The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-13
A CHRISTMAS DINNER.
When Time Came to Eat IT Nine Out of the
Eleven Guests Were Dead.

"A Oh R1S1 MAS DIN N Elk.
When Time Came to Eat II Nine Out of the
Eleven Guests Were Dead.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I was 6
member of Co. A, 9th Mich Cav, one of the
regiments of Gen. Clusters famous brigade
With % members of my company and Co
l., 9TH Mich Cav, | was taken prisoner OF
Va, Sept 81, 1868 We were taken tt
Libby, where our Captain, who had beer
dangerously wounded, was paroled. That
left % of u.s.
Early in December we were taken to the
notorious Belle Isle stockade, three miles
above Richmond, on the James River, where
5000 men We're confined on about an acre
Of ground, without blankets or shelter. Ol
all the prison hells of the South this was
undoubtedly the worst 1t had the record
for mortality from hunger and privation il
proportion to the number confined.
Eleven of us camped together, assisting
each other all we could. A more royal band
of young fellows / never met. The liveiiest
one of all the II was William " Bowles
First Sergeant of my company. He was
born and reared in the English army. He
was small in size, but big in heart-one oil
the most generous, jolly companions l ever
knew
Christmas day, 1868, came, and with it a
faint hope that little of the sentiment,
Peace on earth, good will to men," might
prevail among our captors sufficiently to ln-
duce them to give us a little additional al
lOwance of corn-bread or pint of niger
pea soup, one of which was our daily por-
ton. We were always hungry, but the
gnawing at our stomachs seemed even
worse that day than usual. Was it not
Christmas?
The usual hour for issuing rations passed,
but the rea soup didn't come. The time
dragged by. In my mind ] can even now
see that gaunt, starving crowd OF men as
they stood around waiting for food that a
self-respeeting dog would refuse. At last
we were told that the Commissary was too
busy celebrating the day to get us any
thing TO cal before the morrow.
This was too much for Bowles. He
cursed the blasted Confederacy from Jeff
Davis down. Suddenly, after his indigna-
ton had somewhat subsidized he jumped to
his feet, and addressing tie inseparable IL,
exclaimed:
ERE, We, you bloomin', hungry Yanks.
We are not to be swindled this way. Hi
ham going to hinvite you to Christmas
dinner we will ave just has soon has we get
into Gods country once more"
Then, taking out his note book, he wrote
the names of the IL men comprising our
squad. Next followed: Bill OF fare of the
dinner that we did not get Christmas day,
1868"
And il was an elaborate menu, too. 1
only remember few of the items. There
was plum pudding, turkey, oysters, and beef
1t was his English idea of what Christmas
dinner ought to be. The very reading of it
brought tears to the eyes of those starving
men. We thought then that we would soon
be paroled or exchanged. and really cx-
pected to eat that dinner in the near future.
Time went slowly on. The last of Febru
airy, 1864, we were removed to Anders0lville
Prison, Georgia, where 30, 900 Union soldiers
were kept on less than 13 acres of ground
during that Spring and Summer. One by
one the men OF our company succumbed to
the horrors of the place, until just Bowles
and myself remained of the % young fellows
who were captured on the skirmish-line one
year before.
Shermans army drew near, and all the
prisoners were sent to Savannah, Charleston
and other points. Bowles and were moved
to Savannah, then to Millen, and on the 21st
day of November, 1864, just IA months to a
day from the time we were captured, we
were exchanged and started up North.
We were sights to behold. Emaciated,
ragged and dirty, we were the very picture
OF misery. And yet Bowles through it all
had never lost heart, and was the same jovial
companion as in thesdays when our regiment
irst took the field. After five days sailing
we arrived at Annapolis, where we spent the
week getting filled up, cleaned up and
dressed up. Then we were given furlough
to 20 home to Michigan. Bowles was con-
tinually worrying about that Christmas
dinner, and when we reached Baltimore
nothing would do but that we must 90 to
the best restaurant in the city and have it,
And we did. The tables in the place were
not large.
Waiter" ordered Bowles, 1--WE want a
table set for ii men; and give us the best
service you ave"
/ demonstrated with Bowles, but it was no
use.
This is The last tribute we can pay to
these dead comrades, and am going 10 ave
my way" he said.
Then, with his memorandum-book, that
was worn and black, he called off the names
OF our squad of ii, only two of whom re-
sponded. Next he read the bill of fare to
the amazed waiter, and ordered II dinners.
Some time afterward the head waiter came
around and said:
"Your dinner is ready, but where are the
rest of your company"
They are down South-dead J" was
Bowles's reply.
Then we sat down and were served 10
every dish that bill of fare had contained
The IL plates were filled at every course.
1t was the most remarkable Christmas din
ner / ever ate. While our hearts were filled
with thankfulness so far as we were person
ally concerned, our thoughts went back to
the time, year before, when our dead COM
rades and ourselves stood about Southern
prison, vainly praying for the pint of pea
soup that was a prisoners daily allowance.
JAMES M. PAGE, Helena, Mont.
The I14th Ohio.
Thu nruani1aI ~