The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-12-27
THE FIELD OF BATTLE
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES OF
THE WAR.
The Veterans Of the Rebellion Tell Of
Whistling Bullets, Bright Bayoncts,
BurstinR Bombs, Bloody Battles.


Camp Fire, Festive Bugs, Etc, Etc.
There were four lucky men,
What | have to say about them is in
line for the Christmas season. They
had attended district school together.
They swarmed as teachers the winter
Of 1S6O-61. Not long after drums sound
ed and flies walled in 1861 they enlist
ed. two in one company and the others
In different regiments. Their friends
tried to get them to wait and so out as
officers. They wouldn't listen to it
they wouldn't wait for commissions;
the war might be over in a few weeks.
Besides, there seemed to be more glory
In starting as privates; 1t looked more
patriotic to them. They saw their mis-
take soon after reaching Washington.
So did all who could have carried
shoulder straps into the war, but re-
fused from patriotic motives.
1t happened that these four men
found themselves in the same brigade,
the fall of 1861, when they reached Vir-
ginia, opposite Washington. Each had
left sweetheart behind. No week I'M
til the spring of 1865 passed when these
four young men did not write to four
young women and all Of their letters
were answered. Mr.. Seward had prom
ised that the war would be over by
Christmas, 1861. Along in November
of that year the four lucky soldiers
unanimously reached the conclusion
that Mr.. Seward was mistaken-that
they would have to content themselves
with an army dinner next Christmas.
The letters that week told the young
women they would have to forego the
pleasure of a Christmas sleigh ride;
that army fare would have to do for
their happy holiday dinner. They
would pool their ratiOns and dine to-
gether.
When those four letters reached the
little Western town there were four
unhappy young ladies' for time. Tears
were shed. Mary, after. drying her
eyes, said she would be brave and so
over and see If Jennie had heard from
Will. Jennie had; Mary knew 1t before
she spoke. She could see a trace of
the bad news leading from each Of Jen-
MES eyes. A few words were spoken
and Jennie and Mary said they would
call on Susie and Sarah-sistersLand
if they had heard the depressing news
chirk them up. They had, and their
mother was trying to comfort them.
Sarah broke out against the nasty old
war; that was keeping them from hav
ing good time. Then the four girls,
all very proud Of their soldier boys,
had bit of crying spell. The moth
er of the two sisters was responsible
for it. She had ventured that just as
like as not the dreadful war would not
be over before next Fourth Of July.
How could they wait so long without
their martial mates? Poor. pining low
ers! They would have cried their eyes
out probably II they could have looked
into the future and seen written, Your
lovers. if alive. may join you three
years from next Independence Day"
1t is indeed kind providence that
hides some things from us.
''I'll tell you what let's do" said pref
ty Susie when the tear fountains had
run dry. I'VE will get up just the incest
Christmas dinner that ever was and
send it to the dear boys. Just think Of
their having nothing but fat pork. horse
beef and that dreadful hard bread for
dinner, and we here eating turkey,
mince pie and everything else that is
goOdr'
'Just the thing, you dear girl. Tell
us what to do"
well, let's see. Sally and l will
cook the turkey. Jennie. you make
the mince pie Mary can make two or
three kinds Of cake and a nice loaf of
bread"
Then these girls, who had been so
unhappy a few minutes before, were
full of life and joy. They were plan
ming to please and make others happy;
that was why. 1t often happens that
way
Theexpress company at Washington
sent word to one of the soldiers on Ar
iingtoD Heights that box awaited
him. This was the morning Of Dec.
"a. He got permission to go to the
city. The headquarters team took his
large box to camp. After his terminates
had gone to sleep be opened it. The
first thing that caught his attention was
four fat letters. Then he came to the
fat turkey and half dozen fat.
motherly mince pies, three sorts of
cakes and a bundle of dOughnuts, some
home butter and several home loaves.
Jennie's letter to him explained the
scheme. Probably there was not bet
ter feeling soldier In McDowelrs divis-
ion. He was to prepare the feast for
the next day. His terminates were in
yited out for dinner, thus leaving a
tent for the four friends. They were
to assemble there right away after the
three returned from picket duty. When
they came they had their surprise, as
Will had had when he opened the box.
The table, consisting Of a cracker box,
was loaded with the goodies from the
girls. The pickets danced about the
tent like children whose stockings had
been well filed. Then the letters were
read. Will read his with the rest, for
the fifth time. Four sedate school
teachers, who had been soldiers for six
long months. didn't say Il word for a
few minutes. They just sat on the
hunks and looked at the table When
they did begin to talk their tongues
ran on like prairie fire. BLESS their
dear souls!" Wonder which cooked
the bird" Regular mother mince
pies '.And such dOughnutsr' "Well,
boys, after this We are ingrates il we
don't all live to go home" These are
specimens of the comments. VIII was
a church member. He asked the bless
ing and put in plea that the four