The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-05-17

the plan of many an important action.
1t was devilishly funny thing, and
[ never knew the true explanation of
it until last winter when | was at the
reunion of the Army Of the Cumber-
land During all the years after the
w;.r thlS incident would recnr to me
with h4mnable persistency. 1t would
mt down. and it finally became 81
that | made a special effort to find out
the true facts. What was it all about?
Well (smiling grimly). it was about
the theft Of half dozen young spring
chickens We were on the march
from Atlanta to the sea. The coun-
try this day was absolutely barren.
There was little grub to be had, and
it took some Of the most expert for
ayers in the army to get decent
breakfast.
"The Eighth Missouri was with me
on the march. This regiment was
known through all the army as being
the damnedest foragers. There wasn't
thing to eat that they couldn't and
wouldn't steal. There was no trying
to get ahead of them. Captain Lam
mond was in the regiment. He was
a young fellow, and lost no opportu-
nifty of saying harsh things about the
thievish propensities of the boys of
the Eighth Missouri. Well, the boys
didn't like that, and they tried to get
even with hammond every opportuni-
ty that presented itself. They stole
his saddle-blankets, his canteens,
his rations, everything in fact
they could lay hands on. They
were brave men, all Of them. and the
best fighters in the army. They liked
me, and would never steal from me.
| never lost saddle-blanket at their
hands. They didn't like hammond,
though.
well, I'm getting away from my
story" said the General, shifting his
cigar to the side Of his mouth. 1--WE
were," he said. marching through
terrible country one day. There was
absolutely nothing to be had to eat.
We pitched headquarter tents for the
night in farm-yard. About dusk
hammond started off on his horse to
hunt for forage, and in about an hour
he returned with half dozen fine
young spring chickens. I'm going
to have these for breakfast the Cap
tain said, exultingly. Yes, you will
said I, If those damned Eighth Mis-
souri, men don't steal 'em tonight
Never fear said the Captain, I'll get
ahead of them this time In the
yard was ore Of those old-fashion d
corn-crihs. made of split logs. It was
diamond-shaped, looking at it from
the fore. and there was only one en-
trance to it, a narrow door left in the
front. The floor Of the crib was raised
about two feet from the ground, and
even hog couldn't squeeze under.
There was staple and hasp on
the door. but no lock hammond
swore he'd fix the boys of the Eighth.
and went and got the paddock off the
headquarters chest-a box about the
size Of candle-box He put the six
chickens to roost in the crib, and then 4
put the paddock on the door and lock-
ed it. There was only one key, so, of
course, no one could open it. Guard
No. was told to keep his eye on the
crib, and he marched up and down in
front of it all night. In the morning
hammond went out to get his chick
ems. He came back in a minute, his
face red, his eyes lurid, and, swearing,
he cried, BY -, General. thev are
gone And so they were. The guard
swore no one was near the crib, the
lock was all right, the door was tight,
but those id chickens were stolen.
How they got away worried me more
than O good many bigger things. I
never forgot it, and always tried to
find out how the boys Of the Eighth
Missouri stole those chickens, for l
knew they stole 'em.
''Last winter" continued the Gen.
eral, with laugh, II finally solved
the mystery Of the spring chickens.
Major Jack Hefernan, Of the Eighth
Missouri, gallant soldier, but man
who loved a joke always, was at the
reunion of the Army of the Cumber-
land. | met him one day, and before
he could say word | said Jack, tell
nae how your boys stole Lammond's
chickens Jack laughed, and swore
his boys didn't steal 'em, but | made
him confess. He said General, you
know our boys didn't like hammond.
Well, that night when they heard he
had those six fat young chickens in
the corn crib some Of the boys swore
they'd get 'em if they were shot for
trying. After dark a couple Of 'em
went out in the woods and cut two
long rails, which they backed" to
camp. One of them was then sent to
the surgeons tent, and out of the
chest he stole wad Of cotton and
phial of chloroform. Then the boys
all stole quietly to the rear of the crib.
The guard was pacing to and fro in
front of the crib, but they were so
quiet he didn't hear I'm.
1.-Two of the boys took the rails,
and, putting 'ep under the back of |
the crib, which in the rear came with
in foot Of the ground, they pried it |
ap softly. and made room enough for
q slight drummer boy to crawl und r
The men held up the crib while the
kid was beneath it. The drummer
boy put his cotton soaked with chlor-
oform, on the end Of twig. ready for
use. Then he quietly slipped aside
some of the loose boards of the floor
of the crib. Inthe dark he could zee
the shadowy outlines of the sleeping
chickens on their roost. Without
a noise, he waved the chl"ro-
form gently to and fro under them.
One by one they dropped off, without
squawk. He wrung their
heaes off, and thrust the six into
bsg Not sound was made. and the
sentinel paced t., aud fro III front If
the crib, all UNCONSCIOUS Of sh- chick
-n tragedy being enact-d within
When the boy had all the chick
ems he showed them out to the men.
and crawled out after replacing the
floor boards. The crib was let gent
tly to the ground, hay was scattered
about to conceal the fresh soil, the