The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-10-10
NUMBER ;.
stray ETOatings from the Camp,
DRAWING RATIoNS.

There are some episodes in the life of
| a soldier provocative of laughter, and that
serve to disperse In measure the ennui
of camp life. This is one of them:
A farmer, who did not reside as far
from the camp of a certain regiment as he
could have wished, was accustomed TO find
every morning that several rows of pota-
toes had mysteriously disappeared from
his field the preceding night. He bore it
for some time, but when the last half of
his field of fine "kidneys" began to 90, he
imbibed the notion that the joke had been
carried far enough, and he determined to
stop it. Accordingly, he made visit to
the camp early the next morning, and
amused himself by making observations
as to whether the soldiers were provided
with good and wholesome provisions He
had not proceeded far when he found one
of the 'boys" just serving up dish of
"kidneys," which looked marvelously like
those his gudewife brought to his own ta-
BILE at home.
Whereupon he halted, and the follow
ing colloquy ensued:
'Have fine potatoes here, see."
"Splendid! % was the reply.
"Where do you get them ?''
"Draw them!'
"Does the Government furnish potatoes
in your ratiOns z"
"Nary potato p'
81 thought you said just now that you
drew them"
"We just do that thing!''
'But hoU, if they are not included in
your rations ?'
Easiest thing in the world,' said the
soldier, as he seated himself at the table
opposite the smoking vegetables; every
easy. In fact nothing could be easier
We draa0 'em by the tops mostly !-some-
times with hoe, if one is left In the field
But we draw 'em !"
"H'm! yes / understand! Well, if
you will agree to draw no more potatoes
from my field, 1 will bring you basket
every morning-and draw them myself"
Three cheers and tiger were given for
the farmer, and since then his potatoes
have remained undisturbed
THE Cow-BELL DODGE.
The rebels have resorted to an ingeni-
Gus way Of Turing our men into their
snares. 1t is known as the "cow-bclI
dodge" and was very successful for
time, especially with newly-arrived regi-
ments, companies of which were placed on
picket for the first time. Approaching
within thirty or forty rods of our outposts,
and concealing themselves in the woods,
they commence the irregular tinkle of a
cow bell. The uninitiated picket, not
suspectlng the ruse, and not yet reconciled
to drinking his coffee without milk, goes
out to obtain a supply from the supposed
COW of some Virginia rebel, flattering him
sclfthat he has got "big thing on Sc
sesh." Not until he finds himself sur
rounded by a half dozen or so armed rebels
does he learn his mistake. In Richmond
are nearly a dozen of our soldiers who are
probably now regretting their ready Gre
dulity and their appetite for milk.
A GOOD REToRT.
A Presbyterian clergyman, while walk
ing the deck of steamer at St. Johns,
New Brunswick, where secessionism has
obtained considerable footing, noticed the
American flag flying from the masthead
of a ship, and tauntingly said to Federal
Colonel who was present:
"Why don't you take slice off that
flag, since you have lost portion of your
country"
Yankec-like, the Colonel quickly re-
piled:
'Why don't you tear leaf from your
Bible because part of your church have
fallen from grace?"
The clergyman had no more to. say on
the subject.
DIDN'T SEE 1T.