Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1910-10-20

h'-AA "lis mel ~ t'' '''
When Tie Army of The Cumberland
was lying ut Lurireesboro, Tenn,
waiting for the earn 20 ripen, General
g.. brigade commander. established
his headquarters on knoll On hig
right was the tent OF his chief of staff
and on his left was Il tent In which
dWelt his uids-de-camp. Before these
three tents paced the sentry Of the
headquarters guard Scattered about
below the emiuence were the camps
Of the different regiments composing
the brigaue.
Before one of the tents Of one of
these regimental camping grounds
young soldier. Billy Olcott, was clean
ing his musket he was the wag of
his regiment and never let an oppor
tunity pass to perpetrate joke on any
of his comrades. He WIS especially
hard on the recruits that came in from
time to time. sending them on all
kinds Of errands that a veteran would
know TO be ridiculous. He was well
liked. except for this propensity. which
he carried too far His veteran asso
ciates laughed heartily ut his practical
Jokes. But every greenhorn who came
20 be a trained soldier itched for an op-
portunity to take a good natured re-
venge
One day a body Of patriots who had
Just exchanged their ordinary habili-
ments for uniforms arrived from the
north and were turned in on the sea
soned men of BnIy's regiment like
shovelfuls Of soft earth thrown on
well trampled ground. One Of these
unfortunates, seeing Billy cleaning his
musket and desiring information.
walked un to him and said:
Say. can You tell me where | can
get any washing done around hereT'
Billy looked up AZ him with stare.
Now II must be remembered that to
soldier at the front in wartime a
waShtub is as far away. MS much Of
luxury. as table d'hote menu. Sol
di'rS' clothes in war are seldom wash
ed and when they are they are taken
to a creek rubbed between the knuc-
kles in lieu of w;lshboard and the
dirt spots hlurr,d aver the whole gar
ment }ul even this laundering is
practlced oaly till the soldier learns to
get on with flannel shirt that shows
little dirt aud can be worn for months
without looFiug very disreputabe.
E.lly. as | was saying looked up at
the greenhorn with stare The re-
cruit surmred that the veteran was
thinking whore he could send him TO
get his linen Murdered, and so he
was Finally, having concentrated his
mind OH Just where the rcgimental
laundry was located Billy said;
DO you see those three tents up
there on that knoll?"
The recruit admitted that he did.
We'll. You go up there and wait till
that sentinel walks to one end of his
beat. and While his back is turned you.
just before he ms. 90 into the center
tent, and there where the washing is
done Mind. don't try TO 20 in when
the sentry sees you. or he'll stop you.
There's lot OF red tape up there"
The recruit thanked Billy for bis
courteous information and started up
the hill, Billy watching him Follow
ing directions implicitly, the greenhorn
waited till the sentry reached the end
Of his beat. then stepped quickly into
the center tent A man with a star
on his shoulder was sitting ut a pine
table writing. At the recruits entry
he looked up, surprised that the in
ruder had passed the sentry and en-
tered unannounced
rs this the place where the washing
is done| asked the visitor.
The general stared at him in some
such fashion as Billy had done.
Did some one tell you to come here
to get your washing done?"
'Yes."
Gould you take me to the man who
told you thatP'
Il think l can"
The general picked up his hat and
strolled down the incline accompanied
by the recruit Billy was stiII cleaning
his gun and chuckling at his Joke
when, looking up he saw the recruit he
had directed 10 headquarters coming
with the general As they approached
Billy stood up straight as a ramrod and
sauted
That's the man." said the recruit TO
the general
call thr corporal Of the guard" said
the general to Billy.
Corporal Of the guard yelled Billy.
The corporal came. saluted. and the
general said to him. Corporal. take
couple Of the guard and escort that
man. pointing to Billy. down to the
creek and have him wash this mans
clothes See that the laundering is
- uoAc' -sg
The general returned TO his tent
the corporal brought the two men. the
recruit produced his soiled Clothes. and
Q procession Of jecring men escorted
Billy down TO the creek. where. under
the superintendent Of the corporal. he
aia the recruits laundering
This ended Billy Olcott's ruyinc 70.
eruits. He smarted under the ridicule
he had incurred ana burned to do
something to remove IL for ~ $50