The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-21
1HE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.
Humor in the Confederate Armv.
Confederate Veteran.

Drawn tight at KernstOwn: and no
other man can make as proud u boast. -
And yet, dear Veteran, our histories
tell us, and our sons aud daughters
are taught to believe, that Shields
whipped Jackson at Kernstown. Who
should know better than Gen. Shields
himself
The General then went on to illus
trate the feeling that existed between
worthy foemen by saying that on one
occasion, year or Two previous to
this conversation, he was taking a
party of friends to see q circus. AS
there was great crowd around the
ticket wagon, he concluded that he
would try paying at the door of tho
tent. AS they approached the en-
trance, one of the party happened to
| address him as 'Gen. Shields" A
"ue-armed. military looking man, who
was taking the tickets, looked up
quickly aud said care you the Gen.
Shields who fought in the Valley of
Virginia."
81 am, sir, replied the General.
"Pass in with your party, General !:
you can pay cent here"
''Thank you, my frieud,' said the
General. II see you have lost an
arm. presume you were one Of my
soldiers in the Valley"
"Well, no, not exactly, General 1
was the next thing to it, though;
vas one of Stoncwall Jacksons men. I"
No series of anecdotes of the war
would be. complete without some
which display the wit Of The Irish
man. During one Of the battles in
the earlier part Of the war line Of
troops was lying down waiting for the
proper moment for action. Bullets
we're flying rather fast overhead, and
an Irishman was observed by one Of
his comrades holding his hand as high
in the air as he could reach.
"What are you doing there, Pat?'
asked another.
"Bedad, and I'm falling for fur
lough."
just then bullet grazed his hand :,
aud he said; Brjabbers, I've got i y
Another bullet struck him in the
wrist before he could fairly get his
hand down. "Ochl Begorra! and L We
got thirty days cxtinsion.'
During another battle the firing
had become SO hot that some of the
men concluded they had very urgent
business in the rear, aud among them
was an Irishman. His captain noticed
him starting for the rear, and com
manded him to come back. Pat paid
no attention to this, but kept on.
The captain drew his pistol and
threatened to fire if he did not stop.
The Iri>hman, without stopping,
looked back over his shoulder, and
yelled: "Shoot and ! What is
one bullet to bucketful?"
Every one agrees that discipline is
absolutely essential in an army, but
in the Confederate army some of our
soldiers had queer idea Of discipline.
While the private soldier would obey
his officers commands with the Utmost
exactness, he never for moment ac-
knowledged the superiority Of the Off
Ger socially. He would fight like a
hero and work like steyedore, but
he never gave up or forgot his man
hood. On one occasion Gen. Cheat
ham found one of his men, an Irish
man, committing some act Of which
he did not approve. He reprimanded
him in the mostforciblc manner, and ,
in fact, it is said that the Language
used was so foroibie thas the air turn
ed a beautiful cerulean hue. When
he stopped to get his breath, the
1rishman said: "Bedad, Gineral Cheat
ham! If you wasn't a gineral, you
wouldn't talk to me that way"
Gen. Cheatham was like the hero of
Conan Doyle's novel, the "White
Company he was always willing and
anxious to accommodate any gentle
man who was looking for trouble. He
pulled OFF his coat and threw it on the
J ground, oaying: "Thsre lies Gen.
Cheatham, and here is Old Frank.
Now pitch in.'
The Irishman did pitch in, and it
is related that for once in his life Old
Frank didn't get the best Of aght
Butas memory carries us back to
those days. and we are reminded Of the
soul;stirring scenes through which We
| passed Of tho lirhf hearts with ,vb;ol,