morning; but they at least felt confident the
beans would he nourishng. About | O'Clock A.
NJ, every day, the little round vegetables were put
IN the camp Kettles and in an hour, or probably an
hour and half, were served out To those skill
ed In the matter of dried beans, we need not ex-
PLAIN how little effect one hours boiling would have
upon them. The different messes cracked away,
however, chewed the hard pebbles up ard left Off
their meals In very unsatisied manner. few
DAYS had scarcely elapsed, when general grumble
was set In circulation, against the commissary de-
Partment, Uncle Sam, and his beans, in particular.
One tall volunteer, swore in the mess, that he
would cross the main land, and provision himself
If he had to eat live Ranclero, before he would
starve on such fare his comrades chmed in with
his rebellous 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
off the party started. In the course of few hours,
one came strolling into camp with bundle under
his arm. and as he passed the sentry on the way to
the tent, he was accosted with
"Joe, what luck had you?"
ooh" says Joe, 81 only killed gutter sniper'
"Well,' says the sentry, ''that is the largest
snipe, Judging from the bundle, have ever seen.
Let me look at his bill"
Joe uncovered 1t, and there was the snout of as
fine young pig ever poked his nose into swll
tub. Both wlnked at each other, exchanged quiet
grlns, and then the snipe was carefully carried to
quarters. In few moments along came another of
the mess, who reported that he had only secured a
haunch of .'sIo'o deer" young caif; and, to
wind up the captured game of the party, three
more appeared, carrying quarter Of 'short horn
ed eK," which some envous members of other
messes declared looked if it might have been the
''sto,c deer's mammy!" The spoils were put to-
gether and covered over after which the mess went
into council of war upon how to get something to
wash down the game and make the whole affair a
comfortable one.
"Do you think You can execute barrel noue-
ment, boys?" said an Orderly belonging to the mess
''What is it like?" was the general inquiry.
"Simply this" said the Sergeant, '.the Com
mssary General is landing stores down at the beach,
among which is first-rate brandy for the officers,
and If we could only make one of his half-barrels
keep step in the hollow square, we might easily ex-
ecute the new march of barrel movements
All the mess expressed themselves ready for du-
ty instanter, and having added few more rank
and file to the enterprise, off they started ON com
mendably earnest march, to practise the new drill
The hollow square was admirably formed and re-
formed half dozen times before they reached the
beach. Advancing in line towards the Conmissa-
rvs stores, with rapid evolution they formed a.
round lqnor cask, and commenced their march
back across the Island.
The drill was now full Of interest-it was new
and one OF the leuenants attracted by the strange
man9uvering, approached them just as they were
performing hollow square countermarch He OBJ
served one OF the men carrying two muskets, and
thought it queer, but glance at the centre of the
squad explained the secret a strong volunteer
was keeping the barrel rolling i'll the insde-thcy
were representing square retreatng with stores,
and it was really beautiful, the skill with which
they did it Now the barrel roller would get tired
and the squad would countermarch while another
took his place; again discovery would threaten
and they would close up TO receive cavalry charge
and thus, moving with caution and steadiness they
reached small sand hill in the rear OF the camp.
Now commenced some brilliant slow movements
all in spot, which were followed by the squad
forming line again, and moving into camp. At the
spot where the squad broke, fresh hilocl of sand
might have been discovered, by those only, howev-
er, who knew the former levelness Of the spot
The lieutenant who had critically watched the
manGuverng of the men, congratulated the Orderly
on the perfection of their drill. The subordinate
looked him in the eye, and knew, by the slight cur
| in the muscles of his face, that he 'smoked" the
new tactics so touching his cap politely, he asked
the officer, if, when they had cooked their game
he would accept slice?
eff the cook in your mess seasons it carefully
and it's not orerdone, wouldn't mind tasting it ,
says the lieutenant
The Orderly winked, and they separated. /
was refreshing to an old campaigner, lust to SCI
how "guter snipe "'EshOr- horned elk - and "sov
deer" were disposed Of in the mess which executed
the above described strange drill and, after tha
night it became a bye-word, when volunteer wa
seen moving in zigzsg fashion, that he was practs
ing the Jegon's new march, called the ''b0rve
moUement."