From Robert Hope, Chickamauga Battlefield Hospital, September 21st, 1863
I sit here, alongside the stretcher that bears the noble figure of our very own warrior Hero, General Roscoe "Rocky" Coltrane. He has, dear reader, been wounded, not once, but twice, but he is still alert and barking out orders in his Mississippi drawl. A medical surgeon is looking closely at the wound in his left arm, and another at the wound to his right leg...
"Mr Hope, thank you for coming to see me...Owwww! Watch what your'e doing with that probe, boy...how did we do? How did ma ...Owww..goddamn it, now they are stabbing my in the leg! ..how did ma boys fight? Ah hope we made Mississippi proud"
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| Chinese soldier in the Civil War |
I replied "We sure did, General,we licked those damn blue bellies good and proper, they were last seen skeddadling north. Your boys were fighting like tigers. In fact, by your leave sur, I'd like to start my next article The Mississippi Tigers win Again!..Well, Louisiana have there tigers, why not our own?
The boys from Picton's Brigade also fought fiercely as well, I believe that they are from Maryland,Tennessee and Virginia. I reckon ah could give them the name of Picton's Panthers. The President in Richmond will no doubt now see fit to give you another star, General"
"Mr Hope, you do indeed...owwwww..will you quit that probing, you damn saw bones?...you do indeed have a way with words. By the by, Mr Hope, please tell these blood suckers that if they have to take the arm or the leg off, make sure they....owwwww son of a bitch....get the right ones.."
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| And another from Pennsylvania |
A Chinese doctor approaches, his once white apron now covered in various shades of red and crimson.
"I'm Doctor Wu. The General must ha some rest now, please excuse...no worry, he be back very soon in staddle"
Mr Hope stands, and says to the medic
"That's ok doc, I was just going. You take care, Genereal, y'a hear"
Mr Hope turns to leave, but trips on a discarded bayonet, which directs his face to make contact with the tent post. A crunching sound is heard. Everyone looks in his direction. As he slowly arises, he is clutching his face, with blood seeping between his fingers.
With remarkable aplomb, he quietly says to Doctor Wu, "Excuce be, doc, but I seem do hav broked ma nose"
