A Wedding in the Army -- A Bill of Fare in Camp -- Dishonest
Female Reb -- Private Cupp -- To the 13th Ohio.
A WEDDING IN THE ARMY,
And, as it is from the pen of the worthy Chaplain, J. H. Lozier, it is
perfectly reliable.
About as pleasant and romantic a wedding as anybody ever saw, lately
took place in this department. Immediately after the battle, a soldier
of the 15th Indiana took sick, from exposure in the fight, and was
taken to Hospital No. 5. Among the attendants there was a pretty
little "Yankee girl," whose charms occasioned an affliction of the
heart which baffled the skill of all the doctors, and they were
compelled to call for the services of the chaplain.
[Illustration: Debate between Slabsides and Garrotte. See page 303.]
There are obstructions in "the course of true love," even in
Tennessee, and one of these was the difficulty of procuring "the
papers," as there was no clerk's office in the county, or, at least,
no clerk to attend to the office. Again were the resources of the
General commanding brought into requisition, and again did he prove
himself "equal to the emergency." The following document, authorized
by General Rosecrans, dictated by General Garfield, and promulgated by
Major Wiles, shows how men get licenses to marry in those counties
in this department where martial law alone exists:
State of Tennessee,
Rutherford County. _Greeting_:
_To any person empowered by law to perform marriage in
Tennessee:_
You are hereby authorized to join together in marriage
Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean, and this shall be
your authority for so doing.
Witness my hand and official seal of the
Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland.
WILLIAM M. WILES,
Major 44th Indiana, and Provost-Marshal-General,
Department of the Cumberland.
[Illustration: Seal]
State of Tennessee,
Rutherford County.
Be it remembered that, on this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863,
personally appeared before me, Major William M. Wiles,
Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, one
W. T. Mendenhall, Assistant Surgeon of Hospital No. 5, of
lawful age, who, being duly sworn, on oath says that he is
acquainted with Joseph A. Hamilton and Francillia L. Bean;
that said parties are of legal age to marry, without the
consent of their parents or guardians, and that he knows of
no lawful reason why said parties should not marry.
[Signed] W. T. MENDENHALL.
Subscribed and sworn to this 12th day of May, A. D. 1863.
WILLIAM M. WILES,
Major and Provost-Marshal-General,
Department of the Cumberland.
[Illustration: Seal]
Now, therefore, I, William M. Wiles, Major of 44th Indiana Volunteers,
and Provost-Marshal-General, Department of the Cumberland, in
consideration of the fact that this county has been placed under
military law, and civil courts and laws, with their officers, are not
in existence, do empower John Hogarth Lozier, a regularly ordained
minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Chaplain of the 37th
Regiment of Indiana Volunteers, to join in _Holy Matrimony_ the
above-named parties, and this shall be his full and proper authority
for so doing.
Given this 12th day of May, A. D., 1863. Witness my hand and seal, the
day and year above mentioned,
W. M. WILES,
Major and Provost-Marshal-General,
Department of the Cumberland.
[Illustration: Seal L. S.]
Accordingly the happy pair, together with a large concourse of
officers and soldiers, and a delightful sprinkling of pretty Northern
belles, met on the battle-field, in a grove on the banks of Stone
River, on the precise spot where the bridegroom, with his regiment,
the noble 15th Indiana, fought on the memorable 31st of December. A
large, flat rock stood up prominently, and upon this the bride and
groom, with their attendants, and the chaplain, took their position,
while an eager throng gathered around to witness the interesting
ceremony. After announcing the "license," as above given, the chaplain
asked the usual questions as to "objections." There was a moment's
silence, in which, if any man had dared to object, he would have done
so at the peril of an immediate "plunging bath" in Stone River, for
the boys were determined to see the ceremony completed. The chaplain
then proceeded, in solemn and impressive tones, to perform the
ceremony, at the conclusion of which they dropped upon their knees,
and a solemn invocation being uttered, they arose, and having
pronounced them husband and wife, he introduced them to the audience.
Then followed a rare scene of unrestrained social enjoyment. The
mingling of shoulder-straps with plain "high-privates," and of "stars"
with "stripes," was truly refreshing. We observed three
Major-Generals, McCook, Crittenden, and Johnson, besides any amount of
"lesser lights," among the crowd.
I see, by a late Chattanooga _Rebel_, that the editor of that
"delectable sheet" is in grief because he has been told that Miss
Fannie Jorden, who resides near our camp, is about to marry Captain
Kirk, of General Steadman's staff. The _Rebel_ says: "We are sorry to
hear that the niece of the gallant Colonel Rayne has so far forgotten
herself as to engage to marry one of the 'Lincoln horde.'"
We have had the pleasure of meeting Miss Fannie upon several
occasions. She is a very nice young lady, and is not aware of any such
engagement. Captain Kirk is pretty good-looking; but, we rather guess
he is not on the right side of Jorden this time. If the young lady
marries, 'tis more likely she will emigrate to Minnesota than Ohio. We
sincerely hope our neighbor of the _Rebel_ will not have cause to
"come to grief." He had better mind his own business, and let the
soldiers here attend to the "Union" unmolested.
A strange family feud, quite "Corsican" in its character, came to
light some time ago, while we were at Cunningham's Ford.
There were two families, Bently by name, residing there. These
brothers had not spoken to each other for forty years. They nor their
families have had any intercourse whatever; never recognizing each
other, though they had resided side by side, farms adjoining. One
could not go to church, or meeting of any kind, or to town, without
passing his brother. While we were there, the elder brother died, and
he was buried by his children. The other family knew nothing of it,
until told by our soldiers. The cause of the estrangement was, that,
in dividing the land left them, more than forty years ago, one claimed
the line was drawn some ten feet too far south, thus losing to the
other about six acres of ground, the value, at that time, being about
twenty-five cents per acre. This feud is now an inheritance, we
suppose, to be handed down forever. Can't you send out a missionary?
Those who can afford it are now enjoying in camp all the luxuries of
the season. I received an invitation to dine out yesterday. The
following bill of fare was partaken of in a beautiful arbor:
BILL OF FARE.
Mock Turtle Soup.
Turkey. Roast Beef.
Ham and Eggs. Roast Mutton, with Currant Jelly.
Radishes. Lettuce. Onions and Potatoes.
Custard. Lemon Pies. Pound Cake. Jellies.
The whole concluding with elegant "Mint Juleps," with straws
in them.
In the 1st Brigade, under Colonel Connell, each company has a large
brick cooking-range erected, and their system is really worthy of
emulation. This entire division is supplied with fine fresh bread
every day. The division baker has three Cincinnati bake-ovens, from
which he turns out from three to five hundred loaves a day, besides
pies innumerable. It is under the foremanship of Mr. John Wakely, a
well-known Cincinnati baker. This arrangement is a great saving to the
Government in the way of transportation, etc.
I heard a first-rate story, which, although it did not occur in this
division, is too good to lose. A private soldier, named Cupp, who is
a German, belonging to the 1st Missouri Cavalry, and now one of the
body-guard of General Granger, was out to the front a few days ago,
and seeing a "stray rebel," "made for him." The chase commenced--away
went Mr. Reb and Cupp. Having the fleetest horse, Cupp gained upon him
rapidly, crying, "Halt! halt! halt!" every leap his horse would make.
But the rebel, bent on getting away, heeded not the call. At length
the Dutchman reached his rear, and, swinging his saber heavily over
his head, charged the rebel, and brought him to a "_dead stand_."
"Ah ha!" said the now excited Cupp, "how you vass all de viles? D----n
you, anoder time I hollers halt I speck you stop a leetle, unt not try
to fool mit me so long, you d----d rebel."
DISHONEST FEMALE REB.
A rebel sympathizer and his wife, a cross-eyed specimen of the _genus
homo_, came within our lines and delivered themselves up, to be where
they could get something to eat. Captain Parshall, of the 35th Ohio,
being Provost-Marshal of Triune, and supposing them honest refugees,
endeavored to secure comfortable quarters for the woman at the house
of Dr. Williams. Dr. Williams is a stanch Union man, and willing to do
all in his power for suffering humanity. The Doctor told the Captain
that the lady was welcome, but that his wife was away from home.
Captain Parshall had kindly provided quarters for the husband who, as
he was about going, gazed cautiously around, and eyed the Doctor from
head to foot, then looked at the woman with an "affectionate" stare,
and, with a long-drawn sigh, exclaimed:
"Well, Doctor, I guess I'll risk her with you."
In about an hour the Captain was startled with the sudden appearance
of Doctor Williams, much excited, who begged that he would have that
woman taken away, right off, as she was a thief.
The Captain went over immediately, and interrogated the woman, but she
stoutly denied the charge. The Captain, however, noticed a very heavy
bust where a bust shouldn't be with so hatchet-faced a woman, and
asked her what she had in her bosom.
She replied, that was common with her "every grass;" but the Captain
"couldn't see it," and indelicately placed his masculine fingers
within the sacred precincts, and drew forth two children's dresses,
one from each side; finding she was fairly caught, she begged for
mercy; said she didn't know what "possessed her," and declared that
was all she had. The Captain told her he would have to hang her if she
didn't deliver up every thing. She became frightened, and then
commenced the peeling of petticoats, shawls, chemises, pillow-slips,
etc., much to the amusement and contempt of all honest people.
Suffice it to say, the woman, with her husband, was sent back to
Dixie, to feed upon corn-bread and water, as the Union people of this
neighborhood didn't wish to be contaminated by such trash.
The Doctor's wife has since returned. She told me the story, and
declares she won't leave the Doctor to keep house any more, as she
won't trust him alone.
TO THE THIRTEENTH OHIO.
By Martha M. THOMAS.
Our Fathers House is threatened, boys!
The Union, grand and free,
Has warmed an adder in its heart
That saps its great roof-tree.
We've sworn to hold it pure, boys--
A first love's holy shrine;
A home for all the homeless, boys,
For "auld lang syne."
Its foemen are our brothers, boys;
But still we must not falter;
Though dear to us those who offend,
They must die by lead or halter.
Our Father's House is ours in trust,
From Washington's own line;
The Union knows no Pleiad lost
For "auld lang syne."
The rafters of the old house, boys,
Must never know pollution;
Its cement was our father's blood,
Its roof the Constitution;
And though, like prodigals astray,
Its sons eat husks with swine,
And feel the rod, we'll kill the calf,
For "auld lang syne."
Then let the bugle sound, my boys
And forward to the strife;
We'll thrash our rebel brothers well,
E'en though it cost our life.
And when we've whipped them into grace
And made each dim star shine,
We'll open wide our Father's door,
For "auld lang syne."