Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-12-04

brought forcibly to mind the spiral and confused
locomotion Of mighty centiped Ever and
anon reaching a commanding point, | would
cast backward a glance of pride and satisfaction
at the vast proportions of my command. Ca-
sar, Alexander, and Napoleon, at some period
in their eventful lives, possibly, felt as we'll as
| did then, but | will never concede that either
of them ever felt any better. There was but
one unpleasant drop in the cup of my happi-
ness. [ knew that the company ought to march
in t,oo ranks, but how to get it in that shape
| was the rub
[ had warned the company, on taking up the
! line of march, that ''takin' in ranks would
not only be highly unmilitary, but could net be
tolerated at all SO that not a sound broke the
funeral silence of that two miles march, save
once when an old soldier who had seen service
to the man Immediately in his front. / detect
ed this, and jealous Of my authority, as well as
indignant at SO wanton breach ofmilitary pro-
priety, and stung, by what [ suspected was a
merited criticism upon the Indian file move
ment, and consequently reflection upon my
military accomplishments, sternly ordered him
to be silent, reminding him that was Captain
and as such, not to be trified with, and that as
an old soldier, he should know better!
l. At length we arrived at the Bridge: the ra-
tions were issued, and the order, Shoulder ba-
when, as luck would have it, up comes a four
horse wagon, driven by Nicholas county farm
er. Fancying myself by virtue of my Captain
cy, vested with extraordinary power-in other
words, gentleman Of high claims and terri
flying exactions" Il proceeded, at once to press
wagon, team, and teamster. The farmer pro-
tested, demonstrated, beseeched, alledging that
he had been long from home, and could not
reach there until late at night, even if uninter
rupted. Bat all this was unavailing He had
encountered, what was afterwards known as
had to succumb With rueful countenance,
therefore, he turned about, the rations were
pitched into his wagon, and he drove back to
the great Falls r.
Now, another difficulty stared me in the face
My men had fallen in, facing Gauley Bridge |
wished to move them in the opposite direction,
did not know the command for counter
march. "Fueafght," and file lett' were terms
unknown to me, or if known, utterly meaning
less. reflected a moment, nervously twirling
my cane, (sword had not, my face burning,
expectant, until finally growing desperate, [
cried out in the extremity of my agony Men,
turn yoar faces the other acayP Some turned
to the right some to the left: some made the
entire circle and stood as at first, while others,
with countenances as black as lamp posts, made
no effort, whatever, to obey the order, while my
sharpened hearing caught a half suppressed
sound Of malicious laughter in the direction of
the 'old soldier!' Finally, with the aid of my
orderly" got them all right and the inter
minable line that
Like wounded snake, dragged its slow length
along"
returned to camp. Here the wagon of the
Nicholas county farmer was speedily unladened.
He then approached me in the most deferential,
not to say awe-struck manner, and stammered
something about S'payl [ was astounded at
his ignorance of the license of military author
ity, and, indignant at his want of patriotism.
and replied with much spirit, pay, sir y "pay,
indeed'!' ''No pay at all, sirh' ga mere
gratuity that you, as loyal and patriotic citi-
zen, should esteem a privilege to render your
country, sir the Southern -Confederacy, sir u
With alarm, wonder, modification, and dlsap-
pointment, all depicted in his countenance, he
shrank back, mounted his horse, cracked his
have threshed me soundly on the spot, although,
at the time, honestly believed [ was merely
exercising an official prerogative for the benefit
of my country.
There was another company, the Falls Rifle
men," Capt. Riggs, encamped at the same
place, and shortly after [ had dismissed the
company, the Captain took me aside and mod
estly suggested that [ should march my men in
t,oo ranks rather than one. With an air of af-
fected indifference, [ replied that knew that
was more military but as that was my first
turnout, [ wished to make as big a show as pos
sible The explanation seemed satisfactory to
the Captain, and the subject was dismissed. :.
A Abappy idea now suggested itself. l would
solve the yexed problem Of forming in two ranks,
by being present when Capt. Riggs company
was on parade. The occasion soon arose. His
men were formed in line, facing by the left flank.
[ stood few rods distant, humming tune and
apparently uninterested in the movements Of
the 'sFalls Rihemen," but my ears and eyes
were wide Open "La t,co raaks form conapa-
nyF' company, right face-march y said
Capt Riggs 'EurekaP' | almost audibly e.
jaculated; then huriedly dodging around the
corner of an old house standing close by, | has
tily took my memorandum book from a side
ismanic words BY roll call the next morning
had memorized them and was enabled to ac
conplish the wonderful evolution of forming a
company in two ranks to my own entire salts
faction. AS to -four ranks had never heard
of such a thing and should have been strongly
inclined to question the sanity of the man who
would have hinted the possibility of such a
formation Bear in mind, had never muster
ed with the ''maelish, nor seen the inside of any
work on military tactcS NINE was n0tson lSO-
lated case; it was the experience of nine -tenths
of the Confederate officers. We were green, I"
all of US yes, succulently green.
The enlisted men drew rations regularly but
when | applied for mine, was politely Inform
ed. much to my modification, astonishment,
and alarm, that ''rations' were not issued to
commissioned officers. Chow am [ to live,
sir. I anxiously enquired Indeed, Captain,
[ am not able to answer your question, though
I should be most happy to do SO; for it is one
in which you are certainly much interested =
replied the commssary, who was as ignorant of
his duties as I was of mine, though not in half
so much danger of starvation.
The truth is, for several weeks actually suf
fered the cravings of hunger, frequently get
ting but one meal per day, and that through
my own ingenious hypocricy, and the sympa-
thies ofmy men. Standing carelessly near some
mess enjoying meal, | was sure to be invited
and pressed by the kind-hearted fellows to ''eat
something" l would affect to be not at all hun
cry; but, if the invitations were repeated, as
was sure to be the case, invariably yielded
The poor fellows appeared to think it quite a
condescensDn on the part of 'sthe Captain, )"
and felt highly honored by his presence at their
frugal board. For my part, l did not care to