INCIDENT NO. 3.
The writer of this was Orderly Sergeant of Company B a part of 1861-2. And certain characters of the Company considered it legal to plunder this much abused official’s pipes, tobacco, and even whiskey was deemed free, whenever or wherever found. The writer suffered many a loss in this line. One especially, who bored him unceasingly for a chance to smoke a very large pipe, holding a quarter pound of tobacco. I will call him “Croxton,” “Jack,” for short. One morning I sat in my tent making morning report. I had filled this big pipe, and laid it on the desk in front of me, expecting “Jack” to call for a smoke. He came in due time, and asked if he might smoke my big pipe? I told him I had just filled it for my own use. Well, he said, I was busy then, and could smoke after he got through. He always had a story to tell me. He sat with his legs hanging inside the doorway, (the shanty was built of logs). I passed him the pipe; he commenced smoking, and telling me a yarn. Soon the pipe exploded, his heels went up, and he over backwards. He arose and said, “you think you are damned smart.” He asked for no more smoke.
