Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-09-17

.uNcLE eILLYs eUMMERs.
How Gen. sherman's Men Got the Best
OF Him at Foraging.


saddle valise-no tents. no camp inn
pedimenta Of any sort: and, Of course,
we soldiers carried only our blankets
and few tin cooking utensils.
We had just accomplished one Of a
great many OF the good days marches"
(some forty-two niles, which we were
accustomed to make in those days and
the column having halted, we had gone
into bivouac in the woods alongside of
the road, and through which we had
been passing all the latter part of our
days march
Col -. owing To his seniority of
rank, had been for a long time com
manding our brigade He was one of
the bravest soldiers and most accom-
plished officers in our army. but, when
he did not like his superior officer, was
a little inclined to be in measure in
subordinate, or rather great stickler
for regulation etiquette.
Our division commander was Col
Ewing "a brother-in-law of Gen Sher-
man, and that night, it so happened,
Col. Ewing had forgotten to issue the
usual orders for foraging, since, having
we were forced TO live off the coun-
try through which we were passing
by borrowing from our dear @Secesh"
friends.
For quarter of an hour Col. L.
waited impatiently for the usual order
to arrive. None came.
He then sent lieutenant along the
road ahead of us To find Gen. Ewing
present Col. LIS compliments, and ask
for foraging orders.
II so happened that Uncle Billy had
halted at Gen. Ewing's bivouac fire for
the night. and just as the lieutenant
came up ne was seated on a log, with
the top of an old cracker box across his
knees for table, and, holding in his
left hand one of those old suffering
candles, was busily engaged in writ
ing one of his voluminous dispatches.
After giving the salute the lieutenant
commenced delivering his communica-
ton TO Gen. Ewing, when Uncle Billy
lifting up one corner of his eye toward
him, bluntly interrupted him with the
inquiry;
"Eh, young man, what's that? Where
are you from?"
From Col Is brigade, sir" re-
turned the soldier.
Col L.? Col John L.? And
he don't know how TO forage. hey?
Well, now. think that's a mighty
strange story You just 90 right back
and tell Col T. said so. man
that's been in the service as long as he
has and don't know how to forage!
Well! welll Do you know who | am,
young man? Well, then you go right
back to Col L. and deliver my mes
sage" commanded Uncle Billy, not Civ
ing Gen. Ewing chance to say word
or explain matters in any way
The next day, as the column was
trudging along the road Cen Sherman,
with his usual accompaniment of one
or two aids. passed along by our brig
ade and spying Col L. he called out
cheerily:
Good morning, colonel How are
your"
The colonel, who was in bad hui
NOR, brought up his sword to formal
salute, simply saying. General"
II say L., that was a mighty
queer message you sent me last night,''
continued Uncle Billy
II had not the honor of sending you
any message, general" replied the colo
mel, with studied politeness THE gen
eral of the division had omitted to issue
orders for foraging, and | was obliged
to address him upon the subject.
oh that was it was it," chuckled
Uncle Billy Well, well its all right
now. ] hope the boys get enough to
eat?"
"oh! yes, general We know how to
forage
"Oh, you do hey? Wen, that's good,'
and Uncle Billy started off at his usual
headlong pace, crying after him; Good
by, colonel Take care of yourself, old
hoy" and he was gone
Some days after this we had again
halted for the night when word was
brought to Col Ewing that Gen. Sher-
man wanted to see him at headquar-
ters
The colonel proceeded at once to
obey the message, and walked down
the road 70 the general bivouac fire,
where he found Uncle Billy walking up
and down in the light OF its blazing
fagots, evidently somewhat disturbed
and very tsctiturn and reserved in his
manner.
He listened to tn, generals instruc-
tions quietly, made the interview as
brio as possible, babe the general good
night, and started back at once to re-
turn to his command.
He had gone only few PAGES when
Uncle Billy's voice arrested him.
oh colonel he called will you
please come back here moment? !
must ask your pardon for speaking to
You in such an abrupt and seondngly
harsh way; but the fact is I'm a., out
of sorts You know we started this
morning before sun up, and only had
for breakfast some cold bacon, hard
tack and eoffee, and | haven't had a
mouthful since. Back there in the
woods this afternoon | bought fine
ham, and | meant - have a good sup
per, but do you know some of those
4 L.