The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-25

armies occupying them, In word.
General Johnston's idea was to save the
Army, IL you had to give UP the post
General Pemherton's idea was to save
the past. even at the risk Of losing an
army. 1t was often remarked by the
men that. even If we could defeat Gem
eral Grant vicksburg would not be
worth anything TO us With 10, of
Snnboats and transports in possession
of the river. And the stunidcst soldier
could sec that General Johnson's army
was utterly weak In comparison with
Grants army all these surn,iscs Of
the soldiers were confirmed by the mar
rative of General Johnson published
after the war. II was matter OF sur
prise 10 me during the whole war to
notice the remarkable shrewdness or
the common soldier in penetrating tho
purpose of the various movements
over and again We received, Us the
grapevine line. marvellous stories OF
big Victories we had gained, oriof some
advantage in position, which would
give us victory that would end tho
war. But cur men after thinking over
them always discounted these stories.
While on the subject Of grapevine
dispatches. let me tell how my rep,ita-
non Tor veracity came near being ruin
ed by them. While we were at Port
Hudson the newspapers received By lis
were few but 1 got the Memphis Ap-
peal. which followed orr armies from
point 10 point, and got some religious
papers which contained weekly sum
,narics OF the news. These papers pub
lished all the reports that were cur
rent.
The men came to m% tent every da y
In ha
story was repeated. and the question
was asked. Where did YOU get that
whopper?" the answer would be. II
got 1t from the parson.r OF course,
meaning that he had read IL at my
tent. soon found that was getting
the reputation OF the father Of iars,'.
SO announced that when u story was
told as coming from ME. II might be
set down lie. for which was not
responsible
Dlscomforts of the March.
The discomforis of the march on that
campaign were aggravated by the dust
and the heat, and the lack drinking
water. often the clouds OF dust were
SO thick that one could not see twenty
feet ahead OF him. We wern largely
dependent for water to drink on ponds
Tor the stock and sometimes The green
scum was so thick on the surface OF
tho pond that our horses would not
drink II. We would fill our cantccns
from these ponds and strain out the
wigsle tails and %ounE tadpolcs The
water remaining in the tin cup was
comparatively clear. though quite
warm. found new use for n mus
tache- AS mine was long drew it
over my lips and made a straIner OF
II as drank out OF my canteen. In a
number OF places whore there were els
terms we found the handles OF the
pumps taken away, or the rope ana
windlass removed This was not from
any unkindness, but was necessity,
Tor several thousand men and horses
would soon haze exhausted the els
terms OF neiShborhood But ono case
OF cruelty. of which, | was the victim,
was perpetratcd not by citizen. but
By little auarterma ster,
II was iars4 and handsome house.
which this officnr had taken as his
headquarters. 1t had n deep well in
tie yard saw a s we Wcr cpassinr Al
great big bucket OF sparkling water.
lust drawn, standing on the curb, and
sentry standing by. was very
thirsty. indeed. was near to sun
stroke. and one OF the men was walk
ing by me TO steady MY steps 1T
once went TO the we'll and was Just
about TO DIP my tin cup into the buck
CT when the sentry put his bayonet
TO my breast and forbade H. told him
my condition and said I only wanted
drink, not 10 I'LL my canteen tIe said
his orders were positive. and the ma jor
would not allow one OF us to have even
drink. He said that the major WAS a
quartcrmasier. and very strict. So |.
had TO 80 on. and II was an hour be-
fore ! coald nuench my thirst ] found
out afterwards tina. the Office was
really some undArling of General John
sion's staff, maybe a auarterma stcr,
who was assuming all this authority
ana more than that, found that the
house was one in which my brother
had boarded, He was In business It. this
place. Norton, and when he enlisted In
the mississippi cavalry re giment he left
his clothes. q Guantity>of shirts ana
underclothes, in his bureau drawer
His room WAS occupied by this Officer,
who stole all of his clothes-to keep
the Yankees from getting them.