The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-02-10

i,hah NJ NAS'f"s IL WIN q
Virginian's partiality for his own
people, he qnarterei Jacksou's old
division on the crown of the noun.
tain, and assigned EwelPs division
the slope. Taylor's quar- ters were
the mountain side, at an angle of
about 30 degrees; the narrow road
lined with wagon trains. When
Taylor saw his Scamp" he made
thugs blue around him. The rest
of us were more resigned and be-.
gan to make the best ofour unique
camp-of steepness and darkness,
mud aud rain; but our General OIL
ly got the madden and "cussed"
the louder. Surget, the Adjutant
General, an accomplished Creole,
with sn the fire Of one, yet with
the sang froid Of al Enslislman.
picked out a stump, and seating
himself a.straddle on the upper
aide and hugging it for a safe bed.
fellow, he had some rest, if not
much sleep. Tom, the Generals
faithful servant, spread his mas.
ter's blankets on the wet leaves
the soaked earth and loose stones
underneath, q slippery, PREACHER.
GUS bed, as we shall find. l went
downto the road, " few PAGES
away, and finding q wagon some.
what protected from the mountain
torrents, l crawled underneath it,
and laying my rubbercloth first on
the mud and then my blanket, l
hal a mattress as soft as a Dutch
texther he'd, and was sleeping the
sleep Of the blessed when | WAS
awakened by Taylor's deep voice,
calling loudly above the storm for
Major Heard, the quatermaster.
Taylor in his sleep had turned in
his steep bed, and he, bed and all
were sliding down the mountain!
Dear Old Major Heard, always so
kind and obliging aud now so in-
nooent, was the victim of the Gen
erals wrath. Taylor wanted to
know why he had chosen such a
id camp for him! Heard's mild
and respectful protestatioDs that
he could only take such quarters
AZ Major Hartman assigned him,
only made Taylor swear the more
and louder. The whole camp was
aroused and amused, and to the
sound Of the wordy duel 'twixt
General and quartermaster, and
the ludicrous remarks and laugh.
ter Of the men, I fell asleep, to be
aroused about daylight by Taylor
calling loudly for me. What now7
Had he tired of Heard aud wanted
a fresh victimi No, he was as
gentle as y lamb. He wanted me
to 60 down to Gen. Jackson, pre-
sent his compliments and ask for
him permission to find suitable
camping ground for his brigade on
the south side OF the mountain.
Mounting my horse and picking
my way as best | could, the wag
ons and artillery blocking the mar
row road, | rode down to Jackson's
headquarters; got the desired per-
mission, and Taylor was happy
again, and all the more pleasant
and agreeable to everyone, as was
his custom after explosions of
temper, for his ugly mood and fret.
fulness the night before.
In passing down to Jackson, I
had to ride through EwelFs ord
nance train. 1t was raining and
the fog was thick; | could hardly
see. But from one of the wagons
l heard the sound of a fiddle, and
good iddling, too. Riding up and
peering in, | saw, sitting on a box
of ammunition, DIN Blackman,
private Company A, Ninth Louisi.
ana Regiment, son Of Rev. John Q.
BlackmaD, Of Homer, La, iddling
away for dear life, all to himself,
and the smile on his face told how
be enjoyed it. ! sat for some mo.
ments, enjoying it too, before he
observed me, or | called; "Olin,
what on earth are you doing hereq'
"Fiddling, sab! fddIing!"-and he
kept his bow a going. "Detailed
as teamster in the ordnance train
sab! My niger drives the team
fiddle going louder-"and I ride
in the wagon and play the fiddle
sahw "Well, Olin, I'll put a stol
TO this: Tll tell ypnr CDlDuel.D Tht