Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-16
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
"reminiscences of Captain James Muir
nhv. Who Served with Gen. Harvey.

".
Of beverly, New Jersey, served IN Har-
news command at Tampa, before the war
~ the rebellion, as a sergeant IN the
Fourth Artillery. Murphy, who was q
commissioned officer in the late war aAd
bos had a eheckered career in the Fenian
Struggles in Ireland as British prisoner
ri State, tells some interesting remnls-
oences Of his Florida experience. In
reminiscent mood recently he SAID:
"Two companies Of Florida volunteers
acted with the regulars in an expedition
from the shores of Lake OkeechObee in
1856 They were a sorry-loOking set OF
ragamuffins alongside Uncle Sans
troops. The contrast was Striking
Nearly all of them shook with the ague,
were raw-boned, had yellow, emaclated
faces and were clad in butternut suits.
Their hair was long, thin and straight.
Their head-cOVerings were ola broad
brimmed hats. Mounted on wretched-
looking beasts, both men and animals
anpeared as if they were inlthe last stages
OF consumption. The morning tney came
into Fort Centre they resembled ragged
funeral procession. They biYouacked
near us at night. The animals were
pieketed to ropes the men carried with
them and they talked to their horses in a
confidential manner about rations.
A REMARKABLE STRANGER.
"After they had departed across the
lake IN hat-bOats Company & was left
sole possessOrs of Fort Centre. About a
week afterward a stranger walked into
the mess room OF the quarters of Company
G.. He was remarkable looking man,
about medium height, slightly but firmly
built, athletic, sinewy and active. He
was dressed in a blue flannel shirt, sky
blue overalIs tucked into the legs Of a
long pair OF boots. On his head was a
broad, white felt hat. His complexion
was dark. HIS eyes were coal black.
The latter spsrkled like diamonds and
were deeply penetrating. His hair was
long and heavy black moustache COW
cred his thin lips. He carried a rifle on
his shoulder and by his side hung a
beaded shOt-bag. On the other side sus-
pended from his shoulder, was large
hammock with double flaps.
HE was eating an orange when he ap-
peared among US. He cast the skin
away and finished the fruit before he
asked in a drawing tone for the officer in
command. He was shown the officers
quarters and vas clOseted with them
about an hour. At rOll-call that night
the newcomer vas announced as the
guide for our wing of the expedition, sent
by Gen. Harvey, the cOmmander-in-chief,
from Tampa. his name was Jacob |
MlCuleFs ne was bOIn ia Tue Ulu civ Oh !
San Augustine, d Spanish parents, and |
educated for theprotessiOn of civil engi- |
neer. He had ben engaged in surveying |
portions of his naive State and making |
maps Of his SURVEYS. In his travels he |
had met Gen. Haney and the old soldier |
had taken a greet liking to him. Gen. |
Harvey deemed Hichler the proper per- /
son to guide the tnOps through the famous /
live oak hummod1s, the everglades and |
other haunts OF tie Indians and gave the /
officers implicit Instructions to obey his |
directions.
'sThe evening blowing his arrival he |
strOlled over to thebig mound where the |
cattle were penned to watch the process
of slaughtering Qe of them for fresh |
beef. After the company butcher had Sc |
lected a tat steer Aichler stepped out and |
said: Let me shot that ANIMAL Privi- |
lege was given hin. AS the steer raised |
It's head he quickly ran his eye along the |
rifle barrel and fred. The small white !
spot in the forehead of the animal one |
hundred yards away was pierced in the |
middle and the tumb best sank to the |
groundwith grosn.
GsOD AT POEER OR SHOOTING.
"Michler was not only a dead shot but !
a remarkably good poker player. He !
raked into his shot-bag everything he |
could, from Officers and men alike, in this |
seductive CANT and sent big amount OF |
money to his mother in st. Augustine by |
the paymasteL who was on his way to |
Fort Monroe tOpay the men. He was an
expert in throwing the lassO, but his |
delight was getting into a ca |
noe, stealing up alongside big alligator /
and sending bullet through his gill. He |
would then pu; rope around his head |
and paddle him back to shore. He was a |
fnmOng GnnkR hnnfpr ton 10 /
thick palmettOs, Armed with a long pole |
sharpened at the point he would spear
with perfect GOODNESS and, |
lifting him up il the air eXclaim:
"'That snake would be dangerous il he
bit fellow
"Michler was the most restless man
ever saw. He was always on the move,
always doing something.
zone day mounted messenger from
Fort Myers gave US orders to move.
The boats were manned and we were
f0ated down the lake to the Kssimmee |
river, where we met Company l., with q
cruel breVet major IN command. We /
went along the klssimmee in the direc-
ton OF Lake StOkpage, landed near some 4
timber, went into the nearest hummOck |
and secuted all day. This kind OF work |
continued for about month, when the /
brevet major, who had taKen violent |
dislike TO Michler, became insulting and !
A CRUEL MAJOR WHO WAS A COWARD. |
"One day, as we were drifting lazily !
along the river, the brevet major reclining |
on the cushions in tue back part OF his |
boat, Michler said:
" wish to scout the woods TO your left |
MAJOR. think there are Indians in that |
vicinity.
"Ihe Manor -enliad nv telling him IN
mold his tongue aud not dare address him
again.
The Spaniard gave him a fierce look
and said; WIN you do as l suggestp
The officer ripped out big oath, cOu-
pied with an offensive epithet, and said:
slow dare you talk TO me, sir, that
Way?'
LAS quick as lightning Mlchler covered
MN with his revolver and looking him
straight in the eyes SAID:
Take back that offensive epithetJ
"A slight hesitation brought the Omi-
nous sound Of the click OF hammer.
80 do said the Major.
Wll you scout tue woods with your
commando said the Spaniard.
NO! Emphatically mol Don't ask me
again. replied the officer.
run me 10 the Shore, said Michler
% the crew. Il will leave you here
travel TO Tampa and report you TO Gen.
Harvey?
The boat soon reached the bank. TAX
M MS haversack, shOt-bag and gun he
ld good bye % the party and with
wave of his sOmbrerO struck out on foot
HHHNa