Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-06-15

The delay did not suit the Georgia
ceal his contempt for the slow methods
of his commander.
One night Toombs felt that he could
stand it no longer. He paid a visit to
the Generals tent, where he found
Scott engaged in a pleasant conversa-
ton with dozen officers Of high rank.
The Georgian was a man of superb
physique, the finest-looking American
of his generation, and when he marched
into the tent with flashing eyes and
defiant look, everybody gazed expect
antly in his direction. General Scott
greeted him pleasantly and invited him
to join the circle.
General Scott" said Toombs, in
stern tone, Il desire to know, sir,
whether the army will march against
the enemy within the next few days"
Il am not ready yet to answer that
question:" replied the General, with a
smile.
'"Then, SIR" continued the youthful
captain, 81 will notify you that unless
L
to go forward with my company into
the very heart of the Indian territory"
When this astounding declaration
was made, the officers almost tainted,
and they expected the General to adj
minister a whitening rebuke. To their
establishment Scott never changed his
genial expression. His eye twinkled
nd hn Inn cd
rene and benignant face upon his auda-
cious visitor.
every we'll, captain" was his quiet
answer. Every we'll, Captain, use your
own pleasure, by all means. Take your
company tomorrow and march into the
Indian country. We may follow you
a few weeks later. But don't wait for
us. Take your company and go ahead.
Good night, Captain
Private White says that when
Toombs, heard this look of bewilder-
ment disappointment and anger came
over his face, but not a word fell from
his lips. He saluted the commander
and bowed himself out
"Did he march his company against
the enemy the next day." was my nat
ural question.
mo-" replied White, she said nothing
more about it. He remained at his post
and was an exemplary officer during
the remainder of the war. And he was
not chaffed about the affair, either. He
was not the man to stand such treat
ment."
| asked White why Scott overlooked
the Captains breach of military disci-
pline.
"WeI," said the old man, ref1ectively,
'the General was a good judge of hui
man nature. He knew that young
Toombs was a gallant fellow, who
would some day be an honor to his
country, and he doubtless thought that
it would be sufficient punishment to
answer him as he did. He could not
have done a better thing. The Captain
had lots Of sense, and he never again
placed himself in such an embarrass-
ing position"
Washing in the Army.
"Who did your washing in the
army?' veteran of the civil war was
asked
This made the veteran laugh little
to himself, because it recalled days
when he took his only wooden shirt
not to the White Cloud or Opera laun-
dry but down to the nearest brook or
water course, and there sat down on
the bank and washed it himself. He
explained these things to his ques-
toner as we'll as he could, and told
how man always tried to carry in his
knapsack an extra shirt and an extra
suit Of underclothing. but how there
were times when man didn't even
carry his knapsack with him; when
the only baggage he did carry was his
two blankets-his wooden blanket,
packed in a long roll inside his rubber
blanket-and these slung over his
shoulder like a great, thick sash; when
instead Of carrying extra undercloth-
ing he carried extra rations in his
haversack, and maybe extra cartridges.
Then, again, he went on to tell, there
were times when they had things to
wear and when somebody could be got
to do the washing. If the regiment
was settled down somewhere in
camp for a few weeks, or possibly
months, it might be that somebody in
the neighborhood would do the wash
ing; in the South in the civil war moo
or less washing was done under such
circumstances by the colored people.
Again, aside from the times when
troops were in light marching order,
with knapsacks left behind, there were
times when supplies were short and
when a mans clothing wore out before
he could renew it; when he got down
to his last wooden shirt and underskirt,
and these, perhaps, not in very good
condition; and then would come the
time when he would tackle these in
detail and wash them himself on
favorable day and hang them up to
dry, and put them on again when they