The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-20

only took him a moment to decide that the night could be passed in a much more comfortable manner up there than outside. and he soon had his bed made on those blanks, which were about eight feet above the floor. He slept soundly during the entire night. Even If he had rolled off the plank it is likely that the fellow who slept immediately beneath hIm would have been the greatest suf- ferer.
 On the retreat up the peninsula. in the rain, slow progress was made and halts of a few minutes were constantly occurring. Men would actually sleep leaning against trees during these momentary stoppages. They had been taking their rest such da 1t was. In the trenches at Dam No. for some time, and were in a condition to nap It without any rocking.
 While in camp a few miles below Man chester We were ordered on a forced march up toward Ashland to look after some Federal raiders. When we had pro- ceeded about fifteen miles we were halted and remained there till morning. Our blankets were spread in the open air and we slept soundly during the night. On awakening in the morning we were sur prised to find that we were covered with several inches of snow As We had adopted the donkey's plan of covering head as well as body in cold weather We know nothing about the snow until morning. We were soon on the way back marching through d heavy snow, ard when camp was reached had to scrape if away before pitching out little fly tents.
 Down near Chickamauga the writer was flooded out three successive nights, th1 ditches around the tent not being large enough to carry off the heavy downpour of rain that occurred, and was compellcl to sleep on one side in order to keep the other dry.
 On another occasion. out on the Chlcka. hominy, several of Us were sent off on picket duty. We selected little knoll on the bank of the river as our post, pjllng up some rails as sleeping place when not on outpost. During the night heavy rain fell and in the morning we had to wade over one hundred yards through water up to our necks to reach land. But a soldiers ardor was not damped by such incidents, even if his clothing did get wc'
 And now comes the subject that was always uppermost in a soldiers mind internal improvements" as some one has aptly styled it. He could make out with any old sort of bed If his commis- sary arrangements were in good shape. That was kept constantly in view, and if the government failed at any time to look after his interest in that way he generally devised ways and means him. self to keep the wolf at a respectful dis tance. No one could enjoy a wholesome meal more than himself but he did not let quality bIuhf him off. 90 long as the quantity satisfied his desires and the one day was all he took thought of, It didn't concern him what the morrow might bring forth; he only hoped he would be provided for. 1t mattered not how Du- ring the first year of the war the gov ernment was very good to us. furnishing ample ratlons of flour meal salt. bacon, molasses, rice, fresh beef and, consider ing their scarcity, good supplies of suglr and coffee. The beef was of the finest quality-far better than the averag, aiti- cle found in the markets today-and there was no stint quarter be ng al- lowed each company at every issue for the men to cut from at their pleasure. During the first winter stacks of fine steaks could be seen piled up outside the cabins or tents to freeze. and when want ed had to be separated with a hatchet. But, alas. such conditions did not con- tinue long and were probably not pron- erly appreciated at the time The se7ond year of the war had dawned before tho soldier really began to get in much of his fine work, and that he was equal to the occasion no one will gainsay.
 As a rule. in the meat line, bacon mt
 too lean. seemed to suit the soldier the
 best. He could broiI it over a, very small
 fire while resting on march. or cat 1t