The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-01-24

PoeketfnI OF Grsb-A Confederate
Remintseesee-Hou an Old Coat
Betrayed the Poverty Of q Young
Coufederafe's wardrobe-Devotio
and Patriotism OF Southern wo-
men.
OF the many remiscsncss Of the late
war, pubhshed in the PhilsdelPhis
Weekly TINES, not the least interesting
are those written by Mrs. II. 2. Handy,
Por.rsying the extreme poverty TO which
people living within the Confederate
lines were reduced. By reason Of the
four years blockade Of Southern ports,
and the additional fact tina. the entire
white male populsiIon at sll 8. for mill
tsry service had been couicrip.sd into
the army, leaving no one to manufacture
anything, even j. there had been manu-
factories, it is easy TO imagine how thor
oughly exhausted the country would BE-
come in four years Of war and devssts-
ton. There was plenty Of nothing eI-
cep. Confederate money, and tha. was Is
worthless 8. il Was abundant. Il was
sAid of the marketing people in Rich
Lnond ths, they went 20 msrke. With 8
basket.ul Of money and brought their
supplies hoLae IN their pockets.
Blu. notwithstanding the deprivation
Of al comforts, ard wanting for food and
raimen:, the people kept in good heart
dseming that the sacrifices they made
were in behalf OF country, and patriot.
eslly accepted the situation. Thu, while
true Of ali classes, VAS particularly true
OF The soldier b0ys. The soldiers took
iLeir liVes 10 their hands and without
Ompensstion-or what was equivalent TO
IL, only receiving eleven dollars per
month il Confederate scrip, which suficed
- buy chewing tobacco for one week
struggled on TO the last, believing that
they were in the discharge Of duty.
sHIFIY EXPERIMENT.
remember one inciden. illustrating
the Strengthened condition ofthe soldiers
snd the dsvices resorted TO by uon.com-
bAtsnts TO supply their wants.
1t was in 1863 when our forces were
on the Rspidsn, 8 bsnch Of the Kappa
hsnnocs. In company with Il young
lieutenant OF the regiment whom for the
sake Of convenience / will call Scipio,
l called one morning st fine mansion
situsted short distance from camp,
for the purpose Of getting some butter.
milk. You know, butter.milk was in
great demand by The soldiers as il was
about the only luxury they enjoyed, and
owing to the superior opportunities of
the cavalry for securing the country in
search Of the favorite drink. the infantry,
rom pure envy dubbed them "Butter-
milk Rangers" We were met at the
threshold By the mstron of the establish
men:. and making our wants known, &
servant wss dispatched TO the dairy with
directions 70 I'll our canteen', while the
e=limsble lady, inviting US 10 be seated,
entertained US until the servant returned.
We learned from her that she was
widow and having no sons was living
alone with her three daughters, very
handsome and accomplished Virginia
girls. They were all ardently Southern
ia their feelIsgs, and the mother ex-
pressed q regret that she had no husband
or sons 10 contribute to the army
OF patriots, and displayed al anxiety
10 do whatever she could to
relieve the wants OF the soldiers and add
10 iheir comfort. As we were leaving
the agreeable hostess informed US that
Ehe expected some friends to dine with
her that day, and would be glad to have
us return and take dinner with them.
Here was an invitation not 10 be sneezed
At. The idea Of good square meal, and
TO be eaten at table in genteel style
was something that no Confederate SOL
der who had been living on scanty
supply OF hard tack and bacon, could dis. |
regard. The invitation was accordingly |
with even more warmth than it |
had been extended, and of TO camp we |
went with visions of roast duck and apple |
dumphngs 70 sharpen sppetites in no
wise in need Of sharpening. But here
was rub. There were to be ladies at
the dining, and we were anxious TO ap.
pear in presentable appearance. For
nearly three weeks we had been in the |
:sddle, on the march and in the fight, |
and all this time, away from wagons and |
baggage, We had not change Of linen.
The river was close by aud it naturally |
itself to us to adjourn TO the
river and wash ouI under garments. |
Nothing easier for q soldier 70 do.
ltwss bright warm morning early |
IN October, so that when we had fnished |
bar washing it was determined that bath |
IN the river was the best thing TO pass
the time, while the shirts were spread out |
10 dry oil large rock nesr the middle of |
The stream. Alter plouting around in
Inc water Tor some time, my friend |
turned TO lock st the drying garments on
The rock, when, horror OF horrors, his
shirt was gone. The little stone which |
had been laid on il had rolled of, and A
slight puff OF wind had taken it, and
falling into the current, had foa,ed ont