Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-25
I)eeIins 8e9istes
TIE BLUE M GRAY.
Nj B,nflfae ia y. y. World.

While LODgStreet was in front of SufOlk
pecklug at US with Wright's batteries, in.
stead OF coming in and "wipiug us out, "
as he could have done before We were re eu-
forced, q report came in that he was mass,
lng q heavy force to the southeast of our
mes, our weakest point of defense. To
earn the true state Of things at this point
l was sent with a small scouting party by
way OF the Single Compauys canal into
Lake DrummOud. to scout from thence
south Of the uismal Swamp.
tong n sAItiS We reached a landing on
to,eranis Sohd ground aud camped for the
nigh; OF a little knoll in y dense thicket Of
scrub pius, u half mile or Whereabouts from
the point Of landing. OF course | had seu,i-
Ueis we'll out from our biyoCac, for We knew
BY many sounds that the enemy were not far
iron us. All went well through the nigh,
and u, Ga~u We made coffee and cooaed
some v,rison that | had got from old Duke
at the head OF the canal as We came by his
place on tue previous afternoon. The sen
uueis We're called into breakfast, for there
seemed 10 De no Immediate danger. We
had Just Squatted 10 our coffee aud grist
when u sound struck our ears which made
every man in silence spring up and grasp
his Sharps carbine. IL was the heavy tread
OF men. We had Just got our arms in hand
when . dozen men in rebel gray, led BY a
Lieutenant over SIX feet high and lean as d
neil, broke right through the brush in iron.
Of US.
lna second, while both parties stood at a
TeGCy, the Lieutenant cried out:
Hold on, Ganksl II y%ou'uus won't
shoot, weuns II hold fire. That coffee
smells mighty good-we' uns haven't had
none for a year. We've lots OF tobacco,
though.
He and his men looked so gaunt and
hungry, aud so little like enemies Just then,
that / cled out:
"lfyouN stack your arms out there and
trust to US, you shall share in grub and
coffee, and then be free to 60 back and fight
il out if you want to.
Good as sweet corn! We Il are mighty
hungry, you bet
They at once stacked arms and we did
the same, and while our cook put more
coffee and more steak on the fire, we sat
there on the ground, the Blue and Gray, and
talked as If we were old friends. Not about
the war or Its causes, bu. about camp lite
and other things.
And the way our coffee went down with
hard tack and Juicy ~yenisou steak, would
have satisfied the ~prsudest landlord that
ever Dragged OF his table.
After we had filled up. the FrglnIanS
brought oul their tobacco aud did thslr share
OF treating. The Lieutenant had q huge
canteen OF old peach brand, and that went
the rounds.
After We had got so friendly asked the
Lieutenant how he came 10 De IN on that
point. He replied:
Il was sent to watch least you 'uns came
this way in force to take u OF the flank.
Our main force is massed in front, where
the batteries are ready to 20 in if you uns
weaken, and the old man (Longstreet) was
afeared you might come through the swamp
and tickle Us in the rear. What were you
'uns doin here?'
Just out on q hunt for fresh meat; go,
| this deer last night.
We'll, the best o luck to you. You
/ don't feel like fghtirg now, DO your
Not if You boys don't. 1t would be
| pity TO spoil this picnic that way
so We aII shook hands, traded coffee foI
tobacco, ana separated, at least for then, a
friends. The next day on the lines We were
all throwing lead and iron at each other.