Drum Taps in Dixie: Memories of a Drummer Boy, 1861-1865 — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Drum Taps in Dixie: Memories of a Drummer Boy, 1861-1865
John Stuart Mill · en
The reader of this who is of the generation since the war will hardly
believe, I presume, that men of the two armies, who had fought each other
so hard for more than three years, could meet between the lines without
displaying any animosity toward each other, but such occurrences were not
rare.
I recall a story about how a “Johnnie” helped a “Yank” carry his supply of
wood into the Union lines. The boys were engaged in cooking and when the
rebel sniffed the pleasant aroma of Uncle Sam’s old Government Java and
other things that were not being furnished by the C. S. A. commissary
department, he said: “I’m dog-goned if it don’t seem right smart
comfortable here with you’uns and now that I’m here I guess I’ll stay!”
Considering the great privations that they suffered, and the hopelessness
of the struggle it is a great wonder that the desertions from their side
were not more frequent than they were.
A BOX FROM HOME.
If any of you ever have a father, son or brother in far distant parts,
don’t forget to send him an occasional box of good things from the old
home. He may have an abundance, but even then he will appreciate the
loving remembrances; but if he is undergoing the hardships and privations
of a soldier’s life it will touch his heart more than any other act of
your life.
Two of our mess were remembered with a bounteous box of good things the
Christmas we were in the trenches before Petersburg. Talk about your
banquets! Your Delmonico spreads; your nine-course dinner! They cannot
compare with that Christmas feast of home made mince pies, fruit cake,
plum pudding, old fashioned twisted doughnuts, raspberry jam and other
good things from home.
And even those who were without mother or sister at home received through
the Sanitary or Christian commissions many evidences that their devotion
to their country’s cause was lovingly remembered by the patriotic women of
the North.
Those were stirring days, and even the little children worked for the
soldiers. Their little hands were busy rolling bandages, knitting and
helping the various “Aid societies.”
Among my wartime keepsakes is the photograph of a little Pennsylvania
girl, 10 years old. It came to me in a “Soldier’s Companion” containing
needles, thread, buttons and other articles useful to a soldier. The child
had made it and tucked a dainty little note inside with her picture,
requesting the recipient to write to her, which I did from the front of
Petersburg and received a very beautiful letter in reply.
WHERE BOARD WAS HIGH.
I have in my possession a portion of an old copy of the “Macon
Confederate,” which was obtained on the picket line one day, in which it
is stated that, “board at our hotels is $30 per day, which includes three
meals and a room.”
“If a man is single and wishes to reside here he can obtain board at a
private house for $150 to $200 per month.”
“A family can rent a small house, with a small yard and garden for, from
$1,500 to $2,500, according to location.”