Last night, under cover of darkness, a detail was made,
about twenty men, ordered to advance and intrench, to try and dislodge the
enemy's sharpshooters who were up in high trees and making trouble for us,
shooting at the boys, by improving every chance they could get. When the
opportunity came, our boys were to give them a volley. They did so, but did not
harm the rebs. I heard them call out, as soon as our boys fired on them, “How
are you Horace Greeley?” showing that no harm came to them. It made quite a
laugh at the time. The rebs often called to us “How are you Horace Greeley? Does
your mother know you are out?”
Late in the afternoon all firing ceased and everything
became quiet. We could hear the enemy's drum corps and they could no doubt hear
ours. Our boys and the Johnnies on the skirmish line entered into an agreement
not to fire on one another. For proof they fixed bayonets on their guns,
sticking them in the ground, butts up. Both sides could see. Agreements made at
such times were kept. Both sides kept outside the earthworks. Sometimes the
boys would meet between the lines, exchange tobacco for coffee. The rebs were
always very anxious to get hold of New York papers. Night coming on, both sides
would resume duty. A hard shower came late this afternoon.
SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary,
1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 116-7
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