The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1906-01-18
A Lesson in Eorauina.


i The following incident is taken from
the diary of late veteran of the
civil war, and who served under COM
mand of Gen. Sherman in the Army
ofs the Tennessee
N"The army was in light marching
order, the general commanding limit
Ing himself to a billed shirt and an
extra pair of socks. We had marched
nearly fifty miles that day, and were
sore. tired and hungry when we halt
ed for the night. Our brigade was
commanded by Col. L., brave
soldier and able officer, but who was
a 8great stickler for regulations ETH
qtette of the corps, etc. After camp
Il was pitched ii was learned that Gen.
n Ewing, the division commander, had
forgotten TO issue the usual orders for
foraging. In the absence of such or
ders, Col. L. refused to let his
men go out and borrow supplies
\ from the neighboring farmers.
After waiting impatiently for near
w half an hour, Col. L. sent
1ieutenant off to Gen. Ewing's bivouac
Il to. ask for the necessary orders. II
n SO happened that Gen. Sherman had
decided to make his headquarters with
Gen. Ewing that night, and was seat
ed in the tent writing dispatches, with
the lid of an old cracker box for a
desk and suffering candle held in his
left hand, when the lieutenant entered
and delivered his message to Gen. Ew-
ing He was interrupted by Gen. Sher-
man.
What's that, young man? Where
are you from?'
" Col. LIS brigade, sir replied
the lieutenant.
What? Col. Is? Col. John
Us. And do you mean to say he
doesn't know how to forage? That's
l<ffghty strange. And You go right
'yback, young man. and tell him | said
30. A man that's been in the army
30 long as he has and doesn't know
how to forage and Gen. Sherman
6flrugged his shoulders disgustedfy
Next day, as the column was trudg-
ing along, Gen. Sherman rode by our
Brigade and shouted a CHEEKY good
InDrning.' Col. L., who was still
Smarting under the rebuke from the
general sent by the lieutenant, salut-
\ ed gravely.
1 say, L. said Gen. Sherman
Teigning in his horse. That was
funny message you sent me last
night
3'' i did not have the honor of send
Ing you any message said the Col
x onel somewhat stiffly. The division
commander failed to issue foraging or
ders. and was obliged to address
him on the subject
IA oh, that was it, chuckled the
general Well, it's all right now /
hope the boys got enough to eat
Yes, General. We know how to
3 Forage
Several days later Gen. Sherman
Gent for Col. L. to give him some
instructions. which he delivered in a
spmewhat harsh manner. The colonel
seiuted and was about to retire when
Hherman halted him.
i must ask your pardon, colonel,
for speaking so abruptly, but the fact
Ia I'VE were on the march before day
break this morning and all I've had to
eat since then was little cold bacon
8uu udTu TACK. bdCk On The TOdu
this afternoon | bought ham ana ex-
pected to have nice supper, but
some of those COMPOUNDED boys have
stolen 1t. Just think of that and for
get my rudeDess, won't your"
N As the colonel walked back TO his
brigade he passed our regiment, and
was continuing with CHEEKY good.
night, boys when he stopped and be-
gan to sniff Something good was
cooking. Instantly dozen invitations
we're hurled at him to sit down and
have something to eat
s" No. thank you boys; but-snif-
ing again-~'where did you get that
ham?'
Drew it from the commissary,
sir.
"The colonel repressed smile and
said sternly:
n" We'll, I'll let it pass this time, but
II you ever draw" another ham that
way I'll have you drummed out of
the regiment
81" why, colonel drawled one OF the
boys, you see we have just learned
how to forage"