we had been beeved up at Florida for winterin in '61.
R'cellection is the Major Rob was down to his uppers an stoved some
from
bein shot durin the great skeedaddle. Dont believe he was thar at this
time
an place. Livin was put lazy faire.
We'uns had roosted quite grand an settled in. They was a gaggle of
grubby
types about that would peddle us needful things. A fellar could buy
ev'rthing from chickens and baccy, to pies, to popskull and fine
clothes. It
twas some time afore Christmas, script money had been paid to the tribe
and
several of the fellars had been off to visit the peddlers. Theyd come
home
with several kettles of busthead and one was wearin some finery and
fooforaw. Theyd been nippin at the vile soup and was some bagged, all
puttin
on airs as if they was gents. They was in gay spirits an was quite
handy at
passin the kettle about. The fellar that had got him a set of snappy
dud's
an was now summarily broke .. Im thinkin his name was O'bryan says to
his
chums that they was a rascal down in amongst the 8th.. name of jackson
or
joplin or the like .. what had owed him some coin from wagerin a week
gone
by. Says he, they'uns jes was paid same as us an this would be a right
practical time to go an collect the debt.
They was much opinion throwed up on the matter an some was thinkin it'd
be
best to wait till a bit later in the day. Obryan filled with spiritous
licker was havin none of it ... along with his mess chum corkran an
several
other likely confederates set off'n a crawl to enforce the debt.
It was some time later when they was a major row down amongst the 8th
with
callin for the guard an White an Lt D headed off. Some of thems that
had
been down amongst the 8th came slinkin back out a breath sayin that the
was
a major squamp and that 2 of the fellars was gettin clink.
as the waggle went... was that Obryan had gone down amongst the 8th
with his
chums in tow an made demand to jackson for the coin what was rightfully
his'n. Jackson was said to crawfish an sed they was no coin owed.
Obryan
some bagged proceeded to cuss him good and renew his demand. When this
was
naysaid then they was an exchange of fisticuffs an soon nuff Jacksons
messmates was in the row with thems from our tribe. Things got purt
lively
tell some officers come on hand and was fixin to break it up. Ol Hays
reached in an grabt hold of a tiger an was prompt knocked reelin in a
puddle. Ol Hayes took e'ception to bein knocked on his ass an soon nuff
the
jig was up an he was wavin his finger here an there demandin to know
who
twas that snaked him. Obryan in his snappy dudes was scooped up as the
leader of this an soon nough his pard corkran was scooped for boot. It
was
figured corkran was the one thatd snaked ol Hayes. The waggle was they
was
to stand trial. Seemed they was talk that these fellars might git shot
for
laying hands on an officer.
This started some whisperin amongst the tribe .. this after more
busthead ..
that perhaps we out to go and swear them free. The big sergeant tolt us
that
ifn we tried we'd likely git ourself shot as well an in the end it
wouldnt
amount to mcuh good.
They was waggle that ifn Major Rob was about this wouldnt be goin on,
and so
the waggle went. They was even fritter about doin ol jackson in fer his
part
in this awful mess.
Word come down after some days that they was to be shot dead for snakin
an
officer and they was a request by thems that they not die at the hands
of
outsiders an that they was a oath for the Tiger Rifles to do em in.
They
was a request put out for thems that would volunteer to shoot these
fine
fellars and noe would have it. They was a threat of makin somes do it
an
soon nuff it was decided that they would eb a drawin of sorts to see
who'd
git monikered with this rancid affair.
Thems that was unlucky and got the short end was given instruction.
They was an old lost field back amongst the trees up near the top of
Florida
and this was where these 2 fellars was to meet their end. Co B was
kinder
boxed in. Formin a 3 side refusal we was then packed in many rank an
file
deep with fellars from the Battalion an the 8th. They was waggle that
ifn
they was any foolery or thems doin the shootin refused to do they duty
they
was to be shot as well. We was purt riled but all held tongue as they
was
whipsperin that they was some wanted to shoot all of Co B an be done
with us
for the trouble some had caused.
Obryan an corkran was marched out with drums rattlin an a Priest in
tow. It
were a cool but clear an sunny morninin and they was jaunty of step
noddin
here an there as they was brought in the front of the refusal. They was
a
readin of the charge an so forth .. They was offered up a blinder and
both
refused. They was then offered to give up they last words. Im thinkin
it
was Obryan .. steps up, the sun shinin on him, he was a site in full
costume
of blue coat an pinchbecks and spat. His head bare, he had kept the
fancy
new shirt an sportin tie he'd jes bought afore this all come about.
He's
lookin us up and down, clear of eye an strong of carry he says -
Well fallars they got us good an looks like they aint no way out.
Im regrettin the wickedness of demon rum an the like and this wouldnt
be
comin about had we been of a more temperant breedin and clear of
thinkin. Im
thinkin that my pards had best heed this n stay clear of licker as it
has
kilt me an corky sure and will git you all as well. Remember what
happens
here today. So ends them that puts a divil in they mouth.
Fellars we die as Tiger-Rifles shot by by our own. Fallars ya give me
nothin
in the past so I ask fer one thing ... aim true an let loose with a
clear
eye. God Bless you boys and hoorah the cause.
With this they was made to kneel .. though they didnt care to... an the
Priest said his words till they was the command for the fellars to do
their
duty. They was one long volley an both these fellars was blowed back a
sprawl. Smoke hung in the refusal an they wasnt a dry eye amongst Co B
and
some t'others. We was marched off quick with much mutterin, oath an
some
threat.
Those 2 fellars was buried war they fell ... ta'gether friends in life
and
tagether in death. Fine sould an they antics was some missed.
They was a purty hushed wake about and after all was said an done was
was
much more tame an crawls ceased. They was some squabblin an the like
but it
was put much kept amongst the tribe an never out amongst the other
fellars.
We heard Major Rob upon comin back some time later were purt agitated
over
this whole thing though nothin ever come of it. We did git square with
ol
jackson an it was after a style to skeer him while on picket duty,
fellars
dressed in our finery would howl an moan in the moonlight. word had it
he
was some convinced them dead Tigers had come back to git the coin what
was
owed squarely to em.