The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-04-13

dress-paTade We had our camp sports,
and none, save our officers, knew that
we would soon march again. At mine
o'clock orders came, and we were to
make ready for marching at twelve
This seemed to cast a general gloom
over the whole camp. Plato says of
Aristotle, that on account of his in
domitable zeal for study, he called
him "The Reader" and said, upon
comparing him with XenOcrates, 'shat
the latter required the spur, the form
er the bit. You may think the ap-
plication out of place, but it needed
considerable squirting just about that
time to get Us out, for sleep in such a
place was very desirable. We COM
menced our march at precisely twelve
and reached Lexington as the dawn
Of another morning was making its
appearance, and in time, as usual, late
enough to give the rebs sufficient time
to get out Of our way. As a natural
consequence, a native feeling, that we
wanted to avoid bIOOd-shed. Our
stay was prolonged quite u while at
this place in order to give Gen. Q. A.
Gilmore sufficient time to make dis
play with his troops, and the greatest
display in the end to the troops was
when he took his leave and departed
for the sea; suffice to say we were
glad to get rid of him, and in his place
welcome the iron-clad Burnside. Our
brigade remained at this place until
the 10th day of December. when it
again received marching orders. For
tunately, for myself, it so happened 4
for me to be one of the lucky boys |.
who did not need TO march in the reg
imental ranks on this occasion. On /
the morning previous to this / was /
detailed, with a number of Others, for /
patrol duty, and in consequence of
which We had to report to the Provost .
Marshal, who, in turn, assigned us to
a responsible, but pleasant post, name
lytOgo where we pleased in particular
portion of territory, and to arrest any |
one found guilty of violating army .
rules, or to make arrests on suspicion.
The day passed on, however, without |
anything transpirilg worthy of note.
Night came on, and as my fellow-pa-
troll and myself were nearing friendly /
appearing straw stack we concluded
to take up our abode In 1t for the
night Our plan or arrangement for
lodging was scarcely sooner thought 1
of than put into execution. 1t was
very cold and as a natural consequence
we desired a comfortable place to
sleep; la this we were not disappOint-
ed, for we enloyet it hugely, as yOq
will presently see. can remember
this incident best, probably, because
I believe | enjoyed it equally, If net
better than nay comrade did. I had
a dream, and so did he, hut they were
widely of q different nature. His
thoughts during the day were fixed on
things not pertaining 70 the dignity of
his office, but on the contents Of let
ter which he had received that day
from one of those persons whom we
called ducks. The name, however, lf !
it was not taken in the same sense
which it meant to express to soldiers,
of course, would amount to nothing.
this generally meant some
thing, at least you would have thought
so could you have seen my comrades
eyes sparkle on reading the contents
Of that sacred epistle. yss glad 20
see him thus appreciate the thought
of human emotion traced in such
neatly formed letters. It is not ne
Cvssary 10 =sisye IsIIss e..FeaIElr syot, Ea0w
it already. Il
"Yet Ills enough for our deserts,
That eyes and smiles so calm and coy,
Diffuse through our enchanted hearts,
holy and celestial JOY"
The reason for my dream will ap-
pear obvious to youa once. Ifelt the
dignity of my Office, dfis may so Le
called, and, therefore, was continual
" thinking of what I might do, hav.
ing the power in my own hands, and
hence the dream. Twas in New York
City raising troops to fill up the brok-
en- regiments, and while there made
headquarters in one Of the finest ho-
tells in the city, Servants bowed their
heads in grave silence as I gave them
their orders, and even mine hostess 1
venerated the cause, and seemed to
pay unusual attention in making my
stay pleasant one. The room set
apart from all the rest for my especial
benefit presented q remarkably good
appearance. The motto over the door,
'Love your country" meant some !
hing. Business never was so brisk;
people had already heard of the re-
lowned soldier, and they were flock }
ng in frOIa all parts Of the city and !
adjacent country. The ranks were 4
up rapidly with the troops,
II recruits, daily being sent away !
The time was nearing when 1 should /
gain enter upon active duty in the I
isld. My commission for general
hip was to be forwarded to me i'm
nediately. News was spreading all
'veF the city that at such a time and
lour the brigade, with It's brave COM
nander, would leave for the sunny )
south. It was near meal time, the i
arrangements being made,
was anxiouslY YaitiEg fQF the time !
ghen should have the privilege TO I
atiate my appetite for food. ] was 8
lot kept In suspense very long ere the !
'ell gave warning of the time. was :
ust in the act of opening the door, !
When awakened from the sleep and
ream,-behold my amazement, in
tead of the finest hotel in the :
ity it was nothing but the old q
riendly straw stack; and still worse, I
instead of the bell ringing to 9
all me to my meal, it was nothing !
more or less than q half starved COW
With a bell on ner neck, standing over
g eating away for life, uneonclous of
he presence of any living creature
ntil l began to remove the straw
rom my face, just about that time, !
here was considerable scrambling,
nd it was g little hard % tell which J
Ot away from the stack first. 1t is
nfficient to say the bell made more /
Ioise just then than It did while {
7as yet in the hotel, and that.neither a
f us received any hurt. My comrade {
hought it was rather a rough way OF
reating one just as he was about to
id farewell to the best friend he /
new. Yes, thought so too, for un- !
missed a good breakfast.
We reported to the Provost Marshal, g
rho ordered US, with host of others, ?
D now report ourselves at regimental
eadquarters, wherever tia, might
e. We were told that our brigade
1as on its march to Richmond, Ky. Il
~ 4 L.