The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-11-19
AN INCIDENT OF
THE CIVIL WAR

NJ H. w AN
1t was in the winter of 1863 I believe
when large numbers of the YANKEES went
into winter quarters at Huntsville, Ala.
Most of these were soldiers from the west,
Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana send
ing most of them. A number of them were
farm boys, showing yet the rudy glow of
out door life, and freedom from the wasting
hours of city life. All of Gus boys hated the
YANKEES, because they were our enemies,
and had invaded our home; but every home
had its pet Yankey, and ours among the
rest. My elder brother and l were then lit
tie boys. ready for anything and we soon
formed the acquaintance of merry Wis
cousin boy about sixteen years old. He
had sand hair, fair complexion, where the
freckles allowed the skin to be seen, and
bright blue eyes. never knew of his hav-
ing any other name but Billy" Despite
his blue clothes we were.soon good friends,
and companions When 1t got too cold for
him to live In a tent. He, with the rest of
the regiment, tore down the vacant houses
near by, and used the lumber and brick
to build him winter house, which the
soldiers called ''shebang" 1t was about
eight feet square, and just high enough
to permit him and his messmates to stand
upright inside. A rough chimney was built
at one end from bricks and mud. Rude
hunks were made from planks for sleeping
purposes, and straw was put on these, and
the army blankets made the remainder of
the bedding. Brother and I took as much
interest in the architectural finish and con-
struction of this house, as If we were going
to live On 1t, instead of our friend, the enc
my. Nails were scarce, so we searched I'M
der the ewes of houses, and around ash
piles, and picked US as many as we could,
and aided him in putting the uneven lumber
together, until we had built a very comfort
able shanty. Then we made a couple of
benches, and sat on them in front of a
bright fire, chatting with as much satisfac-
ton, as If we had completed a real SUBJ
stantia1 house. We spent many pleasant
hours with him, and gradually he found his
way to our house, and mother welcomed
him, Just as she would one OF our home
companions. One day he came to see US to
tell the pleasant news that he had cap
tured a fat goose We had grave suspicious
of his capture, but were too loyal to our
friend, and anticipated too much fun from
that capture to suggest doubt of his
truth. He invited us to take dinner with
him, and help cook the goose We told
mother that Billy had a fat goose and
wished us to take dinner with him: but he
did not have an oven to roast him in, MOTH
ing to cook with, and didn't know how to
cook it. Mother was very much amused at
our dilemma and Immediately entered into
the merits of that dinner with as much in
terest as We We still used the large old
fashioned fire-places for cooking so dutch
oven was given us, lard, salt and pepper,
and an onion wi n plenty of bread crumbs
for surfing; and we were duly instructed
in our first lesson in cooking a fowl. 1t
| Is useless for us to enter into the details
of that cooking, 1t is sufficient to say, that
no goose was ever enjoyed as that one was
with two little Confederate sandwiched be-
tween two Yankey soldiers. The goose was
an old edition, but our teeth were sound,
appetites able to digest anything in reason,
and the hard tack and weak coffee added
to 1t. made a feast to our young minds, fit
for king. We prepared a desert from mo-
lasses and bareback, made into one of the
most delicious cracker buildings we ever
ate We thought so then, and strange to
say, have never changed our opinions. AZ
ter our dinner, we cleared off the table,
each one washing his own tin plate and cup
knife and folk, cleaned the oven mother
lent us, and, then, drew our benches close
to warm wood fire, each pulled a splinter
from the plank walls of the shanty to pick
from our teeth the sinewy remains of that
old goose and with our feet dangling down
from the bench, listened to the yarns told
by the blue coats for our special entertain
ment. Billy would frequently come over
to our house to spend an evening with us,
and play with our baby sister, which must
have brought to his boyish heart and mind
the memory of little sister in his far off
no1nern nome. his regiment lay encamped
within few hundred yards of our house,
and, one morning, little before the break
of day. we were awakened by knock at
our bed room door. oMther was very much
frightened and aroused me from a heavy
sleep by calling out, 'sWho Is there?" A
voice replied, "It's me, ma'am." Mother
said, "Who are you?" What do you want?"
It's Billy ma ann" was the reply. Mother
answered, "Why, Billy. what do you mean
b coming this time of the night and wax
Ing us all up. besides soaring us almost out
of our wits?" 1t was pitch dark Bill said,
I'VE are under marching orders, the long
roll has beat, and I have run up here to
tell the baby goodbye" So, mother got up
in the raw winter morning, took the b ably
from the crib, wrapped 1t up warmly, and
handed 1T outside the door to the little
Yankey, who kissed it tenderly, again and
again. and returned 1t to mother, and with
a choking voice babe us a long farewell We
never saw. or heard of him afterwards.
But the memory of this friend of my boy
hood has always been a most pleasant
"Reminiscences, and the touching farewell in
an enemy's country at early morn was
indelibly impressed on our minds. / often
wonder If he sleeps far from home and
friends under a southern sky, or IL he re-
turned home safely! Wherever he may be
our memories go out to him with gladness.
and a southern boy or girl. now grown into
woman and man, send him our warmest
greetings of friendship.
w. L. CLAY.
l.