The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-04-03

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out for stage life I abandoned it upon
that night, being my first and last ex-
perience, see?
THE PESTS OF BOTH ARMIES.
About twelve months after the
troops went into the field, and fighting
and marching had become the order OF
the day, both armies had contracted a
feeling for little animalcule that was
wondrous kind. This little fellow
stuck closer to you than brother or
mother-in-law. He obtained to
various sizes, scarcely ever exceeding
quarter Of an inch in length, but as
to breadth, that depended entirely
upon the manner he foraged upon
your body. In color he partook Of
various shades, mostly seal brown,
silver grey or old gold. The only
difference between the silver grey and
old gold was very marked, for he
would stick to you, while old gold
would not. By those who dealin that
kind of ology he would be known as a
louise. He travelled under many cog
nomens or aliases. he was sometimes
called a grey-back, at other times
blue-belly, and then there were others
who travelled around under the mystic
letters, I. F. W., Gn for the war;
Others had G.. B. inscribed upon their
escutcheons others, again, with the
initials B. B., but as far as could
find out by close observations they
were all carniverous.
At times, after getting warmed up
pretty we'll, it appeared that battle
royal was taking place upon my per-
son, and then again, | would think
that they. were of a playful nature,
and were playing puss in corner or
blind mans buff, or, who knows, it
might have been game of base ball,
while 1 know very little about that
game, but I am satisfied that some OF
them made good strikes, while others
made good runs, and I know that some
got in at the base. And then again,
/ have thought that perhaps they
recognize the different insignia that is
worn by them, and. partaking Of the
nature Of the soldier they have pitched
into each other, but ale same, the
battle ground (my back) is pretty we'll
torn up.
At the battle of Seven Pines We
we're driving the Federals back at a
lively pace when they took shelter in
piece of woods and turned loose
upon us with canister and grape. In
little while our ranks would have
been decimated, when the colonel
(Kershaw) ordered US to lie down.
After laying as close as our noses
would permit Of it appeared to me that
if a man were to raise his finger above
his head it would be shot off, (not his
head, but his fnger.) Dear old Joe,
all this time sitting upright on his
horse, mark for the enemy, looking
like bronze statue. But to get back
to our pe(s)ts, my file leader, now
living, who lay Immediately in front
of me, was literally covered with the
nasty things, but even through all the
carnage that was now taking place,
there was a chance to exhibit little
humor. Capt. Richardson, who was
Immediately in my rear, called my
attention to these little animules on
my file leaders back. 1t could be
seen very plainly that the poor fellow
was being annoyed by them. He
would hoist and screw up his should
ers, and squirm his body in all direc-
tions but an upright one. If he could
20 through the same figures now L
have no doubt but he could go upon
the stage as a contortionist. They
were performing all the tactics known
to troops in the field. They would
deploy by division as it were, and then
march solidly to the front, then the
different army corps could be seen as
they emerged from the seams OF his
jacket.
When Gen. Stewart was about to
make his famous raid around the
Union army his command was all
drawn up in line. Riding up and
| down in front of his men, he harran-
gued them, telling them the nature Of
the expedition they were about to en-
bark in. At the same time he told
them if any member of that command
did not want to participate in the
same, that now was the time for him
to step out and make it known, but
after starting there was to be no step
ping out. One man, lieutenant,
stepped out. When asked what was
the matter the poor fellow stated that
he was covered with vermin and as he
lived in an adjoining county, might he
be allowed to ride home and change
his clothes. He could overtake and
join his command the next day. The
General told him that while he we
sorry for him, he could not excuse
| him. Hefurther said II have them,
and if you will show me a man in this
command, who has not got them, I
will show you man who has not done
his duty as a soldier. He might have
said, in the language of the immortal
bard: II am sorry for thee, friend ;
tbs the Duk's pleasure.
While my papers were all made out
| for my return to South Carolina, Ito
fall in with the reserves,) was in
| duced to remain with my old COM
mand, until after the seven days