Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-07
CHICKEN AND HONEY.
A FoRAeING EXPEDITION OF ONE
 MAN IN THE WINTER OF 1863.

Lang Knew the Country and Also Human
 Nature, For His Little BIur Worked.
 Uncle Joe, Who Was "Cap'n- Then, Liked
 Ills Chicken Done Brown.
 Ut was a wretched night back in 1s63," said Uncle Joe.
 Uncle Joe's stories of the war were things to be looked forward to and re- membered. He had served during the entire four years as . commissioned off, cer and knew whereof he spoke, having an excellent memory and an inimitably humorous way of telling the adventures of himself and his men,
 ''It was in Missouri in the winter of 1863 on a cold raw night that I, the off, cer of the day, prepared about midnight to make, with half dozen of tho guard. ., what is called the grand round, or, moro plainly speaking, the visiting of the soldiers doing picket duty at their different posts. We were on snort ra- tions, and every man of us, officer or private, longed for good, square meal to brace him up against the raw, damp coldness of the night. As was about to spring into my saddle a low voice at my shoulder said:
 "'Cap'n, how would Q supper of chick en and honey taste:'
 II swung hastily around and beheld the speaker. He was a fellow called Lang, one of our most valuable spies, and in some respects a mighty clever fellow, but in-oh, well, I'll let it go by saying that his moral nature had never been ovcrdevelopcd. He was a short, thickset man, with twinkling black eyes and otherwise the most thor oughly impassive face I ever looked into. It was said of him that he would slip into tho butternut suit of the rebel and make himself much at home in Lees army. He was hail fellow well met with all the men and came back to the Union lines possessed of the most invaluable information. He had expe- rienced thrilling adventures and was q man of intrepid courage.
 'Cap'n, he repeated as he stood be- side me that cold night, 'kow would n supper of chicken and honey taste?'
 Excellent, Lang. excellent, re- piled, thinking of our limited supply of smoked meat and hard tack Have you some?'
 No, but might get some, reckon, if looked round bit, he drawled, lag fly kicking up clay with tho toe of his boot I saw immediately that ho meant to go out of camp, find farmhouse and help himself. Such things arc not un- heard of in the army.
 " 'Nonscnsc Lang said l. 'You would bc killed surc if you went The pickets arc on extra sharp lookout to- iffS raf h,,Y. fnn You would never come back alive.
 With that l sprang into my saddle and rode away, followed by my men.
 We were gone two or three hours, making the rounds of the pickcts, and a moro miserable ride had seldom talk en. was chilled to the bone and hun gry and my men likewise. As I rode back toward camp the glow of n bonfire in n remote corner caught my eye, and l immediately turned my weary horse toward it. Before tho cracking heap sat Lang, calmly frying chicken, while at his side reposcd hive of honey. He looked up and smiled grimly.
 ~" Supports most ready, cap'n, he said, touching his apology for a cap. Make yourselves to home, gentlemen. {,
 Lang, said stcrnly, didn't tell you not to go?'
 No, cap'n. he nplicd as Inc con- tinued to cut up the plump fowl in his hand; you didn't say I couldn't gn, all though, if 1 remember correctly, you didn't exactly advise it on the score of its being dangerous, but man what's led the life 1 have ain't goin to let n little thing like that stop him when he's hungry, and he held toward me the plump leg of chicken nicely Drowned.
 " Lang said I, tell me how you did it.
 No very great matter, he replied, proceeding with his culinary art. When you'd gone, walks along quiet to the outpost and finds picket walkin up and down liko he owned tho earth, so Hops down oil my stomach alongside q fence. BCin dark night, as it is, Mir. Picket comes along and don't suspect that fence so of much as harboriu a mouse. Minute he gets half rod away over that fence 1 goes lightninlike and takes scont into some woods close by and then Socs about my business.
 eco on, said l, with my mouth full of chicken and honey.
 Lang continued: You see, l know this country mighty well, so l makes tracks for farmhouse close by where they keeps plenty of chickens. When opens the gate to go in, along comes n dog. Well, cap'n. that s the only dog ever met with that l couldn't either scare or make friends with. Nc, sir, that dog wouldn't take no sto, k in bluffs. so l whips out my revolver ard lays him oat. At that up goes q win dow, and a man begins to yell to find out who's the.c. Put your head inside that window and keep it there, or I'll knock it off for you" !" says l. Now Jim" I continues, lyon just watch that window, and if the fellow sticks his head out don't wait to Do ceremo- niouslike, but just fire. I'm goin to get some chicken and honey" Course there wasn't no Jim along, but that fellow in the house had to be kept out of tho way; so, being q dark night, I just bluffed him about there being more than just me around. You bet he keeps his head inside, and goes to tho chick en house and helps myself to some plump young codgcrs. and takin beehive on the other shoulder makes tracks for tho camp the way l come.
 Have n piece of the breast, cap'n. That's done particular brown, the way you like it '"-ChicagO Post.
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