The National tribune., 1902-08-07

the case my piece was removed to the
right of the embrasure into the deep
trench, and thus out of danger from be-
ing struck by one of the Parrot shells
the Federal battery was using on US; but
although the siege lasted from the 18th
| of June to the 4th of July, we suffered
no loss from this daily fire; in fact, we
| lost but one man-Pony Jones by name
who was killed by sharpshooter.
After the siege had been in progress
about month, by mutual agreement be-
| tween the cOntendlng forces a truce was
declared during the hour between sun
down and dark. About $50 yards in
| front of my redOubt was established the
line where w would meet and fraternize; !;
thus meeting, we would discuss the war,
both sides wishing it would soon be over
play cards, exchange our paper-printed
on wall paper-for cigars, pipes, news
papers and occasionally bottle of bour-
bon. We all enjoyed this hour, and
looked forward to the end Of the day,
when we who wore the gray could on
common ground meet those who wore the
blue, and in that short hour be free from
the feeling common to soldiers that death
might be lurking near.
| That those meetings had tendency to
soften our feelings when the end came
on that memorable 4th Of July have not
particle of doubt, because during the
time we were kept in Vicksburg await
ing our paroles, had it not been for the
fact Of the difference of our uniform that
| immense body Of men, representing two
thirds of the States, would most certain
| ly have been taken to have been under
one flag, for never in the history of such
an event was there such fraterniZing and
good feeling shown to the defeated army
as was shown by the boys in blue to those
who Wore the gray. Go where you would
| i'll Nlcksburg at that time, it was a com
mon sight to see blue and gray, arm in
arm, seated around the mess table, or
| drinking out Of the same bottle, and when
the day came that we had to separate
hard indeed was the parting, and well do
l remember as l shook hands with some
| of my friends who wore the blue, who
before the strife had been my college
mates, the boon companions of my youth,
the tears filled my eyes, for in all prob
| ability we would never meet again. for
none of us knew how long the strife
| would be kept up, nor what was to be the
end, for each was contending for a prin-
ciple that was to him very dear; but |
am DEPRESSING from what l started to
write you.
In the trenches on each side of my re-
doubt there was at the time a regiment
| of Georgia troops, but what number or
the Colonel commanding I do not now re-
member, but / DO most distinctly remem-
Der that no soldier of that regiment was
allowed to come into our redOubt, for we
| in great measure attributed our defeat
at Champions Hill to their cowardice.
aud we from Missouri had no use for
such men. There was no love lost be.
tween us, for none was sought
While the truce was on during the twi-
light hours of the days preceding the sur
render of Vicksburg the men of this Geor-
| gIa regiment participated but little in it,
and they were not noticed by the force
opposite us, for the reason that the boys
in blue were from Missouri, Illinois, In
diana and Iowa, and we of the redOubt
were from MissOuri-all of us at that
time north of that imaginary line called
Mason and DixOn's," but which now, by
the will of God and the utter defea, of
the side upon which l was is numbered
among the things Of the past. had, of
course, been out on the truce line every
evening after it was agreed upon, and
when one evening, about the middle of
June, just as the sun went down, the lit
tie white flags went up, the soldiers on
both sides were outside of the trenches
and going to the neutral line, there to en-
joy ourselves in a good friendly talk, ,
smoke, drink and perhaps a game of
draw" Confederate money against green
backs. During these Temporary rests
from shooting at each other" l had be-
come acquainted with soldier of an In
diana company, and liked him so well, on
account of conversational ability, that 1
very naturally sought him out, and was
content to sit alone with him and talk.
While cOnversing with him on one of
these truce nights we both became Obliv
ious to what vas taking place around US,
SO much So. indeed, that neither of US
| noticed that we were Alone the hour had
expired, and only realized it by someone
| tapping me on the shoulder. On looking
up l saw that it was Lieutenant of the
Georgia regiment who remarked: "D0