, 1868-10-23
NUMBER DO.
Army Anecdotes.

james Franklin Fits has very readable
article in The GALAXY for September. un-
der the heading of 'Faceti@ of the War;
which contains several interesting army an.
ecdotes. He says that in the FIRST battle in
which be participated (in Louisiana) many
OF the soldiers were eating blackberres un-
der terrific artillery FIRE, and though the
statement may not be credited, the writer
can vouch for its truthfulness, as he was one
OF the 'pickers and eaters on that occasion.
There were many witty darkics with the
regiments in our armies during tae war. and
'Ar. Fits gives the following incidents. in
which one Of them figured prominently:
One Of the well-known characters CON,
nected with our re yiment was Jonah, the
negro servant of one Of the officers. He
was most ungainly specimen of his race,
with all its peculiarties of form and feature
greatly exaggerated; but he had largo
stock OF droll sayings, which were sure to
create mirth among the men, His descrip.
ton Of bomb was very UNIQUE
AT the time Of our first battle in Louisiana
many of the negroes had but very lately come
to the army, and not a few we're fearful of
being returned to their masters. While this
fight was in progress, Jonah was safely
slowed away out of danger, well to the rear;
but vagrant she'll came swooping over him
with that peculiar screech which has often
shaken stouter nerves than those of this poor
African. Him it frightened immeasurably,
and after the battle be described it with awe
and trembling, as great black thing which
tiew over him, screaming at him
dot MI IL Q
Where dat nigger
When the Nineteenth Corps was transfer
red from Louisiana to Virginia, Jonah ac>
cUmpanied his master The wonders of the
great deep were very novel to him, and, as
he was a privileged character, he was per-
mitted on the after.deck with the officers,
where his odd remarks we're the source of
much amusement.
One evening, while our transport was ira
versing the gulf, large party OF US had
gathered to watch one of the most beautiful
sunsets that I ever heheld The subdued
brilliancy of the latest rays, reflected from
clouds and water, produced so unusal an
effect as to subdue US all to "a silent enjoys
meLt of the scene. For full FIVE minutes not
a word had been spoken, when Jonah broke
the impressive silence with the loud remark;
'Well-de sun hab done sotP
1t was an unexpected climax, which elicit
ed peals of laughter from its very absurdity.
Mr.. Fits relates the following auecdote as
Illustrative of the timidity of soldiers at the
opening of battle:
One remember which used to elicit the
boistorous mirth of crowds in camp, was that
of the poor little soldier whom his captain
found keeping up bravely to his file leader,
while the bullets Of the skirmish line, which
preceded a hot engagement, were cutting
the air about his ears. Those who have
been in this peculiar situation need not to be
told that it gives nervous feelings to most
men and our captain was not surprised, but
was rather irritated, to find this soldier lad
crying bitterly, although clutching his
muSket and never tagging a step.
'Now, sir, what's the matter 2 demanded
the irate officer 'Are you afraid ?
No-o; amt bit afraid replied the
poor little fellow, in broken voice; but 1
wish was in my fathers barn.
What would you do in your fathers barn p
I'D 90 into The house p