Year: 1876

In the Spring of 1864 General Early
with his division was on picket duty at
the Rapidan river, in Virginia. The
Feds were opposite, and were occupying
house whose owner had fled with his
family few days before, leaving them
in full possession. There were very fine
lot of turkeys on the place, and as Gen
eral Early intended giving big dinner
in few days, he concluded as meat was
scarce, and especially turkey, that he
would send General Harry Hays with his
brigade to charge the Yankees and make
them skedaddle, and the boys could COB
BILE up the gobblers. The charge was
made by General Hays with strict orders
that all the turkeys that were captured
should be turned over to General Early.
Out of :he dozen that were taken the
General succeeded in getting only one
So the General sent out his invitation to
Generals Hays, Gordon, and several other
officers to take n turkey dinner with him
the next day at two o'clock. Among
General Early's troops was the Louisiana
Guard Artillery, who were stationed very
near General Early's headquarters. In
this company was fellow whose nick
name was Race, who was always hungry
and ever on the qni vive for chicken, tur-
key, hog, or anything he could beat
person out of. Race saw his chance.
lie would go into the kitchen when the
turkey was about done, and try his powers
on Aunty Rose, a colored lady who was
doing the cooking. Race walked into
the kitchen and engaged Aunt Il. in con
versation. While he was talking the
Yanks opened fire with one Of their bat
teries.


Razee-Aunty, amt you afraid to stay
in this house when the Yanks know this
is General Eary's headquarters, and are
going to open fire in few minutes with
shells as big as that -four barrel there in
the corner?


Aunty R.-Well, chile, I is skeered /;
but what can / do f? | don't know whar
to go to.


Razee-Wel if were black woman
like you, l would go down in the cellar
and stay there until the bumbing was
over.


Aunty R.-Master, am dat fact about
dem shells bein' as big as flour barrels =?
l specs | will go down in dat cellar and
stay dar.


Race, with very innocent look, said
he hoped il was not so but just as he
spoke large shell was thrown some three
hundred yards TO the east of the house.
Race very excitedly said he must go to
his regiment to be on hand for the fight.
Leaving Aunty r., he took his stand out
at the fence to await developments. He
had not been at his post but few min
utes, when out came the old lady, and
down in the cellar she went. She had
not more than closed the cellar door be-
fore the kind hearted youth was in the
kitchen, and snatching the turkey from
the stove, opened his shirt and jacket and
slapped the turkey next to his hide. 1t
was very warm, but Race could stand ii
and he and his mess had square meal.


General Early had every man in his
division skinned Off naked the next day,
to find the fellow with the brand OF tur.
key on his hide. Poor Race was cap
tured, and the bones Of the turkey were
made into necklace, and he had to wear
it around his neck, with a band of music
behind him playing the rogue's march,
for two hours each day, before the whole
division, with nice motto ON large
board, which read thus "The man who
stole General Early's turkey"