The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-10-21

When the Howitzers started on the
back track for Richmond in the spring
II 1862, they began to realize that the
war was not all glory nor profusion.
The meals at the hotels were much de-
Perforated since 1861 and were paid for
by a very much increased quantity OF
printed paper called money The COM
pany halted in Richmond for a few
days only and then joined the army
down the peninsula. Some changes had
taken place in the company, and it was
necessary to elect a captain. The How
itzer chronicler says that it was a COM
ical sight to see the 'officers' elected
by the "people'' in the ranks, but this
system continued in the company to the
end There was no ambition on the part
of the members to hold office.
At elections offices went, as it were,
by default to those who would take them
rather than to seekers. However, pub
lie opinion saw that only the fit
should hold command. To be member
was considered better than being COM
missioned officer. The commander was
really between two fires unless disci-
pline in the southern army was sham.
| Whenever an order was promulgated
that was obnoxious to the members ct
the Howitzers, a committee would call
upon the captain to know if the paper
in question originated in his headquar-
tiers or higher up. If higher up, he was
constrained to unite with the petition
ers to have it modified If in his head
quarters, he was constrained to modify
it on the spot.
At williamsburg the Howitzers won
little glory all to themselves. Their
guns occupied Fort Magruder and for a
day held in check the advancing Fed
eral columns. The company followed
the fortunes of the Army of Northern
Virginia throughout 1862 and establish
ed it's winter quarters on the Rapidan.
In spite Of pinching poverty, the How
itZers contrived to have a good time and
to make their winter quarters ''oases in
the barren waste of war; Their dwell
lings were snug, and, although they
had to substitute straw for mattresses,
then bushes for straw, they sang all the
merrier and played cards with increased
Zest.
It has always been a mystery just
how the Confederate soldiers fed them
selves and their animals in sparsely
populated country by no means over
productive in eatables for man and
beast The Howitzers' historian let's out
one secret in describing the ebay de-
tail" Sometimes the 'detail," like
that Of guard and police duty, was a
method of inflicting punishment for
trifling slips Of discipline The chances
for getting d house dinner somewhere
or raw material for the camp mess took
away some Of the curse of the punish
ment. A "detail' of two batterymen
and q driver with q four horse team
was sent out on the hay excursion.
Hay, when found, was taken or ssimpressed''
on official 0 U tickets issued by the quarter
masters, and this "impressment" was, of
course, as the years dragged on, heavy drain
on the farmers Nevertheless, the Howitzers
managed to keep in their good graces to Sc
cure the best fare in their dwellings and to
make themselves thoroughly entertaining to
the household family before quitting it, The
farmers would help to load the wagon with
the hay, while the family got up good dinner
for the "detal." In spite of such frequent
ravages, the 'details'' were invited to caa
|
The exceptional powers exhibited by the can
noneers in entertaining their hosts, under the
vexing run of military operations, were ever
amply repaid. The ''calls'' required occasion
ally no little tact to be successful. Now and
then farmer was stumbled across who seem
ed at first to be of impossible appeasement.
On one special occasion farmer, whose native
generosity had been soured by bad treatment,
was called upon by q ebay detail'' of the keen
est kitchen trail. Nothing would do in the way
Of ordinary politeness. He pronounced all sol
diers to be vandals, devils incarnate, and the
'detail'' chimed in with each and every par
ticular one Of his utterances. The army Of
Northern Virginia was about the worst fo1
destruction that ever bore arms. These trivia
objections were finally fanl1ed and utterly
routed by the united assault Of the "detail.' y
Was the gentleman in need of having the WOOD
on his wood ->ile cut, or of water from the
spring? Yes. Well, then, here be good turn!
indeed to be cone, and, without any ado, the
"detail" gracefully and zealously did them FOL
him, and words and acts combined worked
wonders on the larder, brought out its very
best.
The "detail" cut cord of wood that
day and brought a barrel Of water from
: the spring, which was a mile off, before
, the old man got pleased and invite>
!, them to dinner in his house. These tao
= tics were used again and again will
: success.
Cooking, though SO essential to tn
soldiers we'll being, was by no mean
pleasant indulgence for the Howitzer
when emergencies compelled it. Gener
ally they had hired negro cooks, but il
r, times Of battle the cooks rarely ven
! tured from the rear to the front, an,
! the cannoneers in the course Of severa
consecutive days of fighting had to de
!. pend largely on their own talents TO
= cooking. -
~ Several Of the Howitzers had bee1
q students at the military institute un
2 der Stonewall Jackson. Around thei
a campfres many vivid descriptions wer
y given Of cold Jack's'' methods wit
q his pupils. When the army was recros!
20 ing the Potomac from Maryland, til
Howitzers passed cold Jack" in sadd]
,, by the wayside, and after the batter
y halted for bivouac one Of the institut
=. cadets, named Dick Wharton, propose
~ to go back to the river and have CHI