The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-11-07
How the Chicken
Was tIatciled.


lori-iaaII
At one time during the civil war
while we were campaigning in Virginia
our brigade became separated from the
main army. and We were in such
position Between the Confederate
forces that if they could have acted in
concert they might have captured us.
But neither one knew of the others
proximity that is. We inferred they
did not, for they made no move against
us. But even if both knew of the 9th
er's presence They could not communi-
cate with Il view to making concert
Cd attack without sending messenger
through our lines.
one morning when | was i'll charge
Of Il picket post young girl came INTO
the lines with q basket of buffer on
one arm and a basket of eggs on the
other. She said she had come from Il
small plantation just without Our lines
and would like to sell us her produce,
Since our rationS had for some time
and hard tack my mouth watered for
her wares. tasted the butter and
found it delicious. AS to the eggs
they looked tempting enough; but.
yielding to an old habit when buying
eggs, | held Il number of them up to
| the light to make sure they We're fresh.
| All transmitted a portion Of the light
except one. which transmitted none.
| 1t seemed to he of exactly the same
weight. size and shape as the others;
but. looking through it, | could not see
IL ray of light.
"Theres chicken in that one"
aremarket to the girl.
IF there is. | don't see how it got
| in. I'll take it out. | think the rest
are all right
| She took the egg out OF my bands.
selected half a dozen of the others and
a pound package of the butter-ail |
could take care of while on duty-in-
| tending them for our company mess.
The girl went on in toward the camp,
and | saw no more of her We did
not refuse citizens admittance within
our lines We reserved our refusal till
they asked to go out. And we espe
cialIy objected to their going out on
the opposite side from (which they
came in. 1t was passed down among
us from headquarters that we were
between two fires and no person what
ever should be permitted to pass
through our lines.
We enjoyed our fresh eggs and but
ter immensely and wished all the dairy
men in Virginia would come in with
their produce. Several officers asked
where we got them. and when | told
them that a country girl had come into
camp to sell them one of them went
off to find her This was in the even
ing after supper. The inclosure with
in the picket circle was not very large,
and he might easily have come upon
her if she had been in camp. Either
she was not in camp or she was hid
ing. Some one suggested that she had
gone through the lines. AS our safety
deDendcd upon no one in the Confcd-
crate interest getting through the lines,
this excited attention. | set out with
several others on Il still hunt, but We
all came back with the report that no
girl of the description given was IL
camp felt it my ,luty to report I'll"
matter to the general. only mentioning,
the girl and my having bought some
of her butter and eggs. The general
swOre Il good deal when he heard it,
since he had given strict orders as TO
the departure of any citizen from our
lines. Evert officer of the picket was
questioned, and all avOWed that no one
had gone ont during the day. The
only way could account for the girlS
disannearance was that she had stolen
out between two pickets after dusk.
The next morning a flag OF truce
was seen coming. and when it arrived
the officer in command presented de
mand for the surrender of the brigade
stating that they had us surrounded
The general sent them back with
proposition which delayed matters til
after nightfall. Then he ordered the
fOur regiments composing the brigade
to cut their way out i'll four different
directions, each fighting on it's OWL
hook.
That was a terrible night. | shall
never forget it. Our regiment took u
a wood. where we came upon seyera
regiments, and in the fight one hal
were captured, the other half getting
through and away. l was with those
who were captured. Two of the othe
regiments were taken entire, and
third had the good fortune to STRIKE
, an unguarded opening and marched
through it.
The next morning l with the othe
prisoners was undergoing an inspec
. ton by the general who had captured
, lis when one of the officers with him
a beardless boy, rode up to me an'
. put out his hand.
"EIow are you. captain?'' he said
| 81 owe my life to your stupidity.
uo,,'d hapn smart | would hav