Sparks from the camp fires.
“what did them guns cost.” --Among the Confederate war reminiscences, none are more pleasant than the story of Jim. Jim was attached to Rosser's cavalry, in Stuart's command. He was noted for his strong antipathy for shot and shell, and a peculiar way he had for avoiding too close a communion with the same, but at last all his pains failed to keep him out of the “row,” and he, with his comrades under a lieutenant, was detailed to support a battery that composed a portion of the rear guard. The enemy kept pressing so close in fact as to endanger the retreating forces, and the troops covering the retreat had orders to keep the enemy in check, for a given period at all hazards, and the order was obeyed to the letter, though under a galling fire. Our friend Jim grew desperate. He stuck behind trees that appeared to his excited vision no larger than ramrods. He tried lying down. In fact, he placed himself in every position his genius could invent, but the “hiss” of bullets haunted him still. At last, in despair, he called to his commanding officer, “Lieutenant, let's fall back.” “I cannot do it, Jim,” the officer replied: “Well, I'll be drat if we don't get cleaned out if we stay here!” “My orders, Jim, are to hold this place and support that battery of guns,” pointing to the artillery close by. “If we fall back the enemy will rush in and capture the guns.” Just at that time a well-directed bullet impressed Jim with the fact that a change of base became necessary. Jim found another apparently protected spot, and as soon as he recovered his mind he sang out: “Oh! Lieutenant! what do you think them ‘ere cannons cost?” “I don't know, Jim; I suppose a thousand dollars.” “Well,” said Jim, “let's take up a collection and pay for the guns, and let the Yankees have 'em.”
[287] Why “Stonewall” Jackson did not drink.--Colonel A. R. Boteler, in the Philadelphia Weekly Times, tells the following story concerning General Jackson: “Having lingered to the last allowable moment with the members of my family, ‘hereinbefore mentioned’ --as the legal documents would term them — it was after 10 o'clock at night when I returned to headquarters for final instruction, and before going to the General's room I ordered two whiskey toddies to be brought up after me. When they appeared I offered one of the glasses to Jackson, but he drew back, saying: ‘No, Colonel, you must excuse me; I never drink intoxicating liquors.’ ‘ I know that, General,’ said I, ‘ but though you habitually abstain, as I do myself, from everything of the sort, there are occasions, and this is one of them, when a stimulant will do us both good; otherwise, I would neither take it myself nor offer it to you. So you must make an exception to your general rule, and join me in a toddy to-night.’ He again shook his head, but, nevertheless, took the tumbler and began to sip its contents. Presently putting it on the table, after having but partially emptied it, he said: ‘Colonel, do you know why I habitually abstain from intoxicating drinks?’ And on my replying in the negative, he continued: ‘Why, sir, because I like the taste of them, and when I discovered that to be the case I made up my mind at once to do without them altogether.’ ”
