Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-01-18

transformations in homespun, mingling
iraternally with the moro sleek and
well-uniformed Fcderals. Tho canteens
were soon filled, and their woolen
jackets well soaked to keep the con-
tents cool, and the men of both 81 les
sprawled on the grass like merry makers
at picnic. had heard Of similar
scenes, but never of one marked
by such friendly case, a complaconcy,
however, not shared by the
officers. These more response.
BILE watch-dogs, now that the
irrepressible need OF water had been
met and a convention made to stop all
picket-fring till further notice, were
eager to withdraw the men into their
lines again. All attempts to restore the
discipline of war for the time availei
nothing. Human nature was to the
fore, and it was not to bo trif d with
by any such small matter as army re2u.
lations. The fascinating complnion-
ship bossomod ilto every manner of
PLEASANT, mutual Offices, as lar as the
VIII could stand for the deed in the
ca'o of our poverty stricken Confeder-
AZ friends, or the decd could answer
tdthe will ia default of a tagging COM
nissary train.
aIt was noticeable that on neither side
VS. there any Dragging of proves.
lie vainglory Of victory over each
oiher when they had just warmel
p Inns Ike reunited wanderers from the
Il me hcuso-brood, seemed despic ,ble
Ting. Yet each man knew that
tiienty- -four hours hence he would be
4 keen to fly at this brothers. throat as
cfer, and feel the same old thrill OF
tiumph at captured standards aad a
ding foe. Perhaps the dumb presence
a !. thia." certainty .oxeys6ad owing ths.
tkuching comedy gave more llvJly
Il xst to tho emotions that acted their
brt so well for the occasion, as the
koyement Of Greek play was charged
18th deeper meaning by the idea of
8te against which gods and mon were
aowcrless, standing behind it all.
ally on CO was delicate reserve ruff cd.
4 gaunt Clrolinian snickered, "Waal,
70 seen you Yanks when yo looked
sight less clipper, with we-uns a
- the lead inter yer backs. y
yer teeth" roared a six-footer
Lynchburg; they've seen our
as often as we We seen thoirn."
NJ The yellow, badly printed Richmond
MI wspapers of late date, loaded to
Ihe muzzle with stuff to fire the South
eHn heart, were greedily exchan ged for
Northern journals. Bat there was
ahother kind of barter that wakencd
tr more interest. Though our men
Had gonc breakfastless, their haver-
sfcks were not altogether lean. Out
chm, the coffee to exchange for tobac-
cp. or, if necl be, give away. The
hungry nostrils quivered with delight
al the odor, more fragrant than the
Bouquet of nectar riponed ia the sun
SPINE Of Burgundy to these straitened
men, who had almost convinced them
sflves that there was no such thing as
cpffee left in tho world. l almost cx-
pected to see fires lighted without more
aho, and both siles make cheer over a
cbmmon breakfast. THE, however,
Was just the one hole too loose
il the general uubuckling of belts.
Many vivid little episodes
stamped themselves ON remem-
brance as parts of this extraordinary
scene. 1t is impossible now to review
all these incidents, which show how
easily the streams of human kindness
fl wv to the milking. Ono thing, how.
ever. stands out among Others. A
grizzled Confederate though aged
more by hardship and trouble than by
time, was alb, orbed in talk with a scr
geant in blue as they lay on til, grass.
They tool out childron's photographs
aud showed each other, ald their eyes
shone and their faces puckcrcd over tho
sight, as their long boards wagged
rapidly in their fear lest they should be
parted before they could uupack all
their hearts to each other. 1t was
thing to mako one choke with swell
ing lump in the throat.
A tall, noble-looking Confederate
major, who commanded the detach-
menc Immediately in our front, stool
huadTed yards away IN tho open, look
ing with paternal smile on the strange
spectacle, yet evidently cogitating the
immediate, the pressing need of getting
his own llae into position again. There
were ominous sounds on our extreme
left, showing the cloud Of battle would
soon shut out our brief spell of sun.
shine. Destiny settled the question
through piece of the foulest treachery,
the act OF blood thirsty savage, though
every Federal soldier felt him elf
smirched and branded by it. A rifle
cracked amidst the music OF laugh and
talk that seemed to preclu ie final
reconciliation, and the rebel major
threw his arms wildly in the air, shot
through the heart by Yankee bullet.
For moment there was no sound,
but CAIN like that of death. Every
tongue was struck dumb, every thought
stunned, every limb paralyzed, by the
accursed act. Then there arose a wild
tamplt Of rage, clsmor Of eVssssTiaas
bsffi1s description. "Bloody Yankee
sneaksl' ''Cowardly traitorsi' 'White-
livercd dogsr and a hundred other
aerce epithets pelted u as the Con-
federstes dashed like madmen for cover
and their rifles. B4ck VIC too scurried