A FAIR DIVISION.–

23. February 2009 by admin.

One of those biting cold mornings, while the armies of Meade and Lee were staring at each other across the little rivalet known as Mine Run, when moments appeared to be hours, and hours days, so near at hand seemed the deadly strife, a solitary sheep leisurely walked along the run on the rebel side. A rebel vidette fired and killed the sheep, and dropping his gun, advanced to remove the prize. In an instant he was covered by a gun in the hands of a Union vidette, who said, “Divide is the word or you are a dead Johnny.” This proposition was assented to, and there, between the two skirmish lines, Mr. Rebel skinned the sheep, took one half, and moved back to his post, when his challenger, in turn dropping his gun, crossed the run, got the other half of the sheep, and again assumed the duties of his post amid the cheers of his comrades, who expected to help him eat it. Of the hundreds of hostile men arrayed against each other on either bank of that run, not one dared to violate the truce intuitively agreed upon by these two soldiers.

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