The National tribune., 1901-07-04

for the regiment to parade with knapsacks
packed and to leave the tents standing,
with the camp equipage in place.
In view of what had taken place the
evening previous, this order had a suspi-
cious odor about it, so the boys-having
had previous experience in such matters
prepared for what might follow.
When the colors were sounded, every
well man in camp marched with his COM
pany to the color line where lie awaited
developments. The next command Of the
Colonel, after having put the regiment
through the manual, uncovered the design
of the brigade commander Who had issued
the order and consisted in prepare for
inspection, to the rear open order, march,
front rank, about, face, unsling knapsack;
open knapsack''; and so on. About this
time part of the field officers were going
through the quarters, ostensibly to in
spect them, but really on still hunt for
those crackers taken from the train the
evening before. The upshot OF the affair
was the inspection developed no crackers
in sight, neither in the knapsack, haver-
sack, or tents, but like the commercial
drummers overcoat, they were in the bill
of expenses all the same, and had the
inspectors removed the rice straw every
tent contained for beds, crackers in abun
dance would have been found secreted in
holes dug in the ground over which the
straw had been spread.
And as every company officer in the
regiment had received his share of the
crackers, the search was not prosecuted
very scrutinizingly, and after some palayer
among the officers, the men were ordered
back to their quarters. Saved again."
said the leader in the affair of the evening
before.
THE oUARTERMAsTER's UNIFORM.
+;,,a $+ar ba cIoga ~ Tho
l was told a good story on Quartermas-
ter, which will bear repeating.
a certain Quartermaster belonging to
Western regiment, had been home on
leave Of absence, and on reaching Nash
vile on his way to rejoin his command,
he learned that his regiment was with
Rosecrans's army at that very time en-
gagged In the battle of Stone River.
On making inquiry as to the best means
Of reaching the front, he was told that
the roads between Nashville and Muir
freesbOro, the location of the army, were
infested with predatory bands of rebels,
and to reach there he would have to join
one of the supply trains going TO the fI-nt,
which were provided with strong guards,
and even this would not insure his safe
arrival, as the trains were often captured,
the guards and teamsterS killed, or taken
prisoners and the wagons burned. How
ever, he concluded to take the chances and
left the city the next day with a supply
train on its way TO the army at Stone
River.
He was very unfortunate in his selec-
ton, for the train he WAS with, before it
reached its destination was captured and
recaptured no less than four times during
the day.
The last time the train was taken by
the rebels a big red headed rebel cavalry
man, belonging to Wheeler's command,
espied our Quartermaster, who by the way,
| had on bran new uniform that had
been made for him while at home. Going
! up to him, the cavalryman covered the
Quartermaster with his revolver and said,
| ''Take off that hat" The command was
complied with, and the hat changed places
with the old one the cavalryman dis
carded. Take off that ar coat" he then
| said, and off came the coat, and into il
the rebel got. Pull off them ar boots"
The Quartermaster began to get mad
and said, See here, what do you mean
by this insult, 1 will not remove another
thing" 1t means, Yankee, that you haul
off them ar boots and that quick" The
boots came off, but as the fellow could
not get them on, he threw them on the
ground beside him, and said, Now, Mr..
Yankee Officer, yer jest slip out O. them
ar pants" "I'Il be id if / willw 'Yes,
yer WILL" and click went the hammer OF
his revolver, Eyes, yer will, if you don't
want some extra holes put in yer -
Yankee abolisher body" Of came the
pants, and as he threw them at his captor
he stood there shivering and chattering in
the cold air Of a December day.
The cayalryman quietly picked up the
pants, measured their length to see if they
would fit him, and then took off his OWL
dirty butternut pair, threw them at the
Quartermaster, saying, "Thar, Mr.. Cap
tain, put them on and makesa man out O
yer, fair exchange is no robbery, yeI
know and proceeded to squeeze himself
into the Captains trousers.
Before the Quartermaster could make
up his mind to get into the rebels clothes
the welcome sound of buRle was heard
its shrill piercing notes sounding the
charge and the next instant, the 1st Ohio