Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-10-07
A CAMP EPISODE.
One of the Amusing Incidents that
Occurred - The War.

"Fore de Lord, kotch you shuah. >
These words, not mnch in themselves
we're uttered under snch pecnliar cir
! cumstancas as to came shouts of viii !
laughter in the Confederate amp loclt
Cd bevond the town nf Fredericks burg
! Va, and thew were the expires sions Of
satisfaction given utteranca to nv one
If the numerous faithful servants and
! followers of g Young M4rster."
Rations as usual were scaroa within
| the Confederate lines, aud chicken wa
= luxnrv seldom To ne eujrVed. Jim.
| the we'll known attend ant Of tha lion
tenant cnlonel OF the Fortv-seventh Vir
einia Infantry. who enjo, ed the repu'a-
ton Of being not only a splendid cook
nut al+o succ 'ssful forager. hal, upon
! one Of his exps iitinus, bv soma means
fair or foui, secured a rooster, destined
on some important oc:Asinn to adorn
the table of the colonel Cops not b.
ing regarded "a part of cLnp eq lio-
age. Jim secured his rriZa bg tying j.
by the leg to his cook-tent until the
ciptive rooster became domestic ated to
ctmp-hfA, when 1t was allowed to roam
around the camp. vet ever under the
watchful eye of jim, its captor. The
ordinary routine of camp-lfs was occa-
sionallv varied nv shot or shell, sent nv
way of reminder from the Stafford
a ghts into onr lines. Men soon be-
come acc Istomed to snch things IN war
times, aud Jim was not au exception to
the general I'll e, as the future demon
strated.
The colonel, summoning Jim To coun.
Gil, inf Drmed him that comp my OF great
Importance would that dav visit the
camp, aud inquired of his faithful ally
whether it would be SAT } to invite them
to remain and dine. Assuming an air
OF deep thought, scratching his heal
and gaz ng intently on the ground, Jim
replied:
"Marse, tin0s am berry scarce around
here. but 'spsst by KILN OBJ dat
chicken an maxim dnmplin' soup wit
what tings old marster sent you de
odder day, wa mought make out to git
up fair kind of feE-tum-mer-tain ment,
sah."
"AIl right, jim; then npon your re-
sponsibiIity | will invite nv friends to
remain to camp dinner" said the
colonel
Immediately in front of Jm's tent
there remained panel or SO of an old
Virginia worm fence left standing, which
had been carefully guarded and used by
him for his culinary work. A search
for "dat chicken" disclosed him scratch
ing ill corner of that old worm fence.
jim went for the chicken and that wise
old bird sought refuge first on one
side and then the other, dodgiag under
and through the rails in so successful
manner that jim, tired and d gusted,
mounted on top rail and sat down
waiting patiently for his chicken TO
seek some other refuge where he co1ld
capture him easter, all the time giving
expression tn his di,gust at tine
chickens obstinacy III refusing to be
caught.
Suddenly fash was seen on the
Stafford side of the river and the
whi,tling of a shot was helrd. There
was crash, aud, TO the horror OF the
camp, rails were sent about. the rem
nant If Jim's fence lay strewn around.
and jim was rec )Snized on the ground
III spread-eagle style. The cOlonePs
dinner was forgotten aud Jim only
was Thought OF. A. the soldiers ran to
pick mp what they supposed to be Jlm's
lifeless remains, he was seen to pnll
himself together, gain sitting position
aud gaze around him upon the scene OF
disaster with eager and anxious gaze.
His eyes soon rested upon the frightened
rooster making the best possible time
down the mi Idle of the camp; jim.
sprineing nimbly to his feet, without
expressing surprise or fright at his
escape, giving a loud Ruff.w, and in
lively tones of pleasure exclaimed. rs he
started on rapid run after the chicken:
"Dar now, you cau't git un Ter dat fence
no mo-; cotc1 you now, shuah." He
captured his rooster AMI retired, amid
,he cheers and shonts OF the camp, to
his tent to make "dat pot ob chicken
soup wild dumplins' for yonng marster's
company.