The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-01
BREHKING THEM In.
Early Experiences CT 47th Iii. Man IN the
Ranks

Early Experiences CT q 47th III. Man IN the
Ranks.
EDIToR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In re-
cent issue / told how the 47th Ill. went 70
war in August, 1851, and after being
equipped were sent TO Benton Barracks, .
camp of instruction near st. Louis Themes
We were sent to Jefferson City, NO., where
Gen. Price, said to be a relative of the rebel
General, was IN command. Cos. G. and III
were sent to the junction of the Usage and
Missouri Rivers to guard the railroad
bridge.
Galloway County was directly across the
Missouri and was hot-bed of secession.
1t being well supplied with such articles Of
diet as soldiers reIished, we confscated .
natboat and made frequent incursions for
the implied purpose of watching the John
nice.
One night we were awakened by a vollsy
OF musketry close by and the Captain
yelling Fall in, boys; we are attacked"
We fell in, in all sorts of neylige, and the
chattering of our teeth (the night Wa
chilly could have been heard across the
| river.
We were marched and countermsrehsd
through and all around the woods, but no
enemy was found. After two weary hours
OF this the Captain stationed pickets ON
every cow-path in the vicinity. 1t was dis
covered next morning that the whole thing
was "a put-up job by the officers to 80
what we would do.
We returned TO Jefferson City soon after.
| wards. The Transfers were supplied with
wagons and mules, and found ost after
wards that large amount of profanity wao
supplied at the same time, go al to aid in
making things move smoothly. Strange
what an affinity there was between army
mules and profanity. Where you found the
mules the other was sure to be. The army
teamster could always give the common
soldier odds and beat him where swearing
was concerned.
up the railroad, and went into Winter quar-.
ters. Here Lieuts. W. III. Armentrout and
Abel Bradley, Co. G., resigned. Thomas
Henderson and William Kuhn took their
places respectively. The Captain had allowed
the boys to elect their officers, bat the selec-
ton of Kuhn not suiting our commander,
he induced the Colonel to recommend E. E.
Tobey, and he took the place.
We left Otterville in the early part Of
February, 1862, and indications were that
We were bound for the front. We marched
away and went into camp the same after
noon. We had some great fun here. A drove
of hogs rambled into camp. The tempta-
ton was too great, and we began to sboot
One porker POked his nose into Capt An
drews's tent, and quick as wink ne shot it
Just then Lieut.-Col. Miles was heard order.
ing that the firing cease. When Miles got
around to the Captains tent the latter was
sound asleep. Finally the Lieutenant-Cc Colo
mel aroused him, and after much trouble
made him understand what was up. An
drews rushed out, apparently in towering
rage, and shouted:
eff another shot is fired I'll buck-and-gag
every man in the company" The boys,
meanwhile, had hidden all traces not only
of their own work, but the Captains
In due time we reached New Madrid, and
first heard the boom of artillery. We con-
tinued on to Point Pleasant. We were 70.
inforcsd by the 18th Mo-, 9th Wis, 26th Ill,
5th Mimi, and I'd Iowa battery, the whole
under Col. Plummer 11th Mo. The brigade
thus formed remained intact with the ex-
ception of the 26th ILL., during our term Of
service, and was known as the Eagle Bri-
gade."
1t was not long after this that We found
ourselves dsembarking at Hamburg Land
ing, ON the Tennessee, and about to bsgi1
the campaign against Corinth. Then ws
saw soldering in earnest-SAMUKL KLETY.
MAN, Cos. G and B, 47th Ill, Hildreth, Nsh.