The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-10-09

'fhcy are filled with Ecrms," rude
voice cried. 81 do not believe you eat
the seme?"
let me taste them," replied, taking
q plate from before o man aud eating
with his pewter spoon. ''This Is from
the same peapot. Indeed, we have but
one pot for us all, and spent hours this
morning picking out the worms, which
do not injure the taste and are perfectly
harmless. 1t is good, wholesome food.h
mighty colicky, anyhow" broke in an
The men laughed, but went on taking
no notice Of fact which all admitted.
"Peas are the best fighting food. The
Government gives it to us on principle.
There were McClellan's men eating good
beef, canned fruits and vegetables, trying
Tor seven days to get 70 Richmond, and
we, on dried peas, kept them back. I
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 is the variable temper of the
soidier--eager to resent real or imaginary
wrongs, but quick to return to good hu.
NOR and fun.
But tho spoiled one.armcd 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 th7:S; .Irs. 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
dsfpet that .El saw ihoy had 5eon veil
vo:a by cur heTo. We kept those to
apply to the feet of those laggard "old
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 q man to his regiment who had
been lingering months in inactivity. It
came to be q standing joke in the hospital
Infinitely enjoyed by the men. If poor
wretch was out Of his bed over o 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 was 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
and starvation they succumb directly to
ridicule.
HEROIC YOUNG OFFICER.
It 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
vel, 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 uPj tho 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
which they often fell. The female nurses,
armed with pals of toddy or milk, pass.
ed up and down giving to each man
reviying drink to prepare him for the
examination OF tho surgeons, while 9th.
ers, with water and sponges, wet the
stiff bandsges.
As I passed round looking to see who
was most ia need of help and should first
be washed and borne to his bed, I 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. offered
drink to the wounded man, saying
"You are badly hurt, 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
80 painful as this. Besides, you see /
have my friend, young physician, with
me and q 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, aud So on and
on, till lost sight of this interesting
group where all were 80 interesting, and
forgot it till in the early morning 1 saw
the same persona The handsome young
officer was being borne on a litter to the
ampntating room, between his two friends.
His going first of all the wounded heroes
proved that his was the most urgent case.
Rushing 10 his side, I reproached him
with having deceived me with his cheer.
fnl face.
"Oniy leg to be taken off," he said.
"An every day Affair.""
! followed to see him laid upon the
terrible table which had proved fatal to
80 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 I really lost sight of
this doomed man.. He was Of Lcnisi-
ana regiment, tine Washington Artillery,
! think, J 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 bis 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 n 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
II, nor get upon one side, for, there the
arm was crushed. We were forced to
swing him from the ceiling. And soon
tho terrible leg became covered with the
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