Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1909-12-15


US, but the wealthy were almost sure
to be hostile. In taking property
for our use. no abusive or threaten
ing language was to be used toward
the people. Able-bodied negroes that
could be of servi night be taken
along with the army, In due time
we came to have thousands of them.
Pioneer corps were organizing TO
clear roads and keep them in re-
pair. So far as practicable roads for
the marching troops were to be
alongside the established highways.
in order that these might be used by
the wagon trains and artillery. in
general. negroes served as road-mak-
ers. Every corps had good pom
toon train
Our start for Savannah was a sig
mai for general confusion all through
Georgia. General Cobb fairly begged
for troops with which to keep the
INVADER back, but he could not gel
enough of item 70 make us much
trouble We hardly ever missed d
good DAYS march.
Our first day out abounded in life
and enthusiasm, though some of our
fellows suffered a relapse before
night. 1t was like this: that rn-
ing our officers had done a not very
common thing,-issued pretty IiberaI
ra5ions of what was known as Com
missary." or ''tanglefoot" A few
men were sensible enough always 10
decline such stuff, Some who WOULD
not drink it themselves took it ana
gave it to others who had a passion
for it. The effect of such double RAJ
tons was quite marked. The fell
lows who swallowed them started
off for the sea as if intending to
get there before night. They step
ped high and long. They sang songs
and made merry, and could not for
the life of them see why the glori-
Gus marcel had not been begun
long time bel ore. But strong slim
ulant is apt in the end TO become
narcotic; and so ii was in this case.
The fun did not last all day. The
poor fellows soon became quiet, then
stupid, and they dragged themselves
wearily along. practical illustrations
of what strong drink will do.
Our new recruits cams to us with
all the clothing and camp equipments
Uncle Sam would let them have.
What war veteran has not seen such
knapsacks! How interesting it was
to see our new comrades buckle up
in preparation for the march across
the great state of Georgia. Their
knapsacks were such as we ourselves
had brought out of Camp Randall.
Under their load the poor fellows be-
came very sober before noon. They
knapsacks in some position where
they would not seem to weigh so
much. They came to be very sol
emn before the afternoon was far
spent. Bv-and-by they began one by
one to steal sadly out among the
wayside bushes, there to open up
their stock of dry goods, select one
garment after another out of then
generous wardrobe, hold it up ana
decide whether to carry it further, or
not to carry. And then the banter
ing remarks of the old veterans
marching along added no little inter
est to the occasion. Many of these
old fellows were skipping gafly along
with, perhaps, no knapsacks at ALL
only a single blanket and an oil
cloth tied up in roll and thrown
lightly over the shoulder.
Our new recruits on that first days
march threw piles of blankets, coats,
shirts and drawers into the bushes
along the road; and they repeated
the operation the next day and the
next, until in due time they found
themselves in light marching order.
Ate that they got along as easily
as the rest Of us.