The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-12-27
THE OTHER SIDE AGAIN.
Register:

THE OTHER SIDE AGAIN.
Register:
As the nights are long and we have
few hours to spare We know of nothing
that we could do that would be more
interesting to the young and more
amusing to the old than to write you
another letter or two concerning the
long, long ago, in the spring of 1872,
when this blessed and beloved country
of ours was all on fire with secession
and war. The writer and the company
to which he belonged were ordered
from West Virginia, at which place
they were then stationed to Manassas
Junction to assist the boys there in
that great Bull Run struggle-but be-
fore we reached that point the order
was countermanded, as great many
military orders are. and we were order
ed to Richmond, the Capital of the
Confederacy. We reached that place in
the early spring of '62, and were quar-
tered in Camp Lee, camp built just
in the edge of the city.
We remained here but short time
however. when we were ordered to
Norfolk, Va. We embarked immedi-
ately for that city by rail, via Peters
burg. We left the historic city. Peters,
burg, just as the sun was settling down
behind the timber in the west, and we
arrived in Norfolk,-a distance Of so
miles-just at day light the next morn
ing, and it was here that We drew
new supply of mules, harness and
wagons, and the next day fixed up for
a march by land to Elizabeth City,
North Carolina, via Dismal Swamp
canal.
i shall ever remember that the mules
that we drew were taken off of boat
Six of them, none of which had ever
before had collar on, were hitched to
a big new town wagon, and the writer
of this was put ON for driver. We
rode the near hind mule and drove the
other five with single line. 1t took
some six or eight Of us to hitch them
up and to keep their heels down until
we could get them Strengthened out in
the street, for we had to go clear
through the city to a camp on the 9TH
er side. And when all was ready and
sergeant was mounted to go ahead
and clear the streets Of people and
when the driver was firmly planted in
his saddle, they turned us loose. The
wagon was empty, and it just touched
the highest places, and long before we
reached the camp on the other side Of
the city, we felt very much as Davy
Crockett did when he had hitched him.
self up with the calf--we wanted some
one to head US off. But no one inter.
fered, and we ran until we had reach
en- the end of the street, and were
there stopped by the soldier boys who
had planted themselves across sad
street on purpose to receive and stop
US. We remained here but two days,
and here is where we drew and ate
our frs mule meat. 1t was black and
tough, and we wondered what il was.
until cur captain told US, for he had
been an old Mexican soldier and knew
mule meat when he saw it.
But we were soldiers and must move
when ordered, so We loaded up cur
three baggage wagons, hitched no TO
our six Napoleon guns, and were off
for Elizabeth, via Currytuc sound.
Our new mules gave us no trouble af-
ter this, as they were now we'll broken
and the weather being fine. with an
occasional thunder shower. we moved
quietly along. The citizens along the
way were glad to zee US, as they look.
ed upon Us as their protectors. All
was well. and when we would go into
camp for the night. it was invariably
the case that some darkey would drive
in cart load of sweet potatoes and
dump them out in our camp. This
was not volunteer act of the negroes,
but was sent by their masters.
This country, from Norfolk to Eliza
beth City is anything but an inviting
country, being veiy low, swampy and
very unhealthy. Even the dogs, it
was said, had the ague down there and
douff douht that IL Is tho fact Tho
soil outside the swamp is poor and
piney. and ia the swamp it is all wa
ter, frogs and mosquitoes. There is a
canal cut through this swamp, from
Norfolk, Va. to Elizabeth City. n. G.,
q distance, / believe. of tbirty.fiv We