The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1891-08-28

BY Lieut.. r. II. WHITE.
MO n,

MO y.
Not only was our stay at Orfuti
Cr0ee Roads made vastly more pleasan
| By the presence Of the band of the 14tl
New Hampshire, but the fact that Oul
little force had been increased from Z
regiment to that Of brigade, not only
increasing our strength and Importance
but many incidents came to the sur.
face that amused the boys and made
camp life more endurable.
Captain Damon had arrived In camp
and assumed command of the company
while we remained at Seneca. Soon
after our arrival at this camp was
sent for by the Captain and when re-
ported at his tent was informed by
that officer that certain rebel who
owned a plantation about one half
mile south of our camp was the owner
of lumber that would make very
good floor in his (the Captain's) tent,
and that said rebel was anxious to do
nate portion of it for that purpose.
The rebel referred to held Captains
commission and had lost leg in the
rebel service. / was requested to take
four or five men, 60 to his place and
load up with such lumber as we conld
find. 1 soon had the required number
and was passed through the line by the
Captain, and the guards instructed by
him to pass lis IN on our return, pro-
vided we were well loaded down with
good rebel lumber, otherwise we were
to be kept outside.
The night was very dark, but we
soon reached our destination and at
once made an attack on the barn. The
racket soon aroused the inmates of the
house and they at once turned the bull
dog lose, and sent him after us in way
that was anything but pleasant. l
about six feet long and six inches wide.
l caught glimpse Of the dog in the
darkness, and held the board in such a
position that his head would strike it
when he came up. In order to make
the blow more effectual l drew back
and struck at him with all the force at
my command, hitting him square in
the head. The blow sent him SO far
that he could not be seen by us but his
bowls could have been heard mile
away. We had no farther trouble and
were soon back in camp, each man
bearing good back load of lumber,
and the Captains tent was considerably
benefited; and our raid pronounced a
success.
Thanksgiving day came while we
were in this camp and with it chapter
of incidents. Owing to blunder on
the part of our Quarter.master our
regiment was obliged to celebrate
the day without any thing to eat.
Col. Jewett purchased hog, had
him completely besmeared with lard,
and taken to the top of the hill where
the regiment was drawn up in line.
The hog was turned loose and the men
told to catch him; the one who should
succeed in holding the animal, was to
be the owner of the hog. It was an
exciting race. Several had hold of
him but it was member of Company
+, think who captured the prize.
The valne of the catch was somewhat
lessened when the owner found himself
obliged to purchase new suit of
clothes.
Directly east Of the camp of the 23d
Maine was the plantation Of well-t0-
do farmer who was the pOssessOr Of
several hives of bees, and chickens,
turkeys and geese without number.
Thanksgiving morning this gentlemen
to the Col. of the 23d that his
premises had been invaded during the
night and all his honey and poultry
carried away. The Col. at once sum-
moned his company commanders to his
quarters, informed them of what had
taken place, and ordered them to have
their respective Companies in line at
once, to find out who the offending
parties were and report their names to
him at once that they might be punish
ed. One Lieutenant commenced with
the man at the head Of his Company
and asked "Did you with others steal
poultry etc.," ''No," "Well what did |
you do about it?" 81 stood guard |
while others took the poultry" was
the answer. The Lieutenant went
down the line and each man told Just |
he part he had taken in the affair.
The Lieut.. dismissed the company and
to the Col. like this:
"C0lonel my company were out to
he plantation. About one half of the
Company were armed and regular
,uard was stationed not only around
he house and out buildings, but along
he roads and lanes as we'll. While
hese men were doing duty as guards
md patrolers, the balance of the Com
,any cleaned up the place of about
ii that was worth taking. The whole
BUSINESS was done in strictly military
rider and the boys have owned it up
ike men and don't want to see them
for it," After moments
ELECTION the Colonel gave the Lieuten-
mt to understand that the offence
hould go UNPUBLISHED, and he was re-
varded with good supply of poultry
nd honey for his thanksgiving dinner.
Two boys belonging to Co. X of our
egiment thought to replenish their
aversacks by making a raid on the
ettlers tent. They succeeded in
citing possession of good supply of
God things, but they were not satisfi-
d. They reasoned that Thanksgiv 1
ng without something in the line of
timulants would be no Thanksgiving at