(I found this on a joke site but the story is supposed to be true from our American War Between the States)

Captain David Van Buskirk commanded a company of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was captured by Confederate troops in 1862 and sent to a Richmond,Virginia prisoner of war camp. Captain Van Buskirk was reputed (on both sides) to be the biggest man in the Union Army. He stood nearly 6'9" tall and weighed over 350 lbs.

An enterprising Southern entrepreneur arranged to show him to the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Van Buskirk apparently had an impish sense of humor. He is supposed to have told Mr. Davis that " when I left to join my regiment, my 3 sisters came down to see me off and they all kissed their little brother on top of his head". (To his eternal credit, Mr. Davis is said to have laughed)

quote:

Originally posted by gerry375:
(I found this on a joke site but the story is supposed to be true from our American War Between the States)

Captain David Van Buskirk commanded a company of the 27th Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He was captured by Confederate troops in 1862 and sent to a Richmond,Virginia prisoner of war camp. Captain Van Buskirk was reputed (on both sides) to be the biggest man in the Union Army. He stood nearly 6'9" tall and weighed over 350 lbs.

An enterprising Southern entrepreneur arranged to show him to the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Van Buskirk apparently had an impish sense of humor. He is supposed to have told Mr. Davis that " when I left to join my regiment, my 3 sisters came down to see me off and they all kissed their little brother on top of his head". (To his eternal credit, Mr. Davis is said to have laughed)

Why did David and Goliath pop into my mind??????

TrapperP

"How are you telegraph?"

My favorite sucessionist humor. If you're interested in such things Bobby Horton's Homespun Songs of The Union and Homespun Songs of the Confederate Armies are filled with Civil War humor. I never would have reckoned carnage could be so much fun.

By the by does anyone know why so many Civil War Battles were fought at National Park Sites?

holzauge:

Yes, it was remarkable that a sense of humor survived from a war where 600,000 Americans died. I like to think that it was because deep down we all recognized that this was a "family fight" and like all family fights was particularly vicious - just because it was a family fight. It might interest you to know that I am the grandson of a man who served in an "Irish Brigade" of NY volunteer infantry. He fought at Antietam, Gettysburg, Chancellorsville and Cold Harbor among other vicious fights. He had ten children, 6 sons and four daughters. He taught them all that the War between the States was the greatest tragedy that ever befell Americans. (Yes, he was my grandfather, not my great grandfather. I was born in 1930. My father as born in 1880. My grandfather was born in 1838) He told a war joke to my father who told it to me before I was even 14.

A Union Army picket (sentry) was facing his Confederate counterpart across the river. (There was a general understanding between the two sides not to shoot at each other on sight unless a general movement of the armies was underway)

The Union picket called across: " "Can't you Johnnies get any decent uniforms? You look like a tramp!"

The Confederate replied back: " We never wear good clothes when we butcher hawgs!".

Gerry, I too come from a long list of Civil War vets.

My G.G.Grandfathers fought against each other in the same part of the south, one for the Union, one for the Confederacy. One came home wounded and fathered a child, my G.Grandfather. While I dought that it happend, it sure would be interesting to find out that the only reason I exist is because my G.G.Grandfather shot my G.G.Grandfather..

Also kinda curious one of my ancestors is Daniel Van Buskirk from PA.

Muffin:

What a really fascinating post! We read in all the War histories about the War being "brother against brother" (which it was) but in your family history it was really so!.

Why don't you find out if Daniel Van Buskirk from PA was related? The two states are not very far apart. WE are all united Americans today and have been ever since the War. (As long as you don't find out that he was with Sherman going through Georgia, you can accept your ancestor!)

Muffin:

I forgot to add another story I read once and I'm sure you'll appreciate if you haven't already heard it before.

When General Lee signed the Articles of Surrender at Appommatox Court House on April 9, a Union Army band came around to the front lawn of the White house to serenade the President. Mr. Lincoln came out on the porch and after being saluted by the Band captain was asked what tune he would like to hear in celebration of the end of the War.

Mr. Lincoln immediately replied: " "Dixie".

The band captain looked surprised. Mr.Lincoln smiled and said: " Why not? I always thought it was a pretty tune - and now it belongs to all of us again".

Muffin:

Another story I hope you like that I read. General John B. Gordon,commanding Georgia cavalry, was riding on a dark road one evening and encountered cavalry. Thinking himself well behind his lines, he proceeded to denounce the cavalrymen for failing to keep to the sides of the road. A voice came out of the dark: " Sir, we are Ohio Volunteer Cavalry". General Gordon went to wheel his horse to run - and the Union Army Sergeant grabbed the bridle. (This was within a week or so of the Confederate surrender at Appomatox) The sergeant said: " "Please,Sir, There has been enough killing. The war is over". General Gordon wrote a book about his experiences in the War. He said that he exactly understood the Union Army sergeant. As he wrote in his book, he was taken prisoner by the Union cavalry - and he escaped that very night. Of course, as he said, he thought he had been let go deliberately.

It was General John B. Gordon who led a column of Confederate troops in to surrender at Appommatox. He was very dejected ( for obvious reasons) and rode his horse slowly in front of a column of Confederate infantry coming in to lay down arms. It happened that Colonel John Chamberlain, commanding the 20th Volunteer Maine Infantry, a regiment that had fought in many engagements, was struck by the sight of fellow Americans who had fought so bravely and had lost their "Cause" - and he ordered his regiment to come to attention and to present arms.

General Gordon heard the commands of the Union officers and the orders to snap to attention. He turned in the saddle and ordered the Southerners to snap to attention. The Southerners did not march into Appomattox as a defeated enemy but fellow Americans who decided to settle a family fight -and the rest of their fellow Americans wanted to settle the same fight on the same basis. ( No war in history between fellow citizens ever ended as ours did. We never had Southerners conducting guerrilla warfare and sniping at troops or murdering soldiers in bak