General Bull Nelson and his sick Regiment.
We copy the following from the Federal army correspondent of the Chicago Times:Gen. Nelson is something of a character here, and an anecdote is told of him in this connection, which may be true and may not He is a go ahead, driving person, full of impatience and energy, a good soldier, and a preface man, with as little of the gentleman about him as well can be. A regiment of his command was reported sick. The Colonel processed that they were, and he put the Colonel under arrest. He then ordered the Surgeon to make a critical examination and report.
The surgeon reported the men all sick, but he swore against what they were not and ordered the brigade surgeon reported the men sick, but he swore once more they were not, and ordered the division surgeon to make an examination. The division surgeon reported them sick, and, still incredulous, he swore yet again that they were not, and went to examine for himself. On his way into camp he over took a soldier carrying a mackerel, and a dialogue ensued.
‘"What inch — I have you got there?"’
‘"A mackerel, sir."’
‘"Mackerel bed — d I What are you going to do with it ?"’
‘"Eat it"’
‘"Eat it ? What the devil do you want to eat it for? I thought you were all sick here."’
‘"So we are Mackerel is good for diarr."’
‘"Is it, indeed? Ahal we'll see about hat. Where's your Captain?"’
The soldier, mackerel in hand, led the General to his Captain, when the conversation again commenced:
‘"How many men have you got sick here, sir? "’
‘"All sick, sir."’
‘"All sick I'll see about that, by--,sir Here, take that man, and cook that mackerel, and make him eat every mouthful of it, from head to tail, bones and all, by--,sir! And if it curse him report the fact in detail, and you shall have all the mackerel the regiment can eat. You shall have nothing but masserel. You shall swim in mackerel. You shall, by--,sir."’
The line of march of this energetic commander is usually marked by a string of dead or disabled mules, broken wagons, and other indications of a pell-mell progress. He is a good fighter, and a man of energy, which may offset some less valuable qualities.
