The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-02-09
WAR MEMORIES.



NV last, left Hurlbut's Division, including
the sd Illinois, just establishing camp In
the woods, near the Mobile " ONO kail'
road, on the upper waters OF the Iutchle
river, eight miles northerly of Cornith ;
with new orders arriving by orderlies, and
paper work accumulated according as the
hours had passed since II was necessarily
intermitted. New cases OF sickness at once
reporting; 1t would have been phenomenal
otherwise.
BY this time my attendants were so well
trained in their duties they could establish
the hospital camp very we'll as to details,
after few outline directions. And my
Office tent, and appliances in place went
at once to business.
On first coming to myself" beheld a
populous canvas city all around, and spread
Ing widely beyond me. Nor was wanting
there mans constant companion every
where few women dor Colonel Cush-
man had determined his should be Il model
brigade, ana have It's full compliment Of
memb ers, strictly according to regula-
tons" in all particulars, therefore had en-
rolled the regulation number of laundress
rs and female nurses) 1t follows the most
of them were sick, from the FIRST and a
dead weight upon the hospital Worse;
easier 10 care for ten men than one woman
Is such circumstances All were respect.
able, Of course. Regulations required that
as a condition precedent To enrolling them.
That siege of COrinth was dreadful test
of their endurance.
All our camps wherever, save on regular
II for permanence, though we never knew
how long we might remain; and, AS sani-
tary measure, men are always IN lar better
condition employed than idle even though
their work were void Of vantage otherwise.
Therefore, all conyeuieuCes possible were
provided as soon as could be. Wlth,J,
ovens were built Tor baking bread where
practicable Bricks were sometimes found
near our encampments aud mud would
make good enough mortar for them 10 last
as long as we should stay there. Mem 49,
The army comprised all arti2ans It's eX-
igencies needed, for whatever Sc, vice, and
all could lend a hand, specially skilled or
weeks of Cornth and Gehenna, 1t WAS
marvellous how much real efficiency re.
manned.
Though my duties took up all my time
entirely, could not tail 10 note what went
on around me. All seemed indicative Of a
protracted stay, though terrifying was not
resumed In our regiments, among other
things, appeared great industry in collect.
ing large supply of commissary stores.
Among other things were upwards of fifty
barrels of flour! Which did not indicate
preparations for u march at any near day.
Indefinitely talked among the officers, often
at Headquarters, about being beleagured
by the armies Of Price and VanDoren. A
great many unauthorized reports and
"scares," in active circulation there, as
everywhere, that guesses and speculatious
are rife. But 1t is said that "what the
future hath in store God has put in his own
power; no man knowethw The same
may, not irreyerently, be said of Command
Ing General in war time--no one knoweth
but himself.
In less than week from encam ping as
related, was awakened In the small hours
OF morning by the familiar jingle of an
orderly's spurs, with division orders to ex
anime all men reporting 10 me, whether
sable for duty for an indefinite march.
Ordering the martial band TO sound the
surgeons call, then the old "Jim along
Josey,' l held for while rather multis
tudinous levee, considering the advanced
hour of the night. Not long till the force
under my special command was consider,
ably augmented, Mem-Unless ordered
otherwise the chief medical officer must
remain on duty at his hospital-the regi-
ment marching absolutely disencumbered
of sick and disabled. He only advances
u. with his regiment when those "impedi-
menta" have been removed by official
order to the general hospital or elsewhere.
For this had no orders. Must remain,
''only waiting"
The culling-out process was no more
than completed when the entire division
had withdrawn-stolen awsy--only folding
part Of their tents. Not being otherwise
stated, believe the Arabs told them all.