The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1890-04-30
"LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES"
BY ONE OF THE "oLp VETS. y

'For what he was and all he dared,
remember him to-day "-G. A. X.
Congressman Burrows, of Michigan, is
one of the true champions of soldiers
rights
'To care for him who has borne the
battle and for his widow aud orphans. ~
G. A. R.
Comrades should stick together and en-
courage each other in all honorable bust
ness relations, for who like the soldier can
feel for the soldierl
mo soldier, no soldiers widow, no
soldiers children, 10 the poor house," is
one of our planks, and for which we will
continue to work and talk. g. A. r.
Pension laws, liberal and just, will
come. The old soldiers, their widows
and orphans, not only expect them, but u
large majority of the loyal citizens are
favorable to them, also.
Comrade Matthew S. Quay, who now
has national reputation, was in 1862
private Secretary to the Hon. A. G.. Cur,
tin, and he sacrificed that position to go
to the front as Colonel of the 134th Pa.
Vols. He served only five months on the
field, but in that short time made a record
more brilliant than many who served
through the war. From October TO De-
cember, 1862, he was ill with typhoid fe-
yer and under orders from the Surgeon re-
signed his command. His resignation had
| been acesptess, NJ se.>a vsliUe.,aiateaa hold
| OF his regiment and was on the point OF
/ leaving camp for home when preparations
for the battle of Fredericksburg began.
He determined to remain and have part
in the fight. The Surgeons protested and
his Brigade Commander, General Tyler,
said he was "risking his life like a fool "
"All right, responded Quay, quietly, ~
would rather die like a fool than live like
coward. " He went through the fight
with haversack swung overhis shoulder,
containing $35, 900, belonging to the men
in his old regiment, which they had en-
trusted to him TO take home, aud came
ont all right.
Whatever faults "Uncle Sam" may have
there is no denying that he possesses the
preeminent virtue Of being good pro-
wider. Among those he cares for are the
old soldiers ut the Dayton Home. Four
thousand men on an average are fed three
times day. For their breakfast, 500
gallons Of coffee, 81 bushels of potatoes
audyT barrels of mackercl are required
Should it happen that they have hash,
900 pounds of corn beef and 80 bushels of
potatoes, are chopped up for that purpose.
40 pounds of tea are used every night for
supper; 700 gallons of Irish stew are pre-.
pared for breakfast once a week straw.
berries they seldom have, for the reason
that it requires 25 bushels to 60 around
40 sheep are slaughtered when pot-pic is
made, and 19 barrels of flour are baked In
bread every twenty-four hours; 1900
pies are required for one dinner; ginger
bread is furnished once a week, when a
cake of 400 feet square is baked, and
about 1000 pounds of roast beef is sufll-
cient for one dinner. 1t is gratifying to
know that the soldiers arc so literally
provided for and that they are served not
only with plenty but with food well cook
ed and as toothsome as if prepared in
yankee kitchen. The United States owes
living to these disabled defenders and
gives il freely.