The Irish Volunteer Official Newsletter of the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Co. B VoL. X. - No. 1] PENNSYLVANIA, JUNE, 1863 [SINGLE COPIES SIX CENTS Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1863, by Sullivan et-al in the Clerk's Office for the Far Western District of Pennsylvania June 2005 Joe and Holly Sullivan Editors ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ ADMINISTRATION IN THE FIELD Capt. Steve Stowell BEHIND THE DESK Chairman, Kevin Burton ON THE HOME FRONT Civilian Advocate, Holly Sullivan Official Web Site of 116 PVI http://www.116pvi.org ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS June 18-19, 2005 Battle of Lake Creek. Lake Creek Oregon. July 18, 2005. Tour of Fort Yamhill house tour. Starts at 9:30 . See directions elsewhere in this newsletter July 2-4, 2005. Brooks, Oregon, Willamette Mission. Battle Event July 30-31, 2005. Deschutes Valley, Tenino Washington. **For more information and for a full calendar of events please visit our web page at http://www.116pvi.org/ and follow the events link. SAVING THE FORT HOSKINS, PHIL SHERIDAN HOUSE --YAMHILL HOUSE TOUR--- This month our group will be meeting on June 18th at Fort Yamhill at the house that is the "sister" house of the one that we are trying to rescue. Dr. David Brauner, the Fort Hoskins archeologist from Oregon State University, will be meeting us there at 9:30 a.m. and taking us on a tour. Directions to meeting at Fort Yamhill house: From the corner of Hwy 99 and coast Hwy 22 (east of Salem) head west toward the coast. At Willamina Junction keep heading west on Hwy 22/18 just like you were going to the coast. Continue on to Valley Junction (just before you get to Spirit Mountain Casino). Turn right (north) onto Hwy 22 to Hebo and Tillamook (big road sign). About 1/2 a mile up Hwy 22 you will see a road sign on right that says "Old Fort Road". Turn onto Old Fort Road (it's gravel). Continue a short distance to an old yellow house and park there. That's where we will meet. The yellow house is the only house along Old Fort Road. If you have any questions please contact Joe Sullivan at j o e s @ proaxis.com ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ Notice Would anyone that is interested in going to Lake Creek please contact Stu Johnson at stuj64@netzero.net CAPTAIN'S REPORT The seasons is off to a good start ,we have seen our first engagement with the 54th Mass. with us and their unit is looking real good .Willamette Mission event is coming up soon ,there are a few things to note in preperation.There will be various battle scenarios ,one that the Union Battalion will be the black hat boys so if you have a black slouch hat please bring it for this battle. You need to decide also if you will want to know the general script for the battles or if you want to have it kept from you .There will be a Reconnaissance over night road march Saturday (July 2nd) It will be 60 minutes of marching (Apox. 1.5 miles). Most likely will be a cold camp Saturday night so plan on cold rations. You will also need one to two canteens of water ,it will be July so plan on it being hot. See you at Willamette Mission! Captain Steven Stowell 116th PVI ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ Gaeilge ceacht Gaelic lesson 1. Ache (Tinn): my legs ache; tá mo chosa 2. Tasty (blasta) 3. Bugle (stoc) 4. Cavalry (marcshlua) 5. Dog Tent (puball madra) 6. Emigrant (eisimirceach) 7. fool (amadán) 8. Garlic (gairleog)-this one is for Mark! 9. Horse (capall) 10.Ill feeling (olc)-great for those hospital scenarios What we need.... Submitted by Mark Stevens That lonely kind of courage (civic courage as we call it in times of peace) is the kind of valor to which the monuments of nations should most of all be reared, for the survival of the fittest has not bred it into the bone of human beings as it has bred military valor; and of five hundred of us who could storm a battery side by side with others, perhaps not one would be found ready to risk his worldly fortunes all alone in resisting an enthroned abuse. The deadliest enemies of nations are not their foreign foes; they always dwell within their borders. And from these internal enemies civilization is always in need of being saved. The nation blest above all nations is she in whom the civic genius of the people does the saving day by day, by acts without external picturesqueness; by speaking, writing, voting reasonably; by smiting corruption swiftly; by good temper between parties; by the people knowing true men when they see them, and preferring them as leaders to rabid partisans or empty quacks. Such nations have no need of wars to save them. Their accounts with righteousness are always even; and God's judgments do not have to overtake them fitfully in bloody spasms and convulsions of the race. The lesson that our war ought most of all to teach us is the lesson that evils must be checked in time, before they grow so great. The Almighty cannot love such long-postponed accounts, or such tremendous settlements And surely He hates all settlements that do such quantities of incidental devils' work. Our present situation, with its rancors and delusions, what is it but the direct outcome of the added powers of government, the corruptions and inflations of the war? Every war leaves such miserable legacies, fatal seeds of future war and revolution, unless the civic virtues of the people save the State in time.... William James Oration at the exercises in the Boston Music Hall, May 31, 1897, upon the unveiling of the Shaw Monument. Message from Annie Laurie Burke Hello, Dear Friends, This is not the kind of news I hoped to be able to send you, but I know that Sgt. Robert Burke would want his Union colleagues to know how he is doing. Sgt. Burke is losing his last battle, the one with cancer. He has fought bravely, and has treasured every contact with his 116th colleagues. Both Robert and I have appreciated the support, love and prayers that many of you have sent our way. It seems such a short time ago that Robert and I attended the Civil War Christmas Party at Fort Larned, and he told his fellow reenactors there how he looked forward to Spring and the activities it would bring. It breaks my heart to know that he will not be able to realize this fondest wish of his. Sgt. Burke is back at the Good Samaritan Center, 501 W. Beeson Road, Dodge City, KS 67801. I know he would appreciate hearing from all of you. The wonderful folks from Hospice of the Prairie are doing their best to make his last days comfortable. I am with him every day, and I remind him how much his 116th friends miss him and send their love and prayers. Although he is conscious but very little, I believe he still hears and understands most of my words. Thank you all for your past and continued concern. Love to all, AnnieLaurie Burke ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ 54th/116th Drill in Barton (Estacada area) Through Corporal Mark Miller, we have secured a drill site for Saturday, June 18th. Drill will start at 10 AM and run (With a lunch break) till about 2 PM. Its not near much, so bring drinks and a lunch. This is at Stonybrook farm, where the artillery teams are training, we have nice maneuvering ground and an area to allow reenactment style firing, powder only. This drill is open to all 116th and 54th personnel. Please contact Mark Stevens if interested in attending, the more experienced personnel the better. We hope to provide the 54th personnel with firing experience to permit them to take the field at Willamette as a full combat unit. The NCWC cavalry drill will be held at this location on the same day, so some training interaction is anticipated. Mark Stevens at CoBcorp@aol.com FROM OUR CHAPLAIN: Greetings to all my comrades in the Lord Jesus Christ. I look forward to seeing all of you at the Willamette Mission reenactment event coming soon. In the first chapter of the Book of Daniel in the Old Testament Scriptures, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon besieged and captured Jerusalem. In Daniel 1:3, Nebuchadnezzar spoke to a man name Ashpenaz to bring certain children of Israel, of their king's seed, and of their princes to the land of Shinar. Consequently, the children were force to leave the comforts of their homes in Jerusalem and were sent to a foreign city, which was Babylon. However, in Daniel 1:4 we notice some interesting things, first we see an example of the characters of the children, which says that "they were children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science." Notice the words says the children had wisdom, knowledge, understanding, favored, and no blemish, which are distinguish characteristics. How did they get that way? Who taught them and what did they learn? Deuteronomy 11:18, 19 says "Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that your frontlets between your eyes." "And you shall teach them your children and speak of them when sittest in thine house." Apparently, their parents taught them the words and the ways of the Lord, which was laid up in their hearts, their souls, on their hands, and in their eyes. When we are taught God's word, we have reverence or fear of Him and His sovereign power. The Scriptures says in Proverbs 9:10, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Psalm 111:10, says "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments." The children feared the Lord and they understood the sovereign power of God and reverence Him, which enabled them to have wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, which enabled an unblemished character and favor with people. Now in further reference to the children in Daniel 1:4, it says "to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." This means that they were going through transition in the environment of Nebuchadnezzar's realm, learning his teachings and learning a new language, which was also a cultural change. In Daniel 1:5, Nebuchadnezzar appointed daily provision of his meat and wine to them and it was intended to last for three years. This was Nebuchadnezzar's ultimate attempt to introduce his realm to the children, which started with an attempted character change over. Your character is determine by your integrity, which in turn is determine by your ability to chose good over evil, which is why we must have and obey the good word of the Lord. One of the children was a youth name Daniel and the Scriptures says "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portions of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." Daniel did not want the king's meat, wine nor his delicatessen but instead he took the pulse (vegetables) and plain water. Therefore, God gave Daniel favor with men and extraordinary knowledge, learning, wisdom, and understanding in vision and dreams. Now it is likely that some individuals may have accepted Nebuchadnezzar's offer just to stay in touch with his program and his system. Besides Nebuchadnezzar had authority, security, and people were on his payroll and he determine many things, which is why Ashpenaz followed all his instructions. Now it was obvious that Daniel and the other children had to learn the language of Nebuchadnezzar but as I mentioned Daniel purposed in his heart that he was not going accept the offer of the king. Apparently, Daniel had Deuteronomy 11:18 within his heart because he was taught well. The point being, Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom definitely still exist today. That particular kingdom represents many things in our world system, which includes a vogue images, glamour, prestige, power, the beauty of the world, high ratings, and popular opinion, which are all intended to seduce the children of God. Notice that we are here in this world for a purpose and we can may a difference in this world only if we maintain our integrity in the words of God just like Daniel did. Some of us was taught the words of God at a young age and the world kingdom mentality will attempt to question us to learn it's specific ways. That world will try to tell you that if you don't follow Nebuchadnezzar's way, you might completely miss out and you will never have a change for a good life in this world. That is a lie from the enemy and it works on a lot of young people in peer pressure groups especially but Daniel did not go alone with the crowd of peer pressure. Daniel was not a follower but he became a leader and a trend-setter because he feared God. Trend-setters are focus individuals and they determine their own destiny in the things of God by believing, trusting, and fearing Him. By world standards they may have had a slow or unpopular start just like Daniel but they have a fantastic finish or completion in the Lord just like Daniel did. Let us see how things eventually went for Daniel and review his career with the Lord. In Daniel 2:48, Daniel became ruler of the whole province of Babylon and chief of the governors, which was in Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. In Daniel 5:29, Daniel was the third ruler in the kingdom, which was in Belshazzar's kingdom. Belshazzar was Nebuchadnezzar's son. In Daniel 6:1, Daniel was one of three presidents in a kingdom and the one hundred and twenty princes (governors) all answered to him, which was in the kingdom of King Darius of Persia. Therefore, Daniel prospered in career and even there was a mass conspiracy against him in the sixth chapter of the Book that bears his name but the Lord was with him. Some may say, I can not do or achieve what Daniel did but God is still not a respecter of persons. All we have to do is fear Him and obey His words The conclusion of the matter is this, Daniel remain committed to the Lord throughout his life, which started when he was a youth and he was determine to not forget the God of his fathers. He did not forget the truths that he was taught from a youth, which enabled him to make sound decision when he was confronted with the seducing powers of the Babylonian realm. That realm is very real today but the Lord and His Words are much greater and more reliable when it comes to a life of prosperity and achievements in the things of God. Your servant in the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible! Daniel E. Hayes Jr. Chaplain of the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteers Infantry, Company B Your servant in the Lord! From the Civilian Advocate: Greetings, Civilians of Pennsylvania! Only a few more weeks until the great Battle of Willamette Mission! Fashions, for the ladies and the gentlemen, become dull fare for the mind eager to load up the tents and paraphernalia and head off to camp, so I thought that a small digression into the area of civilian camp equipment and camp recipes might be in order. Much easier said, alas, than done! With regard to ideas for camping civilian reenactors, the SCA and even Revolutionary War reenactors outshine those of us who enjoy portraying the Civil War era. Shame on us! Nevertheless, a few tidbits have been gathered by yours truly and are presented for your enjoyment herewith. One glaring problem faced by those of us endeavoring to depict Pennsylvania civilians of the 1860's is the simple fact that Northern women did not routinely live in wall tents, nor did they cook the majority of their meals over open campfires. It behooves us to remember these two little facts, and to share them with the visiting Public. Confederate ladies may claim that they fled the flames, barely escaping with their lives and carrying only two or three wall tents, a few tables, a couple of quilts, their bedsteads, a bookcase or two, a few dishes, necessary cutlery, and three or four cast iron kettles on their backs. For us, history is more difficult to accurately display. The citizens of Pennsylvania lived in houses or apartments, in cities, small towns, or on farms, but not, generally speaking, in rows of canvas tents. As reenactors, however, there is little choice before us. Canvas is unwieldy, but lugging in a street of Philadelphia Brownstones would prove even more difficult. Even the most accommodating park would object to us laying down cobblestones on our civilian "street", and it would be difficult to jump all the hoops necessary to install coal gas lines for our lights, even if we DID promise no repeat of the Great Pittsburgh Gas Conversion Fire - (which didn't happen until 1865, two years from "now", anyway). So tents it is for us, and we must use our imaginations to furnish the streets and hills of nineteenth-century Pennsylvania. How to make our tents more "homey" and less "tent-y" becomes the Burning Question. Where do we obtain tables and chairs, beds and bedsteads - the rudiments of civilized living? First, become very familiar with what furniture and house wares would REALLY have been used by Americans in the 1860's! Just because something is made out of wood does not necessarily mean it is "period correct". Our ancestors didn't use Tupperware, but they were most certainly not backwards, and were well out of the Stone Age. I strongly dislike all the "links" I have been flinging your way in these articles, but the Copyright Laws of 2005, especially as they cover information presented on the World Wide Web, seems to me a quagmire of potential trouble best avoided by having you peruse the information as presented in its original form. To links, then! Fanny and Vera have done it again. Their information for the camping Civil War civilian is well presented and easy to follow. They have information on tents, lighting, camp furniture, bedding, and cooking gear. (I made the unfortunate discovery, while reading the information on their site, that my nice "splatterware" coffeepot and metal cups are FARB!) Fanny and Vera also have directions for making easy sawhorses for use as tables. Their information is at http://69.10.163.110/suesgoodco/newcivilians/camp/camping.htm . Another source for directions for camp furniture comes from what I believe is an SCA site. Still, instructions for knock-down hutches are instructions for knock-down hutches! http://www.his.com/~tom/sca/projects/hutch.html Instructions for making a camp bed and a keg stand can be found at http://www.his.com/~tom/sca/campstuff.html . Finally, as we plan for the upcoming event, I thought a few sites with Civil War recipes might be enjoyable: http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Quarter/2926/Victorian_Miscellany.html http://www.angelfire.com/me/civilian/recipes.html and http://www.civilwarindex.homestead.com/RecipeIndex.html . We are updating the Civilian Page on our 116th Pennsylvania Volunteers website. I would like to include an area for ideas for camping ideas and for recipes. If you have anything you would like to share in either regard, please send them to c i v i l i a n @116pvi.org . Also, we have had some contributions for our Ancestor Photographs. Please take a look, and if you would like to share photographs of your Civil War relatives, send them in! Lastly, please don't forget to send me your requirements for tent spaces well before our upcoming event. Looking forward to the Preservation of the Union at Willamette Mission, I remain Your Humble Advocate, Mrs. Joe Sullivan ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾¾ 116th P.V.I. LYCEUM There will be a 116th P.V.I. LYCEUM Sunday, July 3rd, 1863, at about 7:30 p.m., on the Civilian Street. Everyone is urged to participate with a song, a poem, a skit, a dance, or an exhibition of musical or oratorical prowess. Fair Warning: if I don't get enough voluntary participants, I will use diabolical means to encourage involuntary participation. (That is to say, we will CONSCRIPT our entertainment!) ¾¾¾¾¾(¾¾¾¾ REMINDER!! There will be a 116th Pennsylvania POTLUCK on Sunday, July 3rd, 1863, at 6:00, on the Civilian Street. All interested members, both Civilian and Military, are invited! Everyone please bring a dish or two to share and their own place settings and eating utensils. Civilians are encouraged to bring extra food for the benefit of the soldiers. SI KLEGG: HIS TRANSFORMATION FROM A RAW RECRUIT TO A VETERAN by John McElroy CHAPTER 14 SI AND THE MULES - ONE DAY'S RICH EXPERIENCE AS COMPANY TEAMSTER. IVE GOT to have a man to drive team for a few days," said the Orderly of Co. Q of the 200th Ind. one morning at roll-call. "The teamster's sick and I'm goin' to send him to the hospital to-day." The Orderly-Sergeant of Co. Q was a wily fellow. All Orderly-Sergeants have to be. If they are not naturally, they learn it very quickly, or lose the little diamond on their sleeves, if not all their stripes. The man who undertakes to manage 60 or 75 stalwart, high-spirited young Americans through all their moods and tenses, and every kind of weather, has to be as wise as a serpent, though not necessarily as harmless as a dove. Therefore, the Orderly-Sergeant didn't tell the boys what ailed the teamster. The fact was that the heels of the "off. wheeler" caught the teamster in the pit of the stomach and doubled him up so badly that he wouldn't be fit for duty for a week. It was worse than the green-corn colic. "'Tisn't every man," continued the Orderly, "that's gifted with fust-class talent fur drivin' team. I'd like to find the best man to steer them animals, an' if there's a real sientifick mule-whacker in this comp'ny let him speak up an' I'll detail him right off. It'll be a soft thing fur somebody; them mules are daisies !" Somehow they didn't all speak at once. The company had only had the team two or three weeks, but the boys were not dull of hearing, and ominous sounds had come to them from the rear of the camp at all hours of the night-the maddening "Yeehaw-w-w !" of the long-eared brutes, and the frantic ejaculations of the teamster, spiced with oaths that would have sent a shudder through "our army in Flanders." So they did not apply for the vacant saddle with that alacrity which might have been expected, so good a chance was offered for a soldier to ride and get his traps carried on a wagon. Whenever an infantryman threw away such an opportunity it is safe to assume that there was some good reason for it. But the idea of riding for a few days and letting his blisters get well was too much for Si Klegg. Besides, he thought if there was any one thing he could do better than another it was driving a team. He had been doing it on his father's farm all his life. It is true, he didn't know much about mules, but he imagined they were a good deal like horses. "I'm your man !" spoke up Si cheerfully. "All right !" said the Orderly. "Company, Right -Face! Break ranks-March !" "There ain't any trouble about it !" Si said to Shorty as they walked back to the tent. "I reckon it's easy enough to manage mules if you go at 'em right. It'll be just fun for me to drive team. And say, Shorty, I'll carry all your traps on my wagon. That'll be a heap better'n totin' 'em !" Si gathered up his outfit and started to enter upon his new sphere of usefulness. "Shall I take my gun and bay'net along?" he asked the Orderly. "Guess you'd better; they might come handy replied the Orderly, as he thought of the teamster's disastrous encounter with the "off- wheeler." After Shorty had eaten his breakfast he thought he would go back to the tent and see how Si was getting on. With thoughtful care Si had fed his mules before appeasing his own appetite, and Shorty found him just waiting for his coffee to cool a bit. "Why, them 'ore mules is jist as gentle'n' peaceful-like ez so many kittens. Look at 'em, Shorty !" and Si pointed with a proud and gratified air to where the six "daisies" were standing, three on each side of the wagon-pole, with their noses in the feed-box, quietly munching their matutinal rations, and whisking their paint-brush tails about in evident en joyment. Indeed, to look at those mules one who was ignorant of the peculiar characteristics of the species would not have thought that beneath those meek exteriors there were hearts filled with the raging fires of total depravity. Shorty thought how it would be, but he didn't say anything. He was sure that Si would find out about it soon enough. The brigade to which the 200th Ind. belonged was to march in the rear of the long procession that day. This was lucky for Si, as it gave him an hour or two more than he would otherwise have had to get hitched up. But all the same he thought he would begin early, so as to be on hand with his team in good time. "Want any help ?" asked Shorty. "No, "'said Si; "I can hitch 'em up slick's a whistle. I can't see why so many makes sich a fuss 'bout handlin' mules." Shorty lighted his cob pipe and sat down on a stump to watch Si. "Kinder think there'll be a circus !" he said to himself. Si got up from his coffee and hardtack, and addressed himself to the business of the hour. It proved to be just as much as he could attend to. When Si poured half a bushe1 of corn into the feedbox it was all very nice, and the animals rubbed their heads against him to give expression to their grateful emotions. But when it came to putting on the harness, that was quite a different thing. The mere touch of a strap was enough to stimulate into baleful activity all the evil passions of mule-nature. "Now, Pete and Jim and Susan, we must git ready to pull out !" said Si to his charge, in a familiar, soothing tone, preliminary to getting down to business. It was his evident desire to maintain the friendly relations that he thought he had already established. At the first rattle of the harness Pete and Susan and the rest, moved by a common impulse, laid back their ears and began to bray, their heels at the same time showing symptoms of impatience. "Whoa, there-whoa !" exclaimed Si, in a conciliatory way, as he advanced with a bridle in his hand toward one of the big wheelers, whose ears were flapping about like the fans of a windmill. Si imprudently crept up from the rear. A flank movement would have been better. As soon as he had got fairly within range the mule winked viciously, lowered his head, and let fly both heels. Si was a spry boy, and a quick dodge saved him from the fate of his predecessor. One of the heels whizzed past his ear with the speed of a cannon ball, caught his hat, and sent it spinning through the air. Shorty, who was whittling up a piece of Kentucky twist to recharge his pipe, laughed till he rolled off the stump all in a heap. A few of the other boys had stayed out to see the fun, and were lounging around the outskirts of the corral. "Go for 'em, Si!" they shouted. Si was plucky, and again advanced with more caution. This time he was successful, after a spirited engagement, in getting the bridle on. He thought he would ride him down to the creek for water, and this would give him a chance to get acquainted with him, as it were. He patted the animal's neck, called him pet names, and gently stroked his stubby mane. Alas, Si didn't know then what an utter waste of material it was to give taffy to an army mule. With a quick spring Si vaulted upon the back of the mule. He started off in good shape, waving his hand exultingly to the boys with the air of a General who has just won a great battle. All at once the animal stopped as suddenly as if he had run against a stone wall. He planted his fore feet, throwing his ears back and his head down. There was a simultaneous rear elevation, with the heels at an upward angle of about 45 degrees. Si went sprawling among the bushes. This performance was greeted with great enthusiasm by the fast increasing crowd of spectators. "I oughter have told you that saddle-mule's the worst bucker in the Army o' the Ohio," said the Quartermaster-Sergeant, who was among the onlookers. "Why, he'd buck off the stripe that runs down his back, if he took it into his measly head, He bucked off a chattel mortgage. and that's the way he come into the army. You can't ride him without using one of Aunt Jemima's sticking plasters." "Much obliged for your information. But I will ride him all the same," said Si, whose temper had risen to the exploding point. "I kin ride him if he ties himself in a double bow-knot." Si was too much of a farmer boy to give in to anything that walked on four legs. He had hung on to the bridle rein, and after addressing a few impressive words to the obstreperous mule he again leaped upon his back. The mule took a docile turn, his motive having apparently been merely to show Si what he could do when he took a notion. The space at command will not permit us to follow Si through all the details of "hitching up" that team. He did finally "git thar, Eli," after much strategic effort. The mules brayed and kicked a good deal, and Si's wrath was fully aroused before he got through. He became convinced that soft words were of no account in such a contest, and he enforced discipline by the judicious use of a big club, together with such appropriate language as he could think of. Si hadn't yet learned to swear with that wonderful and appalling proficiency that was so soon acquired by the army teamsters. In the management of mules profanity was considered an invaluable accessory in times of great emergency. At last Si climbed into the saddle, as proud as a King. Seizing the long, 'single line running to the "leaders"-by which contrivance the army team was always guided-he shouted "Git up, thar, Pete! Glang Susan !" and the caravan started. But the unregenerated brutes didn't go far. Si was gaily cracking his whip, trying to hit a big blue-bottle fly that was perched on the ear of one of the "swing" mules. As if by a preconcerted plan, the establishment came to a sudden halt and the mules began to rear and kick and plunge around in utter disregard of consequences. It didn't take more than a minute for them to get into a hopeless tangle. They were in all conceivable shapes-heads and tails together, crosswise and "every which way,' tied up with the straps of the harness. The air in all directions was full of heels. There was a maddening chorus of discordant braying. In the course of the scrimmage Si found himself on the ground. Gathering himself up, he gazed in utter amazement at the twisted, writhing mass. At this moment a messenger came from the Captain to "hurry up that team," and poor Si didn't know what to do. He wished he could only swear like the old mule drivers. He thought it would make him feel better. There was no one to help him out of his dilemma, as the members of the company were all getting ready for the march. A veteran teamster happened along that way, and took in the situation at a glance. He saw that Si had bit off more than he could chew, and volunteered his assistance. "Here, young feller," said he, "lemme show ye how to take the stiffenin' out o' them ere dod-gasted mules !" Seizing the whip at the small end of the stock he began laying on right and left with the butt, taking care to keep out of range of the heels. During these persuasive efforts he was shouting at the top of his voice words that fairly hissed through the air. Si thought he could smell the brimstone and see the smoke issuing from the old teamster's mouth and nostrils. This is a section of what that experienced mule driver said, as nearly as we can express it: X%&$#@@*!% Si thanked the veteran for these timely suggestions in the way of language, and said he would remember them. He had no doubt they would help him out the next time. They finally got the team untied, and Si drove over to the company ground. The regiment had been gone some time, a detail having been left to load the wagon. After getting out upon the road the mules plodded along without objection, and Si got on famously. But having lost his place in the column in consequence of the delay, he was obliged to fall in rear of the division train, and it was noon before he got well started. Along towards evening Si struck a section of old corduroy road through a piece of swamp. The passage of the artillery and wagons had left the road in a wretched condition. The logs were lying at all points of the compass, or drifting vaguely about in the mire, while here and there were seas of water and pits of abysmal depth. To make the story short, Si's mules stumbled and floundered and kicked, while Si laid on with the whip and used some of the words he had learned from the old teamster before starting. At length the wagon became hopelessly stalled. The wheels sank to the hubs, and Si yelled and cracked his whip in vain. Perhaps if he had had the old teamster there to swear for him he could have pulled through, but as it was he gave it up, dismounted, hunted a dry spot, and sat down to think and wait for something to turn up. Just before dark a large detail from Co. Q, which had been sent back on an exploring expedition for Si and his team, reached the spot. After hours of prying and pushing and tugging and yelling they at length got the wagon over the slough, reaching camp about midnight. "Orderly," said Si, "I believe I'd like to resign my place as mule-driver. It's a nice, soft thing, but I'd jest as lief let s'mother feller have it, so I'll take my gun an' go to hoofin' it agin !" 1