The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-10-18
WAR STORIES.
War Times in Virginia.
An Old Soldier ia Newberry Observer.

On the Nine Mile road below Rich
moud, Va, December 4th, 1864, we
were preparing 10 60 into winter quar-
ters, and the war department or quar-
termaster's department had issued
some small wall tents. Two fell 70
our company, excepting the officers
tents which were little larger than
the others. We Grew lots by messes
to sec who would get these two tents.
Noe. and 9 vnre the lucky messaa
that got the tents. When they were
stretched they looked like mansions
surrounded with lHtle 'uts on the
camp ground.
The conscript age having been NOV
ed up from 40 to IS years put good
many men in the army. There came
one old recruit to our company who
was known as capt. Andy He
had been an old militia captain,
hence tho title. The evening he came
in he brought big haversack full of
rations. The boys begau to guy him
about his haversack and told him II
be didn't sleep on it somebody would
raise it that night-the soldiers call
ed stealing anything raising it.
"Capt. Andy was duly installed in
the company and was taken into Mess
No. 8, and got berth in one Of the
new tents. After roll call that night
everybody got in the tents for the
night. The captain carried in his
huge haveraaok, and made pillow of
it. The weather was very cold, and
the captain froze out some time dur
ing the night and had to get up and
make up FIRE and warm up. Aster
getting warmed up he went back to
bed; bat he had gotten in the wrong
tent, and did not know it..
The next morning early he began to
feel around for his haversack, aud
missed it. He walked up the man
next to him, who wanted to know who
he was in their tent. "Capt. Andy"
began to rip and snort, swearing some
body had stolen his rations. The
other man told the captain he had
caught him stealing himself, aud they
were about to quarter the captain,
when one Of his own men came in and
took him out and explained to the
boys: The captain i'd he thought
they were the biggest fools he ever
met they had taken his rations aud
were about to whip him for it. 3.
We had'a pretty good time here for
about three weeks. We built little
huts to live in; wood and water were
handy, and there came out to our
camp from Richmond every day buck
ster wagons, some loaded with loaf
bread and sorghum molasses; some
with turnips, potatoes end spples.
The little newsboy would bring the
daily papers. -, You esuld hear them
for half mile. before they got there
crying theirsales:' Here your morn.
ing papers-Ricbmond Dispatch, Ex-
amtner, Whig and Enquirer. Good
news from 'Geo1gy.' Come and. get
the newa.''' =. ,..'" .. :.:,., :.:.:
There was q man in the Goth regi-
meps. who had made the reputation of
being the greatest eater in che army.
He was . large man and had plenty Of
room. He went up to 8 wagon one
day that had LOAF bread and molasses
FOR sale.: II vas in charge Of Q small
boy and q girl tabont II or 418 years
years old. He wss haggling over the
price aud the size Of the loaves. Some
Of the boys got tired OF it and shamed
him, when he bet ,,he could eat ak
loaves and q pint Of molasses. They
told him that il be would eat that
much they would pay FOR ST.; They
counted out che bread aud measured
the molasses, and he just licked up
whole shiug aud left the boys 20 pay
the bill. 3: ,::.E..; I
There came . t'Smart Aleok'ts out
one day with three barrels 5of apples
set on end iu che wagon, With tkS up,
per head knocked oue.i He locked
like he ought to have been in tke.
army: He seemed 20 think; lie was
smart enough and was yery loquaeious.1
The boys soon began sso$ plot sEsinat.
him, and were not long deciding what
they would do. :3s%:S!! !.s 5s sSE5s II
The wagon was standing co hill
side. They got around the wagon
and began TO buy apples. & Some 3sear
or Eve Of shem GOT hold Of The Ewhssls.
on che upper siae, gave i 5 quick list.
and over she went down the hill. Tho
, fAstt. - Aksf q