The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-17

They had all heard of horse marines"
but navy mule was real wonder. It
was explained that they had been taken
from the planters TO haul bales Of cotton
TO the fleet, ana afterwards turned oN or
by naval officers to the army quarter
masters, with the privilege OF reclaiming
them and hence they were branded for
identification. In one instance that J
know Of an iron clad gun boat Of that
fleet was attacked with single SIX
FOUNDER field piece. fired from the river
bank while she was aground, ana her
officers and crew were forced TO aban-
don her, as her eight guns were 50
hampered by the 5O0-pOund bales OF cot
ton piled over them that she could not
return the FIRE ! should state That tho
official records Of TIM Union and tonied-
licntiDn by the war department, contain
nothing with reference 10 this war trade.
as all statistics and reports Of agents of
the cotton exchange bureau We're burned
by the Confcdcrnte3 NJ the evacuation OF
Richmond There was. however a trade
between the lines that hdd IN II no tnint
Of treason. II was carried on between
the pickcts all along the line ana al the
outposts. across rivers In miniature boats
each carrying a cargo Weighing not more
than tlvc or six pounds, shipped by itH
owner to a conslgnee with whom ne was
at open war. and who, with nyiolnble
good faith always sent the tiny
freRhter back with the return cargo
desired by the consignor There were no
used IN this small commerce, IL WAS
trade In kind whore each had 10 reckon"
or guess" the quantity justly due the
other. The Confederate cravcd coffee,
but was Obliged TO find an ill-tastng sub
sutute for the fragrant berry IN Darchod
sweet potAtacs, wheat and oats. The
Union soldiers yehrned for the comfort
ing weed 10 which Byron paid the tribute
OF merltcd praise IN the lines, Sublime
tobacco, which from East 10 West. cheers
the tir's labor or the Turkmhn's rest"
Of lssrf
ration and tobacco was TO be had IN
abundance within the Confederate lines.
II was very natural that the parties IN IN
terest should seek TO arrange system
by which they could barter one product
FOR the other
An picket firing between the two great
armies IN Virginia having ceased by mu-
iual agreement In the anlnmn Of ~, me
trading between the soldiers commenced
at their OutpOsts soon after. 10 had been
going on west Of the Mississippi from the
went 80 far IN Arkansas that the cavalry
OF the opposing armies sometimes tested !
the mettlG OF their chargers by running /
horse races together for moderate purses. |
but many subordinate officers Winhed ut |
Il, to please their men. Generals Grant |
and Lee both issued strict orders prohibit I
ing n. yet stun the trading, went on. I
Speciai effort was made BY General Lee /
10 enforce those orders among his troops !
in che fail Of 1868, when the armies lay !
encamped on opposite sides 81 the Kappa /
hammock That stream varied from sew 4
enty-aye 10 two hundred yards 70 width. /
THE uian OF trade was as follows: A /
soldier standing on ono slfe would send |
dllninutive boat either duT out or made /
Of bark filled with coffee, 20 the other |
side IN attaching long string to IL ana |
lctting the current take u across, Or near
enough 10 be reached Win roo ~ the |
ope Syho was waiting for H. This system
al river trading having been made known
70 General Lee, special instngtions we're
WHO were engaged In H. II became all the !