Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-08-15
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
UNCLE BlLLY's BuMMERs.
How Gen. Sherman's Men Got tho Best
of Him ut Foraglng.


light marching order"-that is, the gen.
eral commanding carried only a "biled
shirt" and an extra pair of socks in his
saddle valise--no tents no camp inn
pedimenta of any sort; and, of course,
we soldiers carried only our blankets
and a few tin cooking utensils
We had just accomplished one of
great many of the good days marches"
(some forty-two miles), 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. L---, owing to his seniority of
rank, had been for 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
little inclined to be in a measure in
subordinate, or rather great stickler
for regulation etiquette"
Our division commander was Col.
Ewing Ia 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
swung loose from our base of supplies,
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.
1t SO happened that Uncle Billy had
halted at Gen. Ewing's bivouac fire for
the night, and just as the lieutenant
came up he was seated on log, with
the top of an old cracker box across his
knees for table, and, holding in his
left hand one of those old sputtering
candles, was busily engaged in writ
ing one of his voluminous dispatches.
After giving the salute the lieutenant
commenced delivering his communities
tion 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 LIS 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 mighty
strange story! You just go right back
and tell Col l. l said SO. A man
that's been in the service as long as he
has, and don't know how to forage
Well! well! 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, Gen. Sherman
with his usual accompaniment of one
or two aids, passed along by our brig
ade and spying Col L. he called ou
cheerily:
Good morning, colonel How ar,
you?"
The colonel who was in a bad hu
NOR, brought up his sword to forma
salute, simply saying, General"
~ say, L., that was a mighty
queer message you sent me last night
continued Uncle Billy
II had not the honor of sending yo,
any message, general" replied the colo
mel, with studied politeness. 1.-THE gen
eral of the division had omitted to issu
orders for foraging, and l was oblige'
to address him upon the subject"
"Oh! that was it was it?" chucsle,
Uncle Billy. Well, we'll! it's all righ
now. 1 hope the boys get enough t.
eat?"
''oh! yes, general We know how t
foragew
'.Oh! you do, hey? Well. that's good!
and Uncle Billy started off at his usua
headlong pace, crying after him: "Good
by, colonel Take care of yourself, oil
boy!" and he was gone.
Some days after this we had agai
halted for the night when word wa
brought to Col. Ewing that Gen. Shel
man wanted to see him at headqual
ters.
The colonel proceeded Mt once t
obey the message, and walked dow
the road to the general bivouac fir,
where he found Uncle Billy walking u
and down in the light of it's blazin
fagots, evidently somewhat disturbed
and very tactiturn and reserved in hi
manner.
He listened to the generals instrut
tions quietly, made the interview q
brief as possible, bade the general goot
night, and started back at once to r.
turn to his command.
He had gone only few PAGES whe
Uncle Billy's voice arrested him.
"Oh, colonel!" he called, Twill yo
please come back here moment?
must ask your pardon for speaking
you in such an abrupt and seemingl
harsh way; but the fact is I'm all o,
of sorts! You know we started tn
morning before sun up, and only ha
for breakfast some cold bacon, han
tack and coffee, and l haven't had
mouthful since. Back there in I'll
woods this afternoon I bought fiji