The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-06-14
IN OLD DOMINION.
Something about the Varied Service of the
9TH Ind. in 1862.

9TH Ind. in 1862.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: That was
short, agreeable season of almost unbroken
quiet that the 9TH Ind. experienced while it
lay in camp near Fort Ellsworth, Alexandria,
in the months Of June and July, 1862. The
officers in the regiment including Colonel
down TO the lowest Corporal, were absent on
French leave, and those who were present
for duty had very little duty to perform.
There never was at any time rigorous
enforcement of military discipline and order
in the regiment, but this was a period of
relaxation from existing loose discipline.
The reveille was sounded, and there was
guard mount in the morning with that of
the sick-call, when the indisposed would be
marched in squads to Surg. News quarters
and receive their rations of opium and
quinine pills, and some might be excused a
while from duty, and many of the COM
plainants, with others of the well, would steal
out of camp and 20 to Alexandria and Wash
ington and revel in dissipation. The rules
Of moral law which furnished guide in
civic life were not always applied by sol
der to his conduct. Here the situation was
such that men were unmindful of good
society, and INDUCED in vicious excuses.
Whatever complaint there might have
which WAS done TO considerable extent by
company cooks, no fault could reasonably be
urged against the supply of raw material
furnished by the Government.
It is true there were no delicac;es supplied,
but the opportunity was afforded those who
had money to procure them by purchase.
Yet there were many who had the money,
and instead Of providing nourishment used
their money in gratifying their appetites in
useless iDdnlgences, IL juring their health
and destroying or impairing their efficiency
as soldiers.
Our term of enjoyment and relaxation in
the military service was abruptly brought
to an end by receiving orders in the last
days of July to break camp and join Gen.
POpe's command, rendezvousing near War
renton. The notice was given at night, and
the next day we moved. John F. Cheek,
the Lieutenant Colonel, was in command of
the regiment; nay Captain and both Lieu
tenants were absent without leave, and |
was in command of Co. K as the ranking
officer. / went TO the Lieutenant Colonel
and asked him what should do with our
sick, and was directed by him and Surg.
New TO take them to the Mansion House
Hospital, Alexandria, and take the company
books and there make out their descriptive
rolls, that they might draw their pay in
their absence. When / presented them at
the hospital found it was full, and had to
take them to Washing on, where remained
over night and made out their descriptive
rolls.
The next day, on returning to Alexandria,
l found the regiment had moved while /
was absent. There the First Lieutenant
returned, and not understanding the order
NJ DIT al 10 he
absent without leave.
a small difficulty sometimes creates q
great deal of confusion in camp, and from
that time forward there was a concealed
GOODNESS between us. BIT he soon was de-
tached as q brigade staff officer, and left the
company.
The 7th Ind. was assigned to one of the
brigades of Gen. McDowelrs Division of the
army in Northern Virginia, consisting, be-
sides, of the 56th Pa. and the 10th and 95th
NY, and were encamped near Army Head
quarters, on the WarrentOn and Culpeper
pike, for some days previous to the battle of
Cedar or Slaughter Mountain.
When Jackson's force, of the rebel army
crossed the Rapidan and sought to ami
hilate Pope's army we were still in camp,
and as the sound of cannon was conveyed
TO our ears from where he was engaged with
Bankss Division, we were ordered to his
support. We were distant from Slaughter
Mountain about ID miles on the day of the
battle, the 9Th of August aud marched to
the scene of action that day.
We were marched to the battlefield and
placed in field with piece of dense woods
Immediately in our front, where we stacked
our guns and built fires to boil coffee, while
others lay down On the stubble to rest A
battery of two guns Of ours was in position
on our right, and stone-wall fence was in
our rear, between us aud farmhouse.
While we were lying in the opening here
at the edge of the woods the movements
and actions of our officers but little indi-
Gated that danger was lurking around and
near US. Gen. Mcdowell rode in front of
us and disappeared in the woods.
When evening came our pickets were de-
tailed and placed in charge of the First
Lieutenant OF my company to be posted.
All was quiet, when a mounted officer rode
up on the left of my company and inquired
OF my Captain where our pickets were
located. My Captain saluted him, for it
was then too dark TO distinguish what side he
belonged to, and laid his hand upon his
horses wethers, and informed him that our
pickets were in charge of Lieut.. Chisman
over yonder, pointing in the proper direo-
ton, and that the regiment was the 9Th Ind.
" The 7th La. 2" responded the interrogation
Wen, they must not fire into the woods;
for our men are in there" and rode away
without another word.