The National tribune., 1891-09-03

compelled 10 serve; and IN this connection &
must be understood that there Is a WIDE diler
cnce between
A CAMPAIGN AND A RAID.
in n campaign the army is supposed 10 hay,
sufficient transportation TO provide each com
pany with the following cooking utensils: On,
nest of three mon camp kettles and nest o
three iron stow or frying pans, aud 3 tin plate
for each soldier. Not very elaborate outfit
but il served tBe purpose. Now, with this le
MS prepare a breakfast dinner, and supper
For breakfast, coffee, made in one of the three
gallon kettles. Thecohcc was made by putting
the Eequired amount OF good ground coffee
with sufficient water, TO serve the company. aud
boiling over the campfire occasionally stirring
with a stick. We always had good coffee
when we had coffee Each soldier is supposed
20 carry tin cup AID spoon. Besides The
coffee, bacon, fried la one OF the alorcnamcd
pans, aud hard bread made up the bin of fare
III the cook should porchauce be a good one and
take pride n his work be would provide
luxury by soaking the hand bread larmy
crackers IN water a Few minutes aud thea ilS
them IN the bacon grease.
For dinner coffee, and, If the time would
permit. bean SOUP, made in one Of the three
gallon kettles, WAS the prevailing bin OF fare
We all knew how 10 make bean soup, aud ~,
always enjoyed IL. This soup would be sea
soued with the fat bacon or when we had il
fresh beef Sometimes potatoes or rice would
be had. For supper, same rs breakfast
But when q raid was 10 be made, whici
means 10 penetrate iarmt0 the enemy country
for the purpose OF capturing an isolated camp
on 10 destroy a railroad, the order generally
designated that troops should proceed in light
marching order with FIVE days ratIOns, and "a
be away from base of supplies 20 or 30 days
which meant after the five days rations had
been consumed, the command must look out
for themselves and subsist of the country. II
the movement should be into the country
where the enemy were few, and our march un-
interrupted, we could get all that we required
to eat but if the march should be through a
country where every prominent road was
guarded by the enemy and We were compelled
10 seek the by-ways and mountain paths. then
we had little opportunity TO procure food, and
less opportunity 10 cook that which we would
get; indeed, the idea of cooking was sometimes
impossible for several days together in such
times ] have seen men eating bacon, beef, OF
chicken without having been cooked, and
have seen our soldiers when they had Onl y q
little -four or corn meal, when halt would be
made for an hours rest, making bread in this
primitive way, 90 wit, prepare the dough by
mixing the flour and water in a tin cup then
procure a smooth stone, wash and heat ton the
campfire. aud when sufficiently heated the
dough- half inch thick would be put upon the
stone aud placed before the fire, aud ia few
minutes short" cake would be produced
FIT TO SET BEFORE KING.
II a suitable stone could not be procured, tho
dough would be made into a rope and wound
loosely around a bayonet or ramrOd then held
over the fire till cooked; by this method the
soldier had only TO stretch bis imagination and,
with a cup Of wafer, imagine he was in a beer
arHa y.l lnf
him.
But perhaps the most novel idea presented
during my army life was when ] witnessed sol
diers making coffee while marching along.
This suggestion may seem incredible, but new
erthelCss il was done in this way: An iron or
copper kettle, holding say three or four gallons,
would be procured, in which y wood fire was
built; then with smaller Kettle holding say
two or three gallons, iutO which the water and
coffee would BIO placed; then put the smaller
kettle within the larger, and with "a pole run
through tho handles Of both two men would
shoulder the combination and march right
along with the coffee boiling away aud the
meu scarcely losing their place in line, and
a. the mon would wish il they would dip out
q tincupiul and drink during the march.
When on these raids sometimes pay would be
pr0dered for food required for man and horse,
but as a rule such trlHing things a. few pigs,
turkeys geese, OF chickens were "COnGscatUd %
without much ceremony; and the stories as re-
lated by the soldiers after 4 raid were often
amusing and often pathetic.
It is related that soldier went into barn
yard 10 procure a goose from a flock. lie con-
Gel we'd the novel idea Of catching 10 with hook
and line as a fish The farmers wife was in
the yard aud witnessed the soldier feeding the
geese with corn, bat dld not notice tie hook
and line. So, when tho goose swallowed the
hook, the soldier threw the line over bis shout
der and ran, pulling the goose after him with
its neck stretched 10 Us full length. The lady
who witnessed all this, except the hook aud
line, believed the goose was showing fight, aud
yelled 70 the soldier:
Don't be afraid Doa't run! The goose
won't bite,"
Again, a soldier went into 4 farmyard and
proceeded 10 help himself 10 some fine chick
ems. The lady Of the house pleaded cOurteOusly
and with overlooking eloqueuce
TO SPARE HER CHICKENS;
but the soldier, who wanted the chickens, was
also eloquent, and with equal c0ur.e.y mounted
a bench, gave a military salute aud said
Madam, this unh0ly rebellion must be put
down ii h takes every chicken in the Coniod.
eracy 10 accomplish that holy end"
But incidents like these must not be taken
as indicating the rule Of the entire Union
army; for ] have witnessed acts Of tho great
est consideration, not only in protecting the
homes Of lone women aud children, but have
known many instances In which soldiers would
divide their ratiOus Of coffee aud sugar. aud
officers who would purchase from the Commits.
sary coffee and sugar and give 10 those who
had no opportunity 10 procure such necessarics
from their fSOuthen) side. Of course. when
orders were issued 10 subsi Z of the country. az
when on a raid, the soldier had no discretion.
But j must dismiss the subject Of sleeping 2
eating and drinking, and turn 10 the cOnsidcra.
ton Of marching and hPhting
The battle Of Cross Keys, which the reader
will remember was one Of the episodes Of Tho
jackson raid. already treated Of IN these renlin.
lsconcgs, was fought On the eth Of June. lsG2
between the army Of Gen. Fremont on The
Union side aud the combined armies Of Gems
StOnewall" Jackson and Richard $. Ewell on
the Confederate side. But before entering int
the details Of the battle ] shall note some Incl
dents that happened during the few days ust
prlOr 10 the engagement Lot ms uAmo the date
d June j when Gen. Frem0Hts column, in hi,
march from Franklin 10 intercept Jackson, Rad
passed the summit Of the mountain between
Lost River aud Cedar Greek, having rcachel
the latter after marching tho night through ia
drcnchinR rain amid intense darkness. il
was at tnls point that Gen. Fremont confidently
expected 10 hear from Gen. Mcdowell.
The following kilograms received by Con
Fremont would Justify tAis conclusion.
quote:
WAsmEGroE May %. 1902, az M
Gen Mcdowell p advance n not checked bv ia,
encmy, should OF landl probably vii bo ~ From
toyiI by ~ noon to-morrow. Ills force when up
viii be about 2DOJ0. Please have your furco !.
Strasburgi on ID tie route you are moving 0u doe
not lead TO that point as near Sirasburg tA'