Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-07-18

VII AACll. We went AESl IN W est II
ginia. serving under RoSecrans. Cox
and Crook. then TO the Army OF the
Potomac, and later To the Army of
the Cumberland SO far as anecdotes
are concerned we have a large stock
to draw from, il the doors OF memory
are opened by the proper sort OF
reminder.
i have in mind now RoSecrans and
Turchin, differeing as widely as two
men could differ. but each with an in
diylduality attractive to men in the
ranks. While we were on Sewen
mountain, West Virginia. there was
less ceremony than usual about camp.
and officers and men were careless in
the matter of dress. One day Rose
Grams, wearing a citizens overcoat and
a slouch hat, was walking about ON
ole of those little tours Of personal
Inspection he was so fond of making
when he was halted by a sentry
watching Il pile of oats and hay.
"Rosecrans waved him aside with
az inpatient gesture stating who he
was But the sentry brought his mus
ket to n charge ana said cXcftedly:
Stand back. old fellow. You can't fool
me. You arc one of them daIned team
sters sneaking around here for
chance to steal a feed of oats Stand
back or l will punch YOU Rosecraris
smiled grimly and signaling 10
staff officer to approach. said; Intro
duce me to this man. He takes me
for a teamster and a thief and a liar.
Not very Gathering, is itT The sen
try began to apologize but RosecranS
cut him short saying: i don't blame
you. ] was wrong to wear an old
cat like this. and you were right in
stopping me-
"On another occasion there was
report brought into camp by an officer
Of the Second Kentucky that there was
a full brigade of rebels In camp in
the woods not more than five miles
from us There was great excitement,
and the Ninth and Eleventh Ohio and
Second Kentucky We're ordered out to
take the rebels in out of the wet. The
column made the march of five mles,
Guided by the officer who had seen
the enemy, and came out in the rear
OF our own camp. 1t was Il case of
getting turned round in the woods and
mountains and there was great fun at
tire expense Of the officer who had
led a heavy column to attack his own
brigade
while Colonel Bob McCo0k and 9th
era were laughing, Colonel Frizcll OF
the Eleventh. rising in his sthrups. or
dered, by right flank to camp, march.
and don't forget. boys. that l am very
fond Of mutton. This was
called out by nsck of very
fine sheep which we had
passed on Our way, and was hint
tlat the Colonel would not be shocked
If we carried some Of those sheep into
camp. The boys acted on the hint
and several Of them were loaded down
with fresh mutton when they reached
the picket lines. Here one Of them.
with n sheep on his shoulder. came
face TO face with General Rosecrans
The General was as much surprised
as the sheep bearer, ana both were in
doubt, evidently, as to the course to
be pursued under such unusual cir
cumstances.
The General asked TO what rcgi-
ment do you belongT Promptly our
Eleventh Ohio man answered. The
Second Kentucky The General
smiled at this. because hr had learned
that it was a rule among men OF the
other regiments Of his division to
charge all foraging cxcesScs to the Sec
ond Kentucky. Then he asked; What
is your namcT Again our man named
Jones answered promptly. Wolf.
Rosecrans, naturally disposed 10 ac-
ton that would fayorably impress his
men, looked the perspring sheep
bearer over and said, Pass on. A
awhile. As Rosecrans OWNED il would
be, this story was told and retod 70
his advantage.
In contrast with this picture of
Rosecrans in playful humor comes one
Of gruff old General Turchin. who was
more disposed than any other officer
under whom we served 70 syInpathize
with foragcrs. In the course OF the
march south from Murfreesboro our
boys as soon as they went into camp
invaded sweet potato patch and
the invasion was regarded leniently
by Gneral Turchiu. commanding the
brigade General Reynolds. command
ing the division. however. did not
regard any such breach Of discipline
lenfently Looking out from his head
quarters. he saw the men In the sweet
potato patch, and jumping on his
horse. rode 70 General Turchin's head
quarters.
HE reprimanded Turchin for lax
discipline and called his attention TO
the men digging sweet potatoes, Tur-
chin looked down upon them and said
wrathfully that be would look after
those rascals himself Reynolds rode
back TO his headquarters ana Turchin
rode down 70 the sweet potato diggers.