Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-19

CANT NEAR YIcKsBeBs, MISS,
E.h-..r- r.Lh 1880

CAMP NEAR NIcKsBERG, MISS, Q
February 18th. 1852. 5
EDS. C0LUMBUs Sun Most Of the citizens Of
bis belsagured little city, arc in exile, aud their
beautiful houses are occupied By 3 set Of fine
gentlemen, who, dressed upin a little brief au-
thority," assume q p0mPons ar OF cfhcisl dig
nity, That would render any OF our great gsner-
ais ladicrous. They are called staff officers, and
10 look at their fine clothes, one would suppose
that the blockade bad been raised or ct least
that they had been where some vessel had run it.
Isaw Lieutenaa -Genersl Pemberton, attend
ed By two Heterogeneous and several staff OH
GERS, riding along the street the other day,
and any enc Of the staff officers had more gold
lace on IFS coat than all the three Generals
had en- theirs. Il Is = rare thing to see
a staff officer, who is not dressed in the
most costly and showy material. Gentle
men of the cOmmissery and qusrtermaster's
departments, are especially noted for their POM
positv and ine clothes. The army depends upon
thsm for its Pay, its clothing and its meat and
bread. They know the power this dependence
gives them, and use it. To their eol0nels and
generals. however, from whom they receive their
appointments, they are very oblgmg. Look
upon thin picture and then upon that. Here Is
a soldier in camp. He rises from his hard bed
in the morning al the best Of the drum ct early
dawn, and puts on his dirty, Eithy, lousy clothes
TElONNca AAAtNa AtFNH AVuoI AAk AEA&40k hAC
soldier is slotbtal and lazy, but because the com
miss.ry in hisafne clothes and qnatters in town,
has failed to get him any soap tor three weeks
and be had not tho money to pay hty cents a
garment, to have them washed in the neighbor'
hood. and perhaps could not have had it done if
he bad the money.
HIS hreaklas is soon cooked and he sits down
to corn bread, beef molassss and nee. His
bresd is made Of meal almost as cosrse IS gTits.
He could not sift his meal fer want Of a sitter.
His beef IS SO poor that it locks blue. He breaks
his bread, picks out tbe half and whole grains
Of corn, remarking that they will do to parch,
brRgs about old buck being more tender and
sweet than usual, wonders If the old fellow had
fat enough in him to grease 3 pair Of shoes, rises
from his breakfast singing Dixie, and shoulders
his gun for 4 twenty four hours tour on guard.
How different is the situation of this quarter
master 10 town. The sun is far on its way to
the west and still the qua tsImsster fingers in
his warm feather bed. No wonder ne fingers
for be was engaged late last night in e little
game of cards vita bis neigbbor, the e0maais-
sary across the street, with 2 bottle Of brandy
and g small stake OF fifty dollsrs to make the
game interesting. His servant GENES into the
loom, sets his brightly polished boots by the
bed, aud remarks that breakfast Is ready. The
qusrieFnaster yawns, looks around his comfort
able room With sn air of dreamy satisfaction,
and rises with evident Dissatisfaction, makes his
toilet, takes 3 drink from the remains of last
nights bottle aud sits down TO no tbiseuit, but
Ter, old Bio coffee. old ham and fresh pork. But
ne has no appetite and cannot est. Aelerk en-
ters 20 say that Captain - hiss como for
some shoes for some Of bis men, that be says
are entirely bsrefooted
The quRrtermastef says be is uEable to attend
70 business to day, and Capt. - will have 70
call some other time rises from tie table, picks
up the morning paper, and goes back ts his
rom, telling his-seIvant that be must not be
disturbed daring he day. These pictuTas do. not
do justice to the soldier. He should DO seen
altar standing on picket a day and night in the
swamps in the rain, and the rain stjll pouring
doTaO on him,and bis dirty clothes saturated with
mad The previous day should have been Issue
day, but the cOmmissaY could not leave MS
comfortable quazsers in town and go ont ia the
rain wI.h his fine clothes to procure T~Ati0Rs, and
sends word 10 the regiment that be has failed ta
! get any beef. Hence the soldier breakfasts on
wet corn bread, or perhaps nothing at eli 10 eat.
There are few soldiers in the army WHO have not
Witnessed ALL have described, ami yet few
grunble so li51e as the soldiers Of the Southern
army am happy, however, 10 BE- able to state
hat there are many noble exeeptions TO all this.