National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-20


tho things he used the least and were
heaviest, whilo the other kept his until
stripped by the inspector general. and
only threw his knapsack away when or
dered to dOuhle-quick into charge.
What man who had experienced field
during the rebellion has not noticed that
the biggest packed knapsack almost in
varipbly belonged to the smallest man in
the command, and who also usually car
ricd long-handlod frying pan, long
after every one else had discarded them,
aud tho big men reduced to borrowing
half canteens aud forked sticks 10 fry out
his 'sow-bely' and bareback. by the
way, did you ever notice that IL was tho
littlest man in the command that always
did the heaviest growlingp wanted to
know If the generals horse wasn't going
to be rested after n mile or two further
on ? or, If the general didn't know the
troops were ahead aud he was hurrying
to catch up? all romarks being
made in "a painfully sarcastic
tone. l remember one little bit OF
devil, an lrishman, who had been
a clerk in tea store IN New York. He
wasn't much bigger than his knapsack,
who kept his military trunk long after
every man in the division had discarded
them for the rolled blankets of the later
years of the war, that was by long odds
the derndest growlor | ever heard. He
growled at turning out in the morning,
growled because his terminate when we
had tents was so big laround) that lie
had ali the blanket, and growled at every
thing, at all times, under all cIrcum-
stances. but on a march lie became truly
great in his line. He began when for
ward was given, and kept at 1t in por-
tinaciously aggrayating manner that
would mako his comrades pass from
amusement to annoyance, then to ILL
temper, and last to, growing themselves.
Then he would deliberately quit himself
and become the merriost man alive with
the fun and affected abuse he poured out
with all the powers of keen wit and
lively tongue.
The country boy and Woodworking
men were accustomed to rise with the
morning star, aud when his task was over
went to his rest at ixed hours, having his
meals during the day at stated times.
His life was regularity itself. The town
or city lad or man rarely new regularity
of hours for meals or bed, and the young
ster was accustomed to hurry from his
nights fun, after hasty toilet, to his
daily work. The tovn-bred one, too, was
more particular as to the manifold uses to
Whlbn MulCE bc appiiNui bhu thSiS
he had the start of his country cousin in
keeping oil the sick list. The result was
that the homegrown one turned out at
any hour that the need came bright and
watchful. and contentedly chewed away
on his strips of thin cut bacon and
munched his bareback, and was wide
awake and ready for any duty. whether
guard march or skirmish, while his coun-
try brother was heavy-eyed aud listless,
and must have his coffee at least before
no could be OF any value"
"HOly smoke" said the major, as he
looked up at the clock, II must hurry Off
to corral my dinner. When bulgod oil
talking about our mon Of the war days, |
intended to tell you how DIR. Bernardo
house was cleaned out, but I'll come in
some day next week and tell you about
that and of what 1 saw in the Burnside
campaign there"