National Republican., 1884-11-01
SAVING THEIR SALT.
THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRANSFER OF
C0RsEs BRIGADE TO BRISTOL.
Delights OF Army Transportation By Rsil-A
Merry visit to Lynchburs--Dangers En-
countered and E1pedients Used by Soldiers
10 Get Brandy and Applejsck.

If these articles have any value at all
IL Ia because the endeavor has been made
TO view events and operations purely
from the standpoint Of the private SOL
dier, and to relate as faithfully as may
be the experiences Of men in the ranks as
far as can recall thom to mind. The
official reports Of generals Are doubtless
the best record of the bare facts Of
campaign, but they are worthless as to
che lights and shadows Of army life; and,
after all, the latter are much more inter-
esting to the average reader. / would
prefer to read the diary Of n private SOL
dier as to the operations in which his
regiment participated to the report Of his
general relative to the same.
When Gen. Lonstreet in September,
1868, was detached from the army of
northern Virginia to ro.enforce the army
of Gen. Bragg in Tennessee no carried
with him but two divisions of his corps.
Pickett's was left behind at Richmond and
Petersburg. Corse's brigade of Pickett's
division was stationed at Petersburg. Af-
Ter the battle of Chicamauga, and when
Longstreet was besioging tho army Of
Gen. Burnside at Knoxville, Tenn, ono |
beautiful autumnal morning tho entire |
brigade was bundled on the cars on the |
South Side road and headed for Lynch
burg. The transportation of troops by |
the railroads in the confederate service
was very ugh-and-ready arrangement, |
something as we read of the transporta- |
zion of cattle and hogs in the good old
days before Henry Berg inaugurated the
establishment of societies for the preven-
tion Of cruelty to animals. Tho cars
were invariably old freight or box cars,
with the planks knocked of at intervals
for ventilation, without springs, and to
ride in them over the ill-ballasted tracks
was like jolting over cobblestone pave
ment in lumber wagon.
Into these dilapidated vehicles the
troops were packed, with just about
enough room for tho men to lie down
spoon fashion. On the top of the cars,
which sloped from the center to the sides,
was placed another contingent, as much
crowded as those in the body Of the car.
Now. just imagine how pleasant it was
for the men, with the train moving ut
forty miles an hour, the cars jolting,
rocking, and swaying from side to side,
as If they would overturn at every curve.
Men could scarcely stand up under such
circumstances, and even when sitting
down they would be thrown against each
1t is said that "eels can get used to being
skinned" and Corse's brigade at tho time
spoken of had been treated to SO much of
this sort of transportation in guarding the
railroad between Richmond and Gordons-
Vile that they had become accustomed to
it and were able to derive certain enjoy
ment from tho whistling wind and the
rapid motion. You see, when the brigade
was wanted anywhere by rail, it was
wanted quickly, and every pound Of
steam was cracked upon the engines that
the boilers would bear. In spite of the
proverbial csrelessness Of soldiers don't
recollect of any accident happening on
these quick trips, except once, and that
vas on the Petersburg and Weldon road.
Across this road the bridges overhead arc
frequent and low, so that the cry Of
"BridgeW caused all the men standing
up on top Of the cars to duck down until
il was passed. The cry was SO often re-
peated out Of mischief that it began to
be unheeded, and, as consequence. three
tall men of the 11th regiment had their
heads takeno # as If by cannon ball.
When we arrived at Lynchburg tho
brigade was halted on the side of the
river opposite the city, and as only two
passes at time were permitted each
company, and as the only access TO the
city was across covered bridge quar-
ter of mile long, and as a strong guard
was posted at the entrance OF the bridge,
the men were in quandary as to the best
means of visiting the ancient burgh to
get some applejack. Some of the men
of the 18th soon solved the problem.
They found some stringers on the out
side Of the bridge at point out OF view
of the sentries, and, clambering up by
these to the top of the bridge, they were
IL a .haar tnf fhA hnr
side. Once inside the town, having been
recently paid of, they began to fill up with
apple brandy and to paint the town red
In good humored way. The climax of
their antics was reached when they cap
tured COW, upon which one of the
uumber, dressed in such fantastic trim
mings and feathers as were procurable,
mounted, and with sword Of lathe, with
ell the dignity of colonel, led his fol-
lowers down Maine street, while they
startled the indignant burghers with the
clamor of their pasteboard horns
Gen. Corse was quickly Informed of
this, and sent over strong provost
guard, who soon captured every mothers
son Of the revelers, who were as happy
as clans at high tide over the success of
their escapade. II was well for the pris-
oners that orders were received that
night for the brigade TO proceed with all
haste to Bristol to defend the salt works
which supplied the confederacy with salt,
and which were seriously threatened.
The prisoners were at least hundred in
number, and their services were too
much needed to punish them as they
fully deserved. Anyhow, the writer was
willing to cry "peccavi.'
The veteran soldiers when they drank
at all land there We're not many who
~ all nf a
punishment to obtain liquor If they knew
Of i've whereabouts. Why, 1 recollect
that Oh one occasion at lvor station, on
the Petersburg and Norfolk railroad,
some of the 18th, hearing that an old
farmer had several barrels Of brandy
which he gave and sold to the principal
officers to curry favor with them, but who
refused to sell or give any of the precious
stuff to the rank and file, procured by
hook or crook an officers uniform, which
the sternest looking one of them put on.
A dozen or more got their rifles and &C.
coutrements, and off they went to tho
farmers house, a full l-dedged provost
guard. The pseudo officer declared that
he had been sent to destroy the liquor
because the farmer had been selling to
soldiers. He plead and protested his
innocence, and finally tho officer agreed
to defer the seizure if the farmer would
give him two or three buckets.full to
carry back to camp as present for his
superiors to appease them--a compromise
that was eagerly acceded to by old hay
seed. That night one-half the regiment
WAS uproarously drank before the officers
were aware of what was going on, and
the culprits were mover discovered, or ut
least the offense was winked at.
But to resume. The brigade was again
put upon the cars, and as fast rs possible
we were trundled along to Bristol, which
is one-half in Virginia and the other half
in Tennessee, and it is not large town
either. We arrived not moment too
soon, as Gen. Blount, commanding a
body of loyal Tennessee cavalry, was
making things warm for the confederatos
thereabouts, ! don't think when the
brigade started from Petersburg 1t in
tended to defend tho salt works, but to
make a demonstration from BriatOl to