The Progress., 1897-06-19

+ ~ ~ ~ natives.
H. .itu:'.s from the
rar'S usually
come after the writer has crlaid his real
experience with ripper knowledge, and they
lack spontaneity. In writing his reminls-
cences for a local newspaper, rivate iheo-
llore Gerrish of the Twentieth Maine aimed
to tell regimental story. and the result
Ia a matter of fact na"rGti'.c OF army lie.
A sketch of that much misrepresenteu lea
tl,re a bummers foragin;s cxped1tlon IS
given without gloss or other attempt 10
make it more or less than the real thing. |
stForaging soon becomes science IN the
soldiers life" says the writer. We had
lust entered the army ard did not under
stand 1t as we'll as thH'c who had Deeh
longer in service, but VIC applied ourselves
closely to the work, and soon became qulte
EXPERT We must always remember that
customs in the arm, vary from those In
civil life and things which in the latter
would not be tolc-s.t;d for moment
would be commcrt,:.! in the former
Many laughable incidents occurred.
."While marching thro, gh Loudoun val
ley our regiment cncamI "a one nigh1 at
small village, and be following DAY
SQUAD of us sailed forth, without permits.
sion, to seek whom might deVour.
Some few miles from camp, In an OUT
building on u large Limitation, we found
a very large beehive, :. aith appeared TO DC
we'll filled with honey. Now, honey and
hard tack made a most desirable diet, and
we knew that we had found a prize; but,
as have already init utCd, foraging was
new business to us &! d we were little
timid, and consequently concluded that
the better course for us II pursue was TO
return to camp and then come out after
dark and secure It. We l>;urned to camp
highly elated at the pros. Get. OF course
our comrades of the regiment were to know
nothing about It, We held II small coun-
Gil of war and arranged our plans. Late
in the evening we PASSED through the
guard lines unnoticcd by the sentinels
and quickly trnmped over fences and across
:, Acids until we reached the lantation, and
ID; bur Joy, found the hive of honey as we
had left it in the afternoon. twas a huge
old fashioned affair, some feet high ano
eK wide, and so heavy that 1t required oul
united strength to carry 1t.
"We soon found that the way OF the
transgressor is hard. We had just passet
from the building to the open yard when {
smothered exclamation from our leader
Joe, which was half way between an oatf
and n yell, attracted our attention. W.
hurriedly dropped the hive, and Joe began
to make the most lively antics around TIN
yard. We soon learned the cause. He hat
placed his hand near the opening, and TIN
bees, aroused by their removal, had crawl
ed out and intrcnched themselves in
cluster on his arm underneath the sleeves
Confound them, muttercd the VIC
tim, smarting under his first war wound
ing sI'll fix them Taking off his over
coat. a new one Just drawn from the stores
he wrapped it around the hive so as t
completely cover tho opening We the
lifted the burden and tuggcd away. "
passed out into lane incloscd by hi9
fence and soon, to our horror, heard
party of men approaching. Here the
are!' cried ono, leaping upon the fenc
Surrender, surrender cried the newcon
ers The provost guardl' we exclaimed
chorus Now, If there is anything in Il
world raw soldier Is afraid of it is IL
provost guard. Guns ratified, and, drol
ping the hive, overcoat and all, we spran
over tho fence aud skedaddled. our pu