Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1915-06-10
ENDED THAT REPAST
FederaIs' Disturbance Of Confed-
crate Breakfast.
Virginia Man Now ReeolIects With
Amusement Some Humorous Incl
dents That Were Connected
With the Occurrence.

-
Il think the funniest sight / ever
saw" said Doctor Clagett of Leesburg,
Va, as he squared himself into his
armchair and lit his pipe, though It
didn't seem funny then, was the sud.
den transformation scene that took
place at my breakfast table early one
morning in the fall of '6S.
Along about day one morning three
or four of Mosby,s men, under com
mand of young George Slater, the dare
devil Irish cavalryman of the Balti-
more Slater family, who had Joined
Mosby at the beginning of his career,
because there didn't seem to be enough
danger and fighting for him in the reg
ular cavalry under Stuart, dropped in
on me at my home at the end of a
long suburban street. They we're on
one of their daring scouting adven-
lures and, being hungry as wolves.
stopped by to have a bite with me.
"Of course, anything l had was at
their service, and so out of bed we all
hoped, routed out the cook and along
about sunrise sat down to a comfort
able breakfast.
In Leesburg we usually felt happy
at seeing the Confederate uniform, SO
we fingered over our meal, swapping
stories of every kind. George Slater,
who was full Of all kinds of plausible
and entertaining yarns, had just told
some Irish tale, for whose truth he
pledged his patrimony. and l had Just
started in to tell one that taxed the
hearers credulity even more, when the
door from the kitchen opened and in
stole little julius Caesar, a small negro
boy of about eight years, who was as
sistant to the cook.
"Doct'r Clagett, thar's a." com
menced julius Caesar.
Don't bother mel l bawled at him.
irritated at being interrupted in the
story that. | iattered myself, would
top that of young Slater's. Shut up!'
"And then l continued with my tale.
But hardly had l progressed half a
dozen sentences when julius Caesar
broke in again.
"Doct'r Clagett, thar's "a
eff you say another word I'll chop
your head off, / roared at the little
pickaninny and then proceeded with
my story. But young Slater, who was
full of Irish acumen and who, being
in command, fully realized the danger
of his position, interrupted me him
self.
Look here, DOCTOR he said, we're
in the very paws of the enemy here;
hadn't you better hear what this an
cient Roman ruler has to say before
you trump my last story? We soldiers
don't want to get gobbled up
"At this l Strengthened up; it hadn't
occurred to me before of the hazardous
position my guests were in.
Here, julius Caesar l said, what
is it you want to tell me? Out with
It'll
Julius Caesar scrubbed one dirty
bare foot against the shank of his
other leg and shyly stuck a dirty fin
ger into a dirty mouth.
"'Taint nuthin' tall, doct'r, 'cept
thar's a whole passed. O. Yankees up.
town a lookin' fur desc hyah sogers,'
he murmured in apologize tones, an
right now dey's a-comin' a-bustin' an
a-bilin' down de street right ter dis
hyah place. OATS all l wanted ter tell
yer
"That ended that breakfast! Come,
menu cried George Slater, and was
through the door in a wink. Puryear,
who sat on the side of the table oppo.
site the door, instantly resolved him.
self into a human snowplow. He dived
across the table, heading straight for
that door and shoveIed aside on either
hand a venerable aunt and a dignifed
cousin who was visiting me. He didn't
stop to apologize, but with the others
bolted for the rack where their horses
were tied.
I'VE fastened to the window. Sure
enough the Union cavalry were com.
ing at a hot gallop-and hardly fifty
yards awayl Luckily the horses Of
George Skaters men were but loosely
tied. It took but a moment for those
veterans-young in years, old in serv-
ice--to vault in their saddles and
away. Down the road they sped, the
Yankees, outnumbering them a hum
dredfold, vainly popping at them. l
am glad to say that no one was either