The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-07-11
COFFEE-POTBATTERY
First Skirmish of The Coffee Wagon
and Christian Commission.


mission. aud not far from the hospital tents
of the Army Of the Potomac.
Time: About the middle Of July, 1864.
pers5nsr Two Young men, delegates Of the c.
G.. returning from the spring, which trlckled
from the hank and ran, shortly, into the Apo
MRtfoE.
Scene Fgrst-In n thieket, consisting chiefly
nj black berries if we remember rightly. lit
fln A. the lot Of the path they discover wheels,
and medley Of partly bright and partly-rusty
iron interlningled. Approaching, they discover,
further, that the whole is new machine
sorf Of cross between a Yankee pedler's cart
and q steam FIRE engiue-apparently thrust
out here 10 get it ont Of the way.
Curiousy they tread path about it, and ex-
amino ID inductively, seeking TO divine the
intent of the maker.
Here is grate-for coal
"Or wood"
Here arc Eauze-wire pots setting deeply
into this pan. boiler. or what-you-call-it.
And here are faucets in the what-you call
a N draw some kind Of liquid through"
Here Is a aDCker" shaking it. Whatever
that may contain nc man knoweth."
There is pole and whifietrees, and
drivers seat. and place beside him to set
WHAT" "a 9ausel
90! Now j have il! Just before leaving
home heard that Mr.. Wansmaker, or some
une had invented two horse coffee pot
enough! And it will work. too"
"Mhaf is il here for, then 2"
THAT let as find out; but it will work
little fire under there would make this full
OF coGae aud keep it hot In those wire
Rots the coffee will get sleeping enough, bnt
will not be muddy. What Christian Com
mission service il could do during battle. and
afterwards at the various held hospitals,
Guess you are right; that place by the
driver i for iiarrei OF crackers And in that
locker there must be pals and cups" land
condensed milk and lanterns. IS it prOved-l
tOur Agent ought 10 know Rll about IL.
a. Let US find out"
"You know him personally; interview
him.
Ar horr or two later the last addressed
scnrhi the other and whispered:
The Agent says il is the c0fiee-pot, as you
Fu-,nored calls il one Of IS wilkins; SAYS
fhe 4. e. has no horses to spare.
But it viii prove pretty bright within by
Nnd-byi"
Lets walk down 60 il again"
After further inspection an agreement was
made 10 the following effect:
III there came an opportunity, they would
like "a give the concern one trial, and that
they might get the coveted opportunity, the
one best acquainted was TO ask the requisite
liberty of the Agent
Tins was done. the liberty given; but with
evident misgiriHrs.
Srcne Ssooad. a little after midday on July
2G. 1864, one Of the two sought the other. aud,
with some evident excitement. whispered:
Mr. Cole Saws a large squad Of disabled men
from the Second Corps will be in late to night;
the corps itself are Of on q raid somewhere
proved 10 he the last fight at Malvern Hill.
Rad ne Gays that we may take the coffee wagon
out and meet them"
Precisely; they will get no Government
Fztions TIL some time 10 morrow. Now, IL you
arc sare enough that the thing will work we
Will 20 in"
Il ami"
'How many Of MS will il takeP We've got
30 drag il by hand
Si 4 Az least besides you and me-"
Name your choice"
TIE six were II length agreed upon. How
Ee Hish now that a more careful record had
berg kept but al was confusion them
"Arc We ready 10 70 and wash up the coffee
pot"
Yes: Jet rs say nothing TO the Others yet.
Bot, by the way. where are your shoulder
EtEaps Captain of the coffee pot battery"
SO. tiiat j. your place you are the one
who believes III the e0Bes-p0i and the one who
vii have tO manage IL"
Not II all Our Agent knows you, and has
committed the campaign 10 you. j am sort
Of engineer, aud you must have charge Of the
men. insist"
Well, then. il you viii have It SO, Lieut..
o. that scrubhinr oct; and Juggling water Ep
che hill iH the beat: getting the coal aud
kimdliugs; the key 30 tie locker; ropes. crack
err aid finally inca ready 10 work like horses
in spite u heat and dust. in the Il. 5. C. e.
they were not very hard to fad, though.
A. we passed BY the hospital we were greeted
witt pleasant saiiies about the Petersburg
EEpreas' etc, but other delegates saw the
point and we had help enough. The labor Of
hauling the wagon became light, in spite Of
beat and Gust, though il was nearly shutdown.
The route was toward the front, Of course
6opu after dusk halt was made and the match
applied 10 the kiHdiings. Then the line Of
march Nas resumed About the time the
boiling point was attained by the coffee night
had come Tired out halt was called. and
very soon the derp thud, tlIHd Of the marching
men was beard. The Captain" advanced
quickly, and soon met the Sergeant command
iHg the squad. AL was readily arranged The
squad halted, and tbe tired men dropped b the
GROUND as II eA0t. How the Sergeant looked.
a. the writer brst dimly discried him bv squat
ting doWn 50 l0E that his bead and shoulders APP
peared towering above the horizon. Dusty.
lean. and tali. with a medley OF canteens and
Enapsacks hanging round him, with man az
either shoulder, using his own gun FOR a crutch
o. Tie other side.
The remainder Of the story IL probably true
ID #tItFAi " ANe experience OF al concerned.
but the writer scarcely came in contact with
any one % the other four pals until ali had
been supplied.
Selling one of the pals and pouring into IL a
whole can ~ condensed milk 1.-THE frst he had
ever handled and being obliged to divide with
one Of the other pals Ia order 10 weaken the
coffee A. a drinl.abie point, In consequence he
was probably the FIRST 10 get among the soldiers.
f0r be had taken the PTecautiOn to Gil his
hayeFsack with crackers beforehand.
As he came Or with the men be heard and
HaE and did Substantially as follows:
. O. l0r something lt ~ drink"
{" Fit 10 eat, why didn't you say3"
+" vii! you have some coffee aud crackersfp
what" lsharplyD
Have some hot coffee and soft crackersf'
@Gltnnti"
"Hou haven't got aHyl"
. VI bat d We take me FORT"
What ye sayf Hot cahse2"
Vest Where's your cupf"
Who are ye anyway" lsavagciy.1
See that badger" fhDlding up bis lantern
and showing tine badge Of the Christian Com.
mission.
{" Yes"
" did il ever fool youf"
NO! Give rs drop Of your hot coffee .
fcOutemptaousiy.)
sip 4 moment Of tasting, and then
dix aud sugar2" Then ia a louder voice
Boys here's the Christian Commission witt
hot coffee, milk and sugar aud crackers
Hurrah!"
And The eztempOre Lieutenant" had bust
meas enough right a4ay