River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-03-23
Two Soldiers



COMING east few weeks ago over
| the prairies of one of our magniti-
cent new states | formed an acquaint-
ance with fine-looking gentlemen of
the old Virginia school. Gentlemanly
and COURTHOUSE typical southerner-
who told me one OF The prettiest stories
] have heard in a long time, Here is
the story:
when | was a young man | served
during the war in Virginia regiment
in the confederate army. and surren-
dered with Gen. Lee at AppomattoN. l
enlisted in the valley of Virginia dur
ing the first month of the war and
served in the Stonewall brigade and di-
vision 10 its end. One night after the
second days fight in the seven days
BATTLES ! was on picket duty in a hollow
between two heavily wooded hills.
AS the opposing lines of Nidettes
were very close together. was careful
to keep quiet until learned the cause
Of The noise didn't have to wait long
as footsteps came nearer and nearer
until only the width of the broken TO-
Eage of the tree behind which ! stood
separated me from the maker Of the
racket; then quietly I crept around
with bayonet fixed and gun on cock in
the direction of the sound. Proceeding
half a dozen steps, | came face to face
with a union soldier. He was walking
along careIessly with his gun on his
shoulder. and never saw a fellow more
astonished than he was when |, with
bayonet pressed almost against his
breast commanded him to halt Drop
that gun. Hands up, Yank!' com
mauded
BY thunder he exclaimed, after he
had dropped his Enfield. You're a
Johnny. amt YOU"
II am Il confede ate soldier said /,
and YOU are my prisoner
Prisoner! Right here inside of our
own lines. What does this mean? he
qucried.
You're outside and not inside, Of
your lines. Yank. and you're inside our
picket line. What were II trying TO
do, anyway. tramping around here like
a horse in a brush heap? Everybody
within 100 yards could hear YOU thrash
ing about You're not picket. are
you?'
No said he. i stole about camp on
a foraging expedition. l haven't had a
bite since yesterday morning. You fell
lows scooped our grub you know, and
am nearly starved.
.Starved?' said !. I've got a little
cornbread in my grub sack. and I'll di-
vide throwing off my haversack. Sit
down and try reb's short ratiOns.
My imitation was accepted with avid
ity. and my prisoner dived into that old
grub bag ravenouSly.
by this time had become interested
in my prisoner. and after putting a
stop to his apologies we struck up a
conversation. He told me his name. and
said that his people lived near Column
bus. O.. W here before the war had been
somewhat acquainted. In a short time
we were on the best of terms. so much
so that | leaned my gun against a
broken branch and sat down beside
him. | determined. if possible, to get
him back safe within his own lines, but
before could do so the officer Of the
guard came up with the relief.
Where did you get your Yank?'
said he
Captured him back there said |.
Take him with you and turn him
over. said he, and passed on after post
ing my relief.
Johnnie said my prisoner. as we
walked toward camp, will they send me
to Libby. do you think?'
Keep quiet | replied. and follow
me. Don't open your lips to anybody
Won may meet. I'll do the best | can
for YOU
I'VE got inside the lines without
question past a sentry who knew me,
and then through the camp Of a North
Carolina regiment to my own company.
Quietly and without disturbing anyone
| got my prisoner into into my dog
tent and told him 10 lie down and wait.
| then took his black hat and blouse,
slipped up TO another tent where the
occupants were asleep and quietly eX-
changed them for an old gray SLOUGH
and a gray jacket. With these-I got
back without discovery and fitted out
my prisoner. I knew it would be inn
possible to dodge the sentries with any
body clad in blue. although there were
many of our own soldiers at that time
who were by necessity compelled TO
wear any color they could get. Our
dirty gray was 50 near the color Of the
dead leaves and the ground that il
would be almost impossible TO see any
one who wore them creeping but few
yards away. When | returned | told
my Yankee friend TO get up and come
along rs quietly as possible Stepping
through the camp of the North Caro-
linians. we got into the shadow of the
slope of the hill, and crept down into
the dry bed of a narrow creek which
was overhung with bushes Caution
ing my companion TO be careful, we
crept on our hands and knees fully POO
yards along the creek, passing within
ten or fifteen steps OF three septries.
The little rivuIet ended in a larger
branch not 50 feet away from where |
had stood when captured him II was
at this point where the utmost caution
had TO be used. After few minutes
we succeeded in getting around the vi
dette.
God bless you. Frank. I'VE had eN-
changed names long beforel. L will
never forget you. and my mother and
sister, who shall know OF this. viii re-
member you as the best friend they
yer had. although they never knew
you. | hope we viii meet again when
there Is no such thing a. war
/ Il don't remember what I said in re-