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

| W,
time, that only part OF the division had
been hastily ordered on aforesaid march
probably soon to return. Somewhat phe-
nomenal: IA march ordered and the head OF
n 50 important department as the medical
unrestricted as 10 the disposition OF his
hospital! had none, other than to retain
In II the disabled and, inferenially, 10 take
care of them until competent further or
ders should arrive.
But was not an officer without com
mand Ny force numbered, women and
all, well nigh hundred, including the
regimental band Of fourteen pieces, Ger'
man silver base and snare dram; and M
ordeys, A pretty large village of tents
silence hrooding all about US. IL was an
especially good, but tacitly acquiesced In
unwri,en law, in the army as on shipboard,
eleventh commandment" sailors call II;
"tbOu shalt mind thine own business" anu
I prosecuted all mine left over. If presum-
ing ANYTHING II was that all had been prop
erly ordered by responsible authority, and
that the machine would operate without
nv concern, and continued the endeavor 10
complete what business was in arrears; flTst
of ALI, needfully caring for the patients, a
precedent duty ever, If particularly motto
ing anything about me II was the august
silence that pervaded that large collection
of tents; the illusion constant, that they
we're presumably occupied--and so still,
so almos, fa0guiy still! Gradually, MS
work deferred was brought up, and the I'M
usual condition obtained favorable for rest
and diversion, 1t was svailed of In writing
to family and friends, up in Gods country,
as the boys called homo.
All camp observsnces were suspended :;
all was very still Nobody there to attend
10 them, az was shortly afterwards learned.
Passed the first night ungarded, unmatched!
Abandoned! Must be a law unto myself.
Among my forces-the best men in my hos
pital detail having soon gone forwnrd--were
cOnvalescents, who, by organizing "relieis'
in their own way, a yigilant camp guard
was kept up on my own account sleep
for several nights uninterrupted. Presum-
ably inside our picket lines, rested con
tent. Jared well. Self appointed foragers
among my force brought In domestic game,
of which the surgeon partook with satisfac-
ton, unquestioning the source Of supply;
take the goods the gods provide thee"
Ii continued almost fearfullY still. No
orders no reports required; though Kept
them up in service, in case demanded.
[magination's weary wings brought no
olive branch of peace TO my vain specu!a-
lions whatever, as 10 whittier the fourth
division had departed; as to that only, was
my hospital Immediately related 1t was a
rest for the weary. Content-only waiting
for competent orders, for whatever change.
Disobedience of orders and all implied, to
IN va from my firm base without them.
One day, eanuied, trumped up the shad'
ow of an GRAND In my own private couu.
Gil, TO Justify Fren IA leave of absence,
and went 70 Corinth, first leaving orders
with Chas. Clark, non commissioned Off
Ger, 10 picket the camp thoroughly, keep or.
der and discipline, and due report make on
my return. (Whoever knew collection
of five hundred TO thousand men, that
did not have "Charlie sClark" in 1t?
The 53l had two, and third with mid
die initial) The way was devious and un-
certain. Remarkable, not meeting any
body-especiaily troops No signs of out
posts, videttes nor plckets. Al the Few
rude houses passed, women aud children
covertly showed themselves, as coutlnued
common through the South, all the war.
Corinth, "swarmiug' with troops. of all
ranks. All busy with wars pertainings
Saw old friends long unmet, OF regiments
new to me, and unaware they were in the
military service. Got regular layout
dinner at the Tishomingo House. First
"civilzed" one since on board the Con.
tiuental" before reaching Savanna, Tenn,
the previous March. Walls of the dining
room bore patchings, showing where Il
cannon ball had passed through them du-
ring some previous Operations" My
recollection Is that some "army follow er"
had gotten possession of the house 10y mil
itary authority, and made boarding house
of il for officers, drawing their rations for
part of the supplies; and, incidentally, do
ing transient accommodation. A little
hppenny bookseller had enterprisingly
opened shop and | got some quilts and
botters. lrregularly inquired about the
SD and the possible location of the 4th
Division. Nobody knew; even though
wearing the ensignia of high rank. In
creased realization that | was indeed a
poor castaway!
Returned to my "lonely retreat" my
"oilcer of the guard" reported strange in
quiisitive visltants at the camp during my
absence all seeming TO have friend at
log house on ridge overlooking the
camp. which at first had the appearance of