Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1864-02-11
Army Sketches. No. 8.
ROUND THE CAMPFIRE.

cery. where he can, alter the Tolls ana
fatigues of the day, enjoy unrestrained in
tercourse with his comrades, discuss the
news derived from letters and papers, the
events and policy of the campaign, the
mishaps and adventures Of the day, and any
topic Of interest that may be presented to
their minds. Perhaps the fire is built by
the side of some fallen tree, whose huge
trunk answers the purpose of backlog,
while around the blazing glowing pile
stand or sit crowd Of jovial fellows, whose
merry laugh, and rather broad jokes, gaily
join in the chorus Of swapping flames and
burning brush.
On certain night in the winter of 1863
a group ofmen were collected around fire,
in cane-brake near Black River, Missis
sippi, enjoying the comfortable warmth of
roaring fire, and relating anecdotes of
various kinds, some of which seemed to be
Of very amusing character, judging of
the loud hearty ringing laugh which float
ed on the evening air. Let us draw near,
gentle reader, and listen to their stories-
One IS telling of the first time he ever saw
a comrade who has been furnishing food
for their mirth, and relates that he was
drunk enough, quite as bad as he ever had
been since Another tells of seeing the
said drunken chap, in Memphis, reeling
towards camp, when his Colonel met him,
and warned him that trouble was brewing
for him at camp, and that there was some
one looking out for him, and that when he
arrived he was suddenly shook until he
promised to do better for the future. "a
promise he failed to keep said a third
person, for when we were at Natchez, the
Colonel being laid on his cot, in his tent,
saw hand introduce itself under the tent,
lay hold of his demijohn and endeayor to
seduce it away from its lawful owner, an
operation which was prevented by the Colo
mel laying hold of the vessel, and pulling it
in opposition to Ithe invisible spirituazist.
Then began trial Of strength, the Colonel
to retain his favorite, the other to overcome
what he supposed was the heavy strain in
cident to condition of fullness. Becom-
ing surprised at the resistance SO per-
tinaciously kept up by the demi,john, the
fellow raised the curtain of the tent and
peeped under, to find himself face to face
with the Colonel. Uttering a shout, he
abandoned his prize, and left as fast as legs
could carry him." If
"Did you see the Colonel chasing him on
to the boat when we left Natchez % asked
another. Gle was so drunk he could not
stand steady, and was trying TO be very
sweet to some wenches, when the Colonel
crept up behind the woman, almost within
reach Of J., when he saw what was
coming, and broke for the gang plank, near
" running over several other wenches,
drawing his bayonet, and making them fly
in all directions, in his drunken hurry"
Speaking Of stealing the Coloneps demi
john, puts me in mind of stealing his roos-
ter at Fort Riley. You know the Colonel
kept a rooster tied to a tent-peg by his door,
which used to crow and waken him up
mornings. One morning he thought he
heard suspicious noise, and jumped out Of
bed to ascertain the cause thereof, when he
saw a man with Mr.. Rooster under his arm,
making his way towards the left-wing as
fast as possible. Away went the Colonel
in his shirt tail in hot pursuit, yelling at
the rascal to drop his bird, which squalled
out most piteously at every jump of his
captor, and rapidly gaining on him at every
step. The race was short, but lively, the
Colonel carrying very light weight, and the
other being encountered with a very excited
and restless circumference"
swell boys,' says "0ld Pap" ''that race
puts me in mind of scrape we had at
Memphis. Sol and were out on picket
near the Adams Hospital, and we had got
canteen Of whiskey out with US, and were
getting considerable happy, when we con-
Guided to have a little milk out Of the Hos
pital COWS. We left the other boys on the
post and hunted round in the dark, till we
found critter, but it was an awful job to
corner it, however we managed it at last,
and Sol undertook to draw the precious stuff
out Of it, got down to his work, when he
jumped up, and said he, "Pap, that cows a
bull, as sure as your alive !" Ofcourse we
left him alone in his glory, and tried again.
Well, by and by, we found the old bellcow
but she refused to have anything to do with
us, so we undertook to run her down, and
jolly run we had of it. Finally we were
tearing down street, straight for the Hos
pltal, the bell going as if on crazy beast,