The National tribune., 1884-09-25
zIBA CLEYES.
The Modest Tale Of the COMPANY Cook

To THE EDITOR. In his last paper IN IHE
TRIBUNE Gen. Howard speaks of the 'smili-
tary railway men," who should "have abun-
dant praise" for keeping open the supply lines.
There is often 100 much oversight in recording
army experiences in not giving all the most
prominent details of expeditions, fights, etc.
The reason Of this is variously accounted for,
and mainly attributable to the popular demand
for results. The machinery of a theatrical
show, in Transformation scenery particularly,
is hidden, being the means, while the grand
portraiture or symbolism brings the house
down. Gen. Howard's articles are marked by
q manly desire to be just, and if he fails to
satisfy all witnesses, he cannot be charged with
conceit.
The new regiment reaches the army. The
arms, equipments, tents and rations come
along promptly. Our letters to and from home,
with rare exceptions, found US. On one occasion,
when pair of boots was sent singly, but one
came, and the missing boot in a few weeks was
replaced by another from home, when, 10 the
struggling cowhide came also-three boots for
two feeti The express companies, even, would
bring our boxes as far as the situation would
permit. The suffers followed as almost as
persistentiy as the heas. So that the back
ground Of army life was not less active and as
necessary as the chivalrous front. My service,
with the exception of q few weeks was con-
fined TO the society of a musket and from 40 to
80 rounds; yet / deem no man a hummer who
went as ordered, staid where he was put, and
performed the duties of the detail. / am not a
hero, never was hero, never intended to be q
hero; but L have seen heroes and heroineS in
the hospitals, in the wagon trains, in the
| pioneers, and ever in service under the provost
| officers.
| In my company was man past 60. He was
| q well-known character when our boys moth
| ers and their beaux danced the long nights
out and went home in the morning. Ziba
4 4
an ear for music beyond the scope of his rosin.
| Ziba stood next to me when our last inspection
| fprevious to u. S. acceptance) occurred The
| Inspecting Surgeon said to him: How old are
you, sir 2" Fifty four" replied Ziba "0pen
your mouth" Ziba opened cavernous grub
receptacle fairly glistening with perfect teeth.
Put your finger in there, Doctor" he said.
/ The Doctor smiled and passed on to the next.
| doubt if the old man had an enemy in the
| world, and believe his motives for enlisting
sprang from true national pride. While in
camp at Acquia Creek, or near Stafford G. H.,
the first Winter out, some Is 90 of our officers
resigned and quite a number of our men de-
serted. Blue-toned letters from home and
blue news from the army, together with much
sickness among the new troops, made rather
blue life in our soldier huts. But among the
few whose backbone remained firm was old
Ziba, our Company tG) cook. When rations
! were slow he was patient, and when growler
was dissatisfied with his pork rations he would
coolly suggest that no man had right to find
fault with Uncle Sam for giving him better
| than he was accustomed to at home-for as
rule of such were the GROWERS at the cooks
tent.
Ziba had his violin, and after the duties of
the day were over the dreariness of our dull
street was most happily enlivened by strains
from the region of his hut Arkansaw Trav-
eler," Monte Musk !" The Old Woman Who
| Cat %ba Ho-
came to our ears as something from home.
Yet, when the cooks left their boiling kettles
of meat for Stonewall's gray-coated men at
Charlottesville they also left their personal
effects, and that violin was captured together
with the sick man, Broekway, who had it in
charge and the life of Co. G was not until
Uncle Zlba was again equipped for stag
dances and an occasional breakdown at some
house in the neighborhood where bit Of calico
was to be found
On the long march TO Gettysburg the old
man and his helper, Pat Matthews, trudged
along, bearing on q pole between them the
pottery" Of Co. G., and when we reached the
fight and lay beneath the Smelling behind the
battery of our brigade Battery /, 1st Ohio,
Capt Dilger), old Ziba, too nearly played out
from our hurried march to go himself, sent old
Pat to US with fresh water, There we lay, each
shell that exploded over us making us dig oul
noses deeper into the moist soil. Boys you
! all know how 1t was. Pat! I say, Pat =
calls his Brother Jim; lie down, you diviln
(Which :" says Pat Don't you hear the
shells, Pat2" queried Jim, excitedly, his OWE
head going up and down as the reports occurred
"Diyil do care for them, anyhow. B'ys, du,
|, yez want any wather, any of yez?" And
can see him now, the brave old fellow, stand
ing mp in that unscreened cornfeld $50 mer
fiat in the July growth of trampled grain, ani
Pat with the kettle passing among the boys
who were SO thirsty. And Pat walked to ths
rear; he did not run.
Again, on Morris Island, when the she'll