Show GAVE CHANCE TO SQUARE UP Why Many Civil War Officers Welcomed Wel Wei- corned a Skirmish Not Alone for Its Own Sake As one who took part In the Ameri Ameri- American American can Civil war George Haven Putnam a member of the publishing firm recalled recalled re re- re- re called many Interesting Incidents in his Memories of My Youth He states that one of the advantages es of a retreating campaign WAS the opportunity opportunity It gave to officers to straighten up their obligations for various arti articles cles Iles and regimental property fOt- fOt which for which the they were responsible He I writes The liThe wise officer who picks up things upon the way retains these thos In what might be called a n reserve fund He lie knows that other articles es will disappear dis- dis disappear disappear dis dis- appear later laJer and that It will be a conc convenience convenience con con- to have something with which to offset his account On the other hand If articles disappear without vouchers the time commander who has already already al al- al- al ready had similar experience makes a practice of carrying them as ns on hand until his command is Involved In anything any any- nn anything thing that could be called a n fight After After After Af Af- ter such fight is over the articles will willbe willbe be he dul duly disposed of or in form 41 as lost or 01 destroyed In to action When my regiment landed In Louisiana Louisiana Lou Lou- the quartermaster and the time company company company com com- pany commanders were alike nUke responsible ble for quite an accumulation of articles articles arti arti- cles Iles which had been duly utilized for forthe forthe forthe the benefit of the time United States but for which they had no proper vouchers vouch vouch- ers on file The first fight fight n a mere swamp skirmish was skirmish was on this ground hulled hailed with delight I remember going up to the post commander with a n long list of property that had been used up in hi this tills very serious combat The Time colonel colonel colo colo- nel net looked at the paper pape rather cally cal y cc Quartermaster he lie sal said I 1 see In Inthis Inthis this list 17 boxes of ot hatchet heads The fight light must have been very fierce Indeed Indeed indeed In In- deed If the boys were under the necessity necessity sity of throwing hatchets at the ene- ene hay tny But nut he certified to the paper and andI I was therefore not called upon to tomake tomake tomake make l payment ment for fog those hatchet heads |