Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1891-09-03
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
UNCLE BILLYs RUNNERS.


saddle valise-no tents. no camp i'm
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 miles,, which we were
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 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
little inclined to be in a 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
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 a quarter of an hour Col L.
waited impatiently for the usual order
to arrive. None came.
He then sent a 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 a 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:
aEh, young man. what's that? Where
are you from9'
"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 mighty
strange story You just go right back
and tell Col L. said so. A man
that's been in the service as long as he
has, and don't know how to foragel
Well WE'LL Do You know who am,
Young man? Well, then you go right
4 hack to Col L. and deliver my mes
sageV commanded Uncle Billy, not giv-
ing Gen. Ewing chance to say a 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 arr
youq" a
NOR. brought up his sword to forma
salute, simply saying, General
II saw. L., that was mighty
queer message you sent me last night!
continued Uncle Billy.
II had not the honor of sending yol
anv message, general" replied the colo
mel. with studied politeness. THE gen
eral of the division had omitted to lssu
orders for foraging, and was obiige'
to address him upon the subject.
"Oh, that was it was it?' chuekle
Uncle Billy. Well, WE'LL it's all RICH
now. 1 hope the boys get enough
eat?''
.Ohl You do, hcy9 Wen, that's good
and Uncle Billy started off at his usua
headlonr pace, crying after him: Coco
by. colonel Take care Of yourself OF
boyr' and he was gone.
Some DAYS after this we had agar
halted for the night when word wa
brought to Col Ewing that Gen. She
man wanted to see him at headqual
ters - !,
- the message, and walked dow
az road to the general bivouac mr.
.vhere he found Uncle Billy walking U
and down in the light of its olazin
fagots. evidently somewhat disturoe'
and very tactiturn and reserved IN n
manner. ,,. ,,,s+r,
ua listened to the generals Instru
tions quietly, made the interview
hrief as possible, babe the general goo
NIGHT. and started back at once 10 Z
turn TO his command
10 had gone only few PAGES VINE
Uncle Biliy's voice arrested him
.oh. colonel he called. will y
,,lsase come back here moment5
must ask your pardon for speaking
ror in such an abrupt and seeming
Ss~sb wav: but the fact is I'm all Q
- sorts. You know we started =
. ,aorning before sun up. and only y
.,aT' breakfast some cold bacon pa
tsclx and coffee, and l haven mao ),
~ontbful since. Back there IN !
.,.oods this afternoon | bought a y
Ran and I meant to have gooo 81
, ,,s-'- but do you know some OF .no
,e..,aad l,ovs have actually SION