The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-07-20

teres,ing field for study, observation and
practice here. No one, even OF limited
experience, but has witnessed marvellous
instances
will refer 10 one of the minor phases OF
this fact: constantly observed In rrac
,ice that patients have not the faith In
medicines commonly kept In the house,
having names familiar = them, that they
have 10 those brought from afar, with
terms applied which sound as remotely,
and are unintellgible, when they Imagine
in them special and superior virtues. In
many of our hot and almost suffocatingly
dusty marches, II was common TO, all TO
suffer great irritation of the eyes, indeed,
at times, with effects 80 serious and lasting
that purulent ophthalmia in some cases
resulted like unto that called Egyptian
ophthalmia," In the army OF Sir Raiph
Abercom bic against Napole0n) In Egypt,
treated of by Watson. But, for recent and
mild cases, found solution OF common
salt In water to prove quite sufficient, and
frequently directed Its use. After while,
some of the grumblingly disposed con-
ceived a sense Of being neglected, and
were overheard TO make remarks soto cocc,
rejecting derogatively upon the skill and
ability of "the old surgeon" Humph
salt and water for sore eyes Could have
used such medicine as that myself without
his telling me-" My steward also reported
prevailing dissatisfaction.
Desiring not needlessly TO "lose caste"
with nv clientage, | directed him to pre-
pare large bottle of the solution and deal
out a vial of II to each case as | should d.
rect, under the name Of solution hYdr0.
chlorate Of Sodtum, Or, for a change
Solution s0dp murios" (muriate OF soda
common salt } This satisfied all and
its superior curative effects were at once
recognized and acknowledged. "1hat
looks like dotng something" The Old
Surgeon has walked upto business"
But 10 return from this long digres'
sion: Having disposed Of all matters de-
manding immediate attention, the greater
part of the day remained 70 me for bring.
Ing up various arrearages, which Will ac-
cumulate everywhere In all businesses.
Another enjoyable day added 10 our gen.
eral military picnic.
The day following, we made an easy,
uneyentful march back 10 our camping
ground In ''the old stump pasture" at a
Grange; with which my readers are likely
ed AZ If permanently located there.
A LUCkETlA BoRGIA.
Ii has already been stated that, while, In
the aggregate, We had very considerable
army of occupation centering on Grand
J Junction aud La Grange, as a base, Price,
Van Dorm and Nillipigue, had larger one
investing us; hanging around and various
ly annoying US, picking up stragglers,
making misleading feints at different
points aud rendering life as uncomfortable
as possible, while not disposed TO bring ON
general engagement. That was reserved
till later,-tirst days of October, when &C
Cured the decisive battle of Corlnth, and
OF Hatchie River.
Soon after our return from Holly Springs,
II transpired that In our absence :" good
and loyal lady" belonging to lone of the
very first families of La Grange and all
that region" who had by some means
made acquaintance with Gen. Hurlbut, d.
vision commander and also of the Post,
had invited him and his staff, and "a few
other friends, If he should DESIRE to
Fourth of July dinner-with the Lucretia
Borgia design, as afterwards appeared, of
drugging the liquors which should be
furnished at the feast, and then, by signals
previously arranged, when they should be
well un er the influence of it, notify VII
lipigue, the nearest rebel commander,
when sudden onslaught was TO be made,
which in the circumstances, could hardly
have resulted otherwise than In general
capture, or dispersion, of our army from
that position; since doubtless the plot was
we'll understood by the rebel leaders, who
would have been within supporting dis
lance, In case unexpected resistance should
chance to have been met. The occasion
was the more favorable because of the alb.
sence of our brigade at Holly Springs. For,
while thus there would have been con.
siderable force In their rear, such move.
ment unexpected, there could have been
no concerted action with our base at La
Grange, and we should, most likely, thus
taken In detail, have been overpowered.
This the more probable, seeing that, while
Gen. Lauman had proven himself most
superior commander, equal to every emer-
gency our force unprepared, even
with sufficient ammunition for a general
battle, could hardly have escaped disas-
trous defeat, and probable capture OF sur
vivOrs.
Gen. Hurlbut, we'll known for his high
military qualitications-the very father OF
the " Old fighting 4th Divlsion'-was not
less noted for his sagacity. Woman's
sweet wiles" and whatever allurements,
we're practiced in vain to divert him from
the strict line of duty. A man Of liberal
education, In the front rank as lawyer,
he had distinguished himself at Pittsburg
Landing, and later to the extent of oppor-
tunity.
But | am purposely repeating, to the
end that 1t may become better known and
understood, that Gen. Hurlbut, among
many others, was cunnlngly, slowly and
gradually, forced into practical obscurity
and retirement, and at length, sacrificed
as part of the plot silently and secretly
woven by the deep schemer, "the dis
gustingly, falsely adulated" man of desti.
ny"
Gen. Hurlbut and his staff were not
averse to enjoying the feast of good things
to which the " dear lady" with such self
sacrificing kindness and singieness of pur-
pose, had invited them. The invitation
was duly accepted, with thanks"
The fattlings were killed, the feast
was spread, aud all things were ready. "
The guests were assembled around the
festive board. Prominent there were clus-
tiers of wine bottles, OF antique and curious