The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1864-08-25

{ was near Bloomer, for knew he would
give me some beef tea. Woke up mex.
morning and found straggler making
coffee. Immediately made his acoua,n-
| tance and said army coffee was mighty
good; straggler said yes, and immediately
began to tell how many battles he had
been In. Interrupted straggler with the
remark that [ had not had anything to
ear for three days. Straggler looked at
tentively ut me, (hope began 20 revive in
my tender BOSOM and said, sby George
you must be awful hungry" and drank
up all the coffee. Rose up in desperation
and got in the ambulance.
Three men minus one pedestal each drink
ing beef tea and laughing; ambulance
started and performed feat hitherto un-
known it succeeded in going to Freder-
icksburg, five miles, before night Arri-
wing in that town, was shown into room
Man in room told me could have place
one foot and half wide between a man
with a leg off and one minus an arm.-
Respectfully declined, and man told me I
need not put on airs. Felt too weak to
demonstrate, and told him was not put
ting on airs, but would like to have some
beef tea. Man told me to go to the stew
ard /; went to the steward steward told
me to go to the ward doctor went to the
ward doctor; ward doctor told me tO 60 to
the division surgeon; division surgeon told
me to make an application in writing, and
he would forward it to the medical direc-
cor, and if he approved of it, he (the
division surgeon) would order the ward
doctor to tell the steward to command the
man to give me some beef tea.
Left the hospital in disgust; went two
squares in town and saw fat woman
standing in door; asked her if she was
Union woman, aud she said, 'ot course"
Felt encouraged, and asked her if she had
any beef tea that could get small cup
full of, without sending petition numer-
ously signed by the most respectable citi-
liens in town, through the proper military
channels, to Mr.. Lincoln. She said she
had some beef in the house and could give
me some tea III about six hours, but she
never had or never would have eatin
between meals in her house. | tried my
winning smile to coax her, but she said [
had gone without CO.. so long, few hours
would make no difference; she said L
could 60 to bed and sleep it off. She gave
me a bed and some apple jack; got on the
bed and drank up the apple jack ; felt good
and tolerably happy; asked the old wo-
man if she didn't belong to the +. f. VS.;
she said yes, and they never could be
conquered. I told her that she was
brick. She intimated that it would not
be safe to run against bricks. ] replied
that we would not run against them, but
would smash them. Old woman got up
and told me she had no beef tea for
and saked me to :eave.
Thought would make love to the old
lady, and began by asking her if she was
married. She said "yes, twice" Asked
her if her maritals were both dead. "No
they int" said she, "they're neither of
them dead" Felt Mortified, and asked
for an explanation. Woman said one
husband was In j off. Davis and the other
in old Abe's army, SO that they never
came together. Asked the old lady what
she would do if We should take her rebel
spouse prisoner. Woman said she had
thought of that, and had made up her
mind to accuse him of being spy and
get him hung. Listened in horror, and
finally ended by asking the old lady for
some beef tea. Old lady said that she
had made up her mind chat she could not
supply me, as she had made mistake /; it
was the woman next door that had beef,
but she had not had anything to eat for
six months.
Got up, went out in the street, and star
ted in wagon for Belle Plain; got there
after twenty four hours riding was in
formed by contraband that the Sanitary
and Christian Commissions had coffee and |
bread went to Sanitary's tent, and stood |
outside of big rope noticed lot of
employees devoted to the soldiers, which |
devotion they showed by filling their own
for food climbed over the
.ope and got in among the crowd of en-
oloyees; seized upon loaf of bread and
| tin cup of coffee that had just been |
poured out by a young man who wore
patent leather CATERS and boiled shirt;
vent further took some sugar and con-
lcnsed milk the folks had in there; saw
ome butter in can, and got up and took
hat, and then sat down close in the gut
er.
Pretty soon young man in CATERS and
,ciled shirt missed his coffee, and big |
at man said he could not eat bread with
'ut butter, SO they all hunted forit. Dis
,overy inevitable-discovered. Young I
nan asked me what l was doing there
nyhow; old fatty said the butter was i
MY intended for the attendants, and the /
milk too :elt compelled to take some no.