Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1886-03-12
A "REMINISCENCES,
now AppomattOx May Have Saved a
brave and Honorable Rebel Quarter.
master from the Penitentiary.

o""i aoic heUeI quarter
master from the Peniten,iary.
During the campaign of 1864, the
commanding officer of that depart
nent OF the Confederate army ordered
the cavalry,one regiment of which the
writer commanded, to make exten.
slve ''raids" or accommodating marches
Some of these compelled us to enter
the Federal lines, and even the enc.
my's own country. The Government,
had given schedule prices for the pur.
chass OF grain and long forage. Feed
Tor horses on such marches was alb
soiutely necessary. 1t must be had,
ana the order was that cash should be
paid for all provender secured in the
enemy's country. On these occasions
the regimental quartermaster fire.,
quently paid as much as $40 in green
oaess-equal to $500 in Confederate
scnp-"per barrel' for corn. Com.
putting the average of the
cavalry al 500 men, and the govern
ment price allowed for corn at $40 in
Confederate scrip, it will be seen how
wofully ''short" would be the quarter
masters account after a months cam
palgn. Captain K, a Norfolk bow,
and the idol Of his comrades, was the
quartermaster of this ---th reei-
ment. In February, 1865, he told the
writer that he was "millions short"
had been summoned by the head of
the Department of subsistence to ap-
pear at once and settle his shortage
and meantime an order of arrest and
court martial was received. As his
commander, the writer babe him be of
good cheer, for his peremptory orders,
on the hooks of the adjutant, would
shield him probably, and that at all
events he could plead the necessity
of expenditure and that 1--WE will
stand by you" to the last. The court
martial was ordered; but while our
people proposed General Grant dis.
posed. Before the court met Grant
and his boys in blue had us skedaddl-
ing from Petersburg at our best pace.
Appomattox came. The regiment,
like Others, surrendered and STACKED
arms" During this fornality, three
or four distinguished cavalry officers
of the Union army gathered about our
party, for on many a field, in fight
and truce, we had met and extended
courtesies. So often, indeed, that we
were almost familiar and friendly.
The general who had at last "taken us
III" produced a canteen of whisky,
and handing it to our party said half
jestingly but very feelingly, "Come
boys, take drink. know how you
feel; we respect you all; we have
fought you and know you. Let's
drink to the peace of cur common coun-
try" Presently Captain K. took the
cantcen. His eyes filled, and, half
choking with emotion and tears run
ming down his cheeks, he drank to
the health of the several Union off
GERS, coupling those words with we'll
put compliments to them. He thon
turned to the writer, and blubbering
like a child, stammered out, "And
now, my dear Colonel, here's to you.
I've followed you for four years.
am ready to follow you 400 more.
But, Great God Almighty! We have
no army, no country, no home, no
nothingw Then with a burst of
feeling he could not even partly con-
troll, lie cried out, "But it is id
lucky for me, for in two weeks I'd
have been in the penitentiary, sure as
HI"
The whisky was swallowed, the
Union soldiers kindly smiled at his
tears, and tue old --th cavalry dis
banded forever.