Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-06-09
A LESSON IN FORAGENG.
The Generals Men Adopted His Advice
With Good Results.


The following incident is taken from
the diary Of late veteran of the civil
war
1.-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 Colonel L., brave sol
der and an able officer, but whe was a
great stickler for regulations, etiquette
of the corps, etc. After camp was
pitched it was learned that General
Ewing. the division commander, had
forgotten TO issue the usual orders for
fora aging.
after waiting impatiently for near
" half an hour Colonel L. sent lieu
tenant off to General Ewings bivouac
to ask for the necessary orders. 1t SO
happened that General Sherman had
decided to make his headquarters with
General Ewing that night and was
seated in the tent writing dispatches,
with the lid of an old cracker box for
a desk and a suffering candle held in
his left hand, when the lieutenant en-
tered and delivered his message to Gen
eral Ewing. He was interrupted by
General Sherman.
What's that, young man? Where
are you fromY
"'Colonel LIS brigade, SIR
"What? Colonel L.'s-Colonel John
LIS? And do you mean to say he
doesn't know how to forage? That's
mighty strs nge. And you go right
back, young man, and tell him 1 said
so.'
"Next day as the column was trudg
ing along General Sherman rode by
our brigade and shouted CHEEKY Good
morning. Colonel L., who was still
smarting under the rebuke from the
general sent by the lieutenant, saluted
gravely.
"T say, IT, said General Sherman
refining in his horse, that was funny
message you sent me last night
at did not have the honor Of send
ing you any message said the colonel,
somewhat stih1y. The division COM
mander failed to issue foraging orders,
and l was obliged to address him on
the subject
"'Oh, that was it. chuckled the gen.
eral. We'll. it's all right now. hope
the boys got enough to eat
ayes, general. We know how to
forage
Several days later General Sherman
sent for Colonel L. to give him
some instructions, which he delivered
in a somewhat harsh manner. The
colonel saluted and was about to re-
tire when Sherman halted him.
"T must ask your pardon, colonel,
for speaking so abruptly, but the fact
Is we were on the march before day
break this morning, and all I've had
to eat since then were a little cold
bacon and hard tack. Back on the
road this afternoon I bought ham
and expected to have q nice supper,
but some OF those COMPOUNDED boys
have stolen It. Just think Of that and
forget my rudeneSs, won't your
GAS 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 snin. Something good was
cooking. Instantly a dozen invitations
were hurled at him to SIT down and
have something to eat
"'No. thank you. boys. but'-snifhng
again-'where did you get that hamr
"'Drew 1t from the commissary, SIR
'The colonel repressed smile and
said sternly:
"'Well. I'll let It pass this time, but
If you ever draw another ham that
way I'll have you drummed out Of the
regiment
"'Why, colonel drawled one Of the
boys, you see we have just learned
how to forage "-Boston Globe.