The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-12-21
"LIGHTs AND SHADOWS OF THE OLD
CAMP FIRES"
BY ONE OF THE GOLD VETS. v

General Sherman could be easily APP
preached by any Of his soldiers. While
on "The march to the sea, the soldiers
called out to Sherman, ''Say Uncle Billy,
hurry up, Grant is waiting for us at Rich
mond."
The song composed by one of the pri-
Yates OF Massachusetts regiment while
encamped upon the field where John
Brown was hung, was very popular with
the army, as much so as Dixie or any of
the old ballads. Go where you would in
camp, privates were humming ''Old John
Brown" officers sang it, the bands played
1t on the march, on review, on parade, in
camp-everywhere, and Dixie was nearly
forgotten.
The object Of the sanitary commission
was to alleviate the hardships of soldier
life, to afford physical comfort to the sick
and wounded, and supply such of the
we'll as were needy, with suitable under
clothing and the funds of the commission
were raised by means of sanitary fairs in
principal cities. The report of the Trea.
surer shows that from June 9th, 1861, to
July lst, 1866, the receipts were $4,s13,-
1906 and the disbursements, 1880
774.9
Judge Hayden, formerly of Nevada,
told how he had during the war, sold at
auction the famous sack of -four for the
benefit OF the Sanitary Commission. He
realized $4,000 in gold upon the sale
and then sold his hat for sic in gold.
Both hat and sack were sold from place
TO place through Nevada and California,
and realized a total of $3.50, 900 in gold,
equal to more than $500, 900 in green.
backs, 1t being in every instance returned
to be sold over again.
The 18th Penna. Vols. under command
Of Col. Geary, were surrounded by train
of singular condolences worthy of narra-
ton. Upon the 2sth of June, 1861, the
first company was mustered upon the
2sth Of July, the first encampment upon
the 2sth of August, the first death in the
regiment; upon the 2Sth of September,
skirmish with the enemy, resulting in a
victory for the regiment; upon the same
date the battery of the regiment was ac
cepted by the war department upon the
2Sth Of November, the battery reported
to Gen. Banks Division for service and
upon the 2Sth OF December, went into
Winter quarters.
The army suffers during the war were
appointed by the Colonel OF each regi
ment and were obliged to pay tax of 10
cents per month for each soldier, which
went TO the hospital fund. There were
200 suffers in the Army of the Potomac,
who sold ginger bread, pies, cakes, beer,
cider, mittens, socks, shirts, shoes, pens,
pencils, tobacco aud thousand other
things. II is ascertained, an average of
six dollars per month, per soldier, finds
It's way, either by cash or credit, to the
sutler II the regiment had 1000 men,
that Is $72, 900 per annum for the suffer-
10 1862, there was stationed at Char
lottesville, Va, Maryland regiment,
Work was not arduous and they spent
much time in social life of the place.
There was Miss Gay Boiding, who
proved attractive to three of the officers,
and they began to neglect their duties and
the Colonel could stand 1t no longer.
He summoned the three to his tent and
said 'Hentlemen, this command is GO
ing to the devil. All dicipline is gone,
and none OF you are attending to your
duty. Calico has set you crazy. Now
this thing has got to stop. Miss Gay
can't marry you all. doubt whether she
wants either. So you've got TO settle the
matter at once. In love rank doesn't
count, II 1t does 10 war. You are to draw
straws, the one getting the longest to
court Miss Gay before dress parade this
evening, and report to me after parade. "
This broke up the business and there was
no report after parade.
In February, 1868, Capt. Cutters Regi-
ment was at Fort Donelson, and Mrs.
Cutler was visiting him, stopping at
house just outside Of the Notifications,
where the flag of the regiment was kept.
In the excitement which followed the first
attack, the regiment took the field without
its flag. Just as they were fighting des-
perately against odds, they were cheered
by the appearance Of woman, bearing
triumphantly aloft the regimental colors.
II was Mrs. Cutler, and che remained on
the field undaunted by the carnage, until
ordered by the Colonel to 60 on board
transport on the Cumberland river. Go
Ing to the upper deck OF the boat, she
planted the stars and stripes In the face
OF the enemy. The Confederates opened
fire on the boat and one shell struck the
corner OF the pilot house, right beside the
flag. The Captain then ordered Mrs.
Cutler to take her flag and go below, but
she kept 1t flying until the boat was out
Of danger. After the war Mrs. Cutler
was presented with the flag she had SO
bravely rescued. 1t formed the winding
sheet In which she was buried.
General Grant used to take great de-
light In telling this story: There was no
better, more fearless, or more loyal SOL
dier than was old Jack Dublin, but he
had one fault, and that was the fondness
OF the whiskey bottle, or rather OF its
contents. He had boon companion,
who every one called Uncle 81. While in
camp, Jack was taken sick with fever
and died. The corpse developed an I'M