The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-10-18
SELECT TALES.
PAR NooNAN's DODGE


rest--a strong attachment for the ANNA
ted liquid. ..
But that is one Of the many luxuries
that Uncle Sans "men Of war" are not
permitted to indulge in largely--their f.
Itat,ces seldom being in condition to
warrant il, and the rules and regulations"
strictly forbidding it. But an infringe.
ment upon the latter occasionally takes
place at "pay day." for instance, the on
. iy time when soldier is supposed to have
any money. About these times, the gar
rison generally presents pretty lively
appearance, and the guard-house more
zpirited one.
shall never forget the first "pay day."
and probably hundreds of others who par
ticipated in the grand "plug muss" with
Mexico, still retain as vivid recollection
Of it rs I do. II occurred at Puebla, four
or i've months after our enlistment; and
Of course each man had pretty consid-
cradle "pile" due him; and in the expect
aney Of receiving ''pay in full TO date"
many Of the men indulged in antieipations
ofa-"gay old time Bat soldiers, like
all other people, are not free from disap-
pointment--as was evidenced on this oc-
casiou. When the men were called up to
the desk .f the pay master, they were in.
formed by the Official, that in consequence
Of the small amount Of funds in his pos
sess;on--and for various other reasons
l,ut ,v,te dollar could be allowed each man
and that il wins the desire Of the comman
in.chicf that that amount though small,
sionl,l he invested IN vegetables and 9TH
cr eatablcs that did not come under the
head of conlmss,ry stores, and which
Wo1td coadncc 10 the lieaItl, Of tie
troops.
One sa!;tory JolioIi Whew! Gra,c
,u.I sts >
l"g tr,h:lgs,i IN atoat rnis :iiur--nGt,
i'pwee e, until li,ry bad lefl lh" preScnc.
u ,lepA5 msS,er.
-. scI..ls, Cp}le S.,,i. psA .,nfstcr., /,
,r veery o.r else We're un,, c,saI,y damn
ed ag.f by RsitSa;" Tic s,nno h'v, il
wa pres,y cyitc,,, i!,at th- men had s-
l9u sacoe}!y resolve 70 down their Dis
nppumtMcnt in Cop,pns ana irrqm,Lt
inn hts al agpyditHte. Tllis ogH,rdj u
r. i. au Intoxicating beYcragr. ,naiuI.l-
rdrei in Mexico s,niik,r, IN cosor paric
IA ri to our ciicap"sa alli key --but ten
t,.ics worSc ~ is ellcc.s. IL would very
appropriately come under the heal #
fg'tlin9 ruin, from the beliigcrcut effect
4 prjdIccs npJn giigsc WI !nihihc IL; ia
sh"r ~ the ing ag Of u f,cetious com
" d ;, 1t would -, j ilnn,irrl yard" II
i,sa,preScr. very cheap liqu"r and con,
sequrnIly IL t,pk same two a three dars
10 exhaust eacl, mans dollar. And such
~ three ,laysl Guard houses filed To
merhuwing, Skeleton companes on raie
men "buckrd ani gagged" in short, the
garrison hal more thcappeannce uf Pan
iemon,um, than the quarters Of a discip
lined regimen.
Aftor- the greatest vigilance on the part
Of the officers TO prevent liquor being
brought into ihe garrison, they had sue
ceedcsl ia'ressofing comparative order
tlic men began TO get sobcred, and Of
course appeared more like soldiers. by
an order is ued by the Colonel, no man
was permitted to leave the garrison after
Retreat" and At any time Of day, every
mar, as he entered the garrison, was
searched by the officer Of the guard, to
see tha; he had no conrabani goods Sc
rfete,l abon, his person. OF curse, with
this prccauliol,, il required an immense
Pr,nlity Of ingenuity Ia slnngg!e any IL
quor IN garrisbp. Many, therefore, were
tue dcv,cs.s f5n.,T;s,' - Sos .ssat ;,:spe7e.
aDJ 80 0c lew wcse successful.
We we're qiariere.l, at lhis tune, in an
,3i,l g,rrison formerly occupied by the
Mexlcan troops. Each company oceaPic,l
a seperate room. While passing one OF
t.Ie~e rooms one day--ihe door at which
Od ajar--iny attention was attracted
a,y ss,ne conversation, that was being in
,dalgel D.by IL occupants, .fgaerri,spte,
aDil how 70 slhaggle n quantity offt INTO
the garriso',, was ilis subject. There were
some SIX oreight men in the room --some
playing car.ls, one or two stretched out
npoB tI,eir biaake,s, luxusialing in l.ttle
rialmy sheep. While others we're busy
lipe-claying theis helts. and DurBlshing
sl,eir ,nuskess, DC, dc.
took q posiiipl who're epuld hear all
'tlmt wss said.
"Cons. boys. says one, '.lei's splice -,
"a shilling apicce- shstf vilIsgst slI We
,ssBnt." 4sss
'Y,g. but how II.e devil are We TO 1vt
i u, here I" inquired another.
"A woe'i Us it,r ssys ihinL
a eta,a IS ,lass which e. hei s,eps
fai..s ahiad 5ol.es f,rihe sAd6haktfe
,ta n,plgrsA aipl q 4 ssrsma, trial.
Fheres Pa, bell ga,r suggesissl AD
ofliee
elIvli a,lsis MI ID IL iny bcs see ip
yous oail scfsp,s.. saia ia.
ptt Nspaeii Nls Hslle, mi caeysseis
irsanaa sI~Nss 'sp foln e,ieslger RS,
a opni Il ista practice wheu. y. sousd
pay, and ,eIdom iaiiins q succsss