The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-02-12
rnnMA rR1Y,rn,, n1ARY.

handled by general, as the regular pri-
vate is considered about the same as a
notwithstanding, sleeping and drilling
by bugle. Outside of the leading cities
of the different States there were few
military organizations, or none ut all,
although here and there was some of the
Mexican blood left and an occasional
muster day. But this did not amount
tn much. and almost entirely dis
appeared long before Sumter was fired
on.
When hostilities actually did begin
meetings were held, old drums brought
ont. enlistments made, and some man
drilled us in Fright face" LEFT face, "
''FrOnt face" and about face" and
that was all he knew. At the same time
there were men who got little military
cap, knew one or two more movements,
and left their homes to seek offices
among strangers. Two of this class
came to our town in Ohio, u place of
$500 inhabitants. and both were elected
captains. There were three companies
recruited in few DAYS. and we lmmedi
atelv went into camp in the County Fair
Grounds. 1t took only about two days
to take the enthusiasm out of some men
who spoke from street corners about
''marching direct to Charleston" or
cutting the levees of the Mississippi river
and flooding the adjoining States"
As soon as company was recruited
there was rush to have it accepted, and
the man who had always drilled the
muster-day fellows hurried to Columbus
to have the 300 men accepted. He had
had some experience in Mexico, and
soon we were ordered to Cleveland. He
also had secured Lieutentant COlonePs
commission and he proved to be good
one.
At Cleveland we passed through the
mastering officers hands, and he was
very particular, for as his name was called
the man must march toward him;
perhaps he halted him, caused him to
about and then back, the officer picking
out the least impprfection. Still, almost
all were accepted. After being mus
tered in, soldier life began more in ear
nest, as we had now sworn to support
Uncle Sam, the Stars and Stripes, and
obey our officers. This latter was all
right in it's way, but we could not under
stand why First or Second Lieutenant
Stoughton or John Adams could go out
of camp at will while we must ask them
to pass us out Surprising an officer said
'No." He was simply lured into quar-
ters and peculiar straight jacket APP
piled, which always passed us out. 1t
would not do; ''he was only timer"
and no lines were to be allowed.
Columbus was our next point, and
we were furnished with uniforms and
arms. A knapsack containing COM
plete uniform was given to each man,
but that uniform was made according to
regulation sizes, and the smallest man
got the largest trousers. By a judicious
exchange we were finally in presentab e
appearance. Then we put the contents
of our satchels into the knapsacks, and
what fat knapsackS they were filled
not only with what was necessary, but
trinkets of all descriptions, to be carried
Oh those unaccustOmed shoulders. How
different two years afterward A man
with knapsack was curiosity, in fact,
the knapsacks were unnecessary.
The towns on the Ohio river were clam
oring for protection. and two companies
were hurried to GallipOlis. Most of the
trip was by rail, but the last eighteen
miles were marched. 1t was the only
soldier march of the kind | evor heard
of, as our knapsasks and guns were
transported for us in wagons. Thus we
captured GallipOlis without arms. The
citizens we're iubilant, however, and we
were received at the outskirts by the
town officers, escorted to festival in the
market square, and cared for by the
ladies' There was square meal, and it
was appreciated, as it was actually the
first for two weeks, outside of the army
ration. And Gallipois was safe from
jenkins, who was supposed to be just
across the river, although he did not
know we had only three rounds of am
munitiOn to man.
Eight more companies followed in due
time, a camp was established near town,
and were drilled as battalion. Next we
made movement at night by boat up
the river, landing at midnight, and
started for the town of Ripley This
was intended as surprise-infantry to
surprise cavalry in their own territory.
There was no surprise, for the cavalry
had gone long before we got there.
There was another brilliant idea on this
march, and that was to fix bayonets.
This might help to make an army pic
ture, but the bayonet is the most useless
article ever conceived for soldier. War
correspondents and artists use them, but
about the only use saw them put to in
nearly four years was to stick a pig when
piece of meat over the fire. l will ven
ture the statement that one-half Of Sher-
mans men were without bayonets on the
march to the sea.
To help out the force of infantry chas-
ing cavalry, it was suggested and carried
out to charge into Ripley, in order to
strike terror to the defenceless inhabi-
tants, and then they could tell the Con-
federates how we came in-after we had
retired from the field and they had re-
turned. Such movements did not last
long. Returning down the river to Point
Pleasant, at the mouth f the Kanawha
river, we met the Eleventh and Twelfth
Ohio First'and Second Kentucky, de-
tachment of cavalry, and a two, gun six
pound rifled battery, and here began a
movement against Gen. Wise under Gen.
j. D. Cox. Slow, easy movements, al
most and always camping so as to have
our tents (indeed, mutiny was almost
threatened if we had to sleep without
cover), brought us within about two
miles of Gen. Wise, ut Scarytown, on
Scary Greek, forty miles up the river, but
on the opposite side. Here one regiment,
two companies from ours, and the bat
terry were ordered by Gen. Cox to drive
Wise away. Every officer of our regi-
ment joined in personal committee and
asked Gen. Cox to let all the regiment
go, but DO, the detail was enough.
The engagement began in the after.
noon, and we in camp counted the can
non shots, easily distinguishing ours, as
= gun fred toward you has pop and
one from you ''crack." Fin1lly the