The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-30
AFAMILY AFFAIR.
FBy NJ. ouad.l


We had with us in &c" company a
man about forty years old named
Reuben Hartman, and he was the only
man among us who kept close
family history. Some of the men
thought there was good reason for
this, but it didn't transDire that Hard
man had anything to be ashamed of.
The truth GENE out one day as he was
marching and stumbling over a bad
road, ana when his patience had be-
come exhausted he said:
"Gaul durn Dan'l's hide, but if I had
couldn't holler! What on earth did
he go and CO it for and bring all this
trouble on me2"
Some of the boys asked him who
Dan was, end then the mystery was
solved. Danl was a brother who had
gone south and enlisted in the confed-
crate army, and was then known to be
IN among the troops confronting US. If
reuben was good union man, DAM
was no less a good confederate. and if
reuben cussed Danl for the war his
adJectiYes were supposed to be return
ed with interest.
We wondered if it would so ha0pen
that the two would meet in battle but
time went on until we go around to
petersburg. AS our regiment took the
rifle pits in the center of Grants lines
one day. Reuben was one of the men
detailed for the pits. At this point
union and confederate pits We're not
more than a hundred feet apart and
to show head above the earth wa
sure death. Reuben had a high-pitched
voice, and any one having heard it
could identify him in the darkest night
II began raining soon after he and a
comrade had reached the pit and the
brother soon began the same old tirada
against Daniel
Here 1 am. in rain and mud. and
likely to be shot. and it's all on his
account" he shouted "Durn him hut
d give q, woke nf to eft
on MIN fur about ten minutes ri
md him sooner or later. and then
won't he wish he had never been bornl'
he went on in that vein for a hort
zen minutes, and he had only stopped
Tor breath and to think up some new
cuss-Words, when a voice from the Con-
federate Pit opposite shouted out:
say now, but shuck my hide if l
don't know that critter who owns that
Voicei"
who be you over there?" called Reu-
ben, as he started up
I'm Danl of course
You don't mean it,"
es l do, and you are Reube. I'd
know that voice of yours if I heard it
In Chiny. Say, old man, how are We.
and how are all the folks at home?''
m well 'nuff. and the folks are well
huff, but I'm powerful mad What did
you go and turn Rebel for and make all
this trouble? You hain't got a spark Of
decency about you, DanI Hardman!"
m as good as any old Yankee!' re-
piled Daniel.
You amt either Just let me git
holt of you and you'll sing a different
tune. 1 want you to come right over
here and surrender and behave your
self. Do you hear me?"
Their conversation in the pits was
heard by score of men on either side
and first one would cheer and then the
other. When there was a break in the
talk Confederate would shout across:
Hey thar, Reube. come over to the
house and see Dan'l"
You bad boy, Den'l, come home and
answer, and for an hour the firing from
half a dozen ri1e-pits was suspended.
When Reuben took his second trick in
the pit he was so eager to open COM
munication that he exposed his head
and bullet sent his cap flying ten feet
away.
"Durn your hide, but that was you,
Danl, he shouted, as he crouched
down. Yes, I'll bet it was. You hain't
got no more sense in your head than to
go and shoot at your brother, though
you couldn't hit a bar ten feet away"
THAT you, Reube " called Daniel
'Of course it's me. What you askin'
such silly questions for? You never did
know beans. even before you ran away
and Joined them rebels
Don't git mad. DanI I thought it
was some other Yank. Say, Reube, did
you say that all the folks at home was
well? I hain't heard from them in a
hull year.