The National tribune., 1885-05-07
ANOTHER GOOSE THIEF.
How . Hungry Soldier Captured the Succulent
lid


To THE EDITOR: Having come to the con-
clusion to take time by the forelock and fore
stall some inquisitive Yank, I'll come to the
Confessional and unbosom theft which has
been borne upon my mind, 10 these many
years. 1t was early in December OF '63 that
we were upon the return march to WOOdville,
Ala to take up Winter quarters. My regiment
started out of Chattanooga towards Stevenson,
and thinking it easier travelling on the railroad
than on the dirt road, dropped out OF ranks
and took the track My haversack was not over
we'll stocked with bareback, but thought
had enough for dinner. Well. along towards
sunset, after hard days tramp, / came to the
railroad tunnel, the dirt road passing over the
top of the mountain and the railroad running
through it. Here thought I'd lay off aud wait
for the boys to come along. There were half
dozen tenement houses at the foot of the noun
tain, and made myself comfortable in one of
these with all asoldier's characteristic modesty.
After waiting until the sun was disappearing
behind the mountain-top, l began to wonder
where on earth the 25th Iowa was. A battery
belonging to ST. Louis came along and pulled
ont for the night Upon inquiry, was in
formed the 25th had passed over the mountain.
Here was pickle-40 miles from homo and no
hard-tack, etc., guerrillas on the mountain,
and it getting dark. / had only my poncho,
haversack lit empty and canteen with which
to make life endurable i concluded the best
thing conld do was to turn in for the night
and trust to the battery boys for grub. They
very unceremoniously took possession of my
lodging house without even asking my leave.
This action on their part was dlscourteous, to
say the least. Right here (this being a confess
sion) wish to plead this act on their part in
extenuation of what followed on my part; for
we all know that soldier in possession was
considered as having the best right to soft
spot, and courtesy should have impelled them
to have said by your leave" etc.
They had captured five or six fresh-cured
hams and also had goose which, undoubtedly,
had refused to take the oath, and therefore
been unceremoniously brought into camp; at
least, that is my theory, for l never thought to
make specific inquiry upon this point. The
fresh cured hams seemed to be good enough for
them for supper, and to this very day and hour
/ can remember how good it smeilcd as they
fried it over the fire; and the coffee, how deli
ciOus! its fragrant aroma filled the room; and
how tempting the hard -tack-of which they
had a whole box-looked Did get any? Not
much-eXcepting to take it in by absorption.
/ soon realized l was hungry enough to eat
corncobs. and that here was dead loads of
good eating and could not get mouthful.
Alter eating,-aud it seemed to me they never
would get through.-they went to work and
skinned the goose, and, putting kettle on the
fire, cut it up, and slicing some bacon, put both
together in the pot and let her boil. After
some time we all fell asleep. Away along i'll
the night l wakened and found myself chilled
through and hungrier than ever. Raising my
self on my elbow, could see the motionless
forms lying like sardines with their toes all
turned towards the fireplace and by the dim
starlight that identical kettle hanging over the
dying embers. 1t wasn't long before l was sit
ting up straight, and accommodating the field, l
concluded by careful skirmishing might get
to that kettle. Carefully getting up slipped
along between them and got to the fireplace
without disturbing their peaceful sumbers.
Carefully feeling around on the inside of that
kettle brought forth several slices of bacon and
the leg of the goose. never did like to take the
best, SO carefully put the bacon back, and in
its place selected more goose. This operation
was continued until every bit of that goose was
in my pockets and haversack. Pm very sorry.
/ have always felt sorry, for l know it's wrong
to steal but please remember, in extenuation,
the circumstances meat diet is not good
alone, and, of course, fellow might as well be
kicked for a goose as a gosling, so made bold
to step over about dozen more sleepers, and
getting as many bareback as l could manage,
got back to my poncho and canteen, and shoul-
dcring them. concluded it was about time to
move on, as it might not be pleasant for me to
await the morning So slipping out when the
sentinel was towards tho lower end of his beat,
bli:hely skipped up the mountain side,-so to
speak,-guerriila or no guerrilla. / took my
supper on the mountain-top, sitting on stone,
all by myself Imagine the scene.
Hoping that time has as5uaged the anger of
those fellows, and thanking them kindly for
80 excellent supper at this late date, shall
sign myself, as / was then-C. J. LEMON, Cor
poral, Co. G, 25th Iowa, Shawneetown, Ill.