The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-08-24
WAR EXPERIENCES.
ny WIN. W. WEIGH.

by WIN. W. WEIGH.
The Monotony Broken-7He All DipiSio'
Moves-The Benefits Of CHANGE TIL
Foil of h-Whisky: What Good is IT.
A .Seyere March.
The chief purpose of any writing Is t
impart facts and Impressions to readers
An impatient friend has unwittingly COM
plimented these variations by intimating
monotony In keeping the reader so long In
one locality, amid scenes and events trans
piring Immediately round about end his de-
sire that we depart from there at first and
tittest opportunity; thus showing that he
has caught the spirit of that time, and OF
the circumstances. We all felt so, and
gladly hailed the first shadowy prospects
of change, even should It deliver US to a
worse condition. TO most minds m0not0ny
is a horror 1t is related that among the
refinen. ents of prison tortures In the mid
die ages was placing the victim In dun.
geon, where he was forced to listen to the
slow, incessant sound Of dripping water
Not knowing for what he was confined
there nor the fate awaiting him, only in
sanity could shortly result If he long sur
vived. The mind must have change and
variety of occupation that Its integrity be
preserved. Confinement in lighted room
without angles, or aught to break monoto.
ny, also diseases mind and body.
Be of good cheer; none will be driven
crazy by reading these recitals. And b
change impends. But | cannot promise
that we shall be able finally to sever our
connections with La Grange and the Jor
dan, the Wolf River country has become
TO our Israel in many months yet We
shall take wild and varied excursions, and
find hard roads to travel. We shall have
trials and fluctuations. Shall have encoun
tiers Philistines; shall meet Delilahs and
other enchantresses. Dreadful battles will
be fought with all attendant and subse
quent horrors. Disease and CHASTITY wounds
will continue to perform their full part
and death will advance apace. We shall
not be too much oppressed with monotony
And we shall triumph at last; the faithful
shall enter the beautiful city of Peace and
Rest, as the crown of glory for their trials
THE FOURTH DIVISION MARCHES.
-Four months have been consumed since
"taking the field" To what apparent end
has been narrated In much detail, even II
the strategic purpose must be left wholly
to differences.
We have no more than gathered our
selves together after our late incursion'
playing soldiers-when limitations per
wade the neither air of real march In neal
prospect by division. While none of Us
could explain our faith In this, many were
30 impressed. And we hailed II with a
certain pleasure. For better or worse, Il
promised variety.
"July II, 1869 Marching orders entire
division. Clear up camp; consume debris
and all proven useless encumbrances-
which always accumulate about military
camps"
Destination guessed TO be Memphis
which had been taken by our gunboats
and occupied since June 9th previous. Al
army numbering 5OO0,-I think, at date
given, the 4th division comprised tina
cumberland Impractical In marching, IL
not as readily prepared for movement a,
after having been months and years In &C
tive service.
Beginning preparations early In the day
according to cautionary order to be ready
at a specified hour, 1t was we'll afternoon
before II could be said we awaited the fina
order. AT length the companies were ar
ranged TO form In column. The division
was In motion; the 53d ready to fall in
at the place assigned 1t.
All through the war was fated to fine
myself In anomalous positions from time
TO time Often the subject Of mistaken
identity. Instances Intend to refer to II
due connection.
was mounted and ready to take my
place, the right of the rear of the regi
ment, when Gen. Lauman, commanding
LIST Brigade, appeared with his staff rapid
ly moving about, personally observing tn,
forming of the brigade In order; and hur
riedly approaching, paused an instant a
my position, and In perempt0ry tone ord
cred me:
ForWdrd! Forward your regiment, Ma
jor, and follow the SD Iowa"
But General" said. But before
could further reply, he the more emphati
cally ordered:
"Foraoard the SD, Sir No field office
present II falls upon you, sir, to command !!
II was broken ground In the old "stum]
pasture and neither of us had observes
that Col. Cushman was already In his plac
at the head of the leading company, wit
the new adjutant, think, Chas. II. Brush
In place Of Lieut.. May, captured shortly BE-
fore, AZ related. 1t. Col. Hit, was also nes
at hand. The situation was thus at ono
discovered, and lost the opportunity O
temporarily commanding the SD ILL., In
Vol.
Finally, the column moved, at 2p. m.
This movement. duly prepared for, a
sick sent north, We were disencumbere,
beyond the few at the last minute ev,
found ailing, who must at least have the
arms and equipments carried and be a
owed TO proceed at will.