The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-23
lyon STA, q sn,sss,. H.n ~


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: II the
above caption should happen to meet the
eye of Comrade "Reub" Robb. of Co. Z,
SOth Ohio, he will probably be reminded
Of the funny episode to which it relates.
The circumstances which led up to the
bold and daring robbery alluded to were
as follows:
One day in the Summer OF 1864. while
we were encamped a little way back from
the depot at Kingston, Ga, 1 called on
detachment Of st. Louis Dutchmen, who
occupied neat little shanty near the rail-
road. And from the appearance of their
quarters and surroundings they had been
there long enough TO have things fixed up
in very attractive style: for instance,
the cat lying on the rug, the dog doing
ut the threshold. and the flock of chickens
picking up crumbs in the dooryard, gave
the place a very homelike appearance.
will explain here that while 1 was not
entitled to wear leaf on my shoulder,
yet among my friends l was dubbed
Major" OF course. l noticed the
chickens, and marveled that they had thus
far escaped the clutches of certain pre-
datory nearby parties that l wot of, and
remarked that those chickens must rooss
mighty high. "Oh. no. not so very high
they informed me, showing ms an oak
bush near the door; ''dere ees we're tay.
roost."
then told them that we expected to
receive marching orders in few days.
but before we leave l said loosely, Il
promise you that will steal one Of those
chickens" And they with one accord
replied: "Al rigid Machor, eef you kin
kit away nit Won of TEN shickens, you isl
velcom to it,
Not long after this, when my company
marched to Resaca, on account of lame
foot, was left back to come up on the
ears with ''the stuff Comrade Reub
Robb, who was connected with the Quar-
termasters Department, also remained
back to take charge of Quartermaster
stores and go on the cars.
The train on which we We're to take
passage was not ready to pull out till
about dark the following evening.
After seeing our goods safely stored in
side, Reub and / climbed up and took
| passage upon the roof.
| / had forgotten about my promise to
visit our neighbors' chicken roost till our
train had moved up and come to halt
near their quarters. when | said to Reub:
| This reminds me l am under promise to
steal one of those chickens that are rOOst-
ing in that oak near that shanty. l must
make good that promise. Now. be ready
to grab the chicken when l hand it up to
| you"
1 then descended the ladder and quietly
| approached the roost. The indications
seemed to be propitious-"all was quiet
on the Potomac"
| After q brief reconnaissance | felt
pretty sure that there was nobody at
home.
A chicken was roosting on a lower limb
within my reach. BY clasping its head in
one hand and its feet in the other. had
succeeded in reaching the cars just as
the train was starting. To enable me to
climb the ladder l let go of the chickens
unearthly squawk, which aroused and
brought out after me, pell-mell.. big
Peter" who. "upbeknownest" to me. had
been left to hold the fort" yelling: You
steal a shcken, hah.'' and cursing me in
two languages. After I had landed the
chicken into Reub's hands as 1 neared the
top of the ladder, Peter seized and swung
onto my lame foot. Bracing his feet and
taking a firm grip and heave and set, he
said: Now, tam you, 1 fetches you"
Just then l Strengthened out my foot,
which allowed my big old unlaced shoe
to come off very suddenly, and landed Big
Peter on his head and shoulders. As the
train moved on, and l stood upon the roof,
l looked back and saw Peter on his feet
again, shaking his fist at me and trying to
say something in every language at his
command. / called back to him in loud
voice: 81 have fulfilled my promise;
have that chicken and you may keep that
old shoe for luck"
Then came back above the noise of the
cars: "Vell, l pc tam, eef it ees not te
AIachor-dot ees all rigid. It'd not know
it vas you. You are Welcome to dot
chicken; good eefeningr'.
will add that never since that remark
able episode remarkable principally be-
cause it was the first and only chicken
that either Reub or l had stolen during
our four years term of service) have
met Reub but he would salute my ears
with what Big Peter yelled at me as he
seized me by my old shoe: you steal 4
shicken, hahi'
And I'll bet you a big red apple that
when we meet next August at San Fran
cisco Reub's greeting remark will be:
"You steal shicken. hahr'-W. II. An
DERsoN, Co. H, sOth Ohio, Highlands.
n. C. :.