The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-01-12

| troops had been subjected to. Without
water they pushed on through binding
clouds of dust that darkened the sun
and yet added intensity to its heat.
We passed through Springfield, n Lalf-
| deserted and dilapidated town odOr-
Gus with bad whisky and rebellion,
and did not reach camp until IL o'clock
| at night. The summer and autumn
had been unusually hot; the fields were
parched, the grass withered, and
| thirsty soldiers looked with wearied
! eyes and parched tongues on the beds
OF streams and rivers, either totally
| dry or shrunken into little heated tired
| looking threads of water, brackish
and disagreeable to taste and smell.
| The few springs and sparkling brooks
were usually monopolized by General
Gilbert, who sent an aid in advance to
select romantic spots near by, in which
| was pitched the Generals "Marque"
and a detachment of body guards post
| ed to protect the sacred precincts, as
| well as the spring from intrusion.
Near the close of the sultry day the
Thirty-sixth Regiment, soiled with dust
| and famished with thirst, came up TO
| spring Of clear, cold water near which
were located the headquarters of Gen.
Gilbert. The men acting under the
| campaign maxim, Wherever and
whenever you can procure 4 square
meal or drink Of cold water, do sO,'
| eagerly crowded around the spring,
| the inevitable tin cup and ever present
canteen quafing great draughts of the
| refreshing beverage to quench a thirst
of eight or ten hours duration. A dap
per little staff officer came up and or
dered the boys away, to which. for a
while, they paid no more attention than
to the cackling of hen, but persistinG
in his impertinence broad-shouldered
private of Company B knocked him
down with the butt end of his musket,
| eGectually silencing him for the time
| being.
Thereupon, General Gilbert came out
in person and reiterated the command.
ordering Captain Miller to move on his
regiment. The captain courteously
but firmly demonstrated. telling the
general that his man had marched
since before midday without any
| water, that the heat was oppressive;
that his men were suffering from thirst
and that the refusal Of water under
such circumstances showed want of
common humanity. Gen. Gilbert was
irritated, mad, at this manly protest
and ordered his bOdy-guard to charge
upon and drive the men away frCin the
| spring. Capt. Miller, nothing daunted,
directed his men to fix bayonets and
| run the first man through who should
nolest them, until they got what water
| they wanted. To be thus defied by a
little wiry Yankee captain was more
than Kentucky dignity could stand,
and addressing his body-guard "a de-
| tachment of the Second Kentucky Cav
alry) he said: "Ye men of kentucky,
will You allow this insult to your gem
eral to go unrebuked and unpunished ?
If you are men and have any regard
| for your honor as Kentuckians, you
! will Instantly dlsperse this insOlent mob
ana arrest every one VINO refuses COM
piiance with orders"
1t was then Capt. Miller's turn to
| talk, and turning to his men. he said:
Boys. massacre every mothers son
| of them that dares to lay finger upon
youuntil your canteens are filed" and.
| turning to the bodyguard and staff of
the general. If you or any other Ken
| tuckian want to die on your own na-
| tive soil. now is your chance to do so.
! for by the Great Eternal. my men are
| going to have all the water they want
before marching another foot. If you
want to die come Or" But they did
| not come on worth a cent, and Gen.
Gilbert returned, chagrned, to his tent,
and the Thirty-sixth remained masters
of the situation.