The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-10-11

but when 1 present my claim folks
seem to be pleased about some.
thing and go away, and that's the
end of it. 1t was peculiar case
but I do not see anything so all
fired mirthful about It myself.
at was like this: In the fall OF
'63 was a kind of assistant COM
missary, and we had been on a
forced march for two days trying
to draw the attention of the enemy
from the main column, and sue
ceeding so well that we became
very popular with the southern
soldier. We sent in our regrets
and then lit out, but, land sakes,
they just seemed like they couldn't
give us up, and so they didn't get
off our coat tails for forty-eight
hours. / haven't got my breath
yet, to tell you the truth, but that
amt to the point exactly.
"Finally the rebel horde, as they
were called at that time, quit, and
after shooting few of us, enough
for mess, probably, they turned
around and went back to monkey
with the main column, which had
improved the time by securing
much needed rest and change of
scene.
"The following day we camped
near a deserted still, which had
three barrels of nice, new, warm
whisky in it. We captured these,
and they were placed in charge of
the commissary. The troops were
very much exhausted and begged
for some Of this liquor, but it was
explained to them by our colonel
that the stuff was almost sure
death, and besides that there wasn't
more than enough for the officers.
"That night the liquor was stored
in an old tobacco barn that stood
on side hill, and the commissary
took charge of it. Pardon my going
into detail this way, but when 1
see bureau just painting for pri-
vate information I like to load it
up, and only wish that the Ameri-
can people would join me in this
praiseworthy endeavor.
"The liquor was extremely rocky,
guess; but that's neither here
nor there. The silence of night
gathered about the sleeping en-
campment, and tired naturel soon
yielded to overpowering fatigue.
All was silence along the misty
line of slumbering forms, save the
near by crunching and grinding of
provender by the jaded horses or
the distant report as some faithful
picket discharged his duty.
"Then all was silent again.
"Anon the day breaks, and with
it a wild, mellow howl from Com
pany G, known as the Sparkling
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COM
pany; also the teetotlers. This was
calculated to be sarcastic, because
they had painted every southern
State a bright red barring Texas,
and that was too big for their
stock, so they run out of paint.
"Well, these fellers were all ex-
teremely full, and they went on to
state that they were glad of it.
They had been heard to speak dis
paragingly of the rebellion several
times, and to say also that If they
were home again they would be
almost willing to let the colored
man break his own fetlocks in such
style as he might deem proper.
They said great many things
about the inconvenience of being
chased and shot at for two days
running by an infuriated foe at $13
per month and find one'sself.
"Later on we ascertained that
the liquor had been secured by in
cendiaries, who had stolen two bar
rels out of three, and almost out
from under our noses. This very
naturally infuriated our officers,
who had had only one or two big
drinks out of it so far, preferring to
wait a day or two in order that it
would have more age. ! tasted Of
it myself once, 80 L was told by
friends who held my head all the
day afterward. I couldn't help
thinking at the time that If this
sort of liquor was general in the
south, piracy, treason and the use
of cuspidors in the sanctury ought
not to be looked upon so severely
as they would where q less malig-
nant style Of rum was in general
circulation.
"Well, to make long story short,
Mr.. Census Burro, / was selected
to guard the remaining barrel that
night. / put it up on trestle,