26, Skirmish for the Pullet in Pinch
ALL ABOUT A HEN. - Yesterday afternoon, in the classic locality of Pinch, there took place a combat whose varying fortunes only the pen of Homer could worthily trace. The canorous Greek alone affords a fit medium for it, and in Greek we would narrate its thrilling incidents, but that for convenience to our reader, we think it better to indite it in English.
From one of Pinch's palatial halls there did issue, arrayed in beauty and clouded with ancient Bourbon fumes, a magnificent matron of majestic proportions, upon whose attractions mother earth played a wooing influence of 223 pounds and three ounces. We love to be accurate and had the ponderosity ascertained by scales of patented justness. In breadth this Pinchine Juno might have measured about an inch less than she did in length. Had we dared to penetrate the vapory veil of odors that surrounded her, we would have measured her; as it was, we had her proportions estimated by a practiced architect, the artist Powers not being at hand.
In her hands the queenly and ponderous being held a timid, innocent chicken. The chicken did not seem to like it, but a youth of some twelve summers did like the chicken, and claimed it. The fair one contested the claim, and in classic tone, strengthened by Amazonian anger, called the youth by a name that might evoke doubts as to the quadrupedal or bipedal formation of his maternal parent. The interesting child took offense at this and [took] pull at the chicken, the lady of Pinchine palace tool a pull at his hair, and in her general deportment rendered it evident that she had taken several pulls at something else before. Blows, scratches, kicks, shouts and screams, came thick and fast, while the shrill treble of the torn chicken lose above the all in a clear "tuck-tuck-tuckaw- tuck."
Varying were the fortunes of the day, as the gods favored each champion; but at last the worthy spouse of the fiery Amazon reeled forth from the inner vestibule of the Pinchine palace, and the youthful combatant fled with winged hell to the nearest brick pile, and commenced a bombardment, which for its steadiness, has been unequalled in the annals of the war. The youth's maternal parent came forth to aid him, and lo! She proved no quadruped, but a woman, shapes as other women, fighting as other women fight. The double fight continued steadily for some time; but the heavy matron 'gan [sic] to get warm, and the man [sic] did reel, and reeling they retreated to take up a new base of operations, which they did. The retreat was masterly; but this did I mark, the youth got the chicken, and a late courier informs us that the holds that chicken still. Juno is safe from attack - the Pinchine palace uninjured of course.
Memphis Union Appeal, July 27, 1862.Ed. note: A story unequalled in the annals of the war. Pinch was the sobriquet for the Irish neighborhood in Memphis.
ALL ABOUT A HEN. - Yesterday afternoon, in the classic locality of Pinch, there took place a combat whose varying fortunes only the pen of Homer could worthily trace. The canorous Greek alone affords a fit medium for it, and in Greek we would narrate its thrilling incidents, but that for convenience to our reader, we think it better to indite it in English.
From one of Pinch's palatial halls there did issue, arrayed in beauty and clouded with ancient Bourbon fumes, a magnificent matron of majestic proportions, upon whose attractions mother earth played a wooing influence of 223 pounds and three ounces. We love to be accurate and had the ponderosity ascertained by scales of patented justness. In breadth this Pinchine Juno might have measured about an inch less than she did in length. Had we dared to penetrate the vapory veil of odors that surrounded her, we would have measured her; as it was, we had her proportions estimated by a practiced architect, the artist Powers not being at hand.
In her hands the queenly and ponderous being held a timid, innocent chicken. The chicken did not seem to like it, but a youth of some twelve summers did like the chicken, and claimed it. The fair one contested the claim, and in classic tone, strengthened by Amazonian anger, called the youth by a name that might evoke doubts as to the quadrupedal or bipedal formation of his maternal parent. The interesting child took offense at this and [took] pull at the chicken, the lady of Pinchine palace tool a pull at his hair, and in her general deportment rendered it evident that she had taken several pulls at something else before. Blows, scratches, kicks, shouts and screams, came thick and fast, while the shrill treble of the torn chicken lose above the all in a clear "tuck-tuck-tuckaw- tuck."
Varying were the fortunes of the day, as the gods favored each champion; but at last the worthy spouse of the fiery Amazon reeled forth from the inner vestibule of the Pinchine palace, and the youthful combatant fled with winged hell to the nearest brick pile, and commenced a bombardment, which for its steadiness, has been unequalled in the annals of the war. The youth's maternal parent came forth to aid him, and lo! She proved no quadruped, but a woman, shapes as other women, fighting as other women fight. The double fight continued steadily for some time; but the heavy matron 'gan [sic] to get warm, and the man [sic] did reel, and reeling they retreated to take up a new base of operations, which they did. The retreat was masterly; but this did I mark, the youth got the chicken, and a late courier informs us that the holds that chicken still. Juno is safe from attack - the Pinchine palace uninjured of course.
Memphis Union Appeal, July 27, 1862.Ed. note: A story unequalled in the annals of the war. Pinch was the sobriquet for the Irish neighborhood in Memphis.
26, Brigadier-General Grenville M. Dodge initiates property confiscation policy for Confederate guerrilla supporters in West Tennessee: General Orders No. 11
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 11. HDQRS. CENTRAL DIV. OF THE MISS., Trenton, Tenn., July 26, 1862.
I. The general commanding has undoubted knowledge that the sympathizers with this rebellion within the limits of this command are aiding in a spies of warfare unknown to the laws and customs of war, the suppression of which calls for more rigorous and decisive measures than have been heretofore adopted. The allowing of bands of guerrillas to encamp in the neighborhood without giving information of the fact, the firing upon pickets, the feeding fact, the firing upon pickets, the feeding of parties who are hiding from our forces and the carrying of information to and from the enemy have become matters of daily occurrence. It is therefore ordered-
II. That any neighborhood, town or village that allows marauding bands or guerrillas to remain or camp near them without immediately sending word to the nearest military post will be levied upon, and a certain portion of the property of all known sympathizers of this rebellion than can be used by the U. S. forces, to be determined by the commander of the division, will be taken, and the citizens will be held personally responsible for the acts of the band. Where pickets are fired into the sympathizers of the rebellion being near the place will be arrested and held until the guilty party is brought to fight, and when any injury is done the picket there will be assessed upon the disloyal citizens living near the place an amount not exceeding $10,000, as the commanding general may determine.
III. Citizens who encourage returned soldiers and deserters to hide in the woods and form bands to return to the rebel army will be arrested and held responsible for all depredations committed by these bands; and when it comes to the knowledge of any of the commanders of posts of this command that returned soldiers or deserters are lurking about, hiding and not coming forward as required they will arrest and hold for hostage the nearest disloyal relative to the soldier, such person to be held as hostage till the soldier delivers himself or is delivered up.
IV. Any person, white or black, free or slave, who brings reliable information of guerrilla bands, marauding parties and of citizens who are breaking any provisions of this order, which information proving to be of benefit to the U. S. forces, will receive a liberal reward. If a slave he will be guaranteed against receiving punishment for bringing such information.
By order of Brig. Gen. G. M. Dodge
OR, Ser. II, Vol. 4, pp. 290-291.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 11. HDQRS. CENTRAL DIV. OF THE MISS., Trenton, Tenn., July 26, 1862.
I. The general commanding has undoubted knowledge that the sympathizers with this rebellion within the limits of this command are aiding in a spies of warfare unknown to the laws and customs of war, the suppression of which calls for more rigorous and decisive measures than have been heretofore adopted. The allowing of bands of guerrillas to encamp in the neighborhood without giving information of the fact, the firing upon pickets, the feeding fact, the firing upon pickets, the feeding of parties who are hiding from our forces and the carrying of information to and from the enemy have become matters of daily occurrence. It is therefore ordered-
II. That any neighborhood, town or village that allows marauding bands or guerrillas to remain or camp near them without immediately sending word to the nearest military post will be levied upon, and a certain portion of the property of all known sympathizers of this rebellion than can be used by the U. S. forces, to be determined by the commander of the division, will be taken, and the citizens will be held personally responsible for the acts of the band. Where pickets are fired into the sympathizers of the rebellion being near the place will be arrested and held until the guilty party is brought to fight, and when any injury is done the picket there will be assessed upon the disloyal citizens living near the place an amount not exceeding $10,000, as the commanding general may determine.
III. Citizens who encourage returned soldiers and deserters to hide in the woods and form bands to return to the rebel army will be arrested and held responsible for all depredations committed by these bands; and when it comes to the knowledge of any of the commanders of posts of this command that returned soldiers or deserters are lurking about, hiding and not coming forward as required they will arrest and hold for hostage the nearest disloyal relative to the soldier, such person to be held as hostage till the soldier delivers himself or is delivered up.
IV. Any person, white or black, free or slave, who brings reliable information of guerrilla bands, marauding parties and of citizens who are breaking any provisions of this order, which information proving to be of benefit to the U. S. forces, will receive a liberal reward. If a slave he will be guaranteed against receiving punishment for bringing such information.
By order of Brig. Gen. G. M. Dodge
OR, Ser. II, Vol. 4, pp. 290-291.
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