Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1892-11-11
A WAR STORY.


TOLD BY AN X-CoNFEDERATE.
1t was about 10 o'clock at night and
The Fedcrals under Gen. Hunter were
lying in front of Lynchburg. Why
they did not enter We did not know
and never learned, but they must have
overestimated the thin line of Confcd-
crate defenders as they sslliisy lliesitstetll 10
advance. Be that as it may, they
could easily have walked over us that
night, for We had but few hundred
hungry, tired and worn-out Confedcr-
atcs to bar their advance. Conditions
changed, however, before morning.
About 10 O'Clock lhat night l was on
picket, posted behind hillock, from
which could sec the Yankee picket
about 200 yards away. Just behind
me there was thickct of underbrush
or low bushes, following the low
ravinc along the foot of the hill.
| had kept suspicious eye on that
long scattering line of underbrush for
over an hour, fer knew that it led
around tho little hill and out IN from!
of the Fcderals, and thought how
easily the Yankees could creep up and
around in our rear if they only knew
of it. About ten O'Clock l heard some
one making his way through the brush,
coming in my direction. Whoever
he was he did not try to conceal his
advance, but came along stumbling
and crashing through the rush, NUT
tcring and grumbling as though he
was considerably out of humor over
something.
The nature Of his advance relieved
aiso It }tia sny yyds dalqEH " Knew that asswsq
had any business tramping and crash
ing about in the brush and
making noise enough TO attract
the attention of the enemy, fell back
few PAGES and waited until the fel-
low struck the little opening fifteen or
twenty feet away. Instead of a
drunken Confederate, which l more
than half expected to see, blue coated
Yankee kicked his way through the
last brush and came TO halt as if he
had been shot at the command, "IIaltl
Throw down that gun!"
"Well, I'll be blessed if you amt a
REBEL"
s'Yes, and you arc Yankee. Sep
out and hold up your hands," He
had dropped mis- gun, and when I saw
that he had no other arms / told him
10 sit down on the grass. Tho fel-
lows surprise and astonishmcnt was
zoo clearly apparent for mistake,
but l concluded to question him. and
asked: 'IIow did you get in here and
what were you aflcr?"
"Afterl what do you 'spose fcl-
Iow'd be after who hasn't had any
hing TO eat for two days?"
"You didn't expect TO get lunch
down on Red Row over there. in
Lynchburg, did you?'
"Not by big sight; didn't know
1 was outside of our lines, but then
must have been so hungry that ]
lidnt notice, and | expect our pickets
are too blamed hungry TO keep sharp
lookout, and so they didn't see me.
Don't see how l got in here. Say!
sure you're reb?'
told him there was no doubt OH
that score, anyhow, and that our fcl-
lows had not been in danger Of foun-
dering from supcrabundancc of
good things, or very ordinary, com-
mon, everyday sort of food either for
months, but as had pretty good
chunk of cornbread in my haversack,
would divide.
"Sit where you are and help your
self" said l, as | pitched the grub (
sack down beside him. 1t does me
good today to shut my eyes and see
that little white-headed Yankee eat.
It did me SO much good even then that
stood and looked down on him as lie |
rammed a handful of coarse cornbread |
into his mouth, then turned up his |
canteen and filled up the inters;ices |
with water aud wound up by gulping
down the mass as quickly as muscles
and ravenous energy could perform
that function. | kept on looking and |
the Yankee kept on eating until tlIGy
confounded fellow had eaten his share
and mine, too. "NNell. I'll /.
hanged" Twas beginning in consta !.
nation (and | was about to finish %uff !
swearing little, Pm afraid, as think
over it at this late day., when my
prisoner seemed also suddenly strh0I
with the knowledge of having imposed!
upon my hospitality, for as soon as hcz
could gulp down the last mouthful he
said, "Blame my buttons, johnny, if
hain't eat up the lot. Pm sorry,
but was SO hungry didn't know