The National tribune., 1885-12-24
beasts of burden. As all the supplies had to

| made much easier. Fuel was toted IRON the
| east end, a distance of nearly three miles. Logs
| for stables were brought from the same place,
but they We're foated along the north shore by
| men wadIng in the water. For some time
| large details were at work day and night un-
| loading supplies from transports, and IN addl-
tion the work of building storehouses, etc,
was nearly all performed by soldiers. All this
| was done by men from the extreme North
enervatcd by climate and great many of them
+! weakened by chronic diarrhea. The guard
duty at first was light, but the troops left the
| island it constantly grew harder for those who
remained, till, when the 18th Ne. was left alone,
every man fit for duty had to be on guard every
other day. Inspections were frequent ana
| thorough, and while the men were 1reely
| reprimanded and often cursed for any delln-
qUency. they were very rarely commended ior
| thOroughness.
The rccreations available to the soldiers were
very few When not on duty they could visit
| acguaintances in other regiments. In the
morning and at night many went In bathing.
Occasionally a small party, with non com
m;ssioucd officer, could get pass to go outside
| the picketline and take stroll at the east END
| in the pine woods. Reading matter was very
scarce, so card playing become quite common
As money was wanting, those who gambled
played bean ante.
PEsTIFERoUs COMPANIONS.
The verinin were few as to species but nu-
| merOus as to individuals. Body lice bestowed
| their attentions impartially upon all, appar-
emily knowing no difference between priVates
aud commissioned officers. As fuel was only
( allowed for the cook fires garments could not
dc scalded so slirmishng for graybacks became
daily duty for all, without regard to rank,
State lines or pecuniary resources. Fleas were
quite plenty, but while the camps oil some
regiments were badly infested with them,
others were troubled but little. These feas far
excelled Livingston or Stanley as explorers,
and had an investigating spirit worthy OF
AgasSiz, while their abilities As gymnasts could
be fully appreciated ouly by some l!l-intormed
person who rashly attempted to capture one OF
them. When the thumb. after being cautiously
moved within striking distance, was suddenly
dropped upon the spot where Mr. Flea was
operating, like the little ball Of the thlmble-
rig man, he wasn't there; but be lmmedl-
atcIy made his presence manifest In some other
spot and began putting i'll the lcis as if de-
ternlined TO succeed in his chosen occupation.
| Sand flies were very numerous, and as they
| were most active about sunset, the regular time
for dress parade, they were torment worthy
of old Spitioot himself. Moving in swarms
and clouds, Gashng into the soldiers eyes and
nostrils while standing az parade rest, they un.
doGbtedly caused most lamentable amount OF
silent profanity in addition to what was ex-
pressed audihiy Sfter parade was dismissed. AS
soon as the weather began to grow warm the
great American mGsketo put in an appearance
and devoted his attention to business with a
skill and perseverance worthy OF a better
cause. MEETINGS were furnished to every man,
and for time they were of some protection
but that was too good TO last. Nearly every
mosketo bar had some slight imperfection, so
| when one of these nocturnal Serenaders allght-
ed on the netting he forthwith explored 1t,
mesh by mesh until he found place available
for entrance. Then, without waiting to call
nf fr;a Ias llNr sod q ha
rier and buzZ-Z-Z-z he went straight for the
half-naked body of the peaceful sleeper within.
| Then sleep became an impossibllity, while
swearing and slapping was engaged In with
great earnestness and vjgor till some fortunate
blow crushed the intruder, when the weary
victim would once more compose himself to
slumber with the probabilities in favor of his
being soon awakened again in the same uncere-
moniouS manner.
KNAPsACK DRILL.
I might relate many incidents which hap
pened during our stay, but will not take up the
space to do so. Many of the officers, rejoicing
in the possession OF little brief authority,
shone out brilliantly as petty tyrants. Vexa-
tious and disgraceful punishments unknown
to army regulations were used far too fire.
quently by many company officers. A favorite
punishment with some was to knock out both
heads of barrel, then make the victim stand
on the ends of the slaves. As the barrel stood
on soft sand it was necessary for him to stand
perfectly still or the barrel would tip over, with
a strong probability of barking his shins.
Bucking and gagging was not unknown, and
knapsack drills for time were quite frequent.
One day Captain in Gen. Phelpss Brigade put
a man on knapsack drill in other words, he
filled his knapsack with bricks and made him
march with it up and down the company street.
The General had the habit of going through
the camps of his brigade quite frequently, and
| hot he cd ust in M IN
see the performance, but returned to his quar-
tiers apparently without noticing it. Soon, how
ever, he sent his Orderly to the Captain with a
request to come to his tent. The Captain was
soon on his way, dressed in his best uniform,
probably expecting, at least, commendation
for his efficiency; or, perhaps, promotion. On
reaching the Generals tent he was admitted,
when, after the usual salute the following
dialog took place:
Gen. P.-GOod morning Captain.
Captain.-Good morning, General.
Gen. P.-l sent for you, Captain, to inquire
Of you what knapsacks were made for.
Captain.-knapsacks; why, suppose they
were made for soldiers to carry their spare
clothing in.
Gen. P.-Well, Captain, / passed your camp
a short time ago and saw one of your men car
rying bricks in his knapsack up and down the
company street. Now, go back to your COM
pany, send that man to his quarters, and don t
ishment again while you are in my brigade.
ROmesickness was very prevalent Very
many deaths and discharges were caused by
general debility, which, in majority of cases,
owed its origin to homesickness, aggravated by
the climate and unwholesome diet. The sick
list was very large, especially in the regiments
which remained longest on the island, and de-
tails for funeral escort were alarmingly fire.
quent. Nearly 3 per cent of the entire force
left their bones in sandhill near the north
shore, and about as many were discharged from
various causes while still larger number re-
ceived permanent injury to their health.
INCIDENTS.
As is well known the army was great place
for nicknames, nearly every soldier having one
OF more. Those on Ship Island were no excep-
tion to the rule, and regiments had their nick
names as well as soldiers. The 9th Conn.,,
which had large delegation of sons of the old
sod, was favored with the name of the Mick
eys" The 18th Conn, quite stylish regiment,
by the way, which had the reputation OF being
favorite with the Governor of the State, was
familiarly known as "Buckingham's Pets"
The 18th Me. had been furnished at its organ
ization with dark-blue pants of meaner
shoddy than was used at any subsequent Pc
riod of the war, and when it had been on the
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