National Republican., 1881-08-03
CAMP CALIFORNIA.
CORPORAL CANTEEMs EXPERIENCE.
An Incident Of the Late War While in Camp In
Vlrginia-A Strict Dlsciplinsrian and
the Kind Of Counterslgn
lie Gave

Oantcen blowing an extra whin from MS smoking
corn cob pipe.
Corporal Canieen was soldier Of the grand
volunteer army, who enlisted from unsehsh love
Of country, believing that the Union Of states was
and must always continue great Nation.
The Corporal was fidelity tselfin the performance
Of his duties. He seemed TO have no aspiration
for the possession Of shouldcr-straps, Moving
in sound physique, having All equablo
temperament while obcdlont TO official
orders, he was kind and obliging to the
rank, yet, withal, oxacting discipline and the
fulfllmcnt of the regulations by those under his
charge. Corporal Cantcen was ready to cheer the
desponding take q share Of the tribulations and
aid In bearing the burdens Of comrades who suf-
fered from home. sickness, malaria, measles,
spring fever, or the c. d. so prevalent among fresh
recruits In new camps. The corporal was very
wellread soldier, full OF nature, with keen eye
TO the ridiculous of pompous Importance or over
strained consequence, so often displayed by "su-
periors in rank " endowed with moderate mental
capacity, and whose moral tendencies were neither
ward.
"But. be kind enough. Corporal Canteen, to tell
us where Camp California was locatcd-was it, as
Isuppose, upon the gold mountains OF Californian
No, no, Judge; very far from the Golden State
exactly upon and near the Opposite coast; on the
oriental not the occidental side of this great land
Our camp bore the local name. and was a military
cantonment OF the first division Second Corps,
Army OF the Potomac. II was situated upon the
farm Of large. .hearted Felix Richards, an old Whig
OF Union tendencies, rs his fences and timber rap
idly disappeared on the camp fires OF the Yankee
invaders Of the sacred soifsf Old Virglnny, but
whose elegant and keen -witted wife was imbucd
with sympathies. .otherways, though atal times she
was aiIable and courtly to our officers We have
always believed that Uncle Sam should have paid
for the destroyed property Of Felix Richards" said
the Corporal. Recovering himself, the Corporal
continued" Camp California covered the Fairfax
Court. House turnpike and the Manassas Railroad,
overlooking the Potomac River, three miles be-
low Alexandria. The camp was established,
named and commanded by General T. V. Sum
ner, veteran Of the Florida and Mexican Wars,
who was then recently from California, where he
had resided many years. General Sumner scrycd
bravely more than two years Of the war, and died
at his home at Syracuse, NJ Y, during the war; full
of years and scar.worn honors"
Well Corporal Canteen, what about your bri-
gade, its commandant, what regiments composed
1t, what ever became ofit2' said we getting inter-
ested in the corporals narrative.
Judge must say that our brigade was about
as queer compound of daring and blood as was
the variety ofits officers. New England Yankees,
New York city Irish Americans, Western New
York Yankees, and Pennsylvania Dutch we're the
components of our brigade, embracing the Filth
New Hampshire, Eighty. first Pennsylvania, Sixty
first and Sixty fourth New York Regiments Volun-
teer Infantry. General oliver Otis Howard was
one commandant Did you ever know General
Howard2 He came out colonel ofthe Third Regi.
ment Maine Volunteers; was graduate of Bow
doin, then went to West Point where he gradu-
ated. He led our brigade at Fair Oaks, losing his
right arm, and in ninety days rejoined the army,
| fought through the war, was made brigadier gen.
crnl land brevet major-general) in the regular
army, and is now commandant at West Point"
"Were there any other officers graduating at
your famous camp California that became dis
tinguishedT we ventured to ask the corporal
"oh, yes, ,Judge but 1 will remind you of only
a few. and then tell you of our night encounter
with thel pompous but nevertheless gallant little
Lieutenant Colonel Martinett."
"There was Francis G. Barlow In the Sixty first
New York, who wns among the bravest of the
brave; who, as the war went on, became u major
general of volunteers, and secretary of state and
| attorney general successfully, of New York, at
| the close of the war. Fair rs woman, then
beardless he was known rs the baby general
of the Army Of the Potomac, he being of SO slender
| and youthful an appearance"
Then there was Nelson A. Miles, Judge, you
must have heard OF him" And the corporal was
| enthusing and piercing us with flashing eyes.
We instinctiyely nodded assent to the Corporal's
query.
"Well, Miles was dark, swarthy boy, who came
| out with a Massachusetts regiment. General How
| ard made him one of his aids. Then he became
leutenantcolonel and colonel ofthe sixtyhrst New
York then brigadier- general and major general
of volunteers for distinguished services during the
| battles of the Old Wilderness and Spottsylvania
Court House Reams Station, Charlottesville, &c
| Then he was made colonel OF the Fortleth and
transferred to the Finh Infantry, u S. A., and is
now brgadier-general US A. Miles has been the
big Indian fighter Of the plains since Custer"
n.,a
about the gallant Lieutenant. Colonel MartinettT
"oh, yes yes; excuse my digression. When
| get to talking about the war don't know wherC
to stop. Did you think, Judge, that It is twenty
years since the late unpleasantness was instituted
by our erring brethren?'
Twenty years did you say, CorporalS II seems
like dreami Who won; who lost?"
"Yes, twenty years. Who lost who won?
have often wondered. Well, time makes oil thing
even. But, as was saying, the boys first burn
all the rails from the fences on old Felix Richards
farm; they then drew the posts from the ground
| to be used for fuel the soil was stiG clay anC
the weather being very cold and dry, the post
holes remained intact and open for several weeks
| During this period was corporal of the guard oil
moonlight night, our post Of duty beinl
| out on the line of the Fairfax turnpike
Lieutenant Colonel Martinett was, l was in
formed, grand officer OF the day. He was the rig
|
pompous, exac,ing and woe TO theluckless wigh
| found derelict Of duty on outpost My men wer
| kept constantly on the alert, vigant and faithful
| TO picket service for we knew not-nor no soldie
| could tell-at what hour the son of mani meaI
| at what moment the grand officer OF the da,
| cometh So be prepared we must for that grea
parsonage, for dire would be the punishment If w
should be pounced upon in any way fault!
| guardians of the night and possibly pro
tectors OF the Army OF the Potomac
Toward the end of night, as old ST. John
clock, in the distant city, struck the third hour
the morning, before the growing OF the cock, tn
moon still brightly shining, over the frozen grount
the sound Of solitary horses troting hoofs coult
be heard approaching coming down the turnpike
Every soldier was instantly at his post, on tn
alert, ears listening, eyes peering through tn
shadows. More distinct came quick, sharp sound
of the approaching horses steps upon the frozei
ground. Every Springfield rifle was cooked ant
ready for any offered emergency On came tn
| clattering footsteps, nearer and more distinct
Soon the rider was dscerned, and the first soldle
in the line promptly challenged the stranger
who comes there? Dismount and give tn
ceunterslgnl' cooking and leveling his muske
at the stranger.
at the same instant the challenge was given tn
riders horse stepped FORE foot into one Of Foli'
Richards vacant post. holes plunged forward, fall
ing, threw the luckless rider Q.ieutenant Colone
Martnettl over his head, landing him sprawlin
upon the frozen ground. Painfully, sadly, plain
lively the falling lieutenant. colonel exclaimed:
"Z.h.ez-u-z Kr.i-z-tr
"Misaking the writhing, painful ejaculation O
the dethroned lieutenant. colonel for the highes
authoritative command, thesentry cried out at tn
top Of his voice
"'corporal ofthe guard No, o. call out the twelv
E-post- els, for Zhe. zuz Krzt has come !"-John J
Elndm.