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Show .i A G. A. R. STORY. Old General Butler of Connecticut has been having a great time renewing acquaintance with erstwhile residents of the Nutmeg State who live in California. In the Palace hotel corridor the other day General Butler told a story about the late "Joe" Bromley of the Thirteenth Connecticut, Connecti-cut, a brother of "Uncle" George Bromley, who was among those gathered about the veteran raconteur.' "In the winter of '62-'63," said General Gen-eral Butler, "Joseph Bromley was quartermaster of my crack regiment the Thirteenth. He beguiled be-guiled the tedium of routine n'ork by his ready wit, and his skill at catering won him the regard H of men and officers. I remember how Joe managed man-aged to get wood, when that aid to warmth was hard to obtain. He ordered his men to the depot de-pot of the Carrollton railroad, and started them loading their teams. The superintendent of the road came along and remarked: '''What are you going to do with that wood?' "'Cook rations. Go on with your loading, Corporal,' said Joe. ,. "'Who are you?' questioned the superintend- ent, and Bromley answered wltlf tlie information desired, adding: 'Allow me, sir. to inquire whom I have the distinguished honor tb address.' The superintendent replied, and remarked with decision deci-sion that the wood was the railroad's, and he positively forbade any quartermaster of any army whatsoever t6 remove it. "Tut your protest in writing, in red ink, tie it with a piece of red tape,' answered Bromley, 'I'll approve it and forward it. You see, w've got to have wood to cook with; can't eat beans and i pork raw. I'd prefer 'em raw, but the men are so unreasonable they want 'em cooked.' "The superintendent continued his protests, indeed he was acting by my orders," said the General, "but Joe finally won out. By the way, he is the same man who issued these orders to a corporal: 'We're going on an expedition. I want my staff to Te on the lookout for turkeys, geese, pigs and sheep. Don't be the aggressor in any contest. Stand strictly on the defensive; but if you're attacked by any of these animals, show fight, and don't forget to bring off the enemy's dead.'" Town Talk. |
