The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-12-14
4 Camp Episode.
One Of the Amusing Incidents that Occurred
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One Of the Amusing Incidents that Occurred al
Fredericksburg.
''Fore de Lord, l cotch YOU now,
shuah."
These words, not much in them
selves, were uttered under such pecu-
liar circumstances as to cause shouts of
wild laughter in the Confederate camp,
located beyond the town of Fredericks
burg, Va, and they were the express
sions of satisfaction given utterance to
by one of the numerous faithful ser
wants and followers of Young Mars
ter" The splendidly-organized, armed,
and equipped army of the Union, under
General Hooker, lay encamped along
the north bank of the Rappahannock
Confederates, under General Lee, guard
ed the south bank. Rations, as usual,
were scarce within the Confederate
lines, and chicken was luxury seldom
to be enjoyed. Jim, the well-known at
tendant of the Lieutenant Colonel of the
Forty-seventh Virginia Infantry, who
enjoyed the reputation of being not only
splendid cook, but also successful
forager, had upon one of his expedi-
tions by some means, fair or foul, Sc
cured a rooster, destined on some i'm
portant occasion to adorn the table of
the Colonel. Coops not being regard
ed as a part of camp equipage, Jim Sc
cured his prize by tying it by the leg to
his cook-tent until the captive rooster
became domesticated to camp life,
when it was allowed to roam around
the camp, yet ever under the watchful
eye of Jim, its captor.
The Colonel, summoning jim to
council, informed him that company of
great Importance would that day visit
the camp, and inquired of his faithful
ally whether it would be safe to invite
them to remain and dine. Assuming
an air of deep thought, scratching his
head, and gazing intently on the
ground, Jim replied:
..Marse, tings am berry scarce around
here; but | 'spect by KILN OBJ dat
chicken an maxim dumplin' soup, wild
what tings ole marster sent you de od-
der day, we mought make out TO git up
afar kind of entum-men-tainment,s sar."
''All right, Jim; then upon your re-
sponsibility will invite my friends to
remain to camp dinner" said the Col
onel.
Immediately in front of Jim's tent
there remained a panel or so of an old
Virginia worm fence left standing,
which had been carefully guarded and
used by Jim for his culinary work. A
search for 'dat chicken disclosed him
scratching in a corner of that old worm
fence. Jim went for the chicken, and
that wise old bird sought refuge first on
one side and then on the other, dodg-
ing under and through the rails in so
successful manner that Jim, tired and
disguised, mounted on top rail and
sat down, waiting patiently for his
chicken to seek some other refuge
where he could capture him easier, all
the tine giving expression to his dis
gust at the chickens obstinacy in re-
fusing to be caught.
Suddenly flash was seen on the
Stafford side of the river, and the whist
ling of a shot was heard. There was a
crash, and, to the horror of the camp,
rails were sent about, the remnant of
Jim'S fence lay Strewn around. and
jim was recognized on the ground in
spread-eagle style. The Colonel's din
ner was forgotten, and jim only was
thought of. As the soldiers ran to pick
up what they supposed to be Jim's life
less remains he was seen to pull HIM
self together, gain sitting position,
and gaze around him upon the scene of
disaster with eager and anxious gaze.
His eyes soon rested upon the fright
ened rooster making the best possible
time down the middle of the camp; Jim,
springing nimbly to his feet, without
expressing surprise or fright at his es-
cape, giving a loud guffaw, and in live
ly tones Of pleasure, exclaimed, as he
started on rapid run after the chicken;
Oar, now, bress God, you can't git I'M
der dat fence no mo-; fore God, | cotch
you now, shuah.h He captured his
rooster, and retired amid the cheers and
shouts of the camp to his tent to make
''dat pot oh chicken soup, wild dump
lin's' for young marster's company
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