The National tribune., 1895-10-31
THEIR CHRISTMAS GOOSE.
Johnny Reb's Flock Furnished Lusci-
Gus Dish.

| Gus Dtsn
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: We were
camped at Holly Springs, Miss, in Deem
ber 1862, after our return from that fruit
less "Yockney" campaign. On Christmas
eve Comrade Joe Cherry and were without
q suitable roast for the morrow. We planned
and planned, but nothing came of it. The
thought of the many good Christmas dinners
in our PARKWAY Northern homes made ou'
everyday grub seem the more tasteless.
Suddenly / thought Of nice flock OF
young geese that an old rebel had whs lived
inside our lines, short distance away, rear
| where our ordnance or ammunition train
was camped.
These geese had been feeding on the
waste corn from the mules, and they were
nice and fat. Every evening the old rebel
ran them under his house, which was built
on stone wall Is inches high, and closed
the hole through which they went. 1 knew
all this, for had noticed him putting them
away in this safe place one evening as /
passed his house
This was in 1862, and then we were not al
lowed to capture geese frem the rebels much ;
but the mere thought the more hungry l
got for fat young gander. So l told
Joe if he would do the roasting / would
do my best to get something to roast. I
waited till after midnight. The moon was
mp, and started after that goose. Joe had
the large company Dutch oven cleaned and
the crackers for stuf1ing ready. So deter
mined 10 get the goose at all hazards.
When / got near the house all was still
save the noise of the mules eating hay and
the steps of sentinel not far away. | be-
gan to pull out the stones in the place where
the geese entered. In after those geese /
went, and as got near them they began 10
squawk.
Twas crawling on my hands and knees,
and could not get hold of any of them, be-
cause of the pitch darkness of the place. At
last the old Johnny jumped out of bed right
over my back. / expected he would rush
out of the house and close the hole, and thus
pen me in with the geese. So got eut in a
hurry, and, running off few rods got be-
hind a tree. (Trees often helped us during
the war;. was afraid the old reb would
put mis- clothes on and get out after me, but
L guess he was afraid 10 come out So i
stood there and planned again what to do.
At last thought if could get some corn
would try to coax the geese out from their
place. While the guard was resting easy, /
slipped down where the mules were, and got
some corn. For awhile shelled corn, threw
ing some in under the house, keeping my
self well out of sight beside the hole. AT
last one nice young gander poked his head
outside after the corn.
grabbed him by his long neck, and, as
ran through the woods, how he thumped me
with his wings! As neared camp / whistled
for Joe. and he heard the first toot, and called
to me in kind Of loud whisper:
Have you got him?
l simply answered: Bring the Matched
10 cut his head of"
| needed rest, so went to bed. But dear
old Comrade Joe Cherry worked all the rest
of that night dressing and roasting that
sweet meated gander. If Joe Cherry sees
this want him to write to me and tell me
If he can't almost taste that lovely goose yet.
We partook of il all that Christmas Day,
and gave some to the other boys.-J. X.
STURGEON, Co. F, 46th Ohio, Long Beach,
Cal.