Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-11-12
BLUE AND THE GRAY
BRAVE MEN WHO MET ON THE
FIELD OF BATTLE.
Thrilling Stories of the Rebellion
Old Soldiers and Sailors Relate RENT.
niscences of Life In Camp and on
Confederate SAL"

COIuulUld, OA OuCh hlFcT, III 1cuueS-
see.
The soldiers were half-clad, half-fed
and thoroughly desperate. They were
in no mood to be trified with, and
when the provocation came they were
law unto themselves.
While they were in camp at this
place woman who had followed the
army for months gave the officers con-
siderable trouble. She was utterly de-
PRAYED and shameless, and she was
not pretty enough to cause her esca-
pades to be leniently regarded.
This woman did not even have
name. She was known as Confeder-
ate Sal, and was heartily detested by
the soldiers and citizens.
It was impossible to tell where Sal
would break out next, or what new
and startling capers she held in re-
serve. One week she would make her
appearance in Columbia elegantly
dressed and conducting herself like
a lady. A few days later she would
gloriously drunk and shockingly pro-
fame
Then the patience of the officers
would give way, and the brazen adj
ventures would be sent twenty miles
away and left in the woods in the hope
that she would never return. 1t was
useless to resort to such mild methods.
After few days absence Sal would
return with a new outfit and would
remain until she got into disgrace
again.
Nobody could learn anything of her
past history. She invented so many
different biographies that none Of her
stories could be believed. Some said
that she was soldiers widow, but
others declared that she had been well
known as disreputable character in
several Confederate cities. No matter
who she might have been in the past,
the soldiers looked upon her as a holy
terror, and her evil fame spread into
the Federal lines, where it was re-
ported that she had strayed upon more
than one occasion.
In the course Of time Confederate
Sal became a vexatious problem to
both armies. Once party of Confed-
crates seized her while she was drunk
and carried her into the Federal
camps, where they left her. The
wretched creature was discovered the
next day by the Federals, and was
promptly sent back to the other side.
They tried everything to get rid Of
her. but she never failed to return. She
was locked in the guardhouse, whip
ped and threatened with death, but
all to no purpose. Generals and col
onels used to fly from her as they
would from cyclone. Her temper
was furious beyond description, and
the most hardened men could not listen
to her foul and profane tongue.
She was dangerous, too. Sometimes
she was remarkably well-dressed,
with plenty of money to spend. and
the officers had suspicion that she
was spy in the pay Of the enemy.
There was no proof, however, and
she could not be disposed of upon this
pretext.
Sal was not beauty, but when she
was at her best she was a dashing
woman, daring rider, and when she
was sober her conversation showed
that she had enjoyed some educational
advantages. She was about 40 years
old, and her face bore the traces of
intemperance and exposure.
This reckless camp follower finally
went too far and presumed too much
upon the forbearance of the brave
o1, hn
durance.
She had been absent for about ten
days, and the officers and men were
beginning to hope that they had seen
the last of her. when the report came
that she had engaged board with a re-
spectacle family some distance down
the river. She was dressed better than
ever was well supplied with money,
and claimed to be the wife of one of
the most popular generals in the army.
The people where she boarded did not
know her, and accepted her statement
that she desired to be near her hus-
band for few weeks.
On the second night Of her stay the
supposed wife of the general came
home roaring drunk in the company of
two rough-looking soldiers, who were
driven off with great difficulty by the
family.
Mrs. General then got mad and turn
ed her tongue loose. She Mortified the
inmates of the cottage by dancing the
can-can, and wound up with the an
nouncement that she was Confederate
Sal.
When the news of these high jinks
reached camp there was unbounded
Indignation. 1t was agreed that Sal
had insulted the whole army by mas
ouerading as the wife of their favorite
general and few determined men
got together and held quiet consul
tation. That night about dozen SOL
diers slipped out of the camp and went
down the river to the log cabin in
which Sal had sought shelter after be-
ing elected from the cottage.
AS the visitors expected, they found
- x-o,,or cIoopinV off tho offpcfS of