Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-06-24
Hens Fruit, a War Story
By GRAsoN.

The old Second Wisconsin regi.
ment will always remember certain
Capt. W-x. an said" oil Gen'.
Reynolds, who commanded the first
army corps. He attracted their at.
tention and gained from certain
kind of applause, not very compIi.
mentary but, as Billy florence would
say Immensely funny" 1t was on
the march to Gettysburg that one of
the high privates, desiring to do
justice to his stomach, that had in
his opinion been somewhat neglect
ed, invested his hard earned money
in two dozen of fresh eggs, and,
putting them in his hat, started to
rejoin his regiment. He plodded
along toward camp, with his
thoughts wandering in happy
channel. thinking how pleased his
"pard." Bill, would be to help stow
away those nice fresh eggs-some
they would fry and the rest "bils"
for the next day. Alas for human
calculations. He was soon to be
victim of the old adage, "Thers's
many slip 5etwixt the cup and the
lip" for loud voice from behind
commanded "Haltl" Ho turned as
he obeyed the order, and there,
mounted on his horse, and attended
by an orderly, stood Captain
VIZ. "Give me those eggs"
he demanded "But captain" replied
our private, bought them and
want them for my own use."
Bought them ?" scornfully replied
the captain, forgetting that the
corps were in loyal state, and
were on their good behavior. 81
don't believe any such story" and
poor Jack was compelled to give the
eggs to the orderly, and the two
dozen found their way to the cap
tain 8 quarters, and no doubt were
cooked for him Now it may seem
strange, but that one act cost the
captain his position on the staff.
Private Jack, on reaching his regi.
ment, told his comrades of his shah
by treatment, and the men soon
decided on plan for revenge, and
passed the watchword oil along the
line, keep quiet, there's q hen on"
The next day, one of the brightest
of lovely June, found the brigade on
the march with the Second regiment
on the lead. Nothing happened to
break the usual incidents of their
daily tramp, until near noon, when
the gentle youths of the Second be-
gan shouting in violent manner,
and directing their entire attention
to a horseman who was riding slow
ly along their ranks. 1t was Cap
Tain W-x, and the cry of "hen's
eggs" "hens eggs" was shouted,
until the men were fatty hoarse,
and the Captain overwhelmed with
shame. The Col. (Fairchlld) was
80 astonished that it was some little
time before be recovered, and riding
along the line be informed the men
"thas he would punish the first man
that shouted "hen's eggs" The
other regiments sooa learned the
story, and the next day when the
Captain made his appearance, the
Sixth joined their ally in evading
Col. Bairohild's order, and such
cock'orowing and caeklng were
never heard before 10 the whole
army. An order was issued to pre-.
vent "crowing and cackling," but on
the third day the hen fever had
spread to such degree that when
the Captain appeared, the men
obeyed orders, not cock-crow nor
a cackle was heard, but at a given
signal, "hen fruit" chen fruit" was
heard from a thousand throats. The
battle of Gettysburg stopped the
fun, and the captain found it 80 hot
among "those western men," that
he resigned his position on the staff
and resumed his place with his COM
pany in another corps.-From every
soldier methinks | bear the re.
spouso "Served him right"