The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-13
OLD ARMY STORIES.
Telling Stories by the Veterans
lis Incidents

Telling Stories by the Observation-Disclosures
lis Incidents.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
eff you want to see the regulation. thorough
going, high jinks of soldiers you ought to drop
in at the late hohr of some soldiers banauets
This came from man who had worn stars on
his shoulder-straps during the war. ssBy
George" he continued, my blood goes tingling
through my veins when think of the jolly times
some of the Loyal Legion and Army of the Ten
nessee fellows have had after the speech making
in some of the banquets remember one nights
we were singing old army songs and some one
proposed stag dance. happened to be pre-
siding officer on the occasion, and tried to rap
the hilarious gentleman to order But on the
instant captains. colonies. brigadiers and major
generals. bald heads and gray heads, were on
fheir feet and going through the ridiculous mo-
lions of the old-fashioned camp frolIc
AS they were about to take their seats Major
general Blank put one foot upon the table ana
suggested that they all dance around the table
on one leg Thsir blood was up and they tried
1t The scheme was that they should 90 clear
around the table in line on hop. keeping time.
no man to put his leg down until he had made
the circuit of the long table. / didn't bellows
any man could accomplish such feat But
when the line got started ] tried it myself and
it was the funniest thing in the business to see
those old dodgers putting into the ridicuioua
performance the energy, enthusiasm and per-
sistence that had made them invaluable as CONS
manders in army times. They kept it up fos
half an hour, then in the resting spell that fob
lowed told some of the bsst war stories on REQ
ord"
This gathering down at indianapolis lasi
week." said an ex-Hoosier cavalryman. ''wasa
great experience of that kind. The papers did
full justice to that, however. as they caught up
every story that was told by veteran, one pa
per- the journal. giving seven or eight columns to
the gossip and "reminiscences of the boys. bus
one thing they missed. On the day the exer.
cises were held at the cemetery the German ves@
Grams of Indianapolis had arranged to put on the
grave of Ex-Governor Morton a large cross
This was very handsome affair and had beea
read nor spoke English. GAS he
entered the cemetery he asked for thu
grave of Morton. Some gentleman standing
near. not understanding his question, but sup
posing that he carrying the decoration for
the grave of Vice-president Hendricks, directed
him to Hendricks grave. He marched up and,
without question or delay, placed the large Mai
tese cross. marked O. p. NJ. on the grave OF
Senator Morton's lifelong opponent and political
enemy An hour later when the committee put
in appearance to look after the matter, they
Mortified to find their beautiful Offering, in
tended for the grave of the great war Governor,
reposing on the grave Of the man who advocated
ant-war policy. 1t was, of course. transferred
Immediately, and everybody was sworn to Sc
crecy.
II met down at indianapolis a man who kept
for years dog that trained for time with our
regiment He was great favorite with the boys
and hada great many adventures. and at the
close of the service the boys drew cuts to decide
which man should take him home and take care
of him. For years and years the dog would not
allow a stylshly dressed man to come into tho
yard but having discovered. the first month of his
home experience, an old soldier friend in the per-
son of tramp, he ever after that welcomed any
tramp to the premises with barks of delight and
enthusiastic tawagging He was, or this ac.
count, the very opposite of watchdog. Let
tramp come toward the house, day night the
dog welcomed him with the manner of full
brass band and marshalled him up to the barn
or house with q flourish that seemed &c say,
Take anything you want. and if you don't see
what You want, ask for it.