They would buy a St. Louis paper, and then get out an “Extra.”
“Surrender of Lee—Capture of Jeff. Davis—Richmond Taken.”
The particulars of all these events would be given in the most plausible and convincing manner.
A stone was tied to the papers, and some wag would call out,—
“Say, Rebs, do you want the latest news? Newspapers are just in from St. Louis. The war is over.”
“Yes, throw them over;” and over they would go.
But the Confederates would not believe a word unless it was favorable to their cause, and they laughed loud and long over the “lies of the Yanks.” But they kept it up on the principle that “everything is fair in war.”
“Put up your head above the embankment, and you will soon see whether the war is over or not,” the soldiers on the other side would say. On that day, while we stood there, some of the Iowa officials put their hats on their canes, and had them perforated by bullets.
A voice came over the ramparts, “Say, Yanks, do you want some tobacker?”
“Yes.”