The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-04-09
vice was to be In the United States and not

asserting that we were ordered West oy
misrepresentation ofour officers 10 the War
Department; that the department had been
led 10 believe that we were anxious 10 60
West, and did not want 10 be discharged.
His speech had the desired effect, and
before the meeting closed mutual under
standing was effected, and O positive agree
ment made that not man should move.
In justice to large number Of the young
men Of my regiment myself included, l
will say that we declined TO take any part
! in the meeting, but determined to obey
orders, right or wrong.
OF course our commander knew OF these
resolutions and the agreement, and as re-
suit we were put under the strictest discip.
line. Camp guards were put on, and no
one allowed 10 go outside the lines without
pass. a.
least, such were the orders; but saw
tricks resorted to by the Twenty.tirst New
York Cavalry which l never saw before,
although we thought we were well yersed
in smuggling whisky. Rabbits were plen-
tiful down the river, and passes were given
the men occasionally to 60 rabbit hunting.
When they returned their pockets were al
ways searched by the camp guard Tor the
ardent, and oi'course never found. Into
camp they wonld march with guns at q
fright shoulder shift" muzzle pointing up.
Then into the little tents, and the gun was
passed around, each one taking pull at
the muzzle, and many OF them got more
than "half shot" and sometimes badly
wounded, who never heard the crack OF a
yuhin the hands OF q rebel.
Another device was to go to the river to
| wash blankets. After washing, go to q
neignboring saloon, buy gallon, put It in
bucket, put the blanket in the bucket
also, souse 1t up and down until all the
precious fluid is absorbed, then rush of for
the camp, and once in camp wiring it out
into camp kettle, and all get drunk. 1t
is strange how often some OF the blankets
had to be washed and how hard these
New York bunamers would work at the
wrineing process. Ihave seen blanket
literally twisted into pieces in the effort TO
squeeze lone more drop" out OF the woody
thing. 1t was some time before the officers
could find out how these men got liquor
into camp.
One day very respectable looking Irish
girl came into camp with basket OF cakes
and dyspeptic looking pies to sell to the
boys She was searched by the guard and
allowed to pass in.
Alter selling out her little "blind,' as
she afterwards termed it, she sat down in
large sibley tent AS she dropped onto
the stool jingling kind OF sound was
heard, and the boys in the tent at once
took the hint. She sat for some time
watching game Of cards, and occasionally
offered some valuable hints as TO how GER
tain cards should be played,
Finally one OF the boys ventured to sug-
gest that il he could only get q little some-
thing to clear up.his mind he might be
able to play his cards better.
"Ivegot a wee drop OF the critter by me
fur me trouble we can have fur the asken."
"l'll take that trick right now" said one
OF the boys, as he went down in his pocket
for the scrip. where have you the
liquor, my love?"
tits underneath me dress, bedad; tied
TO me hoop skirt" and as she spoke she
very modestly lifted her dress to an i'm.
modest height and revealed several bottles
and canteens dangling from her hoop
skirts, like gourds from vine in autumn
The game OF poker lost its interest, and a
dozen or more thirsty topers gathered |
around that travelling grog shop, and
in ten minutes she had relieved her
clothes OF their ponderous weight and was
on her way to the city with twenty-five or
mora dollars in her pocket. OF course |
there was dangerous drunk in camp that |
night, and tho officers wondered where |
under the sun these men got their whisky"
But the crisis came The 2lst New York |
was ordered TO march on the morning OF the |
day fJllowing. 1t was seen by this move.
ment that new programme had been |
arranged, and that no two regiments would |
be ordered out together. To the surprise
OF everyone this regiment moved exactly at
the time designated, without one excep,
ton. This was damper on the other por.
ton Of therommand. They had been so
loud in their declarations Of consistency, and
had made such solemn pledges, that this
action WAS looked upon as contemplate
breach OF faith.
Next morning came orders for the 9th
W. Va. Cavl. to move at daybreak on the
succeeding morning. OF course the action
OF this regiment was watched with great
interest by remaining regiments, and by
officers especially.
At A o'clock in the morning the bugle
sounded. A few men crept out from their
little dog tents and commenced preparing
to march. But large proportion, for the
first time during four years service, failed
10 respond. Several Orderly Sergeants re-
NAMED in their tents, and made no at.
tempt to muster their men or call the roll.
But here and there few familiar voices
could be heard ordering the men to "fall
in."
In short, the order to move was not gen.
orally obeyed, although small proportion
OF the regiment packed their ponies and
were soon awaiting further orders.
TO be continued