Page 84 - Among the camps, or, Young people's stories of the war

all together. Some of the regiments composed of alder men

were at first inclined to laugh at the smooth-faced youngsters
who could hardly raise a mustache to a m ess; but when
these same rosy-cheeked fellows flung off their knapsacks in
battle after battle, and went rushing ahead under a hail of
bullets and shell, they changed their time and dubbed them
“ The Baby Veterans." Thus, in iS 6-, the Baby Veterans

went to Middleburgh for a double purpose :— first, that they
might recruit and rest; and, secondly, because for the past
six months Middleburgh had been causing much worry, and
was regarded as a nest of treason and trouble. T h e regi­

ment which had been there before was a new regiment, not
long since recruited, and had been in a continual quarrel
with Middleburgh, and as Middleburgh consisted mainly of
women and children* and a few old men, there was not much
honor to be got out of rows with them. Middleburgh com­

plained that the soldiers were tyrannical and caused the
trouble; the soldiers insisted that Middleburgh was con­
stantly breaking the regulations, and conducted itself in a
high-handed and rebellious way, and treated them with open
scorn. As an evidence, it was cited that the women in

Middleburgh would not speak to the Union soldiers. And
it was rumored that the girls there were uncommonly pretty,
When the Baby Veterans heard this, they simply laughed,
pulled their budding mustaches, and announced that they
would "k eep things straight in Middleburgh."

Tom Adam s was first lieutenant of Company C. He