The Constitutional. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1860-1861, 1861-04-27

after file disappearing among the trees and
brush, the wagons of the transportation
department come down upon the wharf to
load, while couple OF men who are sick
are taken into the ambulance, which is a
light, covered wagon with springs. These
baggage wagons are quite an constitution"
The toughest and muddiest miscellaneous
connection Of wheels, axles and frames,
with temporary plank sides, drawn by
seven small but tough mules, they look
like the Impoverished ghosts of deceased
plantation trucks. But it must be admit
ted they are quite good enough for the
roads, which, in some places where they
have been ploughed by water gullies and
are crossed by streams, are not the smooth
est or the safest. On the march the waq-
ons keep together in long line, so that in
case of one of them getting stalled or bro
ken, they can be of mutual assistance.
There was but little need of them as far rs
the Zouares were concerned, for the men
had no arms or accOutrements, and each
one had his blanket slung around tho
shoulder, aud his tin plate and cup, knife
and fork at his belt. The only baggage
was small trunk for each officer, aud
three days rations Of pork, bacon and bis
cults for the. mcn, with their camp kitchen
utensils. The master characterization who
accompanied this detachment was one of
the contractors, Capt. Campbell, a soldier
OF the Mexican and Niearaglan wars, and
a gentleman in every way, whose unre-
hitting attention, kindness and geniality
won the estimation of every one.
THE CAMP
Having diseinbaked at Halls Landing
in the afternoon, and the wagons being
some time getting loaded, the detachment
only matched three miles, to the neiglbor-
hood Ola fine spring of water, where they
baited TOR the night and cooked their din
ner. \ sgTad of men are detailed from
each company TO doibs cooking, and, in
consequence, arerelievcd from guard noun
ting and other duties calling upon their time
and exertion. 1t takes but few minutes
to chop the fire wood and lay a green
branch across two upright f.Tked sticks,
upon which the kettles ara hung and the
food cooked in them. The acting Quarter
master. serves out the proper rations for
each meal to the Orderly, or other non
commissioned officer acting rs Quartermas-
ter's Sfrgeanf For convenience, the men
are divided into messes of ten or twelve
each, which is an arrangement left 70 them
selves, so that friends can mess together
1t is:an indisputable fact that Il chunk
of fat pork, or piece of boiled bacon, with
biscuit hard as the rock of Glbral n ,
would not chreriully be called for BY an
cpicure who entrusted such Il responsible
duty as the qualification of his pala.e TO
the experienced cook of Nictor'S. Doubt
less many beautiful eye will be dirnmcd
bya sympathetic tcar-drop at the reflection
that soldiers cannot get pastry for their
desert at dinner. But could any one SEE
how suddenly the pork and biscuit disap-
pear in camp dinner, washed down ~
coffee without milk or sugar, or, better still
could they enjoy the sauce piqaaatc, result
ting from asoldier's life, they could readily
appreciate how rearly mess pork is trans
tormeI into the most delicious morscl.
Dinner having been dispatched with
but little ceremony and no loss of time, tho
men look about them for protection during
the night, and that shclter is necessary
every one can tell from the startYess sky
aTd the dePp moaning Of the wind anon.
the trec-iops presaGng a storm before
many hours. Part ot a consignment Of
tents tor the Mississippi brigade going
Over TO thcIr destination are unpacked and
erected IN few IG9Asn,s, each company
having two rows of three each, and that Of
the officers occupying the space bctwcca
the two squares, The work OF the dav b,
. | I..I l.. a
fires lighted, and until the tap sound, at
nine O'Clock tor all to retire the men DISPOSE
themselves for enjoyment.
The dark mantle of night is spread over
the earth, and now Camp Dictionary Gs
it was named by the WEN in honor Of fL.
captain 6f the Filth Company forms r
scene truly worthy OF an artists study and
admiration. The towering pines, unclad
with foliage, nearly So ,heiy tops, the snow
white tents and the congregation of bag
! gage wagons in the distance are revealed
he strong contrasts of light ana shade
made by the watch fires. Around these
blazing, cracking heaps of brush the men
are encircled in g.'1ups, some standing 9th
ers reclining, and few wrapped III th'iY
blankets on the ground, hile "lOng tho
limits are pacing the silent but watcnfu'
sentrics. 1t is at such time as this that
the gay and picturesque uniform of tho
Zouave is seen to the best advantage His
jaunty red calotte worn far back ulun the
head, with its long blue tassel dangling
over his shoulders, his blue tightfttinp
vest and loose jacket, trimmed with red
his loose red flannel trousers confined at
the knee, and the black leggings and whito
eaiter tops, all 90 TO the making OF HI
appearance, which is truly that IF Il sol
| dier.
There are many other good singers in
this and the other companies, and the live
ly refrains Of France are not the only ones
heard around the camp fires. From the in
spring "Marseillaise" and the touching
Annie Laurie" to the firemens breakdown