File:The recollections of a drummer-boy (1889) (14576196568).jpg

Identifier: recollectionsofd00kieff (find matches)
Title: The recollections of a drummer-boy
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Kieffer, Henry Martyn, 1845-1930
Subjects: United States. Army. Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment, 150th (1862-1865) United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Personal narratives United States -- History Civil War, 1861-1865 Regimental histories
Publisher: Boston, Ticknor and Company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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n the jury, afterhaving retired for a few moments behind a pine tree, brought in averdict for the plaintiff, it was full one oclock on Christmas morning,and we began to drop off to sleep, some rolling themselves up in theirblankets and overcoats, and lying down, Indian fashion, feet to thefire; while others crept off to their cold shelters under the snow-laden pine trees for what poor rest they could find, jocularly wishingone another a Merry Christmas ! Time wore away monotonously in the camp we established there,near Culpeper Courthouse. All the more weary a winter was it forme because I was so sick that I could scarcely drag myself about. Somiserable did I look, that one day a Company B boy said, as I waspassing his tent, — AROUND THE CAMP-FIRE. 165 Young mon, an if ye dont be afther pickin up a bit, its myopinion yell be gathered home to your fathers purty soon. I was sick witli the same disease which slew more men thanfell in actual battle. We had had ai late fall campaign, and
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CHRISTMAS EVE AKOUND THE LAMl-FIKK. had suffered much from exposure, of which one instance maysuffice, — We had been sent into Thoroughfare Gap to hold that moun-tain pass. Breaking camp there at daylight in a drenching rain,we marched all day long, through mud up to our knees, and soaked 166 RECOLLECTIONS OF A DRUMMER BOY. to the skin by the cold rain; at night we forded a creek waistdeep, and marched on with clothes frozen almost stiff; at oneoclock the next morning we lay down utterly exhausted, shiv-ering helplessly, in wet clothes, without fire, and exposed to thenorthwest wind that swept the vast plain, keen and cold as arazor. Whoever visits the Soldiers Cemetery near Culpeper willthere find a part of the sequel of that night march; the remain-der is scattered far and wide over the hills of Virginia, and inforgotten places among the pines. Could we have liad home care and home diet, many would haverecovered. But what is to be done for a sick man whose only choiceof diet must

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