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Updated: May 9, 2025
"Well," said Si, removing a slab of sizzling fat pork from the end of his rammer, laying it on his hardtack, and taking a generous bite, "we mustn't allow them to take no wagons away from the 200th Ind., slosh around as they may. We want all that grub ourselves." "Well, hump yourselves," said the Orderly-Sergeant, as he spattered on; "fall in promptly when assembly blows.
"We'll do jest as you say." They spent the evening carrying their plan into execution. At the 9 o'clock roll-call the Orderly-Sergeant announced: "Co. Q to go out with a forage-train to-morrow morning." This was joyful news a delightful variation from the toil on the fortifications. "Taps" found every body getting his gun and traps ready for an excursion into the country.
"Did any of you boys see either Alf or Monty?" he asked nervously. "And has anybody seen Pete Skidmore?" chimed in Shorty, his voice suddenly changing from a tone of exultation to one of deepest concern. "Why don't some o' you speak? Are you all dumb?" Somehow everybody instinctively stopped cheering, and an awed hush followed. "All of Co. Q step this way," called out the Orderly-Sergeant.
In 10 minutes there was enough discontent and bitter grumbling in the 200th Ind. to have furnished forth a new political party. The awakening process finally reached those of Co. Q who had roosted on Si's rail all night. Si vigorously insisted on being let alone; that he hadn't been asleep five minutes, and that, anyhow, it was not his turn to go on guard. But the Orderly-Sergeant of Co.
He said: "Here, Klegg, you will act as Orderly-Sergeant, and Shorty and the rest of you as Sergeants of this detachment. Here is the list of them, Klegg. Make up a roll and call it whenever I order you to do so." Si took the list and looked over the crowd.
He awoke the next morning with the same anxiety gnawing at his heart, and it haunted him so that he went through the morning's routine mechanically. When he came back from taking a squad up to Headquarters to report for fatigue duty, the Orderly-Sergeant called out: "Here's a letter for you, Corporal Elliott."
An other shot followed after an interval, and then a third and fourth. "They're firing a National salute at Division Headquarters in honor of the Fourth of July," explained the Orderly-Sergeant. Everybody jumped to his feet and cheered Cheered for the Fourth of July; Cheered for the United States of America; Cheered for President Abraham Lincoln; Cheered for Maj.-Gen. Wm. S. Rosecrans.
In the mean time I secured the valuable services of some fellow-privates, one for a quarter-master, two others to aid in superintending at the trenches, and the orderly-sergeant of my own company, whose expertness in the drill was equalled only by his general good sense and business capacity. Upon the ringing of the bell, about forty contrabands came to the yard.
He pulled a cracker out of his haversack and bit it, but it seemed distasteful, and he spat the piece out. "The orders are," said the Orderly-Sergeant in a low tone, as he passed down in front of the company, "to strip off your bankets, canteens, and haversacks, and pile them. They'll be in the road in the rush, and catch in going through the abatis."
The mules 've been taken away, and it's been standing there for an hour. I've seen the Lieutenants and the Orderly-Sergeant sneak back there, and I know what they're up to. They're goin' to sleep in the wagon. Of course, they're officers, and got the first pick. But we kin lay down under it, and get out of the rain. Be sides, it looks as if the ground was drier up there than it is down here."
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