The US Civil War went on and on, involved a lot of people, and had a horrendously high death toll (at least 600,000). Small wonder that people were still talking about it 20 years later. This anecdote shows how the soldiers found humour in even the most desperate situations. Oh, and it gives us the etymology of a cuss word.

Let me relate the glorious tradition of how a balky horse saved the life of Captain Bartlett. It was just before the capture of Memphis, and our boys were returning from a three-days' raid. We had come in sight of what we thought were two regiments of Federal infantry, and wheeled about to join them. But when we were within a few rods of the supposed Federals, we suddenly discovered that they were about two thousand 'Johnnies' in blue coats¹.

Captain Bartlett had a very remarkable horse. He was a dark bay, bob-tail, straight neck, and short ears. This horse always held his head about twenty-nine degrees higher than the heads of his fellows, probably from his sense of pride. But with all his imperfections he was not blind. I have never known of a blind horse that was balky. Jehu that was his name had two good I's, one for intelligence, the other for indolence. However, he rarely used both at the same time. He would glance backward with the eye of intelligence to see what was going on in the rear, and then, all of a sudden, he could see nothing more except through the indolence eye. Yet withal, this noble animal was trustworthy; you could always trust him to eat a peck of oats and call for more; and he was equally reliable for standing still when there was too much weight on his back.

Upon discovering the true character of the blue-coated infantry, the cavalry wheeled again, and were off. Jehu stopped. He had become tired of horse society. He desired solitude. The captain whipped and spurred, all to no purpose. Then the Confederates opened fire, and it began to be uncomfortable for Jehu, though no damage was done. Then another volley came, and Jehu at once concluded to join the enemy. To carry out this determination, he turned his head to the left, stiffened his neck, and darted off in a 2:40 gait, side-wise, to the right. This brought him into the midst of the enemy, who yelled to the captain: 'Surrender! surrender ! You Yankee s o b !'

[This military term may need some explanation. It originated with the Confederates early in the war, and was an appellation given to all soldiers of the Union Army, from whatever point they hailed. In civil life it became shortened to 'Yankee sob' but here it is used in its strictest hostile sense.]

But no surrender for Jehu. The enemy's ranks parted and let him through, but the firing continued, and still was heard:

' Surrender! surrender! you Yankee s o b !'

' How in thunder can I surrender,' answered the captain, still borne through the ranks on the back of the horse. ' I will if you'll stop my horse.' Several shots were fired, but strange to say, Jehu made good his escape without a scratch to himself or the captain, amidst great applause.

From Campfire Chats of the Civil War, being the incident, adventure and wayside exploit of the bivouac and battle field, as related by members of the Grand army of the republic. Embracing the tragedy, romance, comedy, humor and pathos in the varied experience of army life, by Washington Davis, Chicago, 1884.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

18.05.15 Front Page

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