The National tribune., 1910-04-07
A LETTER FROM DIXIE.
A Soldier Boys Letter to Home Folks
Telling of an Encounter With Rebel
Woman.

Woman.
Editor National Tribune: Comrade Du
Bois. who sends us this letter. says it
was recently found among his papers.
and that 1T might bring a reminiscent
smile 10 some of the boys who got
'stung' that day:
I'm Camp for the Night. Near Ray
mond. Miss, May 10. 1863.
Dear Folks at Home: Since I wrots
YOU last. directly after the battle OF
Magnolia Hills (Port Gibson). MAY /.
in which / distinguished myself on the
skirmish line by lodging the first rebel
shell of that day (said shell probably
went 10 feet over my head and broke
far to the rear). we have been on the
march every day. sometimes heading
directly for Vicksburg and then coun-
termarching back and resuming our
tramp towards the interior. / think
we are now on the road TO Jackson. To-
day we were marching along leisurely
when an orderly or Aid from Gen. Lo-
gan came riding furiously towards Us
and gave some order to our command
ing General. who Immediately ordered
us forward on the double-quick. We
heard the booming of the cannons in
front. but were too far away as yet to
hear the rattle of the infantry firing or
the rebel yell.
The day was hot, the dust was thick
and sitting. perspiratlOn flowed freely.
yet we kept the cadence trot- We kept
going this way for II seemed to me
long time. when we became aware that
the heavy firing had ceased. and we
heard the welcome order to halt. We
saw messenger galloping to meet us.
He halted at the head of the column,
and all our commissioned officers went
forward to hear the news. We rested
opposite large plantation house. with
/ the front yard full of roses and other
beautiful shrubs and flowers; not a hui
man being in sight about the premises.
/ The well of water just around the cor
! ner of the house was soon we'll patron-
lied by the thirsty soldiers. A little
| beyond the well was a row of bee
hives. Honey on hardtack was a rare
! luxury. and what cared soldier of the
33d Ill for few bee stings, Busy bees.
broken hives, besmeared hands. dirty
| faces, promiscuous kickings and won-
derful gestculations with arms and legs
would put to shame the acrobatic feats
of circus clown
I'm the midst of the shouting and
laughing suddenly appeared the lady
of the house on her front piazza, and
commenced a harangue of such red-hot
Southern adjectives that we all stopped
to listen: You 'uns are all set of low
down. dirty, thieving. rascally Yanks,
not fit to feed the hogs. The lower re-
gions are too good for you.' etc.
"At every opportunity the boys
clapped their hands and shouted. Go it,
Sally Ann and the like encouragement
1t was grand fun for us, / tell you.
This was not all, for in the midst OF
her TRADE what should appear to her
but row of the boys in blue coming
! out of her cellar directly under where
she stood, loaded with fruit cans and
other eatables. This was too much for
her. and, grabbing a good stout stick,
she, went for them and drove them out
of her cellar peIl-mell I am sure that
there are black and blue ridges on some
of the boys, for she did not spare her
muscle any. This charge OF the lady
was uproariously applauded by us in
| the roadway. BY this time the officers
returned. and the fun ended. We count
this as one of the funny episodes of our
soldering.
What the morrow may bring forth
we cannot tell. The battle in front was
short and sharp. but Gen. Logan's men,.
aus usual. quickly routed the enemy
You must excuse me now, for I must
have the rest and sleep, so goodnight
and love to ALL Yours affectionately.
&C. Du Bois."
&C. Du Bois, Co C. SD ILL.,, PaImviIle.
| N. Y