Banter Between Friends and Foes

Tom Elmore

Captain
Member of the Year
Joined
Jan 16, 2015
Infantry versus Cavalry:

July 1, halted near Chambersburg about 9 a.m. to allow part of Hill’s corps to pass us. We had our usual fun in guying the teamsters, cavalry and stragglers as they passed us, which was a pastime whenever we got a chance at the buttermilk rangers, as the cavalry was called. (William Thomas Fluker, Company D, 15th Georgia, No Jubilee: The Story of Confederate Wilkes, by Robert M. Willingham, Jr.)

Our cavalry riding back past the infantry received such taunts as, “Going back to feed, hey?” “Oh!, they [the enemy] are coming, are they?” and “Jump off and grab a root.” The cavalrymen retorted, but failed to irritate the placid footmen. (Charles A. Rollins Memoirs, Company H, 27th Virginia, Playing Cavalry on the Confederate Left Flank, September 27, 1888)

Infantry versus Artillery:

As we marched past [a battery], the artillerymen said, “Find a good place to camp;” “Be sure and get a good dry rail fence;” and “Tell the Johnnies we will be right along.” We responded, “All right, you had better stay here till we send for you;” The climate ahead may be unhealthy just now for such delicate creatures as you;” and “Does your mother know you are out?” and all that sort of thing. (Personal Recollections of the Civil War, Captain William L. Stork, Company I, 29th Pennsylvania)

Infantry versus Infantry:

On the march northward, when the 40th New York passed the 108th New York, “there was a spirited and jovial fusillade of words exchanged, that we were outstripped, and ‘clubs’ (a haze term on our corps badge) were not trumps. Being refreshed by our repast, we were soon on the move again, and a half hour’s march brought up with the Fifth corps in camp, which we passed with whoopla gait, and continued on several miles. The Fifth coming up on the next morning, the boys of the 140th cheerfully acknowledged that clubs were trumps in this game.” (Diary of Lieutenant Parsons, 108th New York)

Infantry versus Civilians:

July 1, joked with able bodied citizens who were fleeing. “Come back, we are going to have lots of fun.” “What are you going away from the picnic for?” “Come, go back and we’ll show you how to cock a cannon.” and like expressions. (Sgt. William H. H. Tallman, Company E, 66th Ohio)

Friends versus Enemies:

July 1, a squad of rebel prisoners passed to the rear, and the usual salutations were exchanged, “How are you, Johnny Reb!” “How are you, blue-belly?” (Henry N. Blake, Three Years in the Army of the Potomac – 16th Massachusetts)

At Two Taverns, July 1, before 1430. Soon a number of rebel prisoners, about 300, were marched past where we were resting. They all seemed to be in the best of spirits. They said, “The stars, we met you at Chancellorsville;” “We ain’t all, there’s a right smart chance left back for you’ens to capture,” “Here goes Lee’s advance for Baltimore,” with many other similar expressions, which were good naturedly answered by our boys. (Corporal J. A. Lumbard, Company G, 147th Pennsylvania)

I think it was about 2 p.m. [July 1] that we passed a large number of Confederate prisoners going to the rear. … We saw a long string of motley-dressed men, without guns, approaching. As they came nearer we discovered that they were Confederate prisoners – a portion of General Archer’s command, captured in Reynolds’ woods by the Iron Brigade. As they passed us on the dusty road, salutations from both sides were freely indulged in. “Well, Johnnies, what are you doing up here in Pennsylvania?” “Oh! We are on our way to Philadelphia. Our fellows are just behind us, and we expect to get to New York before we stop. General Lee will dictate his own terms in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.” (Personal Recollections of the Civil War, Captain William L. Stork, Company I, 29th Pennsylvania; William L. Stork, National Tribune, Sep. 10, 1891)

July 1, at the foot of South Mountain, met squads of Federal prisoners who taunted, “Little Mac is in command and you’ll catch it.” (Charles A. Rollins Memoirs, Company H, 27th Virginia, Jackson’s Foot Cavalry, Lexington Gazette and Citizen, August 16, 1888)
 
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