Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-18
nary vigilance. And yet they say that the dog
is mans best friend
Anecdotes of the War.
A ouARTERMAsrER's RECEIPT.

QUARTERMAsTER's RECEIPT.
Capt +. was undoubtedly the most original
quartcrmaster in the service. He had plans for
accomplishing certain results that were far in
advance OF the regulations, so he studied the
blue book very little. On one occasion in West
ern Virginia, while taking property and giving
MS receipt Tor the same, an old lady objected
see here, now, mister; ldon't know who You
may be. This may be all right, and it mayn't"
1ou took the rebel quartermaster's receipt for
property" retorted tine captain. Eyes, but
knowed him" said the woman; "he's a very
proper man, and I'd trust him for ten years
We kin soi right down 10 Charleston and get
our money any time" Very well, if you pre-
fer it ! can give you a receipt in his name for
this corn" said the captain. "Kin YOU do
thatY questioned the captions female The
captain merely said, Take you choice: You
can have a receipt signed by me or one signed
by Captain Bloods Of the Virginia legion" The
old lady finally concluded TO take a receipt
signed by the rebel quartermaster, and the cap
tain made it out with flourish He acted on
the suggestion afterwards, and gave receipts on
this plan in many cases where ignorant aud
capuous rebels made any show OF resentment :.
His explanations as to the nature Of a receipt
were wonders in their way, aud he generally
convinced his man that the rebel quartermaster
was the man topay the oils.
DICK, THE CAPTAINS COOK.
Habit IS very strong. Capt. h. had an old
darkey as cook and servant, who had been
niafc loE IOilt years. ne IlaQ great reverence
for white man, and always did what white
man told him TO do. This was a good quality,
but Uncle Dick carried it too far. The captain
would give him chicken TO carry into camp
some day on the march. Dick would wander
off, aud some private, great lover of chicken,
would swagger up to Dick and thunder out,
"What You doing with that chicken, you black
scoundrel? That man right over there is Gen.
Buell.. If he sees you with that chicken, he
will have you hung, sure. He had two niggers
hung this morning" This was always too
much for Dick, and he would hand the chicken
over, and the captain would go without chicken
for supper.
"Where's that chickea, Dick ?"
81 CUB it to a white man what Just saved me
from gettin' hung, sab, Massa Buell. was
mighty mad at me fur carryin' that chicken,
sah."
The captain would explain and then threaten.
Dick would always promise to never give an
other chicken up; but the next night, with the
captains cautions in his mind, and the captains
chicken in bis hands, be would be accosied by
some straggler; 81 say, uncle, where did you
get that chicsenp
IBIS fowl belongs to Capt. H., sab? l is his
cook sab"
80, yes; thought knew you. / thought |
knew you. know the captain very well. He
is my cousin. You remember me, don't you?
Just give me that chicken. I'll make il all right
with the captain" And Dick, with the teach
ngs of forty years clouding his intellect and
understanding, would deliver the chicken The
captain would be in a towering rage, and Dick
would explain. "a white man told me to glib
it to him, sab: scd he was your cousin. and
let him take de fowl"
Finally the captain told Dick he would have
him shot If he ever gave up another chicken
Under this threat Dick came into camp with
the chicken, and the captain viewed his opera
tions as he dressed it, with great satisfaction.
He stepped away to gossip with the colonel,
tTnnFgp Ii----flpgf MOI r.,
eaptain's) walked up TO Dick and said, "well,
Dick, you got the chicken safe this time havn't
YOU" eyes, sab. Goyl Massey Cap. gwine
to shoot me If don't fetch 'um, and white men
cant fool me no mo- That's right, uncle,
stick to it. The caps my brother, YOU know,
Nice fat chicken, isn't it? Let's have it," Dick,
in perfect confidence, handed the chicken to
George, and George walked off with il.
Half an hour afIerward the captain discov-
cred his cook sitting on Il camp kettle, with
feathers still sticking to his fingers, but no
chicken. where's that chicken, DickP with
all the earnestness that disappointed stomach
could inSpire) oyer brudder tuck EN- (sullen
and short). "My brother? He'll haven't
any brOther-you-' He said he was yer
brother. He looks like you He talks like YOU
an hes a mighty mean man-and dun
thought he was yer brudler But he better be
ca lul, cos dis ole man is mad now, he
Is. Dey is too many maSsas in dis company
One white man he says, hold de chicken Mud
der white man he says, let EN- 90. One white
ian shoot me if | DON'T and one white man
shoot me if / do. So can do muffin" George
here put in an appearance with the chicken
nicely fried, and explained to the captain that
he thought he would post Dick by trying an
other dodge on him, and that the Cap. might
not miss his SUPPER cooked the chicken himself
Old Dick looked into the pan with wide open
eyes; and while the two were laughing, slipped
off, went round to the little fire where George
had been cooking, and came back with three or
four choice bits OF chicken nicely cooked, which
George had put away for himself Dick precip.
itated affairs by turning these pieces into the
pan with The others, remarkng; "Massa George
dun forgot some OF de incest pieces" The cap
tain laughed and saw the point There was a
shout of laughter from outsiders, generally,
and George remarkng, THAT Niger is no
burned fool after ALL" executed quick de-
parture. This established Dicks reputation,
and be carried chickens with impunity until he
left the service.