The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-11
THE GALLANT NINTH.
FED BIZ WHICH THE TITLE WAS
WON IN nj CIVIL WAR.

UnfailinR CheerfulneSs Shown Under Prfvo-
tions and Courage Exhibited in the Face
of the Enemy-HardshipS Mot with Jokes
Irish Wit Displayed on the Battlefield.
BALTIMORE. Sept 1o.-"The gallant Sixty
ninth" was the army designation during the
civil war OF the famous New York regiment.
And this title II won during Its first service.
when IL took the field In response to the call Of
President Lincoln for three months men. The
people OF Maryland and Virginia. whom they
were among. held the men IN high esteem.
They neither invaded any private house nor
looted any abandoned homo, and these latter
were in plenty. az was discovered on the march
to Bull Run. Some shows that they had been
vacated In great haste, the owners evidently
dreading to be caught within the Union lines
or fearing for the safety Of their families in the
presence OF the Yankee soldlery.
The first experience Of the Sixty-ninth Regi-
ment as soldiers was camping ~tentlesS ct An
napolls and again along the line Of the railroad
leading to Washington. conjoined with all the
ineflciency for @ commissariat that officers
wholly iGnorantof the duties Of their stations
could effect. Officers and many OF the men
were proficient In the school OF the soldier: how
to conduct themselves In the camp or on the
march was q lesson to be learned. The men
proved apt pupils. Meanwhile conditions were
accepted rs inevitably associated with soldier
lll6 OIltlClbLu hlu OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES vi bupSLIOE
were few. and generally In the nature OF an ex-
plosion Of speech which excited laughter all
around
On arriving at Washington the regiment was
camped In Georgetown College. Here the men
were expected to learn to eat meat on Friday.
Father Mooney. the chaplain and the rector Of
st. Bridget's Church. New York city, was the
mentor. The mon were hungry often, and
when told that it was all right for the soldier
H. l. Al - "a r.aak ~ T-iIn- kkn ahanIntn
was asked II II wasn't possible to have the
meat served on another day.
Father Mooney" said ono Of tho soldiers.
"ourc camp is just like an Irish soup house In
famine time-plenty OF meat on Friday. but the
devil q bit on any other day OF the week" OF
course everybody laughed. including Father
Mooney.
Father Mooney" cried another. now that
the humor was on. many a good man In Ire
land lives without meat for n week maybe we
aristocrnts could get along without 1t for one
day in the week. And so It went on. The
bread and coffee disappeared-the meat re-
NAMED untasted by nearly the whole regiment.
for. truth to say. those OF the men who were
not Catholics entered into the full spirit Of the
fun and badinage.
why don't you eat your meat. JIMMY r
asks ono. nudging his neighbor.
All. sure you wouldn't be asking Jimmy.
WITH MS unb thbIe, - u eullnk Iut modI JnhL .
. only intended for common soldiers. interposel
another.
How the devil do you think Jimmy could
ever run for Alderman II he eat meat on Fri.
day ?" remarked a third. And thus went the
pleasantly with DEMONSTRATING variations Of
expression.
aH9 The commissariat was improved In Fort Cor.
coran. as any change could only be improve
I ment. But the cheeriness OF the men. no mat
. A. I..A. 1000. Aa--N
them. While short commons was the rule
company went out one night on a scout. Re
Surningto Fort Corcoran in tho morning. the
men sat down IN the front Of the tents fol
mucl-d sired breakfast. By and by
n piping hot loaf was served to each
man. coffee to follow. Gen. Sherman
the brigade commander. came along Just then
got n sniff OF the newly made bread, and had 1
all collected and carried back to the bakery. Il
be redistributedto the men when 1t was cooled
There was no audible protest, Every body &C
cepted the inevitable. One genius remarked:
"'Tis well man does not live by bread alone
II he did we'd all be dead"
"Arrah," rebukingly put In another. "didn'
We hear the General say hot bread would de
stroy our stomacls? lie just wants TO save II
from indigestion, that we may enjoy the goo
things he's going to give us" And 30 1t eve
was. Everybody was made merry OF was max
Ing merriment In his misery.
A clerical friend Of Father Mooney. LOOKING
on at the men building Fort Corcoran. re
ia match for Southern chivalry Is Irisl
shoyelry." -
New York OF the time, a private OF y Company
had already written that paper: We are h,tI
letter tlun an armed MOB; the other SID
doesn't difier, On 10 Richmond has no fear
Tor Us" r.. o..
ooTnn 10 the music OF The Girl 4 Left Behlnl
Ne" Tllled and warbled by an inSplritinI