The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-15

Monks Corner, 16 miles. The road was
very muddy. After camping l went to see
| the battalion of State cadets, who are I'M
der the command of Maj. T. B. White.
Saw many of my old schoolmates. Their
school days at the Citadel are over, as
well as mine. The war on our side is
paved with blasted hopes and a long string
Of suffering; but the brave in all ages Of
the world have ever been the unfortunate,
because, except the few at the top, all fail
to get adequate compensation for the sac
rifces which they are called upon to make.
The enemy are about 40 miles away oil
our left flank as we are marching north.
On our right they are perhaps farther of
! in the direction of Georgetown. Behind
us they are no nearer than Charleston.
We left them in possession Of the city,
and they have no time to spare 10 follow
US up. We are retreating very slowly,
principally on account Of the bad roads
and the difficulty of moving our wagon
trains and artillery.
Feb. 20.-Marched from Monks Corner
TO within three miles of St. Stephens de.
pot, Is or 16 miles. The woods are ON fire
in every direction.
When | think of the immense amount
Of rain, the extreme and unusual cold
weather: the explosions, the fires and hui
man suffering which have witnessed late
| ly, | wonder what it ali means. But sol
diers these days are supposed TO have no
wonder or thoughts about anything; but,
then, wonder and think anyway.
Rations are scarce, and as one of my
company is Juggling along a large iron pot
to cook in, il makes our grub seem scarcer
still. To supply the deficiency in our COM
missary / went foraging after getting in
camp, and in addition to getting my sup
per l got some bacon to carry to the boys
in camp. / did not get TO camp until mid
night. No news of the enemy.
MY FIRST SMOKE.
Feb. 21.-Rested in camp all day. Oc-
cupied my time in repairing my wardrobe.
/ have little to mend or that is worth
mending.
Lieut.. Huffman, Of the Sd S. c., has re-
turned from home. He brought some lit
tie things sent to me by my wife; among
ITEM is a pipe and some smoking tobacco.
/ do not smoke, but she sent me word to
learn how, as all soldiers smoked. / mar
ried her TO please her, and / suppose that
this is one of the requests which / am
supposed to comply with. / notice that
those who smoke usually do so after meal
time; so | made my arrangements to begin
after dinner. After eating hearty dinner
of corn bread with the husks in it and a
piece of bacon about the size of silver
dollar | filled up the pipe and lighted it.
] sought a secluded place TO enjoy my
FIRST smoke. / sat down and puffed the
smoke out of my mouth, and il mounted
and foated on the air like the smoke from
a rifled parrot. i watched the smoke as II
rose and changed into pillars ard curls
and thought of my wife, at whose request
/ was TINS engaged. But for this there
would have been no enjoyment in the per
Torrance; but the joy was in the fact that
it was her pleasure and not mine, and as
l might never see her again il would be
some consolation for her to know that I
was mindful of her, even amid the distrac.
tons of war. Love, duty and affection
ruled my soul as / drew upon the tobacco
for the smoke TO make the scene complete
The war was banished from my mind
and for the time being / became pIatonic
philosOphic and a dreamer. In the en-.
chantment of doing this simply to please
my wife my body had ceased TO be, and
1t seemed that "I' was only a something
invisiDle-Only a thought. ] was so in.
tent on making and watching the smoke
until II seemed that the smoke was me
and / must make smoke faster than j,
vanished il order that 'I' become not ex
tinct
Thus | thought and reveled, and passed
into spiritual essence. i was completely
metamOrphosed, with no idea of ever be
ing called upon to experience my mundane
state again. But l was suddenly made tC
realize that ! was still in the flesh, for the
Confederate ration in my stomach had in
an instant become a rebel; it kicked
against my dreams and the smoke. A sud
den chill went through me and seized me
all over; great drops of perspiration stood
lout on my forehead; became deathly sick
l dropped the pipe and went out of bust
ness as a smoke manufacturer instanter
Being thus compelled to accede no fur
ther TO my wife's request, turned the to-
'bacco and pipe over to Lieut.. Huffman