New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-03-14
WAR ANECDOTES.
HUMoRs OF THE MARCH AND THE CA

white race and of several of the coored races as
wall When one reflects that IT contained native
born Americans of all the different stocks. OF New
England Pennsylvania, the south the Southwest
the West each with it's own manners ana pfelu-
dices. and of all the eJeaJ cities from Name 10
Texas. and that England and Italy, Germany anu
Ireland. Holland. Wales. Scotland and France were
represented all of them in some cases IN one regi-
ment not in frequently in company the intrinsic
force Of a republican system is apparent in blend
ing without previous military experience on large
scala al heterogeneous mass into welldlsciplned
and effective organization.
The officers of the regular army who attained TO
high commands in the volunteer force found II
necessary from the first to be less cXactinG than
they had been with those under them in the old
establishment. Wherever indeed regular officer
forgot to make allowance tor the difference III
circumstances between regulars and volunteers
something usually happened TO remind him in
practical manner of the fact. In the first days of
the war the newly arrived volunteers, as yet with
out arms or uniforms, were building shanties for
their quarters at Camp DenniSon, the great train
ing-camp of Ohio under tho superintendent OF an
engineer officer Captain-afterward GeneIal-N.
s. Rosccrans. 1t was strictly forbidden TO put noOrs
TO these shantles but the volunteers thought they
know best what was for their good. and whenever
n chance offered carried off boards from the lumber
piles for the purpose. At the rear OF one oil inc
companies the company cook one day was making
soup for his men. The water in the great camp
kettle was boiling and the beans were dancing
pleasantly up to the bubbling surface and the COOK
with big spoon fastened 10 the end of long stick
was stirring the mess and from time to time bringing
the SQUARE chunk of pork to the TOP lie was tail,
raw-boned d-featured son of the Emerald Isle
and it was evident that he was capable OF handling
a more dangerous weapon than spoon when
necessary. But a good workman works well with
any tools aud TO a born soldier even spoon may
sometimcs he sufficient As the cook was singing
and uerrily "bOsSing" the soup little fellow OF
the company came running from the direction OF
the lumber pile as fast as he could and neatly Dcht
double under the load of stolen planks that lay
acroas his shoulders Behind cane a gentleman in
civilian attire mounted on a Mexican pony
aWhcre are you going with those planksT
shouted the gentleman, who was Captain Rosecrans
But the fellow with the planks staid not and
hurried on past the cook up into the companys
ground. Z" Bring back those panks. DO you hear
me a. persisted the Captain. At this the cook, who
had beeniwaching the affair rushed in between the
two and. nOurishing his lOngLandled spoon, poured
out a torrent of words that would not look well IN
nrint They were vigorous though inele gant and
of kind which became common through the army.
The COOKS speech ih substance advised the captain
to 90 to a warm place and not bother himself about
The blanks. OF course Captain Rosecrans was
astounded at such language addressed TO him by
private but as he himself was not in uniform ana
bore about him no vis Die sign of authority which
soldier was supposed to respect, and as the whole
force in the camp was still raw and unacCustomed
70 military dsciplne.he turned his ponys head and
trotted OFT. amused perhaps at being routed by
spoon.
But West Pointers were not all so philosophical.
The colonel of the writer's regment-nOw MAYOR
General :. = Carrol-whO had recently been
assigned from the regular army, was one day passing
thronsh the camp when he overheard strapplng
Irish private giving impudenCe to little corporal
also an Irishman How dare YOU speak like that
TO your corporal sir ?" asked the colonel In sharp
tone "What's it to Won, you rol-headed --f'
was the mans answer But it was scarcely out OF
his mouth when the Colonel, picking up muSket
that stood near him and grasping il near the muzzle
swung the weapon around his head and struck the
aaaro.sivo follow full the sconce with the fiat OF
the butt. The man fell TO the ground and lay as II
dead, and the Colonel with the indignant taunt,
"That will teach you how to talk to an officer"
pas,ed on and paid no further attention. In
minute the man sat mp, rubbed his head, and with
the remark BE gobs, the Colonel has quick
hand" arcse and went about his duty. There was
no resentment there and when on the march a few
DAYS afterward the Colonel riding along the column
espied the man lie had knocked down, he called ont
pleasantly, "Dan, bows your head Dan
answered It's all right now, Colonel But it was
a hard knock you gave it," General Carroll was
man of imperous will and courage, but at the same
time he had immense tact in commanding troops.
His men would go through thick and thin for him.
After hard march one stormy day in the late fall
of 1862 the Second Corps halted near the Blue
Ridge 1t was cold and the wind was blowing the
-, ,fprt1 l1lp W.
were few tents in the corps then and what few
bouses we're in reach were appropriated quarters
for the night of such generals were lucky enough
TO get possession. poor little deserted cabin of
only one room stood midway between the First
Mancock's and Second (IIoward's Divisions of the
corps A captain of the Tammany AID n. ~ Regl-
ment belonging to the Second Division, had
pre-empted the shanty for himself and had left his
servant to make a shake-dOwn there tor him for the
night while he went of for n moment to attend to
his company In his absence officer of General
HancDck's staff rode up ad ordered the servant ont,
intending to take possession for the General The
Cautain who was afterward killed in the bloody
Salient at Spottsylvania an eccentric chlrac-
Ter though n brave and intelligent Cf1iceI lie was
an Irishman with a brOgue of extraordinary thick
ness and in addition was terrible sufferer lie
returned Just his servant had been expelled ana
his ire was aroused 1t dusk and IN the shanty
ouite dark General Hancock himself rode up, dis
mounted and entered. The language he heard be-
tween the two officers fiery and explosive and
be instantly took part with an ability which all
veterans of the Second Corps will cOncede was a
gift enjoyed in high degree by" the superb This
addition to the dispute in the darkness put the Cap
tain beside himself with rage and ne at once turned
on the General But the fearful combination of a
Cork brogue. stRmmerng tongue, and powerful
pair OF lungs was too much for the General, who
withdrew, taking his stat oicer, ard leaving Tam
many master of the house
In May. 1862 Sheldss Division marched out oftho
Shenandoah Valley 10 Fredericksburg, to join Nc
Dowel IN the contemplated advance toward Rich