Litchfield enquirer., 1867-12-19

some hesitation about taking the cattle by force. After about five minutes examina- tion and study, the General fixed his half shut eye on the Captain, and with smile, said. Captain, you did right. You fol- lowed the old rule in Hoyle. WAen in doubt, take the h'ick.'
 | QUARTER-MAsTER BROMLEY.
 The most amusing features of the Loui- slana experience of the Thirteenth, seem to have been connected with Quarter-mas ter Joseph B. Bromley of Norwich, brother of the noted wit who edits the Norwich Bulletin. The following occurred while the regiment was stationed near Carrolton, a few miles above New Orleans:-
 "The principal difficulty at this time was in getting wood Our Quarter master, never at loss for expedients, finally pro- ceeded to the depot of the Carrollton rail road and commenced loading his teams The Superintendent is said to have come up, and to have held the following dialogue with Bromley:
 ''' What are you going to do with that wood?'
 '"Cook rations. (Go on with your loading, corporal.J
 "' Who are you?
 "s Bromley, Quarter master Thirteenth c. V. Allow me, sir, in turn, to inquire whom have the distinguished honor to address?
 "'I am Superintendent of this railroad. | "All right. (Go on with your loading, corporal.)
 "'The wood belongs to the railroad
 So supposed 1 "' But forbid you to take itr
 "' Put your protest in writing in red ink. Tie it up with a piece of red tape. I'll approve 1t and forward it. You see we've got to have wood to cook with. Can't eat beans and pork raw. I'd prefer lem raw, but the men are so unreasonable they want 'em cooked
 ''' But that wood is necessary for the use of the railroad'
 "' It's necessary for the use of the Thir- teenth Connecticut
 ''' should like to know how locomo- tive is to run without wood?'
 "' I've often wondered how regiment can be run without wood
 "' Gen. Butler orders me to run this railroad?'
 6: Col Birge orders me to run the Thir teenth Conn.,
 Who's Col Birge?'
 Why the d-deuce! don't you know Col. Birge? If there's one man above an- other that every body knows, it's Colonel Birge.'
 twill Col. Birge pay for this wood?'
 "' Col. Birge pay for this wood! Why, no. It's reflection on your sagacity to ask such question!
 "' Who aoW pay for it?'
 ''' The Quarter Department. If there's one thing above another that ad- mire in the Quarter-master's Department, it's because they'll always pay for wood Now, my friend of the railroad persuasion, if you'll come and see me, I'll give you re- ceipts, and help you fix up the proper pa pers to present to the Quarter-maste ters Department
 "' How lo2g will it be before I get pay?'
 ''' It will be at some future day-the flu turest kind of day, I'm afraid.
 "The Superintendent posted off to see Col. Birge. Bromley preceded him, how ever, and cautioned the sentinels to ob- serve the rule to admit no citizen without a pass. Halt! said the sentry, and the Superintendent gave up in despair.
 1.-The instructions which Bromley gave to Corporal Strange, amember of his Staff, as he termed him, were quite significant. Strange, we're going on an expedition. I want my Staff to be on the look out for turkeys, geese, pigs and sheep. Don't be i the aggressor in any contest Stand strict ly on the defensive But if you're attack ed by any of those animals, show fight, and don't forget to bring of tue enemy's deadL'
 During the expedition which ended in the siege of Port Hudson, the following occurred:-
 May IS and 19, our troops were still crossing the river. Col. Warner, Chaplain Upson. Capt. Cornwall, IAdjutant Whittle- sey, and several other officers, among whom was Quarter-master Bromley, visited one of the elegant mansions, and were hospitably received by the ladies. After some time spent ill agreeable conversation, one of the ladies volunteered to execute some music on the piano. She commenced the Bonnie the line, Assslong as Ne Union acas .faiA1ful to her hust, her emotions overcame her, her voice faltered, tears streamed down her cheeks, and hastily rising, she left the room. Much sympathy was felt for the beautiful woman in her grief, and the hearts of our susceptible officers softened towards the lovely and melodious imperso- nation of rebellion. The dignifed mat ron improved the occasion as follows:- Alas! we are no longer united! Once we had one country, one people, one nation. Now we have northern country, and a southern country, northern people and a southern people, northern nation and a southern nation' Allow me in this con- nection to remark, Madam interrupted Bromley in his blandest, politest manner, that second nation you so beautifully al Jude to, Is mere insagi-nationP This con. vulsed the listeners with merriment and re. stored good feeling at once. What is the real object of this expedition?' asked Mrs. Semmes. 'The real object of the ex petition, replied the Chaplain, : is to pro- tract the expedition until the quartermas ters and contractors all get rich. I verily believe, if they had their way, they'd keeI us in these swamps as long as the children of Israel were kept in the wilderness Chaplain Upson, responded Bromley, ] can tell you why the children of Israel were detained so long in the wilderness It was because they had too many chaplains ano too few qusrtermasters! After Bromley left the service, he stll remained at Thibodaux as special agent ! ant Qt