The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-09-27

entertain his rebel friends with when
they called On him. AS our boys hsd
pretty slim living, and hard and
diilicnlt way of fgetting our small allow
ance up on the mountain, orders were
issued for detail OF two men from
each company TO 30 out and see what
could be found.
Il, NJ. Fleming and the writer were
the two from Co. A, 18th Pa. Some 30
altogcthtr started under command of a
Lieutenant ofthe 2lst Wis, after pro-
wiling one days supply of hardtack
and coffee.
We marched out along the top Of
the mountain som, htance until we
could find place amongst the rocks
descend the mountain. A fter getting
down into the valley We marched
up the valley some distance,
when we came to the house where re-
| port said we would find that which
our appetites were craving.
When we asked the old man if he
had any meat he told the boys to 60
to the smokchouse and take all that
/ was there. The boys made rush
for that smokehou:e as though each
one wished 10 get the largest ham; but
on invedtiga:ion there was but the
skeleton ofa ham there.
The boys became angry, first at the
old man and then at the darky, but the
d,rky had fallen ont of ranks some
| distance back, for he did not want the
white folks to know he had given the
information. My comrades came to
the conclusion that they would not
tempt the old man to tell any moro
lice, 50 they commenced an inyestiga-
tion for themselves.
Upstairs, down stairs, and in the
cellar Of the house they went. In one
corner Of room up.s stairs under bed
they found some wheat, with which
they lost no time in filing their hav-
ersacks. But those sugar cured hams
where were they2
The house was two stories, with
porch. Suddenly one Of the fellows
noticed in the wal. of one of the ior ms
up stairs what appeared to be door
without hinges. After some consul
tatIon one gave the place in the wall
punch with the butt of his musket
and it fell over and showed IA passage
into the garret of tre porch. Further
examination revealed n large number
oinice hams and shou ders of bacon
hanging to the ratters.
After dividing with the company
and inspecting everything about the
pl ce, We returne down the valley
until we came to mill operated by AN
old c.tzer.W We employ cd him, without
any ceremony, to gr.nd our whcit
After our wheat WAS ground we filed
our haversacks, and, it being late ia
the evening, Comrade Fleming and |
were detailed to 90 out on videt pick
ct. We went back up the valley about
one mile, and passed the night at the
forks of two roads.
In the morning we were called into
line and started on our way Dnck to
camp. When We got to the top of
Lookout Mountain it was dark, and,
we were some three or four miles from
camp. Meantime the officers at camp,
expecting we would be tired and wish
to be relieved of some of our forage,
sent out a team and wagon to meet
us. We got orders to put our chops
and hams into the wagon. Our haver-
sicks being private property, we re-
fused to give them up. The hams we
deposited in the wagon, and then
moved on toward camp. The boys,
on thinking over the matter as we
marched along, concluded that they
might not be so fortunate as to receive
their share Of the hams. So as they
marched along one comrade would
carry another's gun, while he would
pass the column, gain the wagon, and,
AS the ght was very dark, climb into
The wagon, take out ham, and fall
into the ranks again. This continued
until all the hams were out of the
wagon.
When we arrived at camp there was
guard placed at the wagon, and no
| person allowed to take anything out.
| When morning came one of the Quar-
ttrmastei's Aids was sent to make an
inspection of the contents of the
wagon. Not a pound of ham was
there to be found in the wagon. 1t
was said by some of the boys that the
| Quartermaster's official said if there
ever was any hams in the wagon tho
boys had made clean sweep, AS there
was not so much AS smell of ham.
The Quartermaster not being salts
aed, and suppose feeling disanpoint-
ed in not having ham Wr breakfast,
made complaints to the Colonel. A
guard In charge Of an officer was sent
to search the quarters of the men, con-
fscste all ham found, and arrest those
having the same in their possession.
The officer first went to the captains
tent. While he was there consulting
with the captisn, the boys hid their
sweet morsels Of ham, 80 there was
none to be found by the guard. We
had feasts of ham for week after
that, aud for once the private got
ahead of the "commish."-WM. A.
'MIL.AN. National Tribune.