The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-26

From the Rappahannock we moved for
ward and marched through the town Of
Culpeper. Like the rest of the towns ant
cities of Virginia, Culpeper is greatly de
populated by the war, and from the fresh
bright. clearly appearance it seemed for
merly to have presented, had merged into
a dingy, dirty-looiing place. When we
saw it, its principal buildings, having
been used as hospitals and barracks, were
rapidly tumbling TO pieces.
The place boosted of many stores, the
majority of which were closed; and we
noticed some very handsome private dwell
Iings. When we arrived, the suffers who
had preceded us were driving very prof,
liable traffic in disposing of preserved
fruits, meat and vegetables, tobacco and
cigars, soda and other articles compara-
lively useless to the soldier, but done up
i'll such tempting packages that 1t was
nearly impossible to resist the purchase.
The female portion of the inhabitants
watched our progress with some interest,
but did not scruple to inform us that we
should soon leave with the redoubtable
"rebs' behind u.s. We marched along,
however, intending to stop as long as ne
cessary, and to leave only when Gen.
Meade should order US; and We felt IN
no wise hurt at the covert inslnuatlons
OF these th0ughtleSS IadleS.
When we had marched some two miles
outside the town we halted in small
wood on the south side of the main road,
and there pitched our camp. Being so
close TO the depot, supplies were plentiful;
and therefore many important messing ell
ements were at our command. One great
luxury TO the soldier was here in album
dance-"soft bread" This was brought
by rail from Washington, was very often
al oft having bpnn confined
to bareback" the change was most well
come.
Our regiment here, with others, per-
formed picket duty, and passed the time
away very comfortably.
DRUMMING OUT A DEsERTER.
One day, while here, they were treated
to the exhibition of a deserter being
drummed out, which was looked upon as
q good joke by our boys. The culprit,
poor, alf-witted-looking fellow, after be-
ing marched in front of all the brigade,
had the hair cut off one side Of his head,
quite close, making him look like noun
tebsnk: then, being branded with the let
ter d, with a great deal of drumming
Of the tune known as the 'Rogue's
March, he was allowed to go on his
way.
Beyond this nothing of interest hap
pened at this camp out of the ordinary
routine Of military life. We strolled about
the fields, patronized the settlers" to the
extent of our currency, smoked their
abominably bad cigars, and visited, as
often as circumstances would allow, the
Commissary of our brigade, who, in GER
tain matters, was nearly omnipotent.
We entertained our friends, and they
entertained US, both parties ventilating
old and new stories, and when not EN-
ployed in this way, matchmaking the
weather, or specializing on the kind of
reception we should meet when We ar
rived at Richmond. We paid an atten-
tive ear to the news from the North; and
when the draft was commenced we fer
vently wished we were at home to help
enforce it. When we learned of the dis
graceful New York riots, how heartily we
wished for a chance to give those fellows
a taste Of our quality, and show them
how the Irish 9th could charge; but, as
none of these gratifying duties were
youchsafed us, we would drop the discus
sion of the subject with maledictions on
the 'copperheads," who were considered
infinitely more contemplate than the
crawling viper-the thing from which
they have received their name.