Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 16.djvu/183

 The Wee Nee Volunteers of Williamsburg District. 177

yards from the church and a little further from the point where the new lines struck the Stono river, and in a field between the road and woods. Private George Gist again took charge of a volunteer detail and soon built me a comfortable shanty, with mud chimney and wide fireplace. Wood and timber were plenty and convenient, and a good many shanties soon went up. The meat ration was being regularly issued, and the command was as comfortable as we had been at Seces- sionville. Till within a short time before this period, officers were allowed to purchase supplies from the commissary at government prices. An order was then issued prohibiting purchases, and putting them on rations identical in kind and quantity as those drawn by the men. This order worked great hardship to commanders of regi- ments and posts, and officers of higher rank ; because such officers frequently found it absolutely necessary to entertain visitors, both official and private. Major Glover and I often wished, upon days of inspection and other official visitations, and no doubt our guests did also, for as many sweet potatoes as Marion set before the British officer. The opinion was often expressed that the sacrifices made by the patriots of the Revolution were very much overrated, especially in the matter of rations. The new order worked such hardships that it was soon countermanded, and we were allowed to purchase in lim- ited quantities as previously. We found, while we were on short rations, that orange leaves were a pretty good substitute for tea, and young and tender shoots of the common chainey-brier ate a little like asparagus. Sugar could seldom be had.

An act of Congress was passed giving the color-bearer of regiments the rank of first lieutenant. Our Color-Sergeant, J. M. Pendergrass, was promoted, as he well deserved to be. As lieutenant, he bore the regimental colors as gallantly as he had done while a sergeant. He was supported by as brave a color-guard as ever stood under the folds of the " Stars and Bars." (The lieutenant was the only one of the guards who survived the war, and he would probably have laid down his life had he not been wounded and unable to bear his flag through the streams of fire poured upon it in Virginia.)

To those who have no experience as soldiers, war and festivities seem very incongruous. Yet nothing relieved the tedium of camp life more than an opportunity in pleasant intercourse with ladies, to forget for awhile that perhaps on the morrow carnage begins. Many of the officers of the Twenty-fifth South Carolina volunteers, and of other commands on James Island, had such opportunity, through the kindness and hospitality of Major J. J. Lucas and his excellent wife.