Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1906-03-30
DANvILLE, Pa, March 27, 1906.
EDITOR INTELLIGENCER

EDITOR lNTELLIGENCER
1t was during the Civil War, in
the year 1864, when the Second
Heavy Artillery was guarding the
Bermuda Front, on the banks of the
Appomatox river, that the writer
was asked by the Sanitary Commits
sion to trade newspapers with the
enemy. Having consented we were
furnished a copy of the "Philadel
phia Inquirer" and filling our haver
sack chock full of hard tack jumped
over the rifle pits and started up the
Port Tobacco railroad, all the while
the pickets keeping watch that no ad.
vantage was taken in the deal. Just
previous to this paper was waved
from the Confederate breast works
when our side quickly responded,
which meant that the trade was on.
About midway we met a Johnny Reb,
asItough lookil G customer as ever de-
Tended the Stars and Bars. His
haversack was filled to the brim with
elegant leaf smoking tobacco. We
exchanged a few words and then ex
changed papers, CHS was erich
mond Whig,") hard tack and to-
bacco. My opponent seemed delight
ed to get the bread, as it was said The
Rebel ration at this time was hand
full of corn meal and pinch of sal
4, l,,, II, hn nn nIil / ,rns fri III
ed at the big, fierce looking fellow,
thinking, perhaps, he might have "A
revolver or knife secreted about his
person, and use one or the other
while was filling my haversack with
tobacco. But everything in the dicker
was fair and square, and we parted
to meet no more on this mundane
sphere. Returning to camp the boys
were delighted at the stock of the
weed, and when all who desired bel lp-
ed themselves to liberal quantity,
and soon the air was filed with
smoke. | then hurried to deliver the
"Richmond Wing" to the Sanitary
Commission, knowing full well that
there would be some recompense for
the risk and danger connected with
the trip between the antogouistic
lines. OF course the gentlemen of
the humane institution were delighted
at receiving the news of the situation
in rebeldom, and offered Us anything
in their line which consisted of jana
lea finger, canned quail, soap, towel
etc, and as long as the good things
20 eat lasted we were in clover, bul
alas, it was not long until hardtnJk
and "dried salt horse" were again oar
rations, and which We're relished vita
gusto. But even army food was
considered excellent by the soldiers,
many of whom were not as well salts
fed at their home liresides in the
North while clustered around the
dear old festive board. In fact Uncle
Sam cared well for his defenders, even
better than any nation on the face of
the globe. And there was always
enough and to spare, especially when
we were in camp for any length of
time. When breaking camp at Ber-
muda, preparatory to marching tri-
umphantly into the evacuated city of
Petersburg, hundreds of Goldfish were
scattered over the ground-thrown
away because of there being more than
was needed.
How many comrades of the Sec
ond Heavy can recall to memory the
evening we crossed the pontoon bridge
at Harrison's Landing or the James
river, after the terrible battle Of Fort
Burnham, named in honor of the
general by that name, who was killed
there, and where our regiment alone
lost 200 in killed, wounded and miss
ing? 1t was an event | for one can
never forget. The day was cold,
while the ground was covered with
several inches of slush-snow and
water-which soon penetrated the
spongy government shoes, soaking
the leather to the skin. The com
mand had no sooner reached the top
of the embankment when | met Com
rade G. w. Edgar, whose regiment
was supporting Redoubt Carpenter
George had been out foraging and
confscated a feather bed, upon which
| had the pleasure of resting my
weary head that night, and in the
morning served me with breakfast
that was cooked in 'go-for hole
dug six or seven feet below the sur.
face of the ground as place of safety
when shells were flying thick and fast
from battery over the way. The
menu consisted of "McClellan Pies
hard tack soaked over night and
fried in lard rendered from dried salt
pork from the side Of the hog. Later
in the day we marched back to oul
old stamping place on the banks Of
the Appomatox river, where we re-
mained until the rebels retreated from
Petersburg.
RICHARD w. EGGERT,
Battery F, End Pa. HI. Artillery