Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-06-25
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
THE ouARTERMAsTER's STORY.
He Broke Up Quite n Poker Game and
Gained n Cheese.

He Broke Up Quite Poker Game and
Gained a Cheese.
1t was snowy day outside, almost a
blizzard-consequent the smoking
room down in the basement of the home
was well patronized on this dismal De-
cernber day. Billiards, pool. and the
card tables were surrounded by players
and spectators, while over all hung
blue cloud of smoke from countless
pipes. Every pipe ever invented by a
Yankee genius, or dreamed of by jol-
ly Dutchman, was here represented
stone. clay, briar-root, genuine and
imitation meerschaum, down to the
celebrated Andy Jackson corn cob,"
the favorite of all soldiers AS usual,
there were to be seen in cosy corner
next the steam pipes, goodly crowd of
vets assembled, listened with the great
est interest to an ex-quartermaster,
who related the following war anec-
dote:
81 belonged to the Acorn (14) corps
Blue Acorn division, commanded by
Baird. We were named the Acorn corps
because we lived on roasted acorns
when we had nothing better to fill up
on; that is, during acorn season, you
known. Well, guess you all recollect
when we started on that devil-may-car0
sort of march, from Raleigh, North
Carolina, to Washington, by way of
Richmond. The war being over, we
naturally felt kind of 'rambunctious;'
all wanting to get home; everybody
laying all sorts of plans; some building
castles in the air, some being happy in
L.. f,.,,, Ia1;af hot Mol
lie hadn't gone back on 'em.
II was n jolly boy then, and full of
pranl<s. Mother used to say, Hiram,
you'll always be boy if you live till
you're as old as Methuselahr and
reckon she was right, for / am a boy
yeti
~ suppose you all remember when
we were at James river, opposite Rich
mond, waiting to get over, while Billy
Sherman was jawing with old Halleck
about whether the 'bummers' should
wear white gloves on review before him
or not; for you well know that Sherman
had about as little use for Gen. Halleck
as an Irishman has for an niger.
II was awful restless one night, and
strayed out for walk about II o'clock.
In rambling round the camp accident
ally came across the commissary's
large tent, where a bright light, con.
trary to all orders was burning.
'Gemently,' thinks I, he's got a ter
rible gall! Good thing he's not in front
of Hood, down on Peachtree creek, or
he would catch the dickens, sure 'nough.
Curious to know what was a'goin' on in
side, drew near the canvass Well,
boys, as sure as am sitting here, they
were playing poker! Our major, the
commissary, the surgeon, and, by Chris
topher Columbusl our chaplain was
opening Il Jackpot on a pair of queens,
was so astonished that gave a loud
whistle, forgetting all about where
was.
What do you think happened next,
boys? You'll never guess it! Out went
the light, out bulged the canvas, and
out rolled something in the shape of ar
old-fashioned wheel barrow wheel
which knocked me out. Yes, as fiat as
a pancake. Scared as | was, l managed
to scramble up in a great deal quicker
time than you'll imagine, and on exam
ination found Western Reserve cheese
with the lid knocked off. l didn't stoI
to inquire about how the game ended
or who rolled the cheese out, but rails
ing my prize out of its she'll, | started
for our quarters on the double quick.
divided even up, and no questions were
ever asked the quartermaster in regard
to it"-F'red. Rogge, in Toledo Blade