The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-02

FelicitIes OF = IIcEImcntaI Quarter
! master.
Acorrespondent Of the Herald with the
army of the Potomac, says
In the present dearth Of interesting and
exciting news from this section, have
been induced to record the trials and mis-
| cries Of that much abused class Of off,
GERS known sQuartermasters, that others
may be warned in time to avoid their fate.
Stories have been told of large sums hav-
ing been paid by deluded individuals for
situations as Rcgimental Quartermasters
These stories may have been true: but
to judge from the universal testimony OF
the QuartermasteTs hereabOuts, it must
have been done under some very singular
hallucinations as 70 the cmoluments TO be
derived from such a situation. Look, for
a moment, upon yonder man who wears
a pair Of First Lieutenants shoulder
straps, and exhibits carewarn and des-
pairing countenance, as he, bestriding q
Mcclellan saddle ON an animal of the
equine species, conveys train of "long-
cared locomotives attached to army
wagons
In his breast pocket he carries huge
file Of papers, and worried heart be-
meath IT, Well that is a Rpgimental
Quartcrmaster, as is indicated by the
mysterious 80, d." upon the poor devils
shoulder straps. This is, however, by
no means necessary TO identify him. His
species is as plainly stamped upon his
countenance rs the miscries Of his situa-
ton are certain The horrors Of the Gin
QUESTION" are nothing to the horror of
requisitionw The regiment on the
one hand, and the Government on the
other, are the SCylla and Chary bdis-the
upper and neither milestone, between
which the poor Regimental Quartcrmaster
is ground TO powder.
The regiment demand the Government
rations in all their variety and abundance,
under all circumstances and in all places,
and the extra ration of whisky TO boot.
If these arc not forthcoming they take
the recreant Regimental Quartermaster by
the throat. with "pay me what thou
| owest." Should the regiment be mystic
riously set down in the night in the
midst Of the great Desert of Sahara, after
a grand skedaddle from some Oriental
Richmond, wherein all their camp aud
| garrison equipage should be lost, the
! Quartermaster would be most ferociouslv
cursed for not furnishing at once whisky
! and canteens for the men, and whisky
and wall tents for the officers.
Like Pip" he is the victim Of "great
expectations" lie is expected to commit
TO memory, and TO have always in lively
recollection, three fourths of the Army
! Regulations" which seem TO have been
printed for his special benefit and deec-
| tation. lie is expected to sell clothing
aud commissary stores to the officers on
| tick, and TO forget the same on pay day.
lie is expected, as q personal favor for
each Of his particular friends--the thir-
! ty-seven field, staff and line Olilcers--tO
carry eighty pounds Of extra baggage,
under the guise of "liXed ammunition :"
| and he is expected by the Government 20
use only six sickly teams 10 do IL with
/ He Is expected 30 purchase candies aud
! supply headquarters gratis. lie is eX-
pected TO spend three hours per diem at
! Adams Express Office, and pay all extra
charges for the privilege Of getting pack
| ages for the regiment. iIe is expected
J 10 DC On tilt htlN III an NiB
TO care for the wounded-and at the
same time TO be drawing rations TO dis
tribute TO the men when the Fight is
over.
In drawing goods from the Government
he must produce as many names as would
ill respectable city directory, answer
| all questions In the Quariermaster's short
er catechism with pious meekness, and,
after being Shadrached through the fiery
furnace, learns that he can only draw a
very vulgar fraction Of the articles re-
quired. His regiment accuses him of
fraud in his issues, and the Government
of fraud in his acquisitions while an
indignant public at home, viewing the
emaciated forms of returned soldiers,
anathematize the damned Quartcrmas-
ters"
My youthful friend, anxious 10 serve
your country aud win glory on the tent
ed field, wien you join the army enlist
in the ranks, or set up as sutler, sell
the newspapers, serve as an hostler or a
cook, turn reporter anything, even to
Joining the crowded ranks Of Brigadier-
Generals but don't, as you value yonr
peace in the service and your reputation
at home, don't turn Regimcntal Quar-
| teTmaster.