Putnam patriot., 1915-12-24

our coffee and ate our salt pork and
hard tack and thought of those days
at home that we had enjoyed with
friends there i'm the years gone by and
thinking Of the chances of ever doing
so again. This was the way we pas
sed Christmas day 1854.
Just before noon we saw two COM
rades coming toward US with camp
kettles. Now there had been a camp
rumor that we were to have a Christ
mas dinner sent US from Connecticut
but the most Of US toog 1t to be
camp story. We were indeed surpris.
ed with just one look at those kettles.
One was full of turkey, chicken, cake,
pie and other good things that 90 with
them, and the other full Of coffee with
milk feoHdensedl. q, such dinner!
We were soon full, not as some speak
Of fulness, but of the good things from
home, Just such things as We used to
have. When we had got our fill We
thought Of the boys On post. Taking
two men / relieved them and sent
them in 50 they could enjoy their din
ner also.
Some thirty yards in front Of our
posts were the euemys' piekets and /
SAW man who was about thirty
years old. lie had an old blanket
over his shoulders, his uniform WIS
-.
that lime it was agreed that there
should be no firing except on an ad-
vance. We used TO exchange papers
and trade tobacco for coffee. Looking
at TINT Johnny a thought struck me
and calling TO him | asked, "Johnny,
have you had any Christmas dinner?7
He said, "No.p | asked, "Would you
like one2' He said, 81 reckon Iill
have To WANT | said, "You wait
minute " | hurried back TO the emp
fire where the boys had been listening
and there was something doing.A new
plate had been found and it was being
heaped with some of every kind OF
food as long as it would stay on, cup
of steaming hot coffee, and | was soon
on The way past our vidette post to see
that Johnny. Now if he was not a
surprised man | never saw one. But
| tell you he was a good soldier He
just kept hold of that gun. No Yank
was going TO get the best of him. [
set the plate down on the snow and
said, "There Johnny is your dinner.
After you are through | will come and
get my plate and cup ] returned to
our fire and we watched the fellow. He
first set his gun up against the tree,
then there was a charge on those
Yankee good things. There was no
falling back, no asking for reinforce
ments. He just stood his ground like
good soldier and did not give up I'M
| Til he was urable to surround any more
of those Yankee fxings. Those that
remained he slowed into his knapsack
for further use and then resumed his
| post.
/ went after my plate. He thanked
me. | asked him If he had family
and he said he had a wife and two
| children asked him if he would dc
| me favor aud he said he would il he
| could. | told him the next time he
wrote TO them 10 say that he took din
neI with u Yank and he snid he woul Id
DE at home and take his dinner next
year with them. lie asked If thought
50, | satd, AYES you people are about
played out He stopped moment
thought, and then said, al think So
too, y and reached and grasped my
hand like true friend as we bid eHch
other good bye. How often have
been sorry did not ask his name and
| home address.
Now after fifty years have passed
! those men that wore the Blue and those
that wore the Grey can meet without
guns OF pickets, MS friends, uncovering
our heads beneath the Old Flag as
brothers. To my last day | shall re
member that Christmas dinner enjoy
ed by u johnny Reb and Blue coated
Yank. II WI.