Chicago eagle., 1895-12-21

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Jared housed up In
their little canvas-roofed huts built of
logs, with a fireplace made of sticks md
mud and salt barrel or hardtack box
doing duty az a chimney. The crevices
between the logs were filed with mud
or anything else that came handy and
would keep out the cold. Four men usu-
ally occupied one of these cabins. The
bed was generally at the rear end and
was made by driving four crotched sticks
In the ground (mother earth was the car.
pe) and laying another straight one
across at head and foot. Then long poles
about as big as mans wrist were laid
lengthwise and on top was placed
quantity of hay and on top of the hay
blanket. Another blanket and overcoats
constituted the covering, and In this way
the occupants managed to snatch few
hours sleep each night, for those poles
would spread every time one of the
slccpers changed position and he was
almost sure to land on the dirt floor. The
occupants Of the top bunk fared some.
what better, for when they did fall they
generally alightcd on top of the other two
beneath. The officers had better quar-.
ters, but the Inevitable canvas roof was
always present.
The camp Of the Michigan cavalry bri.
gade was located on the left of the pike
about six miles south Of Winchester.
The winter had been very cold ever
since the brigade had established winter
quarters and snow from one foot to two
feet In depth covered the ground. De.
cember had arrived and brought no COM
fort In the matter of the weather, and
Christmas was but few days away.
There wns much speculation among the
rank and file as to what each man would
receive from home, but no stockings were
hung up and no great preparations made
to observe the day. At length Christmas
eve arrived and with Il Christmas boxes
for many Of the men. The contents I
shall not attempt to describe In detail,
but they were as varied as one could i'm.
agine. Some loving heart Mt home sent
father, lover or brother pairs Of warm
woolen stockings, shirts and other com.
Portable clothing suitable for q soldiers
needs; then there were pecks of applcs,
loavcs of cakes, doughnuts, oranges, can.
dy, and In one case a plum pudding.
There wns great rejoicing among the ia
vorcd ones, but those who were not re-
membered turned from the sight of the
good things with n sigh of disappoint.
mcnt. However, the soldier IL always
generous and those who received moth.
ing were made to share IN the dainties
possessed by their more fortunate COM
rades, and the eatables were not allowed
to spoil.
The night before Christmas the men
made large bonfire In front Of quarters,
and with the aid of some 'canned peach.
Of a spirituOus nature could be obtained
from the commissary for love or money!
the hours passed oil too swiftly with story
and song. Az l lay In my tent gazing
ut the animated scene before me, my mind
went back to those at home and won
dercd how they were observing this
Christmas day. and why had been for.
gotten, for l was among those who had
received nothing that day. The fire In
frOfft had burned to bed OF Goals, the
men had all turned In, and ! was begin
ming to think OF going to slcep-it was
nearly midnight-when was aroused
by tho shufiiing OF feet to a rhythmic
accompaniment OF hand.clapping and pat.
ting OF knees, IN mel0di0us dcference TO