The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-06-27
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A "Reminiscences OF the FIRST Kanawha
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A "Reminiscences OF the FIRST Kanawha
5F Campaign. \
Exchange $3.50 II I'"" -,
The Seventh Ohio Regiment was noted
for It's good discipline and fine appearance.
The regiment during the first Kanawha
campaign went on reconnaissance and
found the enemy, or rather the enemy
found them, at Gross Lanes. Early in The
morning enc detachment, just reused from
the bivouac slumber, were engaged in boil
| ing coffee in tin cups and cooking meat by
holding Il over the fire, stuck on the end OF
ramrod. A civilian can have no ade-
quate understanding Of the amount OF
recklessness there is in a tired and hungry
soldier with coffee bubbling, and meat
fzzing and suffering before him. d.
rectly shots were heard-shots that had a
careless twang and the boys shouted: "Put
put him in the guard house." and gave
their attention 10 the meat and coffee.
Sudden as o thunderbolt was the coming
OF the enemy, and the rebs were
pouring down on the astonished cooks be-
fore they fairly realized that the firing
meant an attack. Then there was swear.
ing and there were frantic efforts to drink
hot coffee, and a burning Of fingers on hot
ramrods as extra charges were rammed
home, and tucking Of hot meat in odd
places and big effort made to fight against
overwhelming force. History tells how
the fight ended, but 1t does not tell how
many q boy held on to his half-cooked
meat and his little bucket OF hot coffee
through the worst OF the terrible struggle,
nor does 1t record Pat H. "burnin' in me
pocket" Pat had an ELEGANT piece Of
pork on the end Of his ramrod, and was
lost in the watching of its progress toward
doneness with intentness that contemplate
ed no interruption. He had left his haver-
sack near an old tree some distance from,
the fire, and when he caught sight Of the
rebels coming at full run Patrick thought
first oil his meat, then OF bis coffee, then Of
his gun. He whipped the pork, fixing
and sputtering, into his trousers pock'
ct, caught up his gun and ramrod in
one hand and his coffee in the 9TH
err. and "broke." He was soon in the
midst OF his company firing and swearing
and wishing for "pair Of mittens to han.
die the hillish hot ramrod." Suddenly
Pat gave scream and roar, threw down
his gun, threw himself on the ground and
rolled and kicked as II in great agony, tear
ing and clutching in an unmeaning way at
his hips. care you hit, PATTI" asked sew
eral Us they ran toward him. Pat still
roared and kicked and at times seemed
trying 10 stand on his head in an ecstacy Of
pain. At last he beloved, "Hit?' mol no !!
oh It's burnin' in me pocket" and tore
from his pocket big piece OF smoking fat
pork. The boys saw the point, and though
bullets were whistling, sucha laugh greeted
this explanation as you will never hear
again at Gross lanes
Not less ludicrous was Pats explanation
as he went limping up to the surgeons tent
at Gauley Bridge two days afterward. an
the inthuseasm incident to the occasion, 1
poked me mate that was cookin, in me
pocket, and SIGH burnin' pain adown me
leg niver had before or since"