South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-01-18
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! We moved camp the lst OF August,
one mile east OF Centerville to beau
tiful place, where we had good water
which we called Camp Harman' in
honor OF Maj. Hartman our. Quarter
master who selected the camp. We
remained in this camp one month,
hothing OF interest transporting, but
the usual routine of camp life. We
marched three different times down
to Fairfax courthouse, 10 fight the
enemy, but each time it was false
alarm. Some six or seven oil my
company, being vef9 anxious to 90
home on a visit, and Aos being able
to get furlough. took French fur
iough' aud disappeared one night.
In order to explain what We termed
French furlough' it was simply Sab
sent without leave aud was not con-
sidered desertion, aud if they return,
ed without being arrested, thcv were
put on extra guard duty for few
nights, but If arrested and brought
back, they were cnurt martialed and
had to ride a wooden horse, or barre,
shirt or some such punishment, Lieut.
Bpzzard of my Co. was detaiicd to go
to Hampshire county aud gather up
the absentees, when he returned he
brought back sixt cen. While in this
camp we drew our first pay. and / re-
ceived some rev clothes from home
There were great many hucksters
came to camp, With chickens, butter,
eggs, &c, to sell aud always fou nd
ready sale. So one morning just af-
ter roll call Mike Dagnon, ca mess
mate,) and myself saw a wagon near
camp retailing produce. Come says
Nike, I'VE will have some chickens
for breakfast when we arrived ut the
wagon we found a considerable crowd
So Nike mounted the wagon and Sc
lecting two fine chickens, aud hand
ing them 10 me remarked, you hold
these until get my change, what
change says |, you did not pay him
vet, nsver mind, says he, you hold
the Chickens Come old man give
me my change, says Mike, am in q
hurry, the old man being very busy
selling and somewhat confused, says,
how much did you give me? five
dollars says Mike, when he handed us
the change and we walked off with
our dollars and the chickens. told
Nike that wac too bal, he allowed it
was good enough for war times.
AT this time we had cook detail.
ed who cooked for the whole compa-
ny, 80 We repaired to TIE cook house
aud asked him to cook our chickens
for Us, when he said that was not in
the bill OF fare and refused to do so.
consequently we took the frying pan
from him and proceeded to cook them
ourselves, which ended in a skirmish
between US and the cook, in which
the cook beat retreat, and went to
tie captains tent and reported the
state OF affairs. The captain ordered
the Sergeant to take file Of men
and conduct US to the guard house /;
| by this time the chickens were about
cooked, and we took them along,
told Nike we were getting paid for
cheating the old man out oil his
change and Chickens
Now this was the brigade guard
house we were put in, aud it was get
ting pretty well crowded, Col. Cum
mings concluded to have regimen
tai guard-house. So the next day all
those who were in the euard-house
from my. regiment, were taken out
and taken to our regimcntal head
quarters and put in charge of an OH.
Ger and ordered to build new gnard
house-it beng simply large pen OF
round logs with no roof on Mike
and me were ordered TO carry mp the
corners. Some of the logs were crook
ed and Nike says to me, flct W put
two crooked ones together so can
creep out some night fAlI right
said s; accordingly it was done. We
remained in that guard-house six days
and every night we would slip out that
crack, aud roam around over the bri
gade and crawl ba k before day: we
! did not care If the sentinel did sec US
coming back for we would make Inn
believe we got out while he was on
duty, and wocld report him for negIl-
gcnce, so he would keep mum. and
every night there would be a differ.
ent sentinel Soldiers had to do
some devilment to relieve the mono
tony OF camp lie.
On the LIST of September we moved
camp to within one mile of Fairfax
Court House, aud our regiment went
on picket down to 'Munson's Hill in
sight of Washington City, and re
naming on picket one week, had
quite nice time. My cousin, Smith
easier, of the first Kentucky regiment.
came to see me while in this can d I
had not seen him since we we're little
boys, he living in Louisville, XIV.
When the war broke out. got pass
for few days aud he aud went TO
the battle field aud | showed him all