Fine figures in toy soldier style produced by

The Red Box Toy Soldier Company


Bringin' home the bacon ...

 

Food was almost always a major consideration to the Confederate army during the later part of the conflict, and the march into Pennsylvania was, in part, in response to this need - both food and shoes were in short supply

When they reached the fertile and untouched farming areas around Gettysburg and this part of Pennsylvania, for the first time there was relatively plenty to eat

Lee forbade pillaging - he insisted that what the army took, they paid for - albeit that it paid in relatively worthless Confederate paper money or promisory notes

That aside, in any army, theft occurred, thereby antagonising the farmers and leading them to hide stocks of food, so vigorous efforts were made to overcome this 'reticence' to co-operate in feeding the hungry army

In this shelf scene, we find a small band of Confederate soldiers returning to camp having 'procured' provisions

 

 

The Shelf Scene complete

 

 

 




 

BS 8 Preacher John - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

John Pritchard, 'The Preacher', was a fanatical Confederate, and the vociferous and committed preacher of his regiment

He was the fire in the bellies of the men just before going into the battle, but equally he was the source of the comforting word when a young life was ebbing away in the aftermath

He was equally persuasive when dealing with reluctant farmers who did not want to give up their stores - he obviously has been successful here

Indefatigable, he has 'borrowed, a wheelbarrow to help bring more welcome food for his companions, which he will distribute with a few comforting words ...


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BS 9 Jabez Martin - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

The older of the Martin twins, the inseparable brothers from an Alabama farmstead, joined the army together, foraged and pilfered together, and together they could always be found in the thick of any fight

Jabez found the pig that the farmer had tried to hide, and he set to and 'persuaded' the farmer to contribute to the wellbeing of the troops

The pig was only small - would there be enough to go round, or do they keep it and fatten it? - a discussion aroung the campfire was in order ...

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BS 10 Samuel Martin - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

Samuel was the younger of the Martin twins (by seven whole minutes)

The inseparable brothers from an Alabama farmstead, who joined the army together, foraged and pilfered together, and together they could always be found in the thick of any fight

 Samuel had 'the nose'

He could sniff out liquor of any sort, no matter where hidden, and he found two barrels of fine, ripe moonshine, contributed to the 'cause' by the same 'generous' farmer who owned the pig (and the rest of the stores the group 'acquired')

He reverently carried one of the barrels, and allowed the other to be carried by Elrod, in the care of his brother - this would 'lubricate' the porcine discussion around the campfire later ...


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BS11 Joseph 'The Professor' Greenwood - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

Joseph, 'The Professor', had been in the United States for seven years, having been a young schoolteacher in England originally

He came to America with his fiancée, the daughter of a wealthy landowner in South Carolina, but he was jilted, and, disappointed in love, eventually found his way to Alabama, teaching in the town where the Martins lived

As their teacher, he knew them well, and immediately volunteered when needed - he taught his companions how to read and write, and helped them all to write home regularly

He was regularly recommended to become an officer, but refused - he wanted to stay with his 'family' in the regiment


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BS 12 - John 'The Boy' Vincent - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

The Boy' joined the regiment a year before, having been orphaned when his parents had been killed during a Federal raid on his village

Just sixteen (he said), he was taken under the wing of Eli, and taught the rudimentary skills of a drummer

Now the favourite of the regiment, he always accompanied Eli, and helped 'awaken' reluctant farmers and homesteaders to the presence of his companions on their expeditions


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BS 13 - Michael 'Mickey' Callaghan - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

The comedian of the company, Mickey (with an 'e') came to America from Ireland as a very young child, and his father became blacksmith in the same village as the brothers Martin, where he soon integrated into the same 'gang' as the brothers Martin

They always joined in with any activity which was slightly illegal, and he charmed many young ladies, but our Mickey had the gift of the 'blarney' and nearly always escaped trouble

It came as no surprise when the three of them volunteered immediately - there was adventure and fighting to be had ...

 

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BS 14 Eli Lewis and Elrod - Bringin' home the bacon ... - Confederate army

Eli was in the army before the start of the Civil War, having joined as a drummer boy just before the War with Mexico

He knew the 'wrinkles' of a veteran soldier, and more importantly, knew how to make life in action as comfortable as possible

If 'it' could be 'got', he would always try to 'get' it

Here he 'got' a donkey (by name of Elrod, he thinks) from one of the farms, along with much-needed food, but no heavy lifting and carrying for Eli, no sir...


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BS 15 Shelf Scene base for 'Bringin' home the bacon'


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