Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1885-11-04
STORY OF TWO CORPORALs
An EX-Confederate'S Remin-
iscence Of the War.
Why the Hatred of One Man for Another
Turned to Affection

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and bad grammar.
You must know that l belonged to
Che Fifteenth Alabama infantry, and
that we went to the front pretty early
in the war. We thus had our pick of
good men. In my company the third
corporal was a powerful big chap
canned Sam Chaplin, who had been
overseer on a plantation near Hunts
vile. He was not only big and pow
erful but his habits had made asellish,
overbearing and cruel man of him.
lie hadn't been in the company a week
before half the men were down on
lim for his meanness.
Big Sam also had his dislikes, but
there was one man he hated in partic-
dlar. shouldn't have said man, for
ae was only boy II years old--slim,
pale-faced and as timid in look as q
girl. Sam took hatred of this boy
IN sight, and he let no occasion pass
20 nag him and render his hard lot
still harder. Jimmie, as the boy was
called, had no complaint to make. He
was of forgiving disposition, and no
matter what he felt or thought, VIC
never heard him condemning anybody
oy word of mouth. Some of US would
have killed Big Sam had we been in
Iimmie's place, but such thing as
striking back seemed never to have
occurred to the boy. Well, one day
when part of our regiment was cut
off from the brigade by flank move
ment of the Union troops, and our
situation was desperate, our captain
steps out and says:
"Boys, 1 want to send word to
Colonel -. Where's the man who'll
lake it?'
lie was looking right at Big Sam all
The time, but that individual turned
two shades whittier, and hid himself in
the rear ranks. muttering that nobody
but fool would try to push past 5000
Yankee muskets with the message
The first thing we knew Jimmie had
mounted horse from which some Of
licer had been shot and was riding
away. How he ever ran that gaunt-
let with his life was more than could
ell, but he did get through, and down
came enough of our forces to help us
out of the box.
This was new cause for Big Sam to
nate Jimmie. The boy had not only
exhibited greater courage in the face
Of danger, and right before us all, but
he was promoted to second corporal.
This was promotion right over the
head of Big Sam, and he felt it to the
ends of his fingers. lie couldn't nag
the boy any more, and | have no doubt
he swore a solemn oath to kill him at
The first opportunity. Indeed, he
hinted as much, and became so ugly
and abusive to all that some of us
wanted to kill him.
Well, in about six weeks we had
another tussle with the Yanks. We
got into it hot and heavy. and as we
were driving them for the moment
found myself alongside of Big Sam
We were disputing for rise Of ground
and far in advance of us, carrying the
Tag which the color bearer had drOpp.
ed as a bullet had hit him, was COrpo
raj Jimmie. l was feeling proud tc
see him there. when, as heaven is my
Judge, l saw Big Sam raise his musket
take deliberate aim at the boy, ant
aext moment Corporal Jimmie went
down.
1t was hurlyburly time, with grape
and lead cutting all around us, and
let the incident pass for a time, de
termined, though, that Big Sam should
pay the forfeit after the battle.
We kept on and on, but as we ros'
the hill we were checked. In fv,
minutes more we were being driven
and that was how it came about tina
Corporal Jimmie, with his left arm
broken by Big Sans bullet. founC
himself lying beside the ex-overseer
who had Yankee bullet in his leg
There were plenty of others wounded
and some dead ones, too, but our tw,
men lay almost side by side. Big San
was groaning cursing and whining
like the coward he was, when can
teen was held within reach and a voic
said:
"Take it, cOmrade- a drink vii
ease your pain"
"W-what. is it you?" exclaimed tn
overseer as he rose up on his elbo,
and gazed at Jimmie.
"Yes; both of US are down, but yo
are hit the worst Can help yOu?"
"You help me?"
"Of course"
. 1t paralyzed Big Sam to meet wit
such words from the man he had trie
to kill. After time he groaned out
/, "Say, Jimmie, you orter shoot m
rough the head"
"What for?"
, "Cause, I'm the man that fred ths
q bullet into you"
"Well, don't want revenge. II
now able to crawl away, but l won
leave YOU"
q Tho Yanks were nassing artiller
q to play on the rise of ground and whi
q does Corporal Jimmie do but get up
the face of all the sharp shooters an