Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and DescriptiveBurnett, Alfred
History
Incidents of the War: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive
Burnett, Alfred
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Anecdotes
There were two families, Bently by name, residing there. These
brothers had not spoken to each other for forty years. They nor their
families have had any intercourse whatever; never recognizing each
other, though they had resided side by side, farms adjoining. One
could not go to church, or meeting of any kind, or to town, without
passing his brother. While we were there, the elder brother died, and
he was buried by his children. The other family knew nothing of it,
until told by our soldiers. The cause of the estrangement was, that,
in dividing the land left them, more than forty years ago, one claimed
the line was drawn some ten feet too far south, thus losing to the
other about six acres of ground, the value, at that time, being about
twenty-five cents per acre. This feud is now an inheritance, we
suppose, to be handed down forever. Can't you send out a missionary?
Those who can afford it are now enjoying in camp all the luxuries of
the season. I received an invitation to dine out yesterday. The
following bill of fare was partaken of in a beautiful arbor:
BILL OF FARE.
Mock Turtle Soup.
Turkey. Roast Beef.
Ham and Eggs. Roast Mutton, with Currant Jelly.
Radishes. Lettuce. Onions and Potatoes.
Custard. Lemon Pies. Pound Cake. Jellies.
The whole concluding with elegant "Mint Juleps," with straws
in them.
In the 1st Brigade, under Colonel Connell, each company has a large
brick cooking-range erected, and their system is really worthy of
emulation. This entire division is supplied with fine fresh bread
every day. The division baker has three Cincinnati bake-ovens, from
which he turns out from three to five hundred loaves a day, besides
pies innumerable. It is under the foremanship of Mr. John Wakely, a
well-known Cincinnati baker. This arrangement is a great saving to the
Government in the way of transportation, etc.
I heard a first-rate story, which, although it did not occur in this
division, is too good to lose. A private soldier, named Cupp, who is
a German, belonging to the 1st Missouri Cavalry, and now one of the
body-guard of General Granger, was out to the front a few days ago,
and seeing a "stray rebel," "made for him." The chase commenced--away
went Mr. Reb and Cupp. Having the fleetest horse, Cupp gained upon him
rapidly, crying, "Halt! halt! halt!" every leap his horse would make.
But the rebel, bent on getting away, heeded not the call. At length
the Dutchman reached his rear, and, swinging his saber heavily over
his head, charged the rebel, and brought him to a "_dead stand_."
"Ah ha!" said the now excited Cupp, "how you vass all de viles? D----n
you, anoder time I hollers halt I speck you stop a leetle, unt not try
to fool mit me so long, you d----d rebel."
DISHONEST FEMALE REB.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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