Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-07
AN AFFABLE STRANGER
CONFIDENCE GAME WORKED
UPON UNION OFFICER.
Failed of Complete Success, but Caused
Great Observation-Disclosures
of Civil War.

"Old soldiers are often accused of undue
boasting" said Capt. Henry A. Castle, the
auditor for the Post Office Department, in
conversation with a Star reporter, but they
seldom get credit for the numerous con-
LESSONS of mistakes, derelictions and dis
obediences which with a greater or less de-
gree of secrecy they occasionally disclose
to their intimate friends. There were ro
mances and comedies connected with army
life which were both more numerous and
more enjoyable than it's tragedies. We will
be surfeited for some days with expositions
of the tragic couched in terms more or
less boastful. Perhaps the mention of
war comedy, somewhat bordering on the
ludcrous and yet very close neighbor to a
possible tragedy, may not be unwelcome.
"In October, 1862, I private soldier,
about twenty-one years of age, found my
self for a brief period temporarily detail
ed as quartermasters sergeant of his regi-
ment, attached to Sheridan's division Of
Buel's army operating in central Kentucky.
I was charged with the important duty of
acting wagon master to the regimental
train. This train in those luxurious days
normally consisted of thirteen big army
wagons, each drawn by six patient, bellig-
erent. melodious mules. About half these
teams, however. had been withdrawn for
general army purposes and to supply their
places we were obliged to press OK teams
or anything we could get from farmers
along the route. AS these teams success
sively gave out, we were obliged to secure
new ones in their places.
THE next morning after my assignment
to duty, as aforesaid, two Of the OK teams
were found entirely disabled, and had to
procure others. This hard task, as
marching and countermarching armies OF
both sides had swept the country bare OF
efficient live stock. After three hours OF
search two Indifferent OK teams were Sc
cured. With each was sent colored driv-
er, who was the slave of the owner of the
team and supposed to be trustworthy. Thls
long delay in starting the train threw 1t
six or eight miles in the rear of the march
ing troops, with the certainty of dropping
still further behind 4 the day should Wane.
AS long numbering train interviewed, our
portion, having lost its proper position, was
constantly sidetracked by division and bri-
gade quartermasters, who insisted on keep
ing their own portions compactly closed up.
Our installment consisted of about sixteen
teams, with drivers white and black; also
about forty invalid and struggling soldiers
belonging to my regiment, who had re-
manned with the teams to catch an occa-
sional ride during the days march.
Long-Delayed Start.
ut turned out that we did not get fairly
started on the road until nearly noon, and
were thereby thrown still further behind.
We had with us the rations and cooking
utensils of our entire regiment. hence the
Importance of reporting at headquarters at
the earliest possible moment after camp
should be reached. How to do this was the
problem which racked and puzzled my in
experienced mind during all the hours of
that dreadful day.
ITO add to the perpleXities, 1pin
would occasionally bre ak, CT an OK Wo Id
lie down, or a~mule would Kick oV>r the
traces, or some other irregular incident
would occur to- cause a halt In the pro-
ceedings. The same SOFT of accidents Wee
happening also in the long train ahead of
u.s. each of which caused delay and threw
us further and further behind.
Late in the afternoon l receive d word
from the front by some officer who had
dropped back that very long days mar n
was to be made by the troops, wfo would
not go into camp before dark, and that
they were at least twelve miles ahead o.
us. | knew then that at best 1t would BE-
nearly morning before we could ov It Ike
them. But I had relied on the col mel or
quartermaster to send guide back in time
to conduct US to the camp.
/ about the same time a solitary horse
man rode up from the ar and eng aged me
in friendly conversation He was m n
somewhat older than myself, of good APP
pearance, wearing a semi military fa b,
riding good horse, and very soc'abl in
his advances. He told me that he had been
a soldier in an Illinois regiment; had en-
discharged on account of Illness; had ne
to his home in Peoria and fully receive ed;
had returned to the army, where his BROTH
er was an officer. but had himself gone intl
the laundry business, and that the team
by which his apparatus was transp7r ell
followed along BEHIND our misc ilaneous
assortment of wagons He further ated
that he had visited Kentucky relativ: S, who
lived in the locality we were 70" PISS NJ
through He pointed out resid noes on
either side of the road, told me who lived
there, what good times he had enjoyed
visiting those people, &c
An Agreeable Companion.
81 was very much pleased with my COM
panion's conversation, andewhen he fund
that was practically in charge of the rear
section of our enormous wagon train he
mantle ssed additional inter, st in my COM
fort and welfare. He said 1t would be I'm
possible to reach camp that night; taat t
would soon be dark; that the ten or we've
miles of troops and wagons betWte en- US and
our regiment would soon be 6 ,ins irt3
camp, leaving the road impas q bic and
causing long delays. and he advised me. To
join him in camping at some conyeness