Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1898-02-05


When the Howitzers started on the
back track for Richmond in the spring
Of 1859. they began to realize that the
war was not all glory nor profusion.
The meals at the hotels were much de-
Perforated since 1851 and were paid for
by 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 captain The How
itzer chronicler says that it was COM
lcal 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 of
the Howitzers, 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. II 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
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 its winter quarters on the Rapidan
In spite of pinching poverty, the How.
tiers contrived to have good time and
to make their winter quarters GASES 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
1t has always been mystery just
how the Confederate soldiers fed them.
selves and their animals in O sparsely
populated country by no means over
productive in eatables for man and
beast. The Howitzers' historian lets ont
one secret in describing the "hay de-
tail. " Sometimes the detail" like
that Of guard and police duty. was
method of inflicting punishment for
trifiing slips of discipline. The chances
for getting house dinner somewhere
or raw material Tor the camp mess took
away some of the curse of the punish.
ment. A "detail' Of two batterymen
and driver with four horse team
was sent out on the hay excursion.
Hay, whom found, was taken or Impressed
on official o U tickets issued by the quarter
| masters, and this "impressment" was, of
course as the years dragged on. a heavy drain
| on the farmers. Nevertheless. the Howitzers
managed to keep in their good graces, to se
cure the best fare in their dwellings and to
make themselves thoroughly entertaining to
the household family before quitting 1t. The
| farmers would help TO load the wagon with
the hay, while the family got up good dinner
for the "detail." In spite Of such frequen.
again and again, till no more hay was left
The exceptional powers exhibited by the car
noneers IN entertaining their hosts under the
amnly renaid The .c,IIs r"auirsd occos dou
ally no little tact to be- successful Now and
then farmer was stumbled across who seem
ca Gu az ntSs 0o 10 Do OIL impossible @ppeasemen,
| generosity had been soured by bad treatment
was called upon by "hay detail" OF the keen
est kitchen trail Nothing would do In the way
dieps 10 he ypndals devils incaruate and nd s iSc
detail" chimed in with each and every par
ticular one Of his utterances. The army OF
sn,.1 virginia h was About the worst Tor
objections were finally Ranked and utterly