The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-02-22

duty, from the major generals to the
drummers. All the tools were fairly
divided: each regiment had its ground
assigned 1t: the streets and intervals
were marked out. and when the work
was begun the valley was alive with
L-sy builders.
Each colonel divided his regiment
into parties of twelve, gave them their
share of axes and shovels, and let them
know that they were building home
for themselves. A cabin was TO be oc-
cupied by twelve men. Gen. Washing
ton added the stimulant of a reward to
the party that should build the best
hut An order of the day had this in
teresting passage:
AS an encouragement to industry
and art, the general promises to reward
the party in each regiment which fin
ishes its hut in the quickest and most
workmanlike manner with twelve dol
lars. And as there is reason to believe
that boards for covering the huts may
be found scarce and difficult to be got,
he offers one hundred dollars to any
officer or soldier who. in the opinion
of three gentlemen that he shall APP
point as judges, shall substitute some
other covering that may be cheaper
and more quickly made, and will in
every respect answer the end.
The huts were fourteen feet by six
teen. and six and a half feet high. The
| officers huts were ranged in line be-
hind those of the soldiers, and only
generals were accorded the conven-
fence of having a whole house to them
selves. Gen. Washington inhabited a
cabin of one room until later in the
season. when second was added for
the accommodation of Mrs. Washing
ton. He said in another order OF the
day. that "the general himself VIII
share in the hardships and partake OF
every inconvenience
II does not appear that any one in
vented a better rofing than slabs, nor
has any one recorded what company OF
soldiers ~ the twelve-dollar prize.
We only know that the cabin-building
was begun early in the morning OF De-
cember 10. and that most of the army
would have eaten their Christmas DIN
ner in their cabins If there had been
anv Christmas dinner to eat. 1t was
inst then that the worst of the stary-
ing time began. While the men were
building their cabin city they lived
chiefly upon cakes made of flour and
water. and there was lamentable
scarcity of all the most necessary sup
nlies-shoes. clothes, blankets and
straw. Nothing saved the army from
d ssolution but the fiery circumstances
and energetic action of IL" commander
in-chief. There is preserved at Phila-
delphia a hand-bill issued BY him while
the army was building its huts. In
this he notified the farmers to thrash
out their grain with all convenient
sneed on pain of having the sheaves
se;zed nv the commissaries and paid
for at the price of straw. The conduct
NJ the commander during these agoniz'
ing weeks can only be estimated Alright
bv persons Familiarity acquainted with
the circumstances. No man ever gave
a higher example either of fortitude OF
wisdom. and 1t was directly through
tho exercise of those virtues by MIN
that the army was saved. While the
men were busy building. news wa'
brought to the camp that a force o
the enemy was approaching. Thu
troops we're in such dire need OF foo'
and shoes that they were unable II
stir. There was not pound OF mea
in the camp, and not a ration OF hou
per man. 1t was while he was con
tending with such difficulties as thes
that the intrigue to supplant the gen
eral was most active and the clamo
Ioudest for a winter campaign.
81 can assure those gentleman,
wrote the general, that 1t is mucl
easier and less distressing thing I
draw circumstances in a comfortably
room. by a good Preside. than to oc
cuny a cold. bleak hill, and sleep un
der frost and snow without clothes o
. blankets"
This dispatch to the president OF con
sress abounds in force and pathos' an
shows how much better writer IL
author was than any man VINO eve