Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-02-06

A n Ex-COn federate's Ren7fn-
iscence OF the War.
Why the Hatred of One han for Another
Turned to Affection

tion-never have been given fair
show in my younger days-the reader
Is asked to excuse my plain language /
and bad grammar.
You must know that | belonged to
the 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 powerful big chap
named 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 selfish,
overbearing and cruel man of him. !
He hadn't been in the company a week
before half the men were down on
him for his meanness.
Big Sam also had his dislikes, but
there was one man he hated in partic-
ular. shouldn't have said man. for
be was only boy L years old-slim,
pale-faced and as timid in look as
girl. Sam took a hatred of this bov
on sight. and he let no occasion pass
to 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, we
never heard him condemning anybody
by word of mouth. Some of US would
have killed Big Sam had we been in
Jimmie's place, but such thing as
striking back seemed never to have
occurred to the boy, Well. one day
when a 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, | want to send word to
Colonel - Where's the man who'll
take it?'
He was looking right ut 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
\ ankee muskets with the message
The first thing we knew Jimmie had
mounted horse from which some OF
ficer had been shot and was riding
away. How he ever ran that gaunt-
let with his life was more than | could
tell, 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
hate 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 righ. 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 solemn oath to kill him at
the first opportunity. Indeed, be
limited 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 th'
flag which the color bearer had dropp
ed as a bullet had hit him. was Corpo
raj Jimmie. | was feeling proud t
see him there. when. as heaven is m,
Judge, | saw Big sam raise his musket
take deliberate aim at the boy, an'
next moment Corporal Jimmie wen
down.
It WAS hurivburly time. with crap
and lead cutting al around us. and
let the incident pass for time, de
termined. though. that big sam shoul
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 driver
and that was how It came about tha
CORPORAL Jimmie. With his left arr
broken By Big SANS bullet, fonn
himself lying beside the ex-oversee1
who had a Yankee bullet II his le.
. There were plenty of others woundel
and some dead ones. too. but our tw
/. men lav almost side by side Big Sa'
was groaning. carsing and whinin
Ike the coward he was, when a cal
teen was held within reach and voic
said
Take II. comrade-a drink vi
r ease your pain.