The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-09
ANDERSON S. c.. THURSDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 9, 1884,

which we women eat without repug
nance? Are you not ashamed to be so
dainty? ! suppose you want pies and
cakes" :.
0They are filled with worms" a rude
voice cried. "I do not believe you eat
the same 2"
"Let me taste them," I replied, taking
plate from before a man and eating
with his pewter spoon. "This is from
the same peapot. Indeed, we have but
one pot for us all, and I spent hours this
morning picking out the worms, which
do not injure the taste and are perfectly
harmless. 1t is good, wholesome food"
"Mighty colicky, anyhow" broke in an
old man.
The men laughed, but I went on taking
no notice of fact which all admitted.
"Peas are the best fighting eood. The
Government gives it to us on principle.
There were McC Clellan's men eating good
beef, canned fruits and vegetables, trying
for seven days to get to Richmond, and
we, on dried peas, kept them back. l
shall always believe that had We eaten
his beef and they our peas, the result
would have been different"
This was received with roars OF laugh
ter, but the men in good humor, and they
ate the peas which remained, washed the
floor and cleaned the walls.
Such ID the variable temper of the
soldier-eager to resent real or imaginary
wrongs, but quick to return to good hu-
NOR and fun.
But the spoiled one.armed man had
Gen. Lees socks put on him and went to
his regiment the next day.
THE STORY OF GEN. LEES SOCKS.
Speaking of Gen. Lees socks-an
"institution" peculiar to our hospitals
/ must explain its origin and uses. Be.
sides that..Mss: Lee spent most Of her
time in making gloves and socks for the
soldiers. She gave me at one time sew
eral pair of Gen. Lees old socks, so
darned that we saw they had been we'll
worn by our hero. We, kept those to
apply to the feet of those laggard cold
soldiers" who were suspected of prefering
the "luxury" of hospital life to the activ.
ity of the field. And such was the effect
of the application of these warlike socks
that even threat of it had the effect of
sending man to his regiment who had
been lingering months in inactivity. It
came to be a standingjoke in the hospital
infinitely enjoyed by the men. If a poor
wretch was out of his bed over week
he would be threatened with "Gen. Lees
socks," and through this means some
most obstinate chronic cases were cured.
Four of the most determined rheumatic
patients who had resisted scarifying of
the limbs, and what vas worse, the small.
est and thinest of diets, were sent to
their regiments and did good service
afterwards. With these men the socks
had to be left on several hours, amidst
shouts of laughter from the Assistants"
showing that though men may resist pain
aud starvation they succumb directly to
ridicule.
A HEROIC YOUNG OFFICER.
1t was after the battle of Federicks-
burg-the Wilderness perhaps-we were
ordered to have ready eight hundred
beds, for so many our great field hospital
accommodated. The convalescents and
the "old soldier" with rheumatism and
chronic disorders, who would not get
we'll, were sent to town hospitals, and we
made ready for the night when should
come in the eight hundred. The Bal.
aklava charge was nothing to it. They
came so fast it was impossible to dress
and examine them. So upon the floor Of
the receiving wards (long, low buildings
hastily put up) the nurses placed in rows
on each side their ghastly burdens, GOV.
cred with blood and dirt, stiff with mud
and gravel from the little streams in
whichthey often fell. The female nurses,
armed with pals of toddy or milk, pass
ed up and dowp giving to each man a
reyiving drink to prepare him for the
examination of the surgeons, while 9TH
ers, with water and sponges, wet the
stiff bandages.
As I passed round looking to see who
was most.in need of help and should first
be washed and borne to his bed, was
especially attracted by one group. A
young officer lay with his head upon the
lap of another equally distinguished
looking man, while negro man servant
stood by in great distress. 1 offered a
drink to the wounded man, saying {:
"You are badly hurt, I fear"
"Oh no." he replied. "Do not mind
me, but help the poor fellow next me,
who is groaning and crying. He is
wounded in the wrist. There is nothing
30 painful as this. Besides, you see |
have my friend, a young physician, with
me and servant to ask for what I need"
So passing on 10 the man with the
wounded wrist, stopped 10 wet it again
and again, to loosen the tight bandage
and say comforting word, and so on and
on, till lost sight of this interesting
group where all were so interesting, and
forgot it till in the early morning l saw
the same persons. The handsome young
officer was being borne on litter to the
amputating room, between his two friends.
His going first of all the wounded heroes
proved that his was the most urgent case.
Rushing to his side, I reproached him
with having deceived me with his cheer.
full face.
"Only leg to be taken off," he said.
San every day affair.""
/ followed to see him laid upon the
terrible table which had proved fatal to
so many. Not only was his leg to be
taken off at the thigh, an operation from
which few recovered, but he had two
wounds beside.
From this moment really lost sight of
this doomed man. He was of Louisi-
ana regiment, 1.-THE Washington Artillery,
7 think, for he came from Washington
on the Red River One could see that
he was of refined and cultivated people,
that he was the darling of the parents of
whom he constantly spoke. Yet he never
complained of his rude straw couch or
seemed to miss the comforts which we
would fain have given him, nor did he
lament his untimely fate or utter mur.
mur over pangs which would have NOV.
ed the stoutest heart. He could not lie
upon his back, for gaping wound ex.
tended from his shoulder far down upon