The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-12-13
SOME GOOD WAR-YARNS.
LITTLE ORNAMENTS PLUCKED
FROM THE MANTLE OF

L
Bloody Mars An cold Vet'' Tells the
Sentinel of an Unofficial and Undis-
coveredgArmistice Retween the Blue
and Grey.
Especial Correspondence to the Seutiaell
| 1 will give you some history about
have not seen in print Did you know
that Zeb Vance was not the only Con-
federate that ran the blockade, with
English clothing and other supplies !
Companies G. of the 21st N. C. Regi-
ment and other companies of the Regi-
ment ran a regular line of ships be-
tween the North and South. The
Union soldiers would send us their
supplies, and we would ship ours back
to them, and the beauty about it was
that neither had custom house officers,
mo tariff to pay,-like it would be
at present if the privates of the ranks
had control.
In December 1862, the 18th and
18th I believe, we whipped General
Burnside back across the river at
Fredericksburg, Va. After the fight
both armies went into winter quarters;
in the winter and spring of 'o3, our
Regiment had TO do picket duty ON
this side Of the river near Fredericks-
burg, and the Union men were on
the north bank.
We captured several little sail boats
at Fredericksburg that we used to do
our shipping. While the generals of
both armies were laying back at quar-
ters, drinking whiskey, the prlvates of
both armies we're trading and ex
changing the commerce of our coun-
tries. We had an armistice, unknown
to the Generals on either side. We
were friendly, never fired a shot at
each other, but kept our boats sailing
On the waters of the Rappahannock,
loaded with tobacco. When they
landed ON The north bank of the river,
the Yanks would reload with sugar
and coffee and send them over to the
| Confederacy. A great many letters
were posted both ways.
While Abe Lincoln and JEFF Davis
were holding their place meetings at
Fortress Monroe, we had our meetings
on the banks of the Rappahannock
river. The peace proposition offered
between the privates and subordinate
| officers ON both sides was for both
armies to march to the banks of the
river, put their guns into it and go
home, and let JEFF. Davis and Abe Lin
| coin fight it out.
Our shipping business went on until
warm weather. Then they would go
in bathing together and make the ex-
changes. This business continued un
til the campaign opened in '63. The
| above are facts and there are few
old North Carolina veterans that
would testify to it to-day, and sup
pose some of Gen. Hancock's COM
mand would do the same. f.
Forsyth Co., N. c., Dec. 7, ,'S8.
***
| Military anecdotes remind me
says a writer in the New York,
Tribune, of story 1 heard General
Sheridan tell once, and which I do
not remember having seen in print
before. The General at the time was
in command of some Western troops
fighting the Indians. A band of the
latter mad made a sudden attack on a
detachment of his men, but fcrtu-
nately they had mountain howitzer
mounted on mule. Not having time
to take it off and put it in position,
they backed up and blazed away at
the savages. The load was SO heavy
that the mule and all went tumbling
down the hill toward the Indians,
who, not understanding that kind of
fighting, took to their hills. After
wards one of them was captured, and
when asked by Sheridan why he ran,
replied
"Me big Injun, not afraid Of little
or big guns, but when white man fires
whole jackass at Injun he don't know
what to do
Another story which Gen Sheridan
was fond of telling at the dinner ta-
BILE, after the coffee had been served
and the ladies had retired, went
somewhat like this, / am told:
There was jealous chaplain OF the
army of the Potomac who had called
on colonel noted for his profanity,
to talk of the religious interests of his
men. After having been politely
mentioned to seat on the chest the
chaplain began:
| Colonel, you have one of the finest
regiments in the army
II believe SC" said the colonel in
reply.
'sDo you think" pursued the chap.
lain, chat you pay sufficient attention
to the religious instruction of your
Een %
"WeH I don't know doubtfully
replied the colonel.
| "a lively interest has been awak.
ened in the Massachusetts," the
parson went on to say. THE Lord
has blessed the labors of his servants,
and ten have already been baptiz-
ed.
''Is that SO ?'' excitedly cried the
colonel, and then turning to the at
| tendant added, Sergeant major, have
fifteen men detailed Immediately fol
baptism. I'll be blAnked If I'll bs
outdone by any Massachusetts regi
ment."
Congressman Cox, of New York
who is always full of anecdotes bear
ing upon the taking of the last census
asks his friends to believe that II
the District Of Columbia a certain
lcensus-taker was making his officia