The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1900, 1889-12-13
Bits About the War Days.
Some Memories From the Time of the
Rebellion.
The Days i'll Camp We're Sometimes
Full of Fun.
There was Sunshine and Shadow in
the Soldiers Life.
Memories of a Veteran.

EDITOR OF THE LhkDER:s
The death of the southern chieftain
and champion of the confederacy, sends
my memory back to one Sabbath morn
ing in April, 1861. All unconscious of
what had happened to stir the nation and
the news OF mighty significance 1 was
soon to hear, the vigor ofyouth made my
four mile tramp in the crisp morning air,
to the little log school house where
church was held, naught but pleasant ex-
ercise.
Looking from the brow Of the nearest
hill one could see that there was some
thing unusual stirring the feelings Of the
little flock. When l arrived everyone
was listening intently to stranger who
was telling how Sumpter had fallen and
the president had called for $4,000 volun-
teers. The speaker came from city col
lege and his words freighted with youth
full fire, soon made these honest men
ready to meet the foe. There was to be
war meeting Monday night at which all
could enlist.
| was then working by the month
twenty miles from home. Going to my
employer 7 recounted the story of the
stranger and asked if.I should 60 Per-
mission was gained and the close of the
war meeting found me proud of the fact
| was in the service of my country. The
IF OF Sc
experience which memory holds to the
end of life. The novelty is lost upon the
field in sterner patriotism but the thrill
of the first step in line is never forgotten.
The three months went by and when
the first three years call was issued, our
regiment went in without disbanding.
There are always happenings in camp
life which destroy monotony. l remem-
Der when we were ordered to the front,
just before the battle of Bull Run, the
inevitable inclination of soldier life to
use some form Of stimulant beside the
daily ration became apparent. But the
eagle eye of the sutler was ever on the
watch. However will is way among
soldier boys. A goodly number visited
! the suffers tent, and while portion of
the company was engaging his attention
in trade, number of the more Dimb]e,
who, by the way were river men in their
native state, tried their log-rolling skill
upon barrel of whiskey and succeeding
in getting one under the canvass and into
a place of safety, where the contents were
quietly drawn off into the new canteens
which had just been issued to us by the
government.
AS might be supposed the enterprising
tradesman soon missed his whiskey and
appealed to the colonel of the regiment
But the boys had buried the canteens
with their treasure and when called to
account had the old state canteens to pre-
sent for inspection. There was fun in
camp when the colonel dismissed the
sutler with the comforting assurance, 81
told you my men would not steal.''
Next morning we were on the march
In the hurry of departure many of the
buried cauteens were left. In April 1861
we again camped upon the same ground
and found nearly if not all of what had
been left. Suffice it to say that the con
tents were none the worse for age.
We then took transports for the PENN
sular under Mcclellan, taking part in al
the battles besides doing bridge work
Our regiment built the bridge over which
the second corps crossed the Chickahom
my to the battles of Seven Pines and Fail
Oaks In the seven days fight we fel
back from Fair Oakes to Savage Station
White Oak Swamp and Malvern Hill
doing sharp fighting in each contest. Il
was hard campaign. During four days
| was able to eat little hard tack anC
drink one cup Of coffee. We had plenty
of rations but there was no time to ea
more. AS for sleep we lay on the bare
ground while the enemy were Smelling
US. Such is soldier life made up of sun
shine and shadow.
After Malvern Hill came the march t(