River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1907-02-21

name of providence can / do with a
fit of sickness in this place, where
nothing appears pleasant to the sick
ened eye and nauseating stomach ?
But l doubt not providence will find
way for my relief, only l cannot eat
beef if [ starve; for my stomach posi-
lively refuses such company, and how
can | help that?"
Next day he is worse, and in worse
mood he scribbles:
Dec 12.-Sunset. We are ordered
to march over the river. 1t SHOWS
I'm sick-eat nothing-no whisky-n0
baggage Lord-Lord-Lord
Twelve days later he begins with
tribute to the endurance and pa.
thence of the soldiery, followed with
condition, and winds up his memo.
randa by taking it all back:
Dec 24.-Prisoners and deserters
are continually coming in. The army,
who have been surprisingly healthy
hitherto, have now begun to grow
sickly from the continued fatigues
they have suffered in this campaign
Yet they still show spirit and alacrity
and contentment not to be expected
from so young troops. Why are we
sent here to starve and freeze? What
sweet facilities have / left at home
charming wife, pretty children, good
beds, good food good cooking-all
agreeable-all harmonious. Here all
confusion-cold, smoke, hunger, and
filthiness. Here comes a bowl of soup
full of burnt leaves and dirt. Away
with it, boys-I'll live like a chameleon
upon air!
"'Poh, poh,' cries Patience within
me; you talk like fool! Your be-
ing sick covers your mind with a mel.
ancholic gloom, which makes every.
thing about you appear gloomy. See
the poor soldier when in health-with
what cheerfulness he meets his foes
and encounters every hardship. II
barefoot, he labors through the mud
and cold with song in his mouth.
extolling war and Washington,
But hearken, Patience, a moment.
There comes a soldier. His bare feet
are seen through his WORKOUT shoes;
his legs nearly naked from the tat
tered remains of an only pair of stock.
ings-his shirt hanging in strings
his hair disheveled-his face meager
his whole appearance picturlng
person forsaken and discouraged. He
comes and cries with an air OF wretch.
edness: L am sick-my feet lame-my
legs are sore-my clothes worn out
nv constitution broken-I fail fast-I
shall soon be no more! And all the
reward / shall get will be: Poor
Will is no more.
Christmas day enters only nominal
ly into Surgeon Waldo's diary as a
date; he gives a few professional OBJ
servations in his diary for that day:
Dec. rs, Christmas.-We are still
in tents when we ought to be in huts.
The poor sick suffer much in tents in
this cold weather. But we now treat
them differently from what they used
to be at home under inspection OF old
women and DR.. Bolus Linctus. We
avoid pills, powders, bolus linctus,
cordials and all such insignificant
matters, whose powers are only rem
dered important by causing the pa
tient to give up his money instead OF
his disease. But few of the sick men
die"
Humor in Some Entries.
That Surgeon Waldo was humorist
in no mean degree is shown by an ex'
tract following one in which he gives
dissertation on ''fire-cake" as an arti
Gle of steady diet. He writes:
Dec. 22.-Lay excessive cold and
uncomfortable last night. My eyes
are started out from their orbits like
rabbits eyes, occasioned by great
cold-and smoke!
"'What have you for breakfast,
lads?'
'Fire-cake and water, sir
''The Lord send that our commits.
sary of purchases may live on fire.
cake and water till their glutted stom.
achs are turned to pasteboardi"
To this comprehensive picture Of
life at Valley Forge is that memorable
winter. Surgeon Waldo added as one
of his last memoranda little tribute
of his own to the general who had
come with them so far afield.
so much talk about the officers, %
he writes, "and SO many discharged.
that his Ex-y lately expressed
fears of being left alone with the sol.
diers only. Strange that our country
will not exert themselves for his sup.
port and save so good-so great-a
man from entertaining the least anx.
ious doubt of their virtue and perse.
verance in supporting cause of such
unparalleled Importance"
But when May came the army was
eager to meet the British in their re
treat from Philadelphia.
Gen. Cronje's "White Flag"
Earl Roberts, who has given up his
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