A Time Out of War

During the American civil war two union soldiers and one confederate are shooting at each other across a narrow brook. The accuracy in firing is very low, so they have kept on for many hours without harming each other with more than verbal insults ("Was it near?" "Near what?" "Near hitting you." "Sorry, I didn't know your were aiming at me.") Their greatest trouble is the hot sun. Eventually they agree to have a break for one hour, and both sides go to the brook. In the water the union soldiers find a dead man from their own side. Then the confederate soldier starts to fire a salute of honour for the dead one. The two others join him.