Foraging.
Nothing in the excitement of army life has been the cause of more sport than the liberty given under certain circumstances, and taken under others, for the private soldier to “forage.” In civilized warfare, ordinarily, the supplying of the troops with necessary food from the enemy's country is supposed to be a systematic business operation, conducted by the officers of the army of occupation, by requisition, either in money or produce, for [378] which receipts of greater or less value are given. In a civil war, the supplies are to be paid for, according to the tenor of the receipt, on proof of the loyalty of the party furnishing them to the government of the captors. But in actual practice, there is a large amount of private plundering, which army officers, though they may censure, find it convenient to wink at. The men may have been on hard and unpalatable fare for days or weeks, and it is nearly impossible to prevent them from taking pigs, chickens, etc, when they are in a vicinity where they abound. The plunder and destruction of other valuables, such as watches, jewelry, clothing, musical instruments, books, and the burning of houses, etc., as it was practiced by the “bummers” or camp followers of Sherman's army, is an outrage on civilized warfare, and is a just ground of bitter reproach to the administration of that very able commander. Some of the foraging stories are, however, full of humor, and could hardly be otherwise regarded than as excellent jokes, even by the sufferers themselves. We subjoin a few.Drawing rations.
There are some episodes in the life of a soldier provocative of laughter, and that serve, to disperse, in some manner, the ennui of camp life. A farmer, who did not reside so far from a camp of “the boys” as he wished he did, was accustomed to find every morning that several rows of potatoes had disappeared from the field. He bore it for some time, but when the last of his fine field of kidneys began to disappear, he thought the thing had gone far enough, and determined to stop it. Accordingly, he made a visit to camp early next morning, and amused himself by going round to see [379] whether the soldiers were provided with good and wholesome provisions. He had not proceeded far, when he found a “boy” just serving up a fine dish of kidneys, which looked marvellously like those that the good wife brought to his own table. Halting, the following colloquy ensued:Have fine potatoes here, I see.“Splendid,” was the reply. “Where do you get them?” “Draw them.” “Does government furnish potatoes for rations?” “Nary tater.” “I thought you said you drew them?” “Did. We just do that thing.” “But how? if they are not included in your rations.” “Easiest thing in the world-wont you take some with us?” said the soldier, as he seated himself opposite the smoking vegetables. “ Thank you. But will you oblige me by telling how you draw your potatoes, as they are not found by the commissary?” “Nothing easier. Draw 'em by the tops mostly! Sometimes by a hoe — if there's one left in the field.” “Hum! ha! Yes; I understand. Well, now, see here! If you wont draw any more of mine, I will bring you a basketful every morning, and draw them myself!” “Bully for you, old fellow!” was the cry, and three cheers and a tiger were given for the farmer. The covenant was duly observed, and no one but the farmer drew potatoes from that field afterward.
[380]
That pig.
A few nights since, as two of the regiments were at Annapolis Junction, on their way here, a mischievous soldier, who was placed on guard at some distance from the main body, as he was walking his rounds, shot a pig. A member of the other regiment, hearing the report, hastened to the spot, and demanded that the pig should be divided, or he would inform his officers. The prize was accordingly “partitioned,” and served up to the friends of each party. The officers, however, observing the bones, soon found out the guilty party; and, on questioning him, he replied that he did it in obedience to the orders he had received, “not to let any one pass without the countersign.” He saw the pig coming toward him, and challenged it; but, receiving no answer, he charged bayonet on it, and, the pig still persisting, he shot it. The officers laughed heartily at the explanation, and sent him to find the owner, and pay for the pig, which he states was the hardest job he ever performed. In the summer of 1861, a regiment of light infantry from the vicinity of Norway, Maine, were encamped in Washington for a few days. Two of the men had become dissatisfied with their fare, and they conceived the sublimely impudent idea of foraging on the President's rations. How they did it is related as follows: They proceeded directly to the President's house. Without ceremony they wended their way quietly into the broad kitchen-“bowing to a tall man” on their passage-and carefully selecting what they thought would “go round,” made the following speech to the cook:Look here; we've sworn to support the government; [381] for three days we've done it on salt junk; now if you would spare us a little of this it would put the thing along amazingly.It is needless to say that the boys had an abundance that day.
How a Yankee soldier kept a hotel in Dixie.
When General Banks' army moved on up the Shenandoah valley from New Market, Quartermaster-Sergeant Reuben W. Oliver, of Cochran's New York battery, had to be temporarily left in a barn, on account of injuries he had received. Soon after our departure he made application at the lady's house adjoining for board; but he was informed, in true Virginia style, that she did not board “Yankee barbarians.” “Very well,” replied Oliver, “if you wont board me I shall keep a hotel in your barn, but shall probably call upon you occasionally for supplies;” and he hobbled back to the barn. Oliver was every inch a soldier, and he went to work at once. Taking a revolver, he shot madam's finest young porker, which his assistant immediately dressed. His able assistant next went to the apiary and “took us” a hive of bees, and transferred the honey to the barn. He then went to the lot and milked a pail of milk from her ladyship's cows. Then, going to her servants' house, he made a “requisition” for a quantity of fresh corn-dodgers that had been prepared for supper. The addition of these articles to his ordinary rations placed him far beyond the point of starvation. True to his Yankee instincts, he invited the lady to take tea with him, at the hotel across the way-at [382] which she became spitefully indignant. But Oliver was as happy as a lark, and for the time almost forgot his injuries. Soon he had several sick soldiers added to his list of boarders; and in due time a sheep, and another young porker, and a second hive of bees, were gathered under the roof of his “hotel;” and furthermore, not a cock remained to proclaim when the morning dawned. By this time her ladyship thought she could “see it,” and sent for Oliver, who, as promptly as the nature of his injuries would permit, reported at the door. “See here, young man,” said she, “I perceive that it would be cheaper for me to board you in my house-and, if you will accept, you can have board and a room free.” “Thank you, madam, thank you,” replied Oliver, removing his cap and bowing politely; “but I prefer boarding at a first-class Yankee hotel to stopping at any secession house in Virginia at the same price. You will therefore be so kind as to excuse me for declining your generous offer, as it comes too late!” And back he hobbled to the barn-and actually remained there two weeks-taking in and boarding every sick soldier that came along; making frequent “requisitions” upon her for supplies. Her ladyship was mightily pleased when Oliver's Yankee hotel was discontinued; but it taught her a valuable lesson, and Yankee soldiers never thereafter applied to her in vain for food and shelter. They always got what they wanted, she evidently not relishing the Yankee hotel system.[383]
Foraging for whiskey.
The appetite for strong drink was so fierce among some of the soldiers, that they would resort to all kinds of expedients to obtain it. At the commencement of the war, when the troops were encamped near Washington, in spite of the most stringent orders many would get intoxicated; and it was found that it was smuggled into camp in gun barrels. At Falmouth, before the battle of Fredericksburg, General Burnside ordered several hundred barrels of commissary whiskey to be sent down from Washington to Acquia creek. Lieutenant ---- , of the Twenty-ninth New York, acting brigadier commissary in Getty's division, sent repeatedly to the creek for a supply; but every barrel that was furnished here would disappear from the cars before reaching Falmouth, rumor having it that the roguish Hawkins' Zouaves had “gobbled” them. At length, despairing of obtaining any of the stuff by order, he proceeded personally to Acquia creek for a supply. He obtained one barrel, and standing it up in the car, seated himself upon the top of the barrel, confident that no one would get that away from him. What was his dismay, on springing down to the platform at Falmouth, to find the barrel empty! Some ingenious soldiers had bored a hole up through the bottom of the car while the train halted at Potomac creek or Burke's station, tapped the barrel, and drained it to the dregs!Foraging by veteran soldiers.
In March, 1862, in the advance upon Winchester, Brigadier-General Abercrombie commanded the first brigade, having Cochran's battery with it. Abercrombie was very strict, [384] not allowing his men to forage. The next morning after we camped near Berryville, the general rode through the battery. The captain was in his tent. Approaching it, he discovered the quarters of a fine young beef that the men had “foraged” the previous night, lying against a tree. The general's brow contracted as he demanded of Sergeant Leander E. Davis:Where the d-1 did you get that beef? I gave the commissary no orders to issue fresh beef here.Davis, who was a very polite soldier, removed his cap, and saluted the general, saying, in a tone evincing perfect coolness and sincerity:
General, I was sergeant of the guard last night, and about ten o'clock I heard a terrible commotion in the camp of the Twelfth Massachusetts, Colonel Webster's regiment, across the road. I rushed out to see what was going on, and just as I passed the captain's tent I saw a fine steer coming through the camp of the Twelfth Massachusetts, with about a hundred men after it. The animal appeared very much frightened, general, and, true as you live, it jumped clear across the road (about two rods), over both stone fences, and as it alighted in this lot it struck its head against this tree, and being so terribly scared, its head, hide, and legs kept right on running, while the quarters dropped down here, where they have remained ever since. It is very fine, tender beef; general, and I had just come here for the purpose of cutting off and sending you a fine sirloin roast for dinner. Will you be so obliging as to accept of it?“How long have you been a soldier?” demanded the old general. “About six months general.” [385] “Well, sir, I perceive that you thoroughly appreciate the art of war, and have become a veteran in half a year. Were you a green soldier I should order you under arrest, and have you court-martialed; but, on account of your veteran proclivities, I shall recommend you for promotion!” and putting spurs to his horse he rode away, shaking his sides with laughter.
Making a clean sweep.
If the practice of plundering the house of an enemy of all its provisions were ever justifiable, it would seem to have been partially so in the following instance, which is related by a veteran of the Army of the Cumberland: We had had but a scanty allowance of food for several days, and the boys were getting to be pretty wolfish. Not far from our camp-by the way, this was down in Tennessee, in ‘62-there was a large rebel plantation, with a fine house, which the niggers said was actually overstocked with every thing nice. Some of the boys went there to try and raise something to eat. Several very stylish-looking ladies came out on the portico; but when we asked them for food-gracious!-how they abused us! It was perfectly savage! They presented pistols, and said they'd blow out our brains, and in fact “carried on” as only “reb” women can. Well --we retreated. About an hour after, Major W — and several others of our officers went to the same house, where the ladies gave them a luncheon, and at the same time provoked and annoyed them as much as possible, by giving an exaggerated account of the manner in which they had, [386] as they said, driven off a band of Federal thieves that morning, and scared them to death with rusty and unloaded old pistols. They didn't spare the major, and insulted him by ridiculing his soldiers, until he was as mad as a hornet. I don't know how it was, but, soon after the major got back to camp, somebody proposed to shell that house out. Down we went with a rush. The ladies came out in a rage, and flourished their old pistols, and abused us like street-walkers; but it was all of no use. The boys swarmed like bees into the cellar; and I tell you, it was the best filled house I ever foraged on. What they ever intended to do with such supplies of canned fruits and meats, such rows on rows of hams, and barrels of every thing nice, I can't imagine. The boys filled bags, and sheets, and blankets, and wheeled the plunder off, or carried it-“like good fellows.” Of course the ladies sent off post haste to Major W , to come and stop this business. He was a very long time in coming-very. I think that the messenger must have had a hard time to find him. And when he got there he didn't speak to any of us, and seemed to be rather slow in taking in the whole story from the ladies. When he had heard them out-and it takes a long time for an angry woman to say all that she has to say-he bowed, and said: “Ladies, I will see to it at once.” So down he came, and began to rate us in this style:Men, what do you mean by such infernal conduct? Stop your pillaging at once!(Then aside.) “I hope you've cleaned the place out, d-n it!” （Aloud.) “Put down that bag of potatoes, you scoundrel!” （Aside.) “And roll off that barrel of sugar, you d-d [387] I fool!” （Aloud.) “If I catch you foraging again in this fashion, I'll make you repent it.” （Aside.) “Pitch into the grub, boys!-there's a whole chest of tea in that dark corner!” As the major went up-stairs, the cellar was empty. The last thing I heard him say to the ladies was, that “his men should never forage there again;” and his last aside-“I don't think they've left a single d-d thing to steal.”
