The National tribune., 1908-10-29
AN uNEATEN Feast.
A Chri.tmas Dinner !

A Christmas Dinner Full of vicissitudes.
Comrade c. e. Crammer writes from
Portis. Kan: "In the Winter OF 1856
our regiment was scattered thru Ar
kansas Our company (A) was at
Clarksville, about seven miles from the
river. There was always a detail at
the landing. in charge Of Corporal,
to guard our forage. rations. etc. A
resident named Fiske made business
catch. remember that he caught one
catfish that weighed IS pounds and
one that weighed $50 pounds. When
Christmas eve came six OF US told our
cook to be ready at midnight to begin
preparing our Christmas feast, and we
quietly. after dark. got our horses out
and proceeded to collect commissary
supplies in that community. Before we
arrived at the landing we had requisi-
toned one turkey and six chickens
very successfully. At the landing we
sought to augment our stores without
putting the guards to the trouble Of
overseeing the work. was pursuing
a goose or q gander that gave evidences
Of nervous agitation. and as I swung
my saber for a right swipe against in
fantry. being at full galIop afoot-be-
cause the geosy-gander was In full
flight both afoot and awing-1 dashed
into pile of hay: my toe met solidifled
obstruction: / called forward. and
alighted full length. bosom down. on
another and similar ridge of hay. while
the goosy-gander gave a glad squawk
and scooted into nocturnal obscurity. I
had not lost my saber. and instantly
recovered my perpendicuiartty. greatly
aided by the uprising Of the ridge OF
hay. There was commotion all around.
and the air was thick with furid words
that one could almost smell. so rich
were they In sulphur. lodged into
the adjacent brush before the guards.
over whom and upon whom I had STUN.
bied. had the hay seed gouged out of
their eyes. and guess they don't know
yet exactly what struck their slumber-
ing camp. They were guarding stores:
but they were peacefully sleeping un-
der hay. OF course. no one could steal
the forage while they used II for bed
and blanket When things quieted we
made our way to the river edge and
explored. There we found q heavy
string of fish The fish were not there
when we left. Indeed. they arrived in
camp synchronically with ourselves. II
developed thereafter. as Information
| crystaIlized. that Comrade R. Delabar
had purchased those fish on specula-
tion, purposing to bring them to camp
and sell them to the boys In the morn
ing. On our way back to camp we
added seven chickens to our supplies
for Christmas. Carter. the cook. had
good fires going when we arrived. about
a. M. and when we had cleaned our
game we turned In. We were turned
out about 3 a. m. by an alarm Of "frer'
and found the cook house In flames
| Our quarters were saved with grea,
difficulty and labor: the kitchen and all
Of our stores and commissary supplies
were utterly consumed-our Christmas
supplies. our coffee. sugar. meats
crackers-all. all gone up In smoke or
into cinders and ashes. No rations left
No Christmas feast Nothing at all to
eat. For many days we were on shor,
rations The cook said: That Chris
mus dinner won't cojoboiate this Chris.
mus,' And I guess II didn't didn't
co-1aw-bo'ate any OF It. am sure. I'll
never forget how tired my Jaws were
OF the idleness OF that day. I desire fo
add that as I may have been involved
in some responsibility for the loss ot
Comrade Delahar's string OF fish, I will
upon receipt Of bill from him. properly
vouched. pay him the sum he invested
with some interest; or if he will visit
me will give him fish dinner to his
gastric limit"