The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-08-29
SOME HUMOROUS HISTORY


 READ BY SHELDON E. THORPE AT THE OLD FIFTEENTu'S REUNION. "Reminiscences of the Company Cook Their Etherial Language When Called Upon for Three Days 'Rations-stories of the Camp at Oyster Point-Funny Raps at Various Members of the Regiment.
 The following interesting historical, sketch of the doings of the members of the old Fifteenth Connecticut regi- ment of volunteers was read at the re- union of the regiment held at Light house Point yesterday afternoon by Sheldon B. Thorpe of North Haven, his- torian of the Regimental associations
 Thirty-four years ago to-day, when we were called to dinner, we filed along side the cooks tent and, handing out new tin plate to the "dish-wrestlers, there they dumped upon 1t a chunk of corned beef-a spoonful of beans and two potatoes. In an equally new tin cup we received @ pint of what they said was coffee Then with the ther- mometer at ninety degress we lay down in the shade of our capacious A tents and ate the ration. We didn't kick much. We had started out to put down the rebellion, even at the sacrifice of victuals. How would 1t have seemed, comrades to have repeated this opera ton to-day, just over yonderlittle pond at Oyster Point? Can you see your selves gaily prancing up to those pa vilions three times 8 day for the choice bits freely handed out there? An, those company cooks!-how it makes ones mouth water to think of the things they could cook. I am sure I can see the mouth twitch and is all ready "drooling' at this very mention Such is the effect the thought of high living has upon old soldiers. Not all the lads, however, agreed about this One said an old wooden Indian in ci- gar store up in Waterbury knew more about cooking than his company cook did. Another gentle youth reared in luxury in the outskirts of one of our country towns suddenly appeared one day at his officers tent and broke out with.
 Captain, when do you reckon we're goin' to git something fit to eat?"
 Eat" exclaimed shoulder straps, "did you enlist to get something to eat?''
 ''Wa'al, that's about the size of it."
 Here" calling an orderly, give this man something to eat and then have him shot,
 The orderly caught on and replied. s'aIl right, come this way"
 The country lad didn't scare frac- ton. Bile me a, ham, Captain, he said, "stew up a couple of chickens, bake a shad, fetch a quart of butter milk, give me some greens and molas- ses, and load yer guns
 Yes, we owe a great debt to our early company cooks-for some of you do un- less you have settled-the men whom we employed at a hundred dollars per month to roast us, How magnificent ly they rose to every demand made up- on them for three days cooked rations, but what shocking language they some times used while rising; indeed, the general drift of their conversation was upon themes more or less earthly with a few spiritual phrases occasionally sandwished in to give tone and color to their views. I suppose they and the company teamsters first introduced the use of profane language into camp. It has been rumored that Sergeant Major Bissell should be credited with this while posting the guides for the first dress parade" we had at Oyster Point, but such report is incorrect.
 Necessarily many events of promi- hence have occurred to members of the association since our last meefing-hap- penings, the recital of which to us, no doubt, would be educating andN instuct- i've, but only few such have come to the notice of your historian. These bear all the marks of genuineness.
 First, take the case of that comrade who is watching out for little post office up the Naugatuck valley now in the hands of the enemy. Not long ago he was swinging his heels from a truck on the depot platform, and his dog was catching flies alongside of him Down came an inquisitive old farmer and espied the twain.
 That's a boss dog you have got there" said the old granger.
 You're right he is,' replied our com rade proudly.
 1'What makes him stick out his tongue that way?"
 Politics" was the answer
 Politics. exclaimed the old fellow 'How?'
 ''Why, you see," said our old hero ssthat dog knows Mckinley is goin' tC be elected and he knows I want thi: postoffice, and he's got his tongue ou already so as to. begin licking th' stamps"
 Between the present and the past tha so immediately concerns us to-day there is a span of thirty years We art giants in that we can leap this inter val at bound, and it is part of tht pleasure of these reunions to do so. St we will go back to Oyster Cam Lyon"-once more. It was shortly af ter the regiment had begun to assem ble and before much had been attempt ed in military disciplines that two 0 our lads appeared before the colonel tent one morning.