The National tribune., 1888-02-23

- shot saying he wished
- &c n the boys would stop
@5SSE SLgTe9 ouarreliug over who
EssszE=, 2A 4 PLANTED the first flag
.ASFflA e on eapitols and court
& t1A2$eSR-Z houses captured from
-=SroeT the enemy during our
sO~- late unpleasantness,
but say something
shout captured hogs and other edibles In
reply / viii relate Circumstance that hap
pened to Conrade Francis A. Sutton ana myself
for buying and paying for hog in the Fall Of
1863. At the time Of which / write oGr com
pany T, 5Sth Pa, under command OF Capt.
John II. Collins, was stationed at Fort Jack, on
the opposite side Oft the river and about mile
and half from Washington, n. c.
Here allow me TO dieress. In 1861 while at
Harrisburg, Pa, the tent TO which ] belonged
was designated the Lions Den" / suppose it
was on account Of its members being SO quiet
and orderly. / was nic-named "Sh3nty Me-
CURE" or the young Lion" As general
rule the members Of the Lions Den did torag-
ing FOR themselves and By themselves. On this
occasion al except the Young Lion was on
duty. l was haukering to get outside cur
lines and get hold of something that did not
belong TO me-anything to cripple the enemy.
/ thought 10 capture hog would GO as much
toward that END as any thing ! could do that
day: so / invited Sutton. who belonged 10
another mess, and he readily consented TO &C
company me. On cur way out told Sutton Of
some parties who lived about two miles out
side of our lines, who had been very kind in
tile past by way OF furnishing the Lions Den
with pork, mutton, turkeys and chickens, lun-
bekn0wn 10 themselves. however, where
Though probably we could get hog, IS they
had 3 large number. We wali0Wed through
the swamp, coming out at their hog pasture.
There were no hogs to be seen. We cautiously
approached the house, where near by we saw
several negroes bUtchering the hogs we we're
looking for. As we approaced the hOg-slaugh-
tering party, ] said to Sutton it was very kind
Of them 70 save Us the trouble OF killing and
skinning a hog; however, cur expressed JOY
was Of shor; duration. As we came up az old
gentleman, whom we both knew as Colonel
came ont Of the house, greeting US kindly (he
was prUfessedly q strong Union man; however,
] always doubted his sincerity and told Us that
the parties owning the plantation were sick,
and, as a neighbor, be came over to see TO the
slaughtering Of their hogs. / at once saw that
foraging at that time CD those
GROUNDS WOULD DE DANGEROUS,
as / knew the Colonel held almost daily inter
course at our outer pickot-post with some one Of
our officers; so I said TO him that we had been
informed by one OF their colored men that they
were going TO butcher that day, and we came
out 10 see If we couldn't purchase a small hog.
The Colonel said the parties had none to spare.
(At tie same time there were at least so dressed
hogs hanging, and fully as many In the in
closure 20 be slaughtered). After coaxing a
few moments and telling him we had Confed-
crate money 10 pay with. he said be might
prevail on the owners TO spare as small one;
10 select and say how much we would pay,
which we did, Offering S24 in Confederate
money for 8 hog that would weigh about
100 pOUnGs. He said be would 90 TO the
house and see. He came back shortly
and said if We would add s. in greenbscks
we might have it; which we did. Il always
thought the old fellow pocketed the s. but it
was only lent for a few days anyway Sutton
shOsidcred the hog carried our guns, and we
retraeed our steps through the swamp towards
Fort Jaok. In the meantime, as we afterward
learned, ard before we reached camp too, the
Colonel had an engagement that afternoon
TO meet Col. McChesney, cur post commander,
co the gidet post, where the old cuss told Nc
ChGsHey that Two Of his men were outside Of
the lines stealing hogs. The old fellow may
have anticipated our design when We left camp,
but ~ cur subsequent actions he knew he was
lying; besides, he ought not 10 have said any
thing about seeing US, as he promised he would
not, as we had told him We were there without
permission
When Col. MeChesney came back from the
outpost he halted at Fort Jack, informed Capt.
Collins Of what he had heard, ceusurad the
Captain for allowing bis men 10 90 outside Of
the lines, and gave orders 10 arrest US upon our
return. and send Us over to Washington. An
immediate roll-cau WAS ordered, when Sutton
and myself we're found TO be the miscreants.
A detail was ordered, with Serg't z II. Over
hiser II command. lie marched cut deployed
his men around the edge Of the swamp Wh ere
We must necessarily come out aud awaited de-
EelOpnIentS. At the same time Sutton and nv
self we're lsbOriously foundering through the
swamp towards camp alternately taking turns
10 carrying the hog and guns, little dreaming
what vas IN store for Us As we got nearly
through the swamp 60 that we could see dry
land sc SAW or boys depl0yed as skirmishers
saic to Sutton il was mighty lucky for US
that VIC had get back, IS il looked as though
Washington was to be attacked again.
By lhis tame we arrived IN speaking distance
and IN front ofSerg' 0yerhiser. said Hello
what is up-neWs Of another advance Of the
enemyr' Oyerhiser replied " You win find
cut what Is Up. You are caught this time. Col
McCAesney was at the outpost and informed
that yOa were outside stealing hogs" True
said i, we were outside Of cur lines but ",
bought and paid for this hog" Yes" replied
OFcrli-cr, / know 2ll about how You pay fo
articles yon set outside o. cur lines" lie as
scmb4ed BIS squad ia two ranks, With
sUTT0s. HoG AID HYsELF AT THE HEAD
OF tbs column, and started for Fort Jack. On
the 49, OFerhiser told Of the order Capt. Col
Inns had reeeiFed concerning u.s. lie ais
bonghs CIR beg for his mess. s. lgreenbackg
being the price agreed upon. We were march
&c Up ia lT0nt Of Capt CoIius's maraue Tn
Sergeant reported his capture. The CAPTAIN
came cut after looking at DC a few second
during which l imagined could discern th
seu1blancc 81 EIaile on his countenance. 10
We must haVe presented rather ludicrous an
pearsDce-sattOn with the hog on his Shout
der ard me with the two muskets, one ip eac
hand, Standing At a shoulder arms The Car
tain dismissed the squad ard said he was yer
sorgy that We had got ourselves into this scrapt
at once sid that did not know before ths
u was criminal oGeuse 60 buy and pay for
hog. lie said, Did you pay for that Log p 7
which we replied Captain. we did % Wen.
sala The Captain, there is no other way 10
me, bat 70 send you over TO Washington, as Ii
orders are perenptory. So go 70 your quarter
wash and TX up, get something to eat. an
come back end tell me al about It :" which v
did, and on our way delivered the hog 10 Owe
hissr's mess and received our 81 IN Uncle sam
money.
After making our soldier toilet and eating
snacE, fas 6uE negro cook used the term 4
lunch. He exported 70 the Captain, and Co
him how we came possessed Of the hog. 4
said the orders were imperative and he won
have 70 send Us over to regimeutal beadgua
tiers, but said: "Tell Mai. Martin how 4
and hc viii order you right back.D / told Il
Captain re lad been on picket datv eve
ofhaT Fer for soma time "A No ri