Connecticut western news., 1889-01-16

the quaint remarks pointed with army slang, and the gruff haw.haw as Jon- athan, Hans, and Patrick tossed the foot ball of talk with their fresh- found brethren of an hour. lean still sec tho bronzcd faces, the lean figures, tho :atterdemalions in homespun, mingling fraternally with the moro sleek and wcll-uniformed Fcderals. Tho canteons were soon filled, and their wooleu jackets we'll soaked to keep the con- tents cool, and tho mon of both siles sprawled on tho grass like merry makers at picnic. I had heard of similar scenes, but never of one marked by such friendly ease, a complaconcy, however, not shared by the officers. These moro responsi- ble watch-dogs, now that the irrepressible need of water had boon met and . convention made to stop all picket-fring till further notico, were eager to withdraw the men into their lines again. All attempts to restore tho discipline of war for tho time availed nothing. Human nature was to the fore, aud it was not to bo trif,d with by any such small matter as army regu. lations. The fascin ating companion ship blossomed iato every manner of pleasant mutual offices, as far as tho will could stand for the decd in the case of our poverty stricken Confeder- ato friends, or the deed could answer to the will in def .u,t of tagging com missary train. s5aos e..| ..s. .
 It was noticeable that on neither side was there any braggiug of prowe's. The vainglory of victory over each other when they had just warmed palms. like reunited wanderers from the same house. brood, seemed despic,ble thing. Yet each man know that twenty four hours henc ce he would be as koon to fly at this brother's throat as ever, and feel tho same old thrill of triumph at captured standards aud flying foe. Perhaps ths dumb presence of this certainty overshad owing the touching comedy gavo more livsly zest to tn, emotions that acted their part so woll for the occasion, as the movement of Greek play was ch,rged with deepor meaning by the idea of fate against which gods and mon were powerless standing behiad it all. Only on ce was delicate reserve ruff1ed. A gaunt C,rolinian snickered, "Waal, Two seen you Tanks when ye looked sight less chipper, with we- uus a. peggin' tho lead inter yer backs" ''shut yer teeth," roared six-footer from Lynchbury; t'they've seen our backs as ofton as we ve seen thcirn."
 The yellow, badly printed Richmond newspapers of late date, loaded to tn, muzzle with stuff to Rre.ths16outh- ern heart, were greedily exchanged for Northern journals. But there was another kind of barter that wakcned far more interest. Though our mon had gone breakfastless their haver- sacks were not altogether lean. Out camo the coffee to exchange for tebac- CO or, if need be, give away. The hungry nostrils quivered with delight at the odor, more fragrant than tho bouquet of nectar ripenel in the sun shine of Burgundy to thesc straitened men, who had almost convinced them selves that there was no such thing as coffee left in tn, world. almost ex- pccted to sec fires lighted without more ado, and both siles make cheer over common breakfast. This, however, was just the ono hole too looso il the general unbuckling of belts. M,ny vivil little episodes stamped themselves on remem- brance as parts of this extraordinary scene. It is impossible now to review all these incidents, which show how easily the streams of human kindness flow to the milking. Oae thing, how ever, stands out among others. A grizzled Goa 10 ierate, though agod moro by hardship and trouble than by time, was abs orbed in talk with ser geant ia bluo as thy lay ou tho grass. i They took out children's photographs and showed each other, d their eyes shono and their fac,s puckcrod over tho sight, a, their long boards wagged rapidly in their fear lest thoy should be parted before they could unpack all their heart, to e: ch other. It was a thing to m .ko one choke with swell ing lump in tho throat.
 A tall, noblc-looking Confederate major, who commanded the dctach- mont immediately in our front, stood a hundred yaris away h tho opon, look ing with Q paternal smilo on tho strange spectacle, yet evidently cogitating the immediate, the pressing need of getting g his own liue into position again. There wore ominous sound, on our extreme left, showing the cloud of battle would soon shut out our briof spell of sun- shine. Destiny ssttlol tho question through piece of the foulost tr reachery, tho act of Q bloodthirsty savage, though every Federal soldier felt him elf smirched and branded by it. A rife cracked amidst the music of laugh and talk that seemed to preclu ie a final reconciliation, and the rebel major throw his arm, wildly in tho air, shot throu ,h the heart by Yankee bullet.
 For moment there was no sound, but calm like that of doath. Every
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