WARREN LETTER: TIGER LIFE
" ..... Sojer'n purt near is the mos' lazee fair an borin sport a man
can take up. Folks waggle bout all the fightin an killin .. fact tis
sojerin is mostly doin a lot a walkin and a lot more layin about. Time
were spent beeved up an when this was the lay of things, the days was
spent with mornins spent doin sojer things such as marchin an calls for
thems that was sick and thems that was present. Now and again they was
some squamp as a constable or provost would come by an spirit one ofthe
fellars of to Loosianer to face the law overn somethin afore the war sech
as fer stealin a nag, chivying some shill or cut pursin some rich fellar
alongst the traces to N'leans. They was a spell of that in the early days
as they was some rascals amongst us thatd earned they keep the natchez
under the hill style. Victuals was always seeked and fellars was always
on the leap for whatever could be had. They was much cravin of spirits an
seemed no matter how mean livin got they was always busthead about. Vice an
sin often held court amongst the Tiger Rifles and they was much troubles
cause of the intemperant nature of the tribe. This fer the most part was
paid no mind by the
Officers as they kin that we was a rough an tumble sort common to Loosianer
an many was the blind eye amongst the Officers . They was a share a set to's
an humbugs. Most of em was a disputes after bein in the cups an went from 'jes cuz' ..
the Tiger Mottif for a set to .. to more complex such as petty theivin disputin
over wagerin or spirits or cuz a fellar was jes plumb ugly. The triber squabbled
of'n an they was many set to's with lots of colorful swamp talk .. sech as
' Im half gator, half mule .. all tiger and raw ... back up you bastards Im
fixin to cut loose" an some worst with much blood chilin waggle. Soons the fist
would go and theyd be a tussle in the dust. Soon as they was tired they'd forgit
and be hangin on eachother braying like jackasses and swillin busthead outn a lovin cup.
Manys an eve when they'd be a couple of the fellars that'd been in they cups an soon
nuff they'd whsiper amongst themselves an with cackles would suddenly bolt up an
start strollin. Asked whar they was off to they'd grin like devils and say they
was off on the crawl. Soon they'd be some roarin down the line an runners sent
to tow in these that had stirred a row. Crawlin the line an lookin for a row
or a swill lost its shine after they was several of the fellars shot up at Camp
Florida for bashin ol' Hayes durin a round of fisticuffs with some curs in the
8th Loosianer.
Side from this, they was much wagerin and gamin about. Fellars would
wageron who could jump the highest, spit the futhest (as they was always baccy
about) or who could spit an hit a palmetter bug or the like, run the futhest,
fight the hardest. They was games of roundies, throwin bones, skat an buckin
the tiger. A treat was a round of "hands" which was always ripe with chivvy.
Those thems that wagered on it never'd learn an they'd play with a fever.
They was the occasional fete with dancin and singin.They was much as far as chores.
They was always kit to mend an punkin chuckers to be soaped an oiled.
They was them that knew they letters to send word home, they was hagglin
over some choice item an they was always nappin an scroungin ....... "