The Atlanta constitution., 1900-10-29

morning, Johnnies,'" said he. and
friendly conversation at once began.
One word brought on another until 1t
was mentioned that the day was Thanks
giving day. A young confederate was
doing the talking our side and he
jokingly remarked that the prospects for
anything TO celebrate with on our side
was monstrous slim, whereupon the yam
kee said that they had plenty and That
if the "Johnnies'' would go over they
should have a good dinner and a friendly
time and return when it was over rms
trend was changed by our young cOnfed-
crate proposing to trade some tobacco
for some sure enough coffee. and was
no sooner proposed than accepted our
young confederate soon crossed over, as
the ford was shallow, talked ana warm
ed awhile in the yankees tent and re-
turned TO his own side to have sueh
drinking of coffee as those who have
never lived under n blockade could un-
derstand.
The day moved along more cheerfuliS
after this. till about the hour OF noon
when the confederates began 70 get
ready the scanty rations they had. Then
il was that this same yankee appeafeo
again and hollered across that they want
ed to divide some OF their good things
with the "JChnnies." OF course the CON
federates met the Offer in the friendly
spirit it was given and in short space
of time the yankee came down 10 the
ford on horse and the horse was loaded
with sacks of good things. He was soon
on the confederate side of the river, and
was opening up the sacks. and am Will
irg to asset that there YVES never
happier yankee, a hungrier set OF con-
federates. or a more glorious thanksgiV-
ing dinner than there took place.
When the dinner was over the yankee
and confederates SAT- around the tire ahI
talked for quite a while. Especially dld
our Young friend of the morning and the
yankee seem to take TO each other. The
yankee had picture Of his wife and two
little children which he showed viii
pride. and told much about their north
| ern home. whereupou our young confed-
| crate ran his hand away down In the
| lining of his gray >acket and brought
| forth two pictures wrapped in piece or
| oil cloth TO protect them when he HIM
| self was wet to the skin. one of these
| pictures was the young confedera te' 5
| wife, the other his little babe. just three
| months old AT the ume of his leaving
| home. I think that tears dropped from
| the eyes of both these men as they put
| away these pictures again. shook hands
| and parted TO become enemies once more
such is war.
1t was not long after the above Incl
dents till / was standing to the right OF
| Marye's heights in 'front.' of Fre8ericks-
| burg l had some friends in Cobb's COM
mand. and / watched the troops of
| Burnside as they strove TO force thelF
way over the rock fence along the road
| al the edge OF the town. l could hear the
| yankee officer speak 10 his men before
he ordered the charge. lie told them that
! Marye's heights had 10 be taken and Thar
| they re the boys 10 take it. But they
| never passed over that fence. for Cobb
was there and died there. ANA / verify
believe that all the ,roops Of the world
would have failed there. just as the irish
! brigade failed
! As this hight went on I was Ia a POSI-
| ton TO watch without being I'D any dan
ger myself My attention was soon riv-
| eted upon two sharpshooters who were
| carrying on "a deadly duel from the tops
| of two hogses-one on the yankee and
/ the other On the confederate side. Time
4 after time il made me shudder to see the
! shiscles splintered So close ia these nen S
! heads as they peeped over the tops oL
| their respective houses and fired. II was
plain that this vas a deadly duei between
/ these men. Something seemed 10 tell me
/ that their next shots would be ia-3l
| They loaded again. and 3 watched ihem
| creeping TO the top. Al the Hash I zaT
| that oas TUNED alo0se lis gun ana
/ clulchtd AT the shingles, while the other
| seemed TO qIiY9r in has place for a mo-
! mcuJ. ull both relaxed. rolled to the edge
OF th. roofs and fell 10 The ground wilh
\ a thud.
There were thousands Of dead around
after the battle. but / had curiosity -o
/ see the sharpshootcrs that had carried
! on this deadly duel. I'm one ! founs the
| young confederate who crossed for The
/ coffee. I'm the other I found the generous
yankee who had come over with the
! THANKSGIVING diuner-sueh is war
| SARGE PLENhETT.