Reuben Haworth

                                                            9^th Co Vet. Reserve Corps

                                                                        N. O. La.

 

Chronicles of the 1^st N. H. Cav.

 

1. Man that is born of woman, and enlisted as a soldier in the 1^st N.H. Cav. is of few days and short “rations”.

 

2^nd He cometh forth at “reveille” is present also at “retreat”, yea. Even at “tattoo” and retireth “apparently” at taps.

 

3^rd He draweth his rations from the commissary and devoureth the same. He striketh his teeth against much “hard tack” and is satisfied. He filleth his canteen with “applejack” and clappeth the mouth thereoff upon the bung of a whiskey barrell. and after a while goeth away rejoicing in his strategy

 

4^th Much soldiering has made him sharp, yea, even the seat of his breeches is in danger of being cut through.

 

5^th He covenanteth with the credulous farmer for many turkeys, chickens, and pigs; also at the same time, for much milk and honey. to be paid for at the end of ten days, and lo! his regiment moveth on the ninth day to another post.

 

6^th His tent is filled with many delicate morsels of a delicious taste, which abound not in the commissary Department and many other things not in the “returns” and which never will return, yet, of a truth it must be said of a soldier of the 1^st N. H. Cav. that he taketh nothing that he cannot reach.

 

7^th He fireth his carbine at midnight and the whole camp is aroused, and formed in line of battle. when lo! his mess come bearing in a nice porker, which he solemnly declareth so resembled a secesh that he was compelled to pull trigger.

 

8^th He giveth the Provost Marshall much trouble often capturing the guard and possessing himself of the city. at such times “lager” and “pretsells” flow like milk and honey. he giveth without stint, to his own comrades; yea, and with holdeth not from from his neighbor soldier.

 

9^th He stretcheth forth his hand to deliver his fellow soldier at Tyler from the power of the enemy; yea, starteth at early dawn for that peace even at “forced march” doth he go and toileth on through much suffering, privation, and much “vexation of spirit” until they are delivered. Verily, I say to you, after that he suffereth for want of tents, and camp kettles. Yea in camp Kearny his voice was heard loudly for “hard tack and coffee” yet he murmureth not and consenteth to share the hospitalities of his neighbors.

 

10^th But the grunt of a pig, or the crowing of a cock waketh him from the soundest sleep. and he goeth forth until halted by the guard, when he instantly clappeth his hand on his “bread basket” and the guard under commiseration aloweth him to pass to the rear. No sooner hath he passed the sentrys beat, than he striketh a “bee line” for the nearest hen roost; and seizing a plump pair of pulletts, returneth, soliloquizing; The noise of the goose saved Rome; how much more the flesh of chickens preserveth the soldier.

 

11^th The many which acts were performed by the Soldier of the 1^st N. H. Cav on the march up the Teche and the trip up to Port Hudson, and many things which transpired at the seige of the above places if they were all chronicled would require much paper to contain them. And many other things doeth he and lo! are they not recorded in the “morning reports” of company B. Yea, verily.

 

                                                Signed

                                                            R. Haworth

                                                            9^th Co. V.R.C.

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