The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-07-08
Tenting on The Old Camp Ground
Or Co. G.. 10th vt. Vols. to the Front.
BIZ Lieut.. T. II. WHITE.
MO. "a

a L
Newton had been killed. Capt. Damon
was on division staff, so it became nee
essary to detail an officer to command
the company for short time, at least
Lieut. Chas. D. Bouge of Company G.
was the officer detailed to command the
Company. He would undoubtedly
have made very fair company com
mander when sober; but unfortunate
ly he was never sober. He assumed
command about the 18th, and on that
day the division crossed to the south
side of the James river, and re-joined
the Corps some distance south of Peters
burg. Lieut.. Bouge replenished his
stock of bad wiskey at every commits
sary establishment we Glanced to pass
during the day. AT night he informed
me that my blanket must be spread in a
suitable place, and he would share it
with me. | informed the Lieut.. that
my sleeping arrangements were al
ready made, and that could not posi-
bly, accommodate him. He went to a
hazel brush thlcket near by, and stow
ed himself away for the night. His
only companions were two canteens of
whiskey, and his covering the broad
mantle of charity thrown around him
by some one far more charitable than [
had been. Fully expecting that the
following day would find us in battle,
and fearing for the safety of the boys
if led by one whose head was crazed
with whiskey; stole from under my
blanket when all the rest were sleeping
found the Lieut.. and enforced the
Maine liquor law by pulling the stop
perS from both his canteens. The fol-
lowing morning found very thirsty
man in the person of Lieut., and for
once during three years service he
was obliged to drink water. He was
cross and Grabbed and he took good
care to have his canteens refilled in
time for the next battle. 1t was well
for me that he did not know who pull
ed the shoppers.
During the day the regiment moved
still farther TO the south of Petersburg
going into position on high ground
where strong line of works were
built. 1t was about p. m. when that
position was taken and the work be-
gan. 1t was nearly dark when men,
Der of the Tooth New York decided to
explore in our front for water. He
reached the low ground all right. and
when he heard voices close by. He at
once came to the conclusion that others
had found what he was in search of,
and he made his way to where they
were. He found water in a plentiful
supply, he also found himself in COM
pany with hundred rebels who would
have been delighted to have him &C
company them to their camp where he
could have been furnished with pass
ports to Andersonville.
Fortunately for "Yank" it was too
dark to distinguish between the blue
and grey. The man from the Tooth
suddenly came to the conclusion that !;
he was in no hurry for water anyway, ,
besides it would be showing more re-
fill their canteens first. When the last -,
one of the Johnnies had filled his cam
teen the hero in blue stepped down to
the spring for his supply of water. :,
While in the act of filling his first can
teen the rebel suddenly exclaimed, II :
am completely lost, do not know the
way to camp" 1t was "Yanks" OPP ;
portunity and he was equal to the oc- !
casion. He said "Wait until fill my :
canteens and | will show you to camp, =
| am not lost" Taking his canteens in =
one hand and holding them in such a
manner that he could drop them in :
stantly Yank started for camp with
Johnnie by his side. They were with !,
in forty feet of our main line +
when Johnnie discovered soldiers in +
The blue uniforms of the Union army y
around the camp fires. John +
MES first exclamation would have e
been out of place in prayer meeting.
He turned on his heel to run but the ,,
gentleman in blue had anticipated all
his and was ready for action. He =
dropped his canteens knocked his COM =
1anion down and held him there until =
lelp arrived While being escorted y
o the liness he said many things that Z
would not look well in print. He l
cursed himself for being taken in =
10 easily and he cursed everybody else
lot forgetting the id Lincoln hire r
ings. \
After occupying our new works for =.
wo nights we advanced over them !,
arly in the morning moving in line of u
,attle down to the little valley where W
he spring was situated. We ascend VI
d the hill on the opposite side through -
mber with solid underground OF =,
horns and shrubs. When at the top of u
he hill the regiment came out of the -,
FOODS into a small clearing when a w
alt was ordered. The skirmish line "
7as just over the other slope and hotly ~ ~
ngaged. 1t was not long until the %
lembers of Co. G were convinced IL,
lat our skirmish line was being driven, ~ ~
nd they asked that they might be al ~ ~
wed to build works. l made their T ~
fishes known to Lieut.. Bouge and ~
lis was his answer, "Sergt. don't let =!
our men do lick of work until or ia
cred to do so. Save their strength "
ley will need it later on"
/ waited until our skirmish line had -
zen driven half way down to our posi- =
on when L went to regimental head u
larters and told Col. Henry that Co.
boys would like permission to fortlfy. y
he Colonel wanted to know why they
d not 90 to work. On being told
of iaut RoOue had forbidden the II