Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1862-05-08
For the Journal.
Psr.onal Experiences In LInOOIndom.

II was cold and cherries Sunday morning that saw
consigned to the custody of Uncle Sam. Ali nature
draped in snowy mantle of spotless whie-strange
contrast to the supposed backness of the uckess Sc
m now ushered within the sacred precincts Of immacu
6te LOYALTY! We bad now arrived in the kingdom of
ld tape be marshal delivered US at the gate to the
Eenrv he to the corporal of the guard he to the eff
her Of The guard be TO the officer Of the day and he
h the Commandant aud this last ordered us to the
Brard house Here we had assigned as separate reom
BDe generally used by the officers of the guard or day.
Tor making up their reports We had barely time to
ok ao ut, when Major Eddy presented bimself-Maj.
ing had 3st gone to Louisville. He looked rather
yell advanced in years, stouty built and to judge from
appearances, devoted worshoper Of the Rosy God
BE- bowed politely, wished us good morning, and said
WELL sir, for what are you here ?" That" we an-
wered "is the very question we were about to ask you
r " q can't tell you. NE nave nothing against you
" are constantly having people sent here, many of
b perfectly Innocent, and if such your case sir
hope ii will be cleared up meantime IRE must
bbey orders, and our orders to keep you We can
bot help it, and not to be blamed for we have moth
Dg 10 say in the matter"
Before proceeding further candor impels US to say
that reatm ut here amongst the regulars was char
Bcrr7z d by nothing cowardIy no unnecessa-
~ yeriieS no insult or petty spite We were treat
I'd by the 'thcars with courtesy aud pOlteness and by
b. men with clvIhty AMI respect. We were none the
cst strictly guarded, however.
We became as Intimate as we could, under the cir
cusanCes VITA several Of the ci.ers of the regiment
N garrison the lG Infantry, most OF them were gen
tmsn although there exceptions and they occur
be- 10 this wise and much to the disgust OF the regular
;gTc-: When he bill Tor Increasing the regular ar
Dr was pass d, 10 secure ts efficiency it was enacted
that all the first Lieutenants saOnld be promoted from
M the best recommended commissioned Ulcers
I pOhuclauS had previously in view Of the passage
81 the law packed The army with their friends and rela
tons who by some means had been made sergeants and
UTpo!as ana then, as SUCH were, by heir friends re-
aud duly commissioned to the vacancies
l. {. G morning the young awkward squad were drilled
by The same men whom, later in the day. MeY in turn
1rcd 1t was amusing to hear the blunders they made
he occupant, Immediately preceding US in our room
Wa' certain mysterious Colonel Alexander of Mssou-
H. who was arres ed as q spy. After three weeks con-
lnement here, he was released, order from Wash
ug'On lie went across the river to Cincinnati and
while chaIeTng IN the quarermasters about transpOr-
uon, ne was again arrested on Stewards order as an
mposteT and we lost sight OF him. A bout the same
tins Col Washington, claiming kin to the Washing
to-, was arrested and SENT believe to the capitol
We we're much surprised to such an amount of
Drunkenness IN the garrison every day there were
cJumtta5 One sergeant got into fight with our
Ear'eyoT, wife OF another sergeant and she proved
herself the better man. The male dslinuuent got
nights lodging in the guard-house The old SERGEANT
My had hi OF detIr1um hemenS and was mt to the
tuaIy and the non commissioned officers hid their
b. g 10 cur apartment We shall never forget the
aIsg OF uur loneliness and desoation that came over
Us the INST night OF our captivity, when, after tattoo
the guard came H. removed the light and closed the
door, barring 1t outside. AS heard the KEY crate in
tie pad OK and threw ourselves upon the straw pallet
W" thinking OF home ard til we loved felt almost in
l)-paIr, and IN such bitter frame OF mind, that we
hope the future viii spare as from the like. The long
weary ught crept slowly silently alCng broken but
by the RELIEF guards tramp and challenge and the oc
4r.I t-fI n o h. i
Ian vas the tine when home memories and home
lrActiS crowded W, In their intensity, bewilderng the
mind ID vague ocean of dread uncert ainty The food
VS. brought IN huge tin pals and wooden treDchers
Tue very sight OF which Weaned US rom any desire TO
par,aEe OF the mess and told the fellow TO save him
Sell The trouble OF coming to our room, we could not
Nt sucA uH. he old fellow, a German paid no at
tauon, save by nodding his head and saying: " Very
Eyo-yeTy gont, you will be rite glad fore you gets
any oder w were fortunate enough to get our meals
sent 10 from Sergeant Hot8-his wife was English and
cooked weII-tor this we paid IS cents daily. Besides
Da average OF about fifteen twenty Of the garrison
there tyeyen rebels ncarcerated near u.s. not one of
whom had born arms. All were farmers, accused Of
eesslon PrOd1UHleS these, with the military prison
ts were mustered at roll call in the square, morning
and evening but from this we were exempted On
vcra occasions drummers and 6fers, boys from 2 to
Yeas, were confDt tor drunkenness
We were much amused at Young Lieut. H order
tae street-mere Slips o. lads Our indignant young
LJL said he would teach them more respect for an
.ued States officer, and let them know the conse
q1ences OF insulting gentleman. This young Lincoln
r sprig OF gentllty had been conductor on branch
railway ID =, nnsyvana. We could not help recalling
our own "reminiscences Of sn)w-baing, which, in ouI
DAY aud country was the school boys Jubilee and wo,
heJlde any uuIucky wight who should appeal to The
cIyu arm instead OF his own or his heels
Among the garrison prisoners was one fellow, ar
o'g'naI,-"a ioow OF Infinite jest an old tar caleC
JACK NIumo who was as good US Piay He haC
enlisted while on spec, and he made about as Iudi
cToUs sold eT as one can conceive. He would by hook
or by crook, by fair or foul get liquor and getting it
De "0Wd get oruik. lie took special fancy for u!
ASA our room and 1t was amusing the various expe
dents he Tell upon to gain admission to the Captn a:
NE styled u.s. AT one time the Cdpt'n wanted Goals al
)tLT ms room swept Oat and 50 forth and on gain
ing aJmlttance he performed bis self allotted task
IoN'Tg ard PH11"g yarns, and closing the performance
ny gr'lug enough change from the C0ptn for what b.
-lIItd l~T one sui SHOIter. He WAS SO good naurpd
and 50 Iuu OF lun, that, except when he was reaii
drunk, ana at such times he was unmanageable an(
found ms level IN one OF the underground cells b
always escaped punishment by bis droIIery. He hat
o7en, 10 use his own elegant phrase a land lubber
hauId up high and dry for four months" about weel
only which time he had been clear Of the guard house
h'ut H. was wiring his report and we were seated OF
me cot when Jack came siding in Ike crab wit kin!
aside at US and putting his finger syy in certain rea
ton to his nose oF the officers back was turned to
wards hm) - CoPt'n," says he, twitching stra,
oTeock so as to jerk bis head to something approaching
bow, AMI at the same time scrapiug his foot like th
6ockshoitlt OF b0rnpipe-" Ga t0," addressing thu
Lieut. I'm come to cean out this yere gentleman, tn
GaPrnS stove; suppose its all right Capt'n." Yes
Jack II this gentleman wants to have the stove ceane
OUT It's all right, but Jack when you address me- Civ
me- my right title; I'm only Lieutenant, not Cap
n 7 7
Jack, AMI with this be was shuf ng out with surges
tive eer 10 the corner of his eye hiching up the wais
band OF his trousers. Hillo Jack where are yo
gong Z" Why I'm going to get something, to ri
up ratln' TO get aiott and unshp the runnn gear
this yere galley.