The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-10-18

NeDeTdi u. ~ luhpOuSH has ''i "i
Gle in the November number OF the
Galary, entitled "Reminiscences Of Lee
and jackson" from which we make the
following interesting extracts;
LEE AND HIS TROOPS.
The great simplicity of his habits was
another ground OF popularity. He
Jared no better than his troops. Their
rough, scant rations were his as well.
There were times when for weeks our
army had nothing but bread and meat
to live on. and not enough of that.
On one occasion some molasses was
obtained and sent to the field. One OF
General Lees staff who was caterer
that weel-that is, he drew the rations
for the headquarters mess, set small
pitcher of molasses before the General
at dinner, who was delighted to eat it
with his hot corn bread. Seeing his
satisfaction, the catering Colonel re-
marked, General, secured five gallons
Tor headquarters. "Was there so much
for every mess the size of ours?' said
the General. "Oh no; the supply wont
last a week" Then | direct, Colonel,
that YOU Immediately return every drop
you have, and send an order that no
molasses shall be issued to officers or
men except the sick in hospital. The
Colonel was dumfounded, and never
afterwari boasted of his superior pro-
violence as caterer for the mess.
When the two armies were on the
opposite banks of the Rappahannock,
in the winter Of '63-6i, meat was some.
times very scarce in ours. Even the
usual halfpound per diem ration could
not always he issued. During one Of
these periods OF scarcity, on a very
stormy day, several corps and division
generals were at headquarters, and
were waiting for the rain to abate he
lore riding to their camps, when Gen.
Lees negro cook announced dinner.
The General invited his visitors to dine
with him. On repairing to the table, a
tray of hot corn-bread, boiled head OF
cabbage seasoned with very small
piece of bacon, and bucket OF water
constituted the repast. The piece OF
meat was so small that all politely de-
clined taking any, expressing them
selves as very fond of boiled cabbage
and corn-bread." Of course, the Gen
eral was too polite to eat meat
in the presence of guests who had
declined it. But later in the afternoon,
when they had all gone, feeling very
hungry, he called his servant and asked
him to bring him piece Of bread and
meat. The darkey looked perplexed
and embarrassed, and after scratching
his head sometime said in deprecating
tone, Lord, Mas Robert, dat meat
what sot afore YOU at dinner warnt
ours. | had jes borrowed dat piece Oh
middlin from one Oh de couriers to sea
son de cabbage in de pot, and seem as
you was gwine to have company at din
ner | put it on wild de cabbage for looks.
Rut when / seed Won and none Oh de
gentlemen touch it, 'cluded you all
knowed dat it was borrowed, and so after
dinner | sent it back to de boy whar it
belonged to. is mighty sorry, Mas
Robert, didn't know you wanted it,
for den l would a TUX piece off'n it
anyhow afore sent it home"
So the General got no meat that day.
Anecdotes like these, based on actual
fact, spread through the army and often
recoucled a hungry, ragged Confederate
to his hardships.
sToNEwALL JACKSON ASSUMES COMMAND.
The ordinance of the Virginia Con-
vention removing the militia officers
above the rank Of captain had given
great offense to our volunteers, who
therefore in old American Democratic
style, had elected all their officers,
either directely or through their repre-
sentatives; and the idea Of having
these popular favorites superseded was
abhorrent to the rank and file. 1t
must be remembered that our volunteer
uniformed companies, a sort of holiday
soldiery up to that time, were made up
of our best young men, who felt they
had certain inalienable rights. among
which was the right to elect their own
officers; and glorious good fellows
were these officers in time of peace,
and many of them rose to high posi-
tons during the war-but there were
some unfit for their places in time OF
war, and to get rid of these the Conven-
ton had to make clean sweep of all.
Up to this time our little army at
Harper's Ferry was a curiosity. We
had about 1000 rank and file. There
was one major general in command,
with three brigadiers under him, and
corresponding number of field and staff
officers. All were msgnifcently at
tired and epauletted, splendidly mount
ed, and surrounded with gorgeous reti-
nues. Troops were scarce, but as for
officers, we were simply magnificent in