The National tribune., 1891-09-03

Gfe0h Ol any, lOf tney We're ROOu clJlZens
before the war, they were good soldiers during
the conflict and when peace came, conscious
OF having faithfully served their country, be-
came again good citizens.
shall later refer TO West Virginia regiments
other than those named in MilrOy's Brigade
and viii personally mention such leading Off
GERS as Gems. Kelly, Harris, Duval, Thoburn,
Iightburn, Capchart, Powell, and others.
The campaign of Fremont In the Valley,
with its terrible suisrings, already referred TO-
gave 10 the soldiers an opportunity 10 test their
Inventive genius in the way OF providing
means TO make n soldiers life endurable. As
i have already written, we bad few tents, were
deficient in blankets aud clothing Of all kinds
and, with but little 20 cat, each soldier found
ID incumbent upon him 10 look out FOR himself
and in the army, rs IN AL other conditions OF
life, there were those who eXCeled in both the
culinary aud sleeping departments. The sol
dier without tent or poncho in the midst Of
the storm, who first conceived the luxury Of
placing two lence-rsils parallel about four
inches apart, with the thin edges to the center
and then calling il . bed, into which he would
place himself for an hours comfortable i2)
sleep WAS enyied by the poor fellow who didn't
have two frncc-rais aud had to lie down on
the wei cold earth.
In this connection ] recall an incident in
which Gen. GoG then Adjutaut Of my regi-
meHt and myself were the victims il was
in August, during
THE POFH CAMPAIGN;
the weather lad been very Earm-indeed hot
for q week Popc's command had been max
ing forced murChea DAY and night for ssvrral
days aud Ibis troops hAd been worked TO their
full capacity Of endurance when about 10
D. M. halt was ordered for a short rest. Gof
and myself were frionds, aud bad for a long
time shared our Blankets aud tents together
On tlis occasion, minus the tents we selected
grassy place on the roadside. with poncho aud
D blanliet Tor "a bed. We tied the bridle-reins
70 our wrists that our horses might be safe and
8 the same time secure q ration Of the tempt
Jog grass, aud then, with sabers and spurs
buckicd on. We lay down spoon fashion fOr
3 much-ueeded rest. 1t required no lullaby to
tampt us o. sleep. but Ia much less time than 10
takes me TO write it we were asleep-seep such as
only thetreG soldier knOws-and but for the in
consideration OF the elements our bed aud sleep
would have been graudly successful; but dur
inE the night the clouds gathered and the warm
rain fell. whether softly OF otherwise we could
mot tell, but when We sWOke we found that our
bed had been spread in a depression in the
ground aud we had been sOundly sleeping Ia a
pool Of water six inches in depth. As we had
mo change of clothing We could only hang our
selves out 10 dry in the sun, that had CRATE
July made us appearance again, while we
gleciul q sang
For gay is the lie That the soldier leads"
But tie soldier in the field does not expect
much boz the way Of comfortable sleep; he is
therefore not disappointed when compelled TO
seek Natures sweet TestOrer" If he shall have
70 sit erect agausta tree or fence-coruer or iu
The saddle as his horse wends his way, or per
baps oD tho field OF battle, when ia reserve,
just behind the bin awaiting his turn 10 be
called to The conflict
But ID Is in the matter Of ratons" that SO
often tries the soldiers inventive genius. and
the subject Is an inexhaustibie one ] will.
therefore cOuhne myself 10 a few thoughts that
now pIcsen. themselves relating to
ARMY "GEuB."
While n barracks OF camp the Union soldier
lived rH. The Government provided we'll and
81 would le q EOuTmand indeed that would eat
The iu.. ration Of beef, pork beans bread, and
coffee tHai was allotted 10 him aud yet have
witnessed soldiers eat perfect gorge Of good
army I4tons, aad Immediately after go 10 the
huters tent aud, in defiance Of all regard ior
Their digestive organs, purchase aud cat a box
oi aafciHcs, can Of brandy peaches, half a
dozen ginger cakes and wash il all down with
piui gf crab cider. On the following morn.
ing the sick call would usually DO answered
by tins clssS OF soldiers and their roply 10 the
doctors inquiry as 10 the trouble would be
something Ike this, High fever, chill. and
l0a oi appetite" The doctors prescription.
" l0 grains ouinine. Next"
Bu nu. 0l camp, when the army would De
on acilte campaign duty, quite a different
state Ol aaaIE existed. aud in place Of the rsgu.
laT ration aud willing Hutler the soldier would
brcDmHr. .eG ~ subsi8t OF the country IN which
hc NH ryiHE, and this method of procuring
tubsr ErD was, us q rule satisfactory ~ d.,
mas. ~ We soldiers, provided The country wa.
wei supplied with aaasOnable food.
bui uas Too often that The country n
which Che cOutoudlug armies marched and
fought bad little or nothing upOn which an
army could sub5ist. Take the sheuaHdoah
Valley W au example, where frequent cam
pAlgs ny one on the other army was made
ann flcrH would not be found sufficient 70 sub
bist one company. 2 inquired OF lady lwbCs,
farm lu ,+re Valley suffered from the deprcda
lions oi tIIe soldiers which army had th,
greater consideration sud gave her the grcatC
protection. She replied that neither arm,
laa auy consideration; that if the Conlcd
crates caHio HTsi and lcit anything the Van
kees would take b.; but 10 The Yankees camt
nfsi ua elt anything, lhe COAicdoratcs wcr
sure t1 IHse ll
Tile rauiua 81 the soldiers ms urOyiders nnt
a. H cooks under trying circumstance
Wuu. uu' such recognized authority as Mrs
Emm. swing ur Miss Juliettc Corson 10 shame
1tac veteran soldier would publ Ish cook -bool
fOr usc n Doe field The entire rgcipes woUlt
mol YEcr Lalt q dozen pages
llci ss rac,ill some OF our experience no
OnlA i.r Dee ea.icatioH o.! the old soldier In
more especially that our children who ma,
Jead llAs may realize The oNloul OF the tIia