The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-08
History of the Eighth Kentucky
Thrilling Story of the Part this Gallant
Regiment Took in Our Civil War.

which some OF them reluctantly did.
But the general aversion OF masters
TO comply with the condition very
soon had Captain Rouns, provost
marshal, oyerstocked with this valua-
BILE species of Southern property
Colonel Duffeld suggested TO the
officers Of the Eighth the propriety
Of hiring our cooks from among these
"contrabands, but we declined the
idea of runaway negro cooks, as did
also the Twenty third kentucky, we
having not yet properly considered
the slave factor in this great war.
The dusky sons of toll poured into
the picket stations in such numbers
we had to stop them from coming in,
some OF the officers threatening to
punish them if they did not immedi-
ately return to their masters.
In looking back at this soft and
easy policy Of General Buell., we
cannot wonder that the efforts OF the
FIRST eighteen months 10 put down
the rebellion were failure. These
hundreds of stout, able bodied men,
driven back into rebel corn and wheat.
fields, that they might toll to produce
subsistence for large rebel army
the next fall and winter, was any
thing but wisdom. But then we
were trying TO put down insurrection
and let slavery alone, notwithstand-
ing we knew the cruel taskmakers of
these slaves to be the worst OF enc
mics and rebels at heart.
On the 18th our brigade made quite
parade in the streets OF Murfrees-
boro, and hoisted the stars and stripes
on the court house. Nearly all the
inhabitants Of the town were silent
spectators of what they evidently
thought to be an insult TO their South
ern pride. Lieutenant Colonel Park
hurst, of the Ninth Michigan, made
an appropriate and sensible speech
10 the citizens, in which he admon-
ished them TO return TO their loyalty,
"And," said he, eve will then kill
the fatted calf" But as long as we
remained there we heard OF no fat
calf being sacrificed in welcome to
returning rebels, though we have
good reason to believe, had a careful
search been made in Stone River,
quite a number Of pig skins could
have been found, securely attached TO
stones 10 insure their remaining at
the bottom. Nor did we hear Of any
citizen ever being invited to feast
on the savory pork those same skins
once enyeloped. Colonel Dulfield
had profound respect for Buell's or
ders regarding foraging, holding the
officer Immediately in command re-
sponsible for any violation of said
orders. The author remembers hav-
ing to pay three dollars for sixty
pound shoat some of my picket guard
had killed while | was absent visit
ing another post under my command
In this instance the old rebel com
planning to Colonel Dufiield, lyingly
alleged the pig to belong to one Of
his old negro men. On hunting up
this injured darkey, with the
full intention Of healing his lacerated
feelings, and carrying out general
orders" the old fellow said: "Fo'
de good Lord, Mars Cap'n, 'twant no
mo my pig dan dis farm is; ole mars
pig, sho'." On confronting "ole
mas" with his bogus owner of the
defunct swine, with much fear and
trembling the old darkey lyingly con
fessed the pig to have been his. l
gave the poor old scared mig the mon
ey, at the same time telling Miller
il he took the money away from the
negro we would surely call ON him
again, and that to his sorrow. Col
onel Dufiield was satisfied with the
manner of my settlement for pork,
but no more complaint was heard
from Miller Of lost pork, though
some Of the Eighth boys said when
we left there that Miller was not
oyerstocked with hogs.
On the evening of the 2Sd April
dress parade order was read detail
ing Lieut. G. Park assistant brig
AIDE quartermaster. That night we
were aroused from sleep by loud
cheering and beating of drums in the
Ninth's camp, Very soon Colonel
Barnes had the Eighth assembled
before his tent. He mounted crack
er box and said; Brother officers and
soldiers, we have just received orders
to march tomorrow morning for
Pittsburg Landing; boys, are you
ready to gos" The response was
loud and long cheering. AT repeated
calls Major Broadhus stepped on the
box and said; "Boys, l am no speak
er, but if we go to Pittsburg, | want
II understood I'll try to make one in