The National tribune., 1898-11-17
"De Pussonal RekoiicIsshnns" of an Army
Cook-The War Viewed from the Rear.


Dis turribe trace war - dey has bir
habbin down in ole Norf Caroliny, wild II
niggehs killed daid, as more wounded, and
tousands slkeered to death, and hidin in de
woods, wild only one white man hurt by
stubbin his toe "a he ~uz runnin up tuE
git hand in de KILN, minds me oh de orfu
fout dat Mistuh Jolhad wild pack OBJ savage
sheep when we WIZ laying near Cupepeh
Courthouse /
Dat wuz in de ole Mcclellan DAYS. wher
dc ordehs wuz strick agin foragin, and MAJ
had better staTve tali death waitin fob de
Csmmissary wagons tub come up RAIDER dan
be shot kncelin on his coffin fob snatchin G
turnip outen patch by de road
We WIZ habbin de wust tine ever knowed
about gittin somfin tub eat De Cominissary
wagons wuz miles behind, and coodent gil
up bekase de gentlemen whose property We
wuz guardin wuz out wild shot-guns KILN de
dribers, runnin off de>mewels, and konfscatir
de rashuns. Dere was lots oh tings den tul
make man very tired. and we kussed d.
Secretary oh War fob eberyting den jest a:
nowadays.
One fine October day. wen we wuz al
hongrier dan livery-stabIe rats, Mistuh Jc
an de Mornin Glory Mess wuz on picket out
in field whara flock Oh sheep wuz grain
De flip Majah wuz in command oh de picket
line, an wuz earnn his salary by settin in dc
big house, an playin on de pianner fol de
young ladies. tub cheer dem up while deli
fadder wuz away wild a gun tryin tub lay in
some family groceries from Yankee Com
missary train.
De sun WIZ goin down on dim prospec.
oh muffin but hope 81 crick water fob suppeh,
& black frost 81 cottonwood smoke fob break
fast.
De sheep seemed tuh know all about de
ordehs agn foragin jest as we'll rs we did, fob
dey paid no more attention tub de soiers dan
if dey wuz blue stumps, u ct right up to,
ward dem.
Suddenly Mistuh 10 & de rest begin
baBgin away. One oh dc young ladies look
out OBJ de window & SEE:
20, Majah, dem nasty soljers oh yours is
KILN all oh poor pappy's sheep"
The scoundrels; I'll have dem shot fob
dat, SEE de flip Majah, jumpin Oh his hoss
& ridin out tub Mistuh 10.
Stop dat shootin; let dem sheep alone. y
he yelled as he cum up. what do you
mean by violatin ordehs? Are you crazy ?''
"No, sah," SEE Mistuh 10, brngin his
gun tub saloot, jest arter he dropped de
latest wether III de lot. ''Hit's de curious
est ting dat 1 cher knowed, Majah. Dose
sheep wuz eatin quiet q peaceable like until
few minutes ago, when dey seemed tub
strike some loco weed in de grass, which
made dem plumb crazy, q dey all run at us
wild DER eyes fashin fab & DER moufs wide
open. Dey bit a man on de lief OBJ de line
Orful, & we had tub shoot in self-perteck-
shun. OBJ all tings, l cant & wont stand
bein bit by a;crazy sheep"
"Well, you'll stand beini tried by coaht-
martial" roared de Majah. "Ile put ebery
one OBJ You undeh guard & try you by drum
head tonight. q
De Kunnel he cum lopin up jest at dis
time, & Mistuh 10 glib him de same recita-
ton, embroidered bya few more flowers oil
| Mistuh JOS fine imagination.
81 wouldn't be too hasty, Maiah," saws
de Kunnell,. "I've done, heared stranger
stories dan dat De sheep down heah in
Virginny amt de same as dose yoze ac.
quainted wifi up North, IAN dey ack very
strangely at times Let de men stay on post
until we kin investigate de match, hab g
shoulder oh dat mutton sent up tub my tent
fob de Surgeon tub analyze an report on
| Probably you'd betteh hab q whole sheep sent
up, as de suckumsance Isl so interestin dat
| may want tub bring hit tub de notice oh dc
Jigadier-Brindle.
De Mornin Glory Mess had mutton fol
suppeh dat night, an fresh sheep fob break
| fast