AftertheUSCivilWarwasover,allConfederatesoldierswererequiredtotakeanoathofallegiancetotheUnionbeforetheywereallowedtobecomeUScitizensagain.Oneday,anumberofmenwerebeforeUnionGeneralBenjaminButlertotaketheoath.OneofthemlookedattheGeneral,andwithapeculiarsoutherndrawlsaid:"WegaveyouhellatChickamauga,General!"
TheGeneralwasfuriousandwarnedthesoldierthatfailingtotaketheoathwouldresultinhimbeingshot.Withsomereluctance,therebelobeyed.Aftertakingtheoath,hesaid,"General,IsupposeIamagoodYankeeandcitizenoftheUnitedStatesnow?"
"Ihopeso,"theGeneralrepliedinafatherlytone.
"Well,General,"themansaid,"therebelsdidgiveushellatChickamauga,didn'tthey?"
美國內戰結束後,南部聯盟士兵都要宣誓效忠美國,才可以再度成為美國公民。有一天,一些士兵要在北軍將領班傑明.巴特勒面前宣誓,其中一人望着巴特勒,以特別的南方腔調拉長聲音說:「將軍,奇克莫加河一役,我方把你們打得落花流水。」
巴特勒非常憤怒,警告那士兵說,假如不宣誓,就會被槍斃。那士兵雖然聽命,但有點勉強,宣誓後說:「將軍,我現在應該可以算是個好的北軍士兵和美國公民了吧?」
巴特勒以慈父的口吻說:「希望如此。」
那士兵說:「嗯,將軍,奇克莫加河一役,那些叛軍把我們打得落花流水,是不是?」
【附注】一八六三年的奇克莫加河戰役,是美國內戰中南軍最後一次大勝。