The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-11-11
THE REGIMENTAL
LAUNDRY
By AMBROSE MENDENHALL
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

was lying at Murfreesboro, Tenn,
waiting for the corn to ripen, General
G., a brigade commander, established
his headquarters on a knoll. On his
right was the tent of his chief Of staff,
and on his left was a tent In which
dwelt his aids-de-camp. Before these
three tents paced the sentry Of the
headquarters guard. Scattered about
below the eminence were the camps
Of the different regiments composing
the brigade.
Before one of the tents of one of
these regimental camping grounds a
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 was especially
hard on the recruits that came in from
time to time, sending them on all
kinds of errands that 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 at his practical
jokes. But every greenhorn who came
to be trained soldier itched for an OPP
portunity to take 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 Billy'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 up to him and said:
"Say, can you tell me where l can
get any washing done around hereT'
Billy looked up at him with a stare.
Now, 1t must be remembered that to
soldier at the front in wartime
washtub is as far away, as much of a
luxury, as q table d'hote menu. Sol
diers' 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 a washboard and the
dirt spots blurred over the whole gar
ment. But even this laundering Is
practiced only till the soldier learns to
get on with flannel shirt that shows
little dirt and can be worn for months
without looking very disreputable.
Billy, as l was saying. looked up at
the greenhorn with stare. The re-
cruit surmised that the veteran was
thinking where he could send him to
get his linen Numbered. and 30 he
was. Finally, having concentrated his
mind on Just where the regimental
laundry was located, Billy said:
"Do you see those three tents up
there on that knoll?'
The recruit admitted that he did.
"Well, you go UP there and wait till
that sentinel walks to one end Of his
beat, and while his back is turned you,
lust before he turns, go into the center
tent, and there's where the washing Is
done. Mind, don't try to go in when
the sentry sees you. or he'll stop you.
There's a lot of red tape up there"
The recruit thanked Billy for his
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 at pine
table writing. At the recruits entry
he looked up. surprised that the in
truder had passed the sentry and en-
tered unannounced.
as 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."
could you take me to the man who
told you thatT'
~ think l can"
The general picked up his hat and
! strolled down the incline accompanied
by the recruit. Billy was still cleaning
his gun and chuckling at his joke
when, looking up, he saw the recruit he
had directed to headquarters coming
with the general. AS they approached
Billy stood up straight as ramrod ano
saluted.
"That's the man." said the recruit tc
the general.
"Call the 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
a couple of the guard and escort thai
man." pointing to Billy, down to thu
creek and have him wash this mans
clothes. See that the laundering Ii
well done?
The general returned to his tent
the corporal brought the two men, thu
recruit produced his soiled clothes, ant
procession of jeering men escorted
Billy down to the creek, where, undel
the superintendent Of the corporal N
did the recruits laundering.
This ended Billy Olcott's guying re
cruits. He smarted under the ridicul'
he had incurred and burned to d.
something to remove it, for he wa
constantly jeered by his comrade
about his laundry and asked to wasl
their soiled clothes. Possibly this hat
something to do with his future ca
reer. At any rate, he distinguishes
himself at Chickamauga and was mad
lieutenant. Having started up hill
he continued to climb till the END
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