The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-06
THE soUrH ERN ARMY.
Peculiar Characteristics of the Men In
Dress and Msnn-r.
From the Nelo York Press

X
military organizations were created in the
south, respectively known as the regular
andzhe provisional or volunteer army. The
former belonged to the general or state gov
ernments, while the latter was the offspring
of the people Oae was intended to be
permanent; the existence Of the other de
pended upon the duration OF tbs war
In q measure the regular army was
merged into the provisional organization
and its officers, who were generally gradu-
ates of West Point and other military
schools. were transferred TO the volunteers
and promoted to high grades The mer
were not unlike those Of the regular SER
vice in all civilized nations. and were
strained by rigid discipline On the other
hand, the volunteers were q free and easy
set, who fraternized with their officers, and
until the severer lessons of the war were
taught, maintained an equal footing with
them.
recall an alteration that took place one
day between a captain and one Of the pri'
Yates in his company, who was IN every
way, socially and intellectually, his supe-
rior. In the course OF the conversation the
subordinate made some Irritating remark,
wnen the officer exclaimed: "lf you repeat
that again I'll lay down my rank and hght
you" LAY down your ranklh was the
contemptu US response, tSFhat won't max G
YOU gentleman. A coward ought TO fight
with straps on his shoulders. but il takes a
gentleman to fight for Sll q rdonth."
The o. ganiZation of many OF the com
panies at the beginning Of the war was re-
markable. The fist mounted command
that saw in the field was the Black Horse
cavalry, Capt. Radford, which was sta
toned at Ma aassas Junction, then in May,
1861, only post of observation. 1t con-
sist d # twenty five or eighty Of the young
D anters of Fauquier and the neighb0rlrg
counties, each of whom owned his own
blooded animal, and was attended by Q
negro servant, who also had he care of a
led horse. 10 all appearances they consti
tu,ed jolly picnic party. -
A few days later | rode into camp at
Harper's Ferry, where the captain was an
old one armed officer of the Mexican war
the first lieutenant, an ex-member Of con-
gress the sergeant, a Judge; the corporal, q
former United States consul to Cuba, and
the men in the ran we're composed of law
vers, do tors, solid business men aud plant
ers, representing altogether wealth Of
several millions of dollars. Among them
was the striking figure of man 70 odd
years f age. For fifty years he had beer
mi lister of the gospel, and as he
stood there, lea ing against tree with a
Sharp's rife in his hand aud blanket rolled
around his shoulders, awaiting the orders tC
marc to some neighboring point, helooked
with his stern face and white hair, like the
incarnation of grim visaged war; In the
same company we his three sons, his SON
in-law, an eminent member of the Alabama
ar, and his only grandson, old enough tc
carry a gun.
The uui or n o -escribed by the colfeder-
ate congress was OF gray. but owing TO G {
paucity Of the cloth not ne in ten of the
early regiments was cad according to the
regulations. Many companies wore por-
tions of the zluave uniform, offers APP
peared in snuff-c !ored attire, and a few Of
the regiments from louisiana adopted g
dress of blue. The Was ington Artillery
of New Orleans, battalion of gentlemen
representing the best blood of that state,
was probably at this time the most suhstan
TALLY and regularly uniformed command
of its size in the service.
The majority of those from the interior
appeared in JAe ranks Just as they left their
homes, and human eyes never rested on &
| more motley throng There was no mari
| to designate the respective regiments, anC
only an acquaintance with the physiognom
ical or other personal peculiar tiles Il tn,
| men as a body enabled Aone to discove
| whence they came. The dress was a tangled
compound OF frock coats, swallowtails an,
jackets, and frequently on drill liberia
i spriukling of shirt sleeves. The trouser
| we're of every hue and shape, from the ga
cashmere to the patched emblems of bette
times, the neither extremitles being lost ii
the tops of boots or gathered within th
| stockings, while headgear of slouched hats
| caps and an occasional "stovepipe" pre-
sented an outline on parade that was indie
scriba ly ragged.
1 -.
blen ket or patched bed Guilt, home mad
knapsack and canvas bag in which to carr
rations. A bet around the body held th
| Inevitable bowie knife and revolver, Will
thrown corelessly over the shoulder was
rifle, musket or double barreled shotgun
| Sometimes there was aided to this miscelle
neous collection violin guitar or acc rdi L
and now and then the old hunters and cam
paigners of the woods were practi al enoug
to bring even their private cooki & utensils
which. while on the march dat glei In piot
| turesque confusion from behind.
Many of the camps, however, were sur
piled with every luxury that could temp
the palate. The plantation yielded thei
richest stores Of provisions, time hoDore
vine cellars contributed the choice;
| liquors, aud thoughtful mothers wives al
| sisters sent to their kinsfolk loads of del
cacies prepared with their own hand
| Y ur genuine southerner has weakne;
r good liquors and cigars, aud from re
veiile until taps" the gamu Of juleps an
punches was run in the hospitable quarters
In attempting to evade a sentinel surrept
| tiously, no man WAS safe without his fiui
cou tersign. "Halti Who goes therei" -.
friend with bottle. was the usual responst
advance, bottle, and uncorkp Whe eupo
the Rubicon would be crossed. Every ter
was an "open house" to the inmates Of an
other, and the spirit Of conviviality every
| where prevailed.
| On the mess table was the never failin
bottled hospitality in the shape Of "planta
| ton bitters" or Bourbon cocktails; unde
the table demijohn of old rye or Xxx
cognac; within arms length mess chest
rich with notifying stores OF Epglis
| cheese, lie ons, crackers and condiments
while a miniature vault below. the fl 70
OF tine tent had only to be tapped to dis
close anime of MADEIRA, sherry and cham
payne. The general invitation was, "Comt
boys, make yourselves at h rne ;put your fec
on the mantel-piece, ard spit on the floor.
| Such were the early experiences of thou
| sands of southern soldiers. The hardship
we're Insignificant, the discipline was no
severe, and the determination between th
officers and men made, their life one lon
holiday. With the losing of the blockade
however, the departure of the troops iron
their respective states, and the driving O
the tent pins in the soil of Virginia, luxurie
took their place among the things TO be re
membered and the army began to exper
fence some of the vicisstudes Of real war.
| Man the Life Boatl
Ere your wave-battered, dismasted hulk