The National tribune., 1901-05-02


given on a Confederate script basis. high
ly inflated above the golden standard"
THE GRAYBACK.
/ think all soldiers, Federal and Con-
fcderate, will agree with me that their
most pestiferous torment was the disgust
ing grayback. Roaming at will over the
soldiers person, the annoying insect was
especially active on a warm, suEshiny
day. While a man was on the move the
gragback would lie comparatively low,
but the moment he became still the vo-
racious blOod-sucking yermin would ener-
getically begin business.
All conceivable expedients were resort
ed to for the determination of the pests.
Or at least for an ameiOration of the sol
diers' tormented condition. The vermin
multiplied with phenomenal rapidity, bur
rowing in the nap and seams Of clothing,
In the hair in the blankets, saddles
everywhere. The longer the war contin-
ned the more decimated became the Con.
federate ranks, but the grayback army
was constantly augmenting in numbers.
a soldier receiving an entire new suit
Of clothes would carry them to a certain
spot in an open field, walk away from
them. probably 80 yards distant, dives,
himself of his old clothes. "graybacks and
all, and then he would run TO the pile
of new clothes, put them on, andy the
next morning be as full of graybacks a:
ever.
The gTayback was no respecter Of per
sons, attacking alike the dainty. fastid
ious patrician and the tattered-and-torr
plebian, the General and the private sol
dier.
sNowBALLTNG.
Whenever there was a suitable snow.
fall battle was fought almost invariably
between opposing forces of volunteer
troops. Those sham-battles were M
child's play, the charges and counter
charges being made with grim determine
tion. The balls being made hard as pos
Eible were capable of inficting severe in
juries. / well remember being with
body OF cavalry that had occasion TO pas
along road lined on either side with in
fantFy. The snow was melting and i
was easy TO make hard ball with celer
ity.
The infantry never missed an oppor
tunity TO guy the cavalry, and, on this oc
casiOn, knowing we were coming the,
bad large piles Of snowballs ready-made
Conscious of the inevitable pelting W,
were destined TO receive, every cavalry
man ANONYMOUSLY ducked his head an,
attempted to run the gantlct at a gallop
The infantry fellows bOmbarded us un
mercifully, the air being full OF flying ball
nearly as hard as grapeshot. They hay
Ing cross-tire on us, it was useless 4
dodge. Some of the cavalrymen wer
knocked off their horses, but they wer
not permitted to surrender. Those in
fantry demons, for the time being ha,
boisted the black flag, giving no quarter
THE sABER DRILL.
Early in the war we were armed wit
English sabers, splendid weapons, but W
bespised them, generally managing I
'lose' them. Gen. Marshall. an exper
with the saber, undertook to drill us
While the drill was in progress the Gen
sral happened TO be standing in my immc
date front. Stepping closer, he ordere
me and The soldier standing by my sid
10 exert all our skill and vigor in an al
Tempt to strike him. In our verdancy W
thought that would be an easy matter
Two against one-and, fearing to injur
lhe good General, we circumspectly "wen
llow;" but he parried our thrusts so eas
ny, by simple twist of the wrist" a
ways catching our blades on the guard @
bis, that we finally became excited, cut
Ing and slashing at him In terrific mar