Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-04-19

from which they were drawn and their
assignment to the command OF officers
selected to perform this im-
portant duty. Thus organized these
foraging details we're to gather all the
food and forage the country afforded
and turn it ever to the subsistence do
partment to be issued in the usual way
to the army. The theory was purely
military in its conception, butsin exc
cution it went sadly astray from the red
tape channel of military procedure. The
foraging details fulfilled thsir instruc-
tions to the letter, SO far as gathering
supplies was concerned, and tho army
fed from the lap OF luxury ell the way
from Atlanta to the Notifications which
encompassed Savannah. But the foragar
away from his regiment parted with the
restraints Of army discipline, took him.
self apart from the jurisdiction Of his
superiors and operated as much as was
possible under his own command.
Forage literally on the country" wers
the vital words within General Shcr-
mans order, and they we're faithfully
oheyed.
The hummer wes abroad at the break
of day, pushing on in advance of the
army and extending his lines Far out up
on either flank. Food supplies were
gathered wherever found and wagons,
mules and horses were confiscated. As
fast rs the captursd wagons were load
ed they were sent under escort to the
road over which the column was to
march and when the regiments to which
the various invoices we're consigned
came along the supplies were taken III
charge by the proper authorities. Thess
supplies were composed OF every
thing the land afforded
corn, corn fodder, -four, meal,
hams, side meat, chickens, geese, tur-
keys, sweet potatoes, sorghum, honey,
peanuts, beef cattle. sheep, horses, mules
and all food products. The bum
mer left nothing, refused nothing, but
insisted on immediate possession of
everything. Az soon az plantation was
despoiled the food gaAherers moved on,
keeping all the time far ahead of the
marching columns and much OF the
time ahead Of the cavalry advance. The
ipreseses OF the enemy affected not the
ttrne hummer. In thss pursuit Of plum
der he knew no restraining influence and
with rssistless force swept away the
igathering opposition At e7ery Faisss5J .ssss
point. Yet with all his seeming reck-
less abandon the hummer was still the
soldier and never for o moment lost sight
OF the fact that he was port OF the
| great military machine.
Encounters between our foraging
bands and detachments OF the rebel cav.
airy force in our front we're OF daily oc-
currence and in every instance within
| my observation the enemy suffered de-
feat. | had good opportunity to
study this peculiar phase of warfare, as
I was an attachee Of the hummer organ
lzation throughout the entire trip. This
Organization had by the natural oper-
alton of circumstances resolved ltself
Unto three branches OF service Those
OF our foraging details who had secured
Igood horse-hesh took tie advance, the
lindifferently mounted came next and
were in turn followed by the for
ayers on foot. The latter we're
the most numerous and at all times
the most reliable when skirmish
was precipitated. They constituted the
reserve force which always hurried to
the scene when the guns began to crack
and their coming usually ended the con-
hict.
4 1t was noticeable and rather re-
markable fact that Sherman's bummers,
freed from all the restraints of disci-
pline. operating entirely upon their own
individual responsibility and constantly
thrown in.o strange companionships,
never lost the cohesiyeness OF military
organization when common danger
confronted them. Without officers to
direct and without apparent need OF
any one to furnish orders they shaped
their fragments into compact lines. of
fensive or defeIsive. as circumstances
made one or the other necessary.
i, One of the many incidents Of the
march to the sea vii
illustrate this peculiar quality
of the trained soldier. 1t was In the
midst of the rich presorves of the ocones
, country, that as many as hundred in
dustrious foragers happened to congrs
gate one morning at plantation which
! was yielding an abundance of geoe
, things and every man wae closely intent
J upon securing his share, and more thar
, that, il possible. The boys were scat
! tered throughout the group OF planta
+ ton buildings, each devoting himself ex
, clusively to his owa explorations ant
s discoveries. From the pine timber bael
, of the little clearing which surrounded
: the scene OF our operations came typi
: cal hummer with warming OF danger
s He was mounted on q shadowy mule
8 with all the blankets of his mess rs
/ saddle and over them rope was strung
. with loop at either end and q foot II
each loop. These were his stirrups
q Fastened loosely to various portions o
b the anatomy OF his steed were chickens
+ turkeys, hams, side meat, canteens, hav