The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-10-01
THE BA1TLE-FIELDS.
OLD SOLDIERS TALK OVER
ARMY EXPERIENCES.
The Blue and the Gray Review incl
dents of the Late War, and In
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell Of Camp, March and Battle.

dents of the Late War, and In q
Graphic and Interesting Manner
Tell Of Camp, March and Battle.
In 1864" said A. ID. NewbOld, 81
was one of five printers detailed tC
look after the printing for General
Meade. Our tent was pitched at City
Point near General Grants headquar-
tiers. What we called the desertiOn
orders were printed on slips of paper
about three by six inches. We had
SIX forms in type. four for the Gordon
press, and two for the cottage press,
and we could furnish 5000 proclama-
tions ut an hours notice
Il cannot remember the figures at
this late day, but rebel deserters were
to receive a stipulated amount for a
revolver. so much for rifle, and so
much for horse. and We're to be fur
nished transportation to any point in
the north to which they desired to go,
or they could enlist in the United
States army and be sent to the from
tier, where there would be no chance
of their coming in contact with the
Confederate troops. We would gen.
orally receive an order to print these
proclamatiOns when strong wind
was blowing toward the rebel lines.
when the proclamations were print
ed and arranged in bundles. they were
fn a a
lines as possible. loOsened up by heat
ing the bundles on a stump or q stone.
and were thrown in the air, to be
waited over to the Johnnies, and they
brought many returns. Our printing
mess was made up of as good fight
ers as there were in the command.
We were detailed for that work simply
because we were printers, as others
were detailed for bridge work. because
they were good mechanics. They are
talking good deal now about the
individuality of American soldiers, but
In no other army was it better illus
trated than In the army of the Poto-
mac"
The individuality of the American
soldier" said the major, asserted It
self In the matter of coffee at Spot
tsylvania, and the coffee, 1 believe.
saved our line Of battle. Our regiment
was in the Fifth corps, and we march
ed from the extreme right to the ex-
treme left, Of the line of battle 1t
rained all night. and the Virginia red
clay was tougher and stickier than
ever 1 saw it before, making the
march irritating and fatiguing to an
unusual degree.
when we reached our position we
were ordered to make coffee, and we
proceeded to do 1t. Out came our tin
cups and frying pans. made Of the
halves of old canteens, and in five
minutes little fires had been built and
coffee was boiling and bacon sizzling.
Just as the coffee began to smell good,
the JOhnnies appeared In force in our
front and opened furious fire. Our
boys didn't wait for orders. The
coffee was at stake. and catching up
their guns. they went for the rebels as
one man.
I'm sixty seconds there was beauti-
full fighting all along the line. Every
man in our regiment was mad as a
wet hornet about his coffee, and the
ferocity and suddenness of our on
slaught compelled the rebels to make
a quick retreat In the lull that fol-
lowed We drank our coffee and ate our
bacon and hard tack with keener rel
ish because of the brush with the
rebels. This fight, remember, was not
on the program. and was not conduct
ed OIL any previously arranged plan.
1t was a side fight for coffee, and was
as spiteful as indignant and angry
men could make 1t.
There were two brothers in my
company who were fair illustrations
Of careless, good humOr, united with
coolness and courage. One had been
with us from the time the company
was organized, and the other, much
younger, came to us just before the
battle Of Charlottesville. When the
rebel batteries opened upon our lines,
forming to advance, and the whiz,
swish and bursting of shells were CIV
Ing veterans great uneasiness. Jake,
the younger brother. turned to Henry
and said quietly, There must be a
shop over there
asked why he thought SO, Jake
replied. Them things they are throw
Ing at us make a noise like anvils.'
To this Henry answered. Wait until
you get down In the woods. and you
will see the balance of the outfit,
tongs, hammers. trace chains, and
horse shoes When we came within
close range and the rebs opened on us
with grape and canister; Jake called
to Henry. They are throwing the bal
ance Of the shop, sure enough, and
It sounds like hail on the corn blades
in roasting-ear season. Chicago In
ter Ocean.