Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-10-07


ture, couched In strong language, and
using the expressions usually employed
in such cases. Arriving at headquar-
ters I found the qlartermaster's de-
partment somewhat ''balled up" Tents
had been issued but the supply Of
poles for putting them up was short
The rest Of the supplies were in boxes
not yet opened, and under the feeble
light Of two lanterns, the quartermas-
ters were sitting on the boxes waiting
for guard to be placed before opening
them and issuing the supplies. My
lantern was a welcomed addition and
gave what was most desired just then,
more light. Soon the guard was post
ed and the department was busy issu-
ing the supplies.
AS have already stated, this had to
be done bv guess as we had no invoice
telling how many articles we had to
divide. One captain and detail from
his company was allowed inside Of the
guard at a time and his receipt TAX
en- for the supplies issued. It kept US
all busy opening boxes, issuing and
taking receipts for supplies. Tc the
first two companies blanket wss is
sued for every man. Then thinking
the blankets would not go round at
this rate we issued blanket for every
two men. Afterward, finding that we
had blankets left, we issued a second
lot to the companies that had not re-
ceived one for each man. AS the boxes
were emptied they we're piled up in
separate place and to this pile Of emp
ty boxes, I paid particular attention
for purpose which will appear later.
BY about midnight we were through
issuing supplies that were to be distri-
buted that night, the men Of the diff
ferent companies were In their COM
pany camps, the guard was dismissed
and the quartermasters were left In
possession of the field Of their opera
tions, with pile Of empty boxes on
one side and a lot Of unopened boxes on
the other. There was also the private
baggage Of several Of the quartermas-
ters, among which was two folding
cots, one my own--and was still
hanging to my lantern. There had
been no time, of course, for US to put
up tents, but I noticed two or three
large tents, intended for use in our
department lying on the ground with
the supplies.
The question arose as to how and
where we were to spend the night.
Captain Willis said he had been invited
to sleep In Capt. IS tent, Lieuten-
ant McWhorter said he also had an
invitation to spend the night in some
bodys tent. told these gentlemen to
go ahead, that while had no invita-
ton to sleep in anybody's tent, would
arrange satisfactorily for Sergeant
Keller and myself.
have spent more than one night in
open fields and woods on hunting and
fishing trips, so thinking we were go
ing to have to spend this one without
tent, I had arranged already In my
mind what to do. Going to the pile OF
empty boxes, selected six Of about
the same height, and set three up on
end. Six feet from these ! put up
three more. Drawing tent loosely
over the top Of these boxes and allow
ing a part of 1t to fall over the front,
and having the back Of the space fill
ed by the pile of boxes we had an en-
closed space nearly as good as tent.
Putting some thick pc per that came In
the boxes Of blankets around the back
to stop the draft where the boxes be-
hind did not lay close together and
putting a stick from the ground to the
tent above to keep 1t from sagging too
low, improved our tent still more.
Folding the cots so they would lay iat
on the ground, we put two inside. and
having plenty Of blankets we were con-
graduating ourselves on being well
fixed and were preparing to retire by
the light Of my lantern when we heard
foot steps approaching. 1t proved TO
be Capt. Willis, who had failed to find
the tent he had expected to spend the
night in. AS soon as he saw how COST
ly we were arranged he stated that he
intended to spend the night with US
and as his servant had brought his
trunk and that trunk contained bed
clothes and something to warm the in
ner man, we were glad to have his
company.
1t was not long after Capt. Willis's
arrival before Lieutenant McWhorter
hove in sight, saying he could not find
his entertainers tent or anybody that
he knew. He pulled up the flap OF our
tent, looked in and announced that
was where he spent the night. OF
course, he was welcomed also. The
four Of us spent the night very COM
fortably in our "caboose." The night
was quite chilly, so, although we lay
close, we served to keep each other
warm.
TO BE CONTINUED.