The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-09

| camp was TO make new one. 50 hs
| formally asked for ground for the pur'
| pose. but the general said that all the
| troops at the post would have TO MAKE
news camps elsewhere very soon. foI
since our trouble with Longstreet the
war apartment had determined that II
was not worth the cost OF holding IT,
Further, General Halleck. the presidents
right hand military adviser, declared that
he could not understand why the post
was ever occupied.
When this information reached US. al
OF US were amazed and disgusted. we
had gone out almost year before 10 heiy
save the, Union. We had spent all ouI
time and suffered innumerable discom-
forts. privations and fears. Now. hc-
cording to the highest authorities. we
might as well have remained at home
Cloyne. Brainard and l held an indigna-
ton meeting over II. and Cloype NOV ed
formally that we join the Mick McTwyny
gang and assist big Pat Callahan In curs-
Ing the government. but Brainard object
ed, saying that government being hui
man. had to learn some things by ex-
perience, and as on general principles,
always sided with Brainard. Cloyne q
resolution was voted down by two
thirds majority
Meanwhile preparations for evacuating
the post had been made. The heavy ar
. tillery was removed. ono regiment after
another followed Il, and finally there
came an early July morning when we
were Informed We were 10 pack our own
effects at once and be ready TO abandon
camp.
Up to that time we had supposed that
our effects were only what could be car
rfed on our horses, but some OF US soon
learned TO our sorrow that we had ac-
cumlated enough stun TO load half a
dozen horses. i. for one. had collected
M Of norng In
weight from Johnny's iron stirrup TO
unexploded shells and solid shot weisn
ing a hundred pounds. All OF this old
iron lay In a row on the topmost log an
our room and directly over the inner
edge OF my bunk. / tried to bribe team
sters 10 provide transportation; l even
labored with the sergeant Of our howir-
ger battery, hoping TO coax him 10 carry
them In unoccupied corners OF his gun
caissons. but he, too. was obdurate-he
had luggage of his own-so i had TO coll
tent myself by selecting a single three
inch shell that could go into my box or
extra clothing without exciting suspicion
by Its weight
One day the entire regiment except the
stable orderlies were ordered on picket,
the reserve station OF which was the main
street Of the village. At 4 o'clock In the
morning the pickets, instead of being
lieved, were entirely withdrawn, and the
relief was posted within a quarter OF
mile of the main body OF the regiment.
The men on these new posts were relieved
at in the morning by members OF
single troop. which happened to be our
own. From the new outposts-I was the
corporal In charge OF one and Brainard
OF another-we were soon drawn In TO
camp.
On entering camp the order was given
to prepare to fire the houses. stables, etc.
The signal. the officers told US. would be
the fall Of the camp nagstaff. at which
man with an axe already stood, while the
entire band. mounted, stood near by.
playing Aud Lang Syne." To prepare
for firing camp was simple enough. II was
merely to stand by" with matches ready
to light. for every bunk was OF pine and
contained mattress full OF hay. straw
or leaves that had been well summed and
seasoned. The walls were OF pine, and so
were the roofs. No plaster or partitions
could delay the spread OF flame, and cv'
erything was as dry as July sun could
make II.
Down crashed the pole. hundreds OF
matches cracked and the band began
playing some solemn music, Familiarity
known as "Oid Hundredth." and then
dashed into There's No Luck About the
House." for "A Hot Time In the Old
Town" had not yet been written. In
moment all the men were hurrying to the
stables, where the horses stood all sad
died orders had already been given 10
dash to the road as soon as mounted; the
guidon bearers were already there as raj
lying points for the men OF their respec-
tive troops. Already flames poured from
the windows OF all the houses and even
from some of the roofs. The remaining
hay In camp had been thrown by the sta
BILE orderlies upore the pine brush roofs Of
the stables. The instant a stable was en-
tirely cleared of horses the roof was
lighted and the fire quickly spread.
The spectacle that followed was as good
as fight. so some of our best fighting
men said. At least 60 buildings were
afame, and 900 mounted men were dash
ing between and around them In their ef-
fort to reach the road. Some OF the slow
er men were obliged to make detour OF
half mile. for the heat OF that aggre-
CATION OF burning pine was intense even
to men already In the road.
Finally. however, when the orderly SER
geants called the rolls. the entire COM
mand was present or accounted for. The
column was formed quickly. Then the
bugles sounded forward" and the band
once more did the appropriate thing for
II played Amt Glad to Get Out OF the
wilderness2" popular air of the period.
But before half dozen bars had been
played the music ceased and the column
halted instincuvely. for we heard a shot
like that of a field gun.
'Fours about!' shouted our captain. AS
we were the rear guard. the men VINO had
dropped behind in rear guard manner had
already turned their horses and brought
their carbines 10 the position OF "ad-
vance"
Look sharp" said the captain. Find
the direction from which the next shot
comes"
The instant We heard another report we
saw n mass Of shingles go skyward from
the roof of our troops house.
Strange about that muttered the
captain. II heard only one report, that