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Our things, when they were sent back, were piled
up and no care taken of them at all, and when we came into camp
all were anxious to get their things and put up the tents; but
in hunting around they accidentally fell upon a lot of sanitary
stores that were unguarded, and thinking they were sutler goods
waded in and demolished the contents, which consisted of spirits,
drawers, potatoes, fish, liquors, etc. Consequently, the next
morning a search was made, and those found having any of the articles
were taken up to headquarters and put under arrest. It seems
hard that the boys have got to suffer for the negligence of the
officers; but they might as well eat up such things as to leave
them for the officers, for there is generally where such things
go.
While we were gone, all our bedding was carried off
by other regiments, and a cotton gin and some other buildings
being handy, the next morning the boys determined to have some
boards to sleep on, and commenced to break for the scene of operations,
delegations being on hand from the three Ohio regiments (the Thirtieth
Illinois being supplied before we came,) and it was not long before
the boards and shingles began to fly thick and fast, and persons
were coming back with arm loads. While this was going on some
person slipped into the gin and set it on fire, which soon reduced
it to ashes. This brought out General Logan, who commenced pouring
out his wrath on the "Flying Brigade," and it was not
long before orders were issued compelling all who had got shingles
and boards at these buildings to take them up to our regimental
headquarters. Company E was well represented, myself being one
of the number, for we are never slow in such undertakings. That
being done, each had to give in his name, when we were all sent
up to Logan's headquarters, taking our boards and shingles with
us, whooping and yelling like mad. But we had hardly got up there
when we were ordered to pile them up separately, and go to our
quarters; but shortly after we were told to go up and get our
lumber, when lo! it was found that the boards were measured, the
shingles counted, and each man's pile taken account of. There
was a good deal of sport made of it, and every company had to
share it.
Since then General Logan ordered General Leggett
to assess the amount of property destroyed, and tax the officers
and men of his Brigade with it, and have it put upon the next
muster rolls, so it can be deducted from their pay, but to exempt
all regiments whom he knew not to be guilty. Accordingly the
assessment was made, which was put at $2,000, and is to come off
the three Ohio regiments, the Suckers all being exempt.
It is now the principal gossip of the regiments,
and if they are to pay for the destruction of property done by
some unknown person, it will be apt to raise a "muss,"
and cause them to destroy much more than they otherwise would
have done; and it is believed by most of those who were there
at the time, that it was burned by the old secesh himself, for
he was there and was heard to say, when they commenced tearing
down the old gin, "that the boards on that building wouldn't
do them much good," and immediately started towards it; and
in fifteen minutes time it was in flames. I mention this just
for the purpose of showing what injustice is practised
upon the soldiers in the army. The leaders can order the levee
to be cut and millions of property may be destroyed by
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