The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-09-12
WITH SHERIDAN.
ForarInr in the Shenandoah Valley.

f0TaGiHS w tue NHfuanUnAH NAilPi.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Without doubt
the cavalry became exceedingly expert at dis
covering and approprating anything eatable
during the campaigns in the Valley in 1864. At
ter Sheridan's advance from Fishers Hill, in
the latter part of September 1864 Gen. Mostly
appropriated about all the rations sent 10 the
army from our base at Harper's Ferry, and the
boys in blue were compelled, as the Johnnes
always did. 10 live on the country. Grated corn,
squashes, potatoes and other garden sass be-
came the common diet; and il was quite PAL
atable If beef tallow could be procured In
which TO fry the cornugeal Salt, too, was eX-
eeedingly scarce. Our officers held the boys
up for a long while, and savagely went for
them, with the tongue only, if n soldier was
caught stealing sheep" But hunger over
came all obstacles about the time the army
reached the farthest southern point, few miles
below Harrisonburg, aud rs the rifles crack
Cd in different portions of the country no no
ticc was taken of il, unless the boys came too
boldly in sight of headquarters with mutton
on their shoulders.
The most comical scene ever witnessed or
took part in was after heard the report Of
muskcts at brigade commisSary headquarters,
and WAS perempiorily informed by my tent
mates that it was my turn TO 20 after grease"
i got TO the butchers, and fell i'm line, as per
orders, while the animal vas being dressed.
No one could touch the inteStnes of the skin
ny beef until the pauuch was rolled Off the
skin, and the way we all pitched in with our
knives into those CUTS TO get the slender strips
OF tallow was comical. j know i was badly
daubed up. but came away with both hands
full Of the much needed grease, which / care
fully washed and took TO my quarters, and we
soon had a fine corndodger frying in the sp-
der.
Matters got worse, and I volunteered 10 20
out f0raging. So getting up very early | slip
- q. q
had diiiiculty in getting through.
Every picket sternly informed the that / could
not 90 by. At last. when near piece of woods.
one picket most sayagcly remark ed that could
not get through on his beat but ut once turned
his back, aud away scudded, while he kept
his back 70 me, aud soon was Joined outside by
several Of my regiment, when we proceeded
about four or five miles where we found plenty
Of forage in the houses among the hills, aud
after securing all ne could carry. broke up in
squads OF two or three aud commenced our re-
turn.
My partner was one OF the boIdest foragers
ever seen in the Valley. and perfectly hard
ened. About halfway in VIC came TO a small
house in the center Of a clearing and on going
by the open door, with our plumber on our
horses, we were salnted with torrent of in-
vectiyes from a Sceesh woman. This rather
enragcd MY bold partner, and he at once in
yited me INFO the house. after pushing the
viFag0 aside. The air was fairly streakcd with
inVcctiyes against ns Yankees. Dinner was
on the table, and we invited ourselves 10 finish
IT, The conversation ran about AS follows:
You are purity looking fellows. i should
think you would be ashamed Of yourselves,
coming down here aud robbiug aud plundering
we-uns. hope you will get shot, both of you,
before you get away"
'Aii right" remarked my chum; 81 am
perfectly willing to be shot now. killed four
or five Of your fellows at Winchester But we
can lick old Early and his army every time.
Where in the - is old Eariy?"
This sally made the lady " turn her alton
ton TO me.
g You are too good looking fellow to be en-
gagged in such business as this Why didn't
you stay at home with your mother aud be-
have yourself aud be somebody. Shame ON
you!"
Then opened up. while masticatiug rem.
nant Of boiled ham:
Madam, am hungry; will pay you, If
you want IT,"
" / won't take any Of your dirty scrip she
quickly replied. " You-uus stole my 10 niggcrs
and ! haven't got anybody to work and the
cavalry drove or all my stock aud stole every
thing ! had, aud now you are eating up the
last morsei have got IN the house."
Yes" / replied bat. madam. we learned
this business from your fellows, who burned
Chambersburg without any proyocation. We
understand this ioraging completely"
by this time we had swept the table clean
and got up aud left midst terrible volley Of
caths aud acreeches. As we passed through
what had been garden aud pulled up a few
vegetables. we tainted her about her men folks
being in the army. aud running away, leaving
Der dcfcnseltss, aud told her II she had not
commenced abusing Us We should not have
mOlesied her.
Before dark. tired and weary from ellie
tramp, we arrived unobscTycd ia CAM
ate such a hearty supper. with apple
/ that suffered with the collie all night
This was nay only trip. aud have hon,
I told the whole story. Let some other fora
Y rise up, aud, u be dare. give the whole facts
n. j. GRIFFIN, lid y. y, IGi La Sale stree
I Chicago.