Civil War Anecdote - The Bookworm

Knapsack - On the march into Pennsylvania, a Ninth Alabama infantry soldier witnessed this event as his regiment passed through Chambersburg, an recorded it in his diary.

"Saturday the 27th (June). Passed through Marion and Chambersburg. While passing through the later place Gen'l Lee rode up the column speaking kindly to acquaintences and passed on. The females of Chambersburg seem to be very spiteful, make faces, sing, wave their little banners, etc. A widow in the place discovered the knapsack of her deceased husband in the command. She wished it and the soldier gave it to her. He had picked it up on the battlefield of 'Gaine's Mills', where he fought the (Pennsylvania 'Bucktails'). Such is war."

From On the Bloodstained Field by Gregory A. Coco. Used by permission of Thomas Publications.