Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-08


ton of " hummer, we extract from book
written by Geo. W. Nichols, an aide to Gen.
Sherman, and just published by Harper a
Brothers
1t it be asked what hummer is, the reply is
easy. lie Is d raider on his own account man
who temporarily deserts bis place IN the ranks
while the army is on the march, and starts out
upon an independent foragiDg expedition. Some
times be ID absent for few days only, OCCASION
ally he disappears for weeks together. An oih-
Ger whose duty requires him to pass from one
column to another, or private soldier sent out
upon u scout in the forest OF on the flank of the
army. not untrequently stumbles suddenly upon
an encampment of bummers in the woods, or
finds party OF them at a house by the wayslde
This party bears all the outward aspect OF an
authorized and perfectly Legitimate loraglog par
ty the oapacious wagons are there, with ca.
ptrisJned mules blooded horses stand ethered
within reach OF their apparent owners the
camp fires burn brightly sumptuous meal is
ready But ii one of these men be aocosted with
some such question as thus, " To what command
do you belong'" the answer comes thus
d" We'll, we don't answer for any body in par
ticulsr-'bout every corps in the army eh,
Bill, ain { that 80 -
"Bill' says Reckon and thinks it "a
huge Joke, and then every body except the in
terlocutor laughs.
q" How long have you been away from your
regiment
At this question the hummer rises upon his
feet, and replies rather more respectfully
" A week or ten days cap'n."
" Have you any authority for foraging ? "
"No, sir
" What use or benefit are you 70 the service,
to say nothing of the crlminallty of your absence
without leave? Now, you belong to class
which has brought dlsoredit upon your comrades
lou ought to be ashamed of yourselves, all oil
you"
The dozen muscular and daring fellows who
heard this little speech seemed to fail TO see the
point Of it. One OF them replied
" See hyar, oap'n; We amt 50 bad aftey all.
We keep ahead of he skirmish line alters. We
let's EN- know when an Saemy's a-comln' and
then we a,R's alters away from the regiment,
We turns over all we don't want ourselves, and
we can lick FIVE times as many robs as we are,
any day. Amt that 30, boysY
luck em d--n EN-, yes. Why, OF
course were the instant replies Of the "boys"
Rather shUot rebs than hogs, any day y
rosred another.
1t may be readily imagined that high moral
precepts are lost upon these men, aud that con-
yersatons with them upon the general lmpro-
priety of their conduct are decidedly useless
They are the bohemians Of the camp, and they
act upon this oonsolatory reflection.
The hummer may once have been foot.
soldier, but never saw Que who was not mount.
ed ON sOme sort OF an animal. Sometimes he
bestrides superb blooded horse, which ia the
envy of every general In tina army more ire
quently Ae rldea a broken down nag that is able
% hobble along sufficiently fast lor It's owner 5
pu poses but he lavorite is the mule. There
may DO little or no actual poetry IN mule-al.
though prOtess an unwIllIngness 10 admit any
slur upon that muoh-abused beast-yel II would
bc difficult to find a more hardy, l0ng wnded,
strong legged, uneomllalnDg, and altogether
/ ovable creature iot the use OF man than the
mule the bummtr appreciates his good
qualities and hence the tayotltism
Sometimes We see the " buInmer " approach
ing the camp from piece Of woods with a
wagon which he has overloaded with good things
The scene is frequently exhlleratng, The 4" bum.
mer," coming IN On horseback, holding the brl'
die in hls teeth, oaspe untos one arm basket
OF fresh sggS, and under ths other pail full oil
delicious honey, while a brace OF lat sheep
hams, chickens or geese he across the saddle IN
front and rear, aud tie carcass Of a hog, nrmly
tied to the mules tail, ls dragged along the
road, Tho "bummer himself is probably
clothed in IN irregular sack. coat ot linen, with
ridculously unmihtary hat perched on one
side of bis head. and, as he approaches, bis lace
beams with smiles Of recognition, tempered BY
a half-suppressed apprehension lest his boun
ieous supplies should not be accepted as peace
Offering Tor his dellnq qleucgs,
Aside from the freedom nom control which
gives bad men opportunities to commit wantor