The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-04-04


especially discretion. In fact t,-ey
believed, like Artemus Ward, that
discretion is the better part of valor
when csreless shooting is going on.
They believed that the healthiest
and wealthiest thing Tor them to do
was to stay right at h0me and en-.
courage Others to lace the music
and go on TO Richmond and eabfnre
IN
Company L, whatever it's iun and
troubles (and it had full share of
both) did face the music" and
did finally get OH to Richmond, or
Petersburg, as faithful soldiers OF
whom their worthy and respected
officers need not be ashamed in
peace or war. Yes; they had the
satisfaction I will not say pleas.
ure) of taking a hand in the final
battles "aN along the line" when
Richmond and Petersburg actually
lJtN along with other strongholds
after repeated failures to get there
on the part of comrades just a.
brave. just as valiant as they ever
claimed to be. All honor and fame
to the gallant and brave &c. The
rebels were simply whipped and
starved out through Grants deter.
mination and bull dog tenacity and
it was Company Els privilege to
help put on the finishing touches in
midst Dt more trouble than fun.
And none l think can now more
thoroughly enjoy these happy re-
unions tina, our comrades and Off
GERS still living and thus gladly ex-
tending the hand Of comradeshir
with a feeling akin 10 brotherly
love, as we meet on these peaceful
and festive occasions so long alter
the time Of our fun and trouble in
camp and on the march.
The course dinners we get on
these festive occasions are so differ
ent from the course dinners we got
from Fritz's mess-kettles that the
comparison seems odious to Fritz
our company cook. But Fritz Itch,
ner could stew up and dish out pork
and beans all right. He could sui.
the most fastidious If real hungry.
We generally we're. l can hear the
voice of Fritz yet, BY wireless tele-
graph, calling us to bean soup
while wiping the tears and blowing
his nose through the smoke. I be-
lieve the poor fellow is dead now.
II so, may he ever rest in eternal
bliss away from the distress of smoke
or sulphur and also from the terrors
of a war which started only because
Of mans inhumanity tn man.
Though he was often obliged to
wipe the tears and blow his nose
through the smoke, / never knew
him to leave his post of duty while
the beans were bouncing up and
down. Never No, he faithfully
chased the beans around the kettles
with his ladle and swore Dutch at
the bad fre-wood that rebel rails
made when wet and rotten. No,
sir; he never quit his post of duty
until he thought he had everything
but the atmosphere cooked out Of
the beans. He had no dinner-bell
and didn't need any. His familiar
voice was enough to start the boys
on trot for soup. His call in
broken English. ran like this :
"Now cum, poys, und git yer pean
soup. Quick, vile it ish hot. 1t
will not keep long, you know. No
doublins up. poys; no doublins; for
somepoty viii be hungry If you do.
Don't do it, boys, Yust take yer
own. Den it will go round. Hello;
cum git yer soup! Woo is der Ben
Hess?
believe he tried to be fair with
us. He gave us all the poor fellow
had allowed him for our daily ra-
tions to sustain us. Though through
hunger some may have tried to
double and fool Fritz, still l don't
believe he ever tried to wrong
man out of his rations for love or
money. Again I say. peace to the
ashes of Fritz Itchner our faithful
German cook who made us much
fun but gave us no trouble that he
could avoid.
After organization and a brief
stay at Camp Curtin we were order
ed to the front in Virginia where
much fun was knocked out. | don't
know comrades, what you did with
your wealth; but / was foolish
enough to carry mine, what the
suttlers and camp followers didn't
get clear to the front, till we hear
the cannons booming and musketry
rattling at Dutch Gap and Ber,nu.
da Hundred. Then and there I
began to realize the DANCE, at hand.