Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-02-15

bronzsd faces, the lean figures, tho
tattordemalions IN homospun, mingling |
fraternally with tho moro slcck and
well-uuiformcdF cderals. Tho cautocns
were soon filled, md their wooden
jackets well soaked to keep tho con-
tcnts cool, and tho mon of both siles
sprawlcd on tho grass like merry makers
at picnic. had heard Of similar
scenes, but ncvor Of ono markod
by such friendly case, u complaccncy,
however, not shared By the
officers. These moro response
bio watch-dogs, now that tho
irroprcssiblo need of water had boon
met and convention made to stop oil
picket-fring till further notice, wcro
eager to withdraw the men into their
lines again. All attempts to restore tho
discipline of war for tho timo availcI
nothing. Human nature was to tho
fore, and it was not to DO trifl,d with
by any such small mattor as army rcgu-
lations. Tho fascinating companion
ship blossomod into every manner of
pleasant, mutual Offices, rs far as tho
will could stand for tho dood in tho
case of our poverty stricken Confodcr-
ato friends, or tho dccl could answer
to the will in default of tagging COM
missary train.
1t was noticeable that on neither sido
was thcrc any braggiag of prowo,s.
Tho vainglory of victory over zach
Other whom thoy had just warmed
palms. like reunited wanderers from tho
Same house brood, seemed dcspic ,blo
thing. Yet each man know that
twonty-four hours hone he would DO
as koen to fly ut this brothers. throat rs
ovor, and feel tho same old thrill OF
triumph at captured standards and q
flying foo. Perhaps tho dumb presence
OF this certainty overshad owing the
touching comedy gavo moro livsly
zcst to tho emotions that acted their
part so we'll for tho occasion, rs tho
movement of n Crock play was charged
with dcep,r meaning by tho idea OF
fato against which gods and mon wero
powerless, standing behind it all.
Only on CO was delicate reserve RULED.
a gaunt CArolinian snick cred, "WaaI,
Two seen you Yanks when 20 looked
n sight loss clipper, with we-uns a.
poggin' tho lead inter yer backs"
"Shut yer teeth" roared six-footer
from Lynchburg; they've seen our
backs as ofton as We ve seen THORN"
The yellow, badly printed Richmond
of lato date, loaded to
tho muzzlc with stuff to fire the South
ern heart, wcrc groodily cxchan gcd for
Northern journals. But there was
another kind of barter that wakcncd
far moro interest. Though our mon
had COMO breakfastlcss, thoir havcr-
sacks were not altogether loan. Out
cam, the coffee to exchange for tobac-
co. or, if mood be, give away. Tho
hungry nostrils quivercd with delight
Mt tho odor, more fragrant than the
bouquet of nectar riponod in tho sun
'hinc of Burgundy to these straitcned
men, who had almost convin ced them.
Olives that there was no such thing as
coffeo loft in tho world. l almost ex-
pectcd to SEQ flros lighted without moro
ado, and both sides make cheor over
common breakfast. This, however,
was just the ono holo too loose
in tho general unbuckling of bolts.
Many vivid little episodes
themselves on rcmem-
branco as parts of this extraordinary
scene. 1t is impossible now to review
nll these incidents, which show how
easily the streams of human kindness
flow to tho milking. Gao thing, how
over, stands out among others. A
grizzled Confederate, though agod
moro by hardship and trouble than by
time, was abs orbod in talk with q ser
geant in blue ms they 10y on tho grass.
They TOOK out children's photographs
and showed zach othor, and their eyes
shone and their faces puc!crcd over tho
sight, rs their long boards wagged
rapidly in their foar lost thoy should be
parted before lthey could unpack all
thcir hearts to each othor. 1t was a
thing to m ,ko ono choke with a swell
ing lump in the throat.
A tall, nOblo-looking Confederate
major, who commanded the detnch-
mont Immediately in our front, stood
hundred yards away In tho opon, look
ing with paternal smilo on tho strange
spectacle, yet evidently cogitating tho
Immediate, the pressing need of getting
his own line into position again. Thoro
were ominous sounds on our extreme
left, showing the cloud of battle would
soon shut out our briof spell of sun
shine. Destiny settled tho question
through piecc of tho foulost trcachery,
the act of blood -thirstv soyooc tbourh