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Show A STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. Interesting Adventures and Experiences Experi-ences of McClellan's Retreating Columns in Virginia. A. W. Stillwell of the Fifth Wiscon- t si:: First division Sixth corps, now I living at Wichita, Kan., writes the fol- I lowing communication in the National Tribune: At two p. m on July 2, 1862, the fag end of McClellan's retreating t umns reached Harrison's Landing, well polished over with Virginia's sa- jj cred soil, and resembling the heroes of a hundred mud holes. During the last three days of this "masterly retreat" re-treat" our rations had been almost entirely exhausted and haversacks were empty, while we subsisted chiefly upon faith and oak balls, though the former had been growing beautifully less as the wearisome retreat re-treat continued. Gen. Burns of our brigade, was a big. jolly Dutchman from Milwaukee, I'pon arrival at the Landing we were tantalized with a small issue of hardtack hard-tack procured from Shields' command and this installment being equally distributed dis-tributed throughout the Third brigade actually figured out '28 crackers tc each company, or nearly one-third ol a cracker to each man, and that kind of a ration set before the weary, hungry hun-gry tramps, without the customary luxury of sowbelly and coffee, failed to make glad the waist places and therefore cartridge belts had to be again laced up a few more notches. Id consequence of this deplorable condition condi-tion of things the general's peremptory peremp-tory orders to prevent miscellaneous pillaging and foraging were not respected re-spected to any alarming extent and the country for miles around was immediately im-mediately scoured and skinned by independent in-dependent squads of royal bummers. Fowls, pigs, hams and vegetables ol all sorts were hustled into camp with amazing alacrity. The ill-fated plantation plan-tation on which we had the good fortune for-tune to break ranks was soon covered by a multitude of ragged blue-coats, and in less time than it takes to tel! the story a large patch of potatoes had experienced a resurrection, the barnyard barn-yard and poultry house had surren dered, the smokehouse had capitulated and the fences and cribs had vanished van-ished like the morning dew. Never Fighting Patrol Returned with Provisions. Pro-visions. before was there such a sudden and happy reaction in the condition and appearance of the half-starved Chicka-hominy Chicka-hominy rangers. An infantry patrol sent out to arrest and bring in marauding maraud-ing parties returned unsuccessful to camp, resembling a regiment of mounted bummers covered with glory and provisions. Aged and disabled lonkeys and mules were pressed into service, and came into camp loaded down with fence rails, beehives, vegetables, vege-tables, mutton, pork and poultry in rich profusion. Old soldiers of the First division, Sixth corps, who participated par-ticipated will readily recognize the above pen picture of the insubordination insubordina-tion exhibited on that occision. Camp life had its lights and shades, its sunshine sun-shine and shadow, and those events of 47 years ago are indelibly fixed upon our memories. On this foraging trip just alluded to the writer brought in a hive of bees, and can never forget the unusn-al unusn-al anxiety and energy displayed in hurriedly reaching camp and unloading unload-ing at the quickest possible moment If there is anything in the world calculated cal-culated to fill a hungry soldier's anatomy an-atomy chuck full of woe and anguish it is the business end of a well-trained, energetic swarm of bees attending strictly to business. The general was worked up to the highest pitch of desperation, and bis wrath knew no bounds. There were not adjectives strong enough in Hoyle's history to express his indignation indig-nation at such an aggravating display of insubordination and disregard of military discipline. After the cyclone had passed over the plantation the old southern proprietor pro-prietor emerged from his hiding place in the cellar and approached headquarters, head-quarters, stating that he had always been a union man from the beginning, and demanded protection and return of his pilfered property. Guard were then placed about his premises, but upon diligent search being made throughout the camps his rails, fowls, pork, potatoes, milk and honey could nowhere be found. The irrepressible chaplain and surgeon were on hand that night to administer spiritual and physical consolation to the Chicka-hominy Chicka-hominy champions, and after quinine aDd catechism had been administered the heroes of the seven &e-daddle &e-daddle retired to sleep. I i - |
