Chaplain’s Lecture.—On one occasion on a march rations were scarce and the soldiers were hungry. Some of the boys invaded a corn field and were plucking ears of corn expecting at night to feast on roasting ears for supper. The chaplain of a regiment rode along and began to give the boys a moral lecture, telling them it was wrong to steal and that the corn did not belong to them. The soldiers paid no attention to his talk and quietly filled their sacks. The chaplain seeing that they were determined to take the corn said to them, if they were going to take the corn anyway to throw him over a few ears for his pony.
CHAPTER VI.
SURROUNDINGS OF SOLDIERS AND SOLDIER LIFE.
Phases of Soldier Life.—The many phases of soldier life furnish the inquiring mind food for thought and research. The mere fact that an army is an aggregation of discordant elements made up from different parts of the country is a sufficient basis for an interesting subject for investigation. The soldiers representing the different sections of the country represent the manners, customs, habits and characteristics of the inhabitants of the communities from which they came. In addition to this if we take into consideration the personal habits, characteristics and eccentricities of the individual, analyzing the attitude, latitude, aptitude, and magnitude of the capabilities and wonderful scope of each one we find ourselves exploring a wonderful field that startles us.
Southern Soldiers.—The Southern army was not only made up of soldiers from different parts of the country, but from the different pursuits and conditions of life. Our army of which the South has cause to be proud contained the most of the ablebodied men of the South, and it is no reflection upon the fair name and fame of the gallant soldiers of the army that there were among them some enrolled that were failures. There were figureheads, deadbeats, skulkers, hospital rats and others who were drawbacks to the army. There were men enrolled who at home were successful and regarded as good citizens, but as soldiers were failures because they had no turn, taste, tact, inclination or adaptability for soldier life. It was unfortunate for our army, our country and for such soldiers that there was a necessity to enroll them.
Many Surprises.—Very often the palest, thinnest, weakliest, scrawniest looking fellow stood the exposure and hardships of the camp, march and battlefield much better than a stalwart looking boy. Sometimes the most timid lad, who seemed to shrink from any duty likely to give him notoriety, developed into the most aggressive, daring soldier and astonished officers and comrades with his reckless ventures and achievements. There were officers and men who would for the sake of promotion unnecessarily expose to imminent danger themselves or men under them. The truly brave soldier will shelter or protect himself when he can do so without jeopardizing the cause he represents, but when necessary will expose himself and face danger like a man. The truly brave officer will lead and not undertake to drive his men in battle and screen himself.
Appearances Deceptive.—Appearances are often deceptive. Sometimes a man of fine physique, good looking, stalwart, having the appearance of being a brave soldier that would sacrifice his life rather than show the white feather collapses in the hour of danger, entirely unable to control his nervous system, proving himself to be constitutionally a coward. Such men ought to be pitied instead of being persecuted.
Soldiers in Camp.—The self-constituted bully of the camp who wants to engage in a fisticuff with anyone that dares to cross his path will often tremble with fear when going into battle. The soldier that delights in giving exaggerated accounts of his exploits and hairbreadth escapes usually is an artful dodger and an expert in framing excuses to keep out of danger when the battle is on. In the army were soldiers who died of grief or homesickness. However much a soldier may be attached to his home surroundings it is a mistake to give up and brood over a separation that is inevitable. The soldier who takes a sensible view of the situation, keeps up his courage and as far as possible keeps in good heart by looking on the sunny side of life always fares the best. One who always seems lowspirited, out of heart, and cultivates such a feeling receives scant sympathy from his comrades, but one who is cheerful, apparently happy whether really feeling so or not does not have to hunt for kindred spirits to share his happiness with him. To a soldier in camp virtually performing the same round of duty every day, life is likely to become monotonous, and moodiness or gloom intrudes its unwelcome presence, then the thing to do is to seek a change and look for something to divert his attention and cause him for the time being to forget his real or imaginary trouble.
Congenial Companions.—In the Southern army a soldier could always find congenial company for there was variety to choose from. In the different tents or around the camp fires were crowds making merry with music and dancing, crowds spinning yarns or telling anecdotes or stories, classes singing sacred songs or squads engaged in conversation on subjects to suit anyone. Nothing to do but to make a choice of the place and be entertained.
Disputes and Quarrels.—In camp everything was not always harmonious. Among the boys there were sometimes misunderstandings, which gave rise to disputes or quarrels, occasionally culminating in fisticuffs or fights which often landed the participants in the guard house.
Winter Quarters.—A soldier in the Southern army had no abiding place to stay or at least only temporary. In winter quarters in the dugout, rude cabin, tent, or bivouacing primitive life was fairly illustrated and it is surprising to people accustomed to the conveniences of life to realize how few of these conveniences soldiers are supplied with. Very often one little frying pan or kettle performs its round of service for an entire village of cabins or tents, and it is not unusual in camp to hear the owner of an implement or vessel cry out “come home frying pan” or “come home coffee pot.” The call was a peremptory order to the borrower to return the missing article which was perhaps by the careless soldier thrown aside. The reminder generally caused the occupants of the tents to institute a search, usually resulting in the return of the missing article. Soldiers’ temporary homes exemplified their home training. Some of their places were comfortable, neat and attractive, while others were just to the reverse. Some of the occupants kept themselves and their clothing clean and neat, while others were contented to wrap themselves up in their filthy rags sometimes infested with vermin. There were though police and sanitary regulations that all were obliged to observe or pay the penalty, and there was an etiquette among soldiers that was generally observed. Many a soldier would forage for something to eat, but would suffer with hunger to the extreme limit rather than appropriate to himself the rations issued to another. A soldier who would steal the rations of another sacrificed his honor and self respect and was regarded by his comrades as a sneak thief at home.