The National tribune., 1886-04-08
CORPORAL 81 KLEGG.
His First Interview with the Pay
master and What Came of It.
BY W. F. HINMAN, 65TH OHIO.
lCoPYRIGHT, 1896.
No. XIV.

[CoPYRIGHT, 1851
No. XIV.
"Say, Shorty, have We hcerd the news ?" said
Corporal Klegg one morning as he came back
from the spring with a couple of canteens of
water for breakfast. Shorty was toasting some
strips of swine's flesh on the end of a ramrod,
Sis culinary function being to make the coffee.
ST had come up on the run, with smile that ex-
panded over every part of his round face, and
it was evident that he was the bearer of good
tdings.
whats up now?" asked Shorty, as he blew
out the blaze that was too rapidly consuming
the bacon
Coin ter git paid off to-day Bill Johnson
told me down to the spring t he heerd the
Cap'n say so to the Ord'ly. l come quick IS
ever could to tell ye, cause knowed ye'd be
glad to hear it,
and think about what he would do with all the
money he was going to get.
Tell We what Shorty" he said, "I'll feel
kind o. proud-like to send some money home,
though l don't spose they're suherin' fer it.
Dad said when / listed he'd have to hire some
Teller. t. work N my place, but j reck'n
he's able to pay him. I'm goin' ter send So
apiece ter mother N sister Marier jest fer
present, SO they'll know ! don't forgit
'em. Then want ter send another flyer, er
ten-spot here 81 checked is.tongue and fin
ished the sentence in his thoughts, for he didn't
dare tell it even to Shorty" fer Annabel. I'd
git suthin' purity n send to her f / could, but
the Sutler hasn't got nuthin' o. that kind, m
if he had he'd charge me Is times too much.
So I'll jest send her an Y, n tell her to git
nice ring er suthin' to remember me by. There's
tellin' but this II be the last chance I'll ever
git!"
Shorty laughed as he read Sis thoughts.
Better wait" he said, an see how much We
git Don't count yer chickens til after they S
Matched"
For some time the soldiers of the 200th
Indiana had found very little use for pocket
books. When they enlisted the recruiting
officers assured them that all their needs of
food and raiment-and beyond these soldiers
necessities were few-wOud be bountifully
provided for by the glorious Government which
they were to defend; but every man took along
q few dollars for " incidentals"
A good part of the loose funds of the regiment
had been spent during the very brief stay at
Louisville With the lavish disregard Of ex-
pense and resources that always characterized
the new troops on their way to the seat of war,
proud of their new clothes and their shining
guns and accouterments, they had supplied
many imaginary wants, buying all sorts of
gimcracks that would be flung into the fence
corners on the first march. What money re-
manned after these OUTLAWS had gradually found
its way into the cash-box of the rcgimental
Sutler. So it was that the finances of the 200th
had reached state of extreme exhaustion, and
the breasts of its members were filled with
fervent yearning for q visit from the Pay
master
Theoretically, the money purveyor came
around once in two months, and the muster
rolls for payment were made out covering that
period. But the Paymaster although he always
wore gorgeous uniform and put on more style
he II NOT
fighter. His business was. with greenbacks
rather than graybacks. When there was danger
of hearing bullets whistle he kept well to the
rear The exigencies of active campaigning
not infrequently delayed getting paid off"
for four or six months at a time. " Chucka-
luck, p" Honest john" and other curious and
exciting games that the boys engaged in when
they were flush" languisbed, and for the
time almost disappeared. The possession of
cash became a matter of tradition. Then,
when all was quiet in front, the Paymaster
would slide up, unlock his box, and feed the
boys with half years rations. For few days
everybody rolled in wealth.
The 200th Indiana had not yet been two
months in service, but as the 3lst of October
was regulation payday, its account was to be
settled up to that time, so that it might start
even on the next bi-monthly period
81 and Shorty had pooled their resources,
while they lasted, for their mutual advantage,
but the last five-cent scrip had disappeared, and
they had long been in that state of financial
wreck expressvely described by the phrase
" dead broke"
"Snce we bought them last pickles from the
Skinner" said Shorty, Pve forget how money
looks. If this ere hull camp was sellin' fer
dime shinpaster, couldn't buy tent-pin. l
reck' n we amt goin' ter git enough to hurt us
any. A Teller don't git rich very fast on thir-
teen dollars month. Then, yc know, we're
OWN the Sutler good bit. He'll git the first
grab at it. to pay fer all them checks we've bin
havin' of him. What thar'll be left won't scare
ye!"
ST hadn't thought of this before. When he
brought his mind to bear upon the cold facts he
realized their truth, and it reduced several de-
grees the temperature Of his enthusiasm.
al guess you're right, Shorty" he said, and
then added, phiosophically, but it'll be jest
| IS good Is mint S long as it lasts When it S
gone we kin go to buyin' suffers checks agin !"
Early in the day the regiment went through
the ceremony of being mustered for pay. The
Paymaster-with shoulder-straps and brass but
tons that shone as if they were right from the
foundry, and with that swelling air of impor-
lance that is always assumed by a man who ham
dies and pays out large amounts of money
occupied tent at regimental headquarters,
surrounded by Gordon of guards with bristling
bayonets.
Each company in turn was marched up to
had brushed up their Clothes washed their
faces and combed their hair in honor of such
an important and rare occasion. The Paymas-
ter was the biggest man in camp that day, and
the next in size was his fussy clerk. The SUIT
! ler who was the chief beneficiary of the Pay
masters visit, was on hand with his accounts
against the men for the checks they had got
ION tick since their funds ran out. If two or
three dollars apiece were charged up all around
for checks they never had, few Of thom were
any the WISER and it was SO much more clear
profit for the Sutler.
The clerk called the expectant patriots one by
one from the rolls showed each man where to
sign his name, and swore volubly at those who
couldn't write as fast as he could An occa-
sional one, after protracted effort succeeded in
getting his autograph on the wrong line,
and the clerk fired a sulphurous .volley at
him that made him turn pale with fear.
& :r,N