- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Location
- Central Massachusetts
Reading the personal reminiscences of private soldiers during the Civil war can reveal some delightful little vignettes of daily life. This one is an inconsequential little incident on Nov. 6, 1862, just after the Army of the Potomac had crossed the river in 'persuit' of the Confederates following Antietam.
“After sitting around (camp) a little while I started out to see id I could find a house and get something to eat a little out of the ordinary, for to be constantly eating hardtack and salt horse became a little monotinous after being indulged in month after month.
“I passed along through a series of fields on high ground, then bearing to the right passed through a strip of wood from the farther side of which a ridge appeared a few rods out in the field. When I reached the top of the ridge the looked-for house appeared in sight a few rods down the other slope, and down to it I went. When I got within 5 or 6 rods of the house, a Johnnie came out and walked off down towards some wood on the farther side of the field. This opened my eyes, and when I saw for the first time that the wood down there was alive with Johnnies – not an ordinary picket post but a regiment, or a brigade was there. There were tents and camp-fires in large numbers. I must have been 5 or 6 rods from the house, and the woods where the Johnnies were some 8 or 10 rods beyond when I made this discovery, but this was no time to hesitate.
“I walked down to the house and asked the woman if she had any corn-bread to sell. She said, 'No, I have just sold the last I have to one of our men.' That 'our men' showed me at once that she knew who I was. I stepped out into the yard, took a look around and sauntered back up over the hill again. When I got out of sight of the house I quickened my steps until I was a good distance from that camp.”
The lady didn't raise an alarm. She knew which side she was on, but clearly felt no particular hatred or hostility for one polite young Yankee soldier, who was just offering to pay for a bite to eat.
This little bit of humanity in wartime is from J.M. Stone (21st Mass. Vols.), Personal Recollections of the Civil War, (1918).
Cheers,
jno
“After sitting around (camp) a little while I started out to see id I could find a house and get something to eat a little out of the ordinary, for to be constantly eating hardtack and salt horse became a little monotinous after being indulged in month after month.
“I passed along through a series of fields on high ground, then bearing to the right passed through a strip of wood from the farther side of which a ridge appeared a few rods out in the field. When I reached the top of the ridge the looked-for house appeared in sight a few rods down the other slope, and down to it I went. When I got within 5 or 6 rods of the house, a Johnnie came out and walked off down towards some wood on the farther side of the field. This opened my eyes, and when I saw for the first time that the wood down there was alive with Johnnies – not an ordinary picket post but a regiment, or a brigade was there. There were tents and camp-fires in large numbers. I must have been 5 or 6 rods from the house, and the woods where the Johnnies were some 8 or 10 rods beyond when I made this discovery, but this was no time to hesitate.
“I walked down to the house and asked the woman if she had any corn-bread to sell. She said, 'No, I have just sold the last I have to one of our men.' That 'our men' showed me at once that she knew who I was. I stepped out into the yard, took a look around and sauntered back up over the hill again. When I got out of sight of the house I quickened my steps until I was a good distance from that camp.”
The lady didn't raise an alarm. She knew which side she was on, but clearly felt no particular hatred or hostility for one polite young Yankee soldier, who was just offering to pay for a bite to eat.
This little bit of humanity in wartime is from J.M. Stone (21st Mass. Vols.), Personal Recollections of the Civil War, (1918).
Cheers,
jno