Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-11-21

children were entitled to all he
had. Dispairing of supper, we
asked permission to rest ON thei
floor, which was granted U.S.
Next morning our entreaties fori
something to eat were renewed,
but we received the cold side of
bis charity and left We then
travelled for nine miles through the
rain and mud before we got break
fast, fer which we paid fifty cents
apiece.
The next incident of note or
worth took place at Cowpas-I
ture River. Owing to the high
waters the bridge across this stream
had been washed down, and the
only way to cross was to cross at a
very dangerous and bad ford. Just
before reaching the river We
caught up with some wagons COM
ing towards Milboro, in one OF
which we took passage. The riy-
ier had just been swollen from out
its banks by the very recent rains,
and all had our doubt about cross
ing it; but were assured by an old
''possum" looking coon who lives
near by, that we could cross it
with all safety. .-
We soon determined to try.it,
'sink or swim" My friend Rives
and myself selected a wagon with
ioat a cover and snugly planting
ourselves nit and depositing our
j"duds" and accoutrenents of war,
we cried out for forward move
ment."
The wagon soon began to move
slowly into the water, and | soon
saw that we were i'll snap, but
the WAGNER being frightened halt
to death, and m;tnifesting a great
aNiety to get out of there, pushed
on under the lash and roaring yells.
The water soon began to enter the
bed, and ''thinks l to myself, |
will stand upon the railing, but be-
fore | could get up q heavy and
powerful current had Fitted the old
| bed cut CT TIE wheels, which began
TO move off down the stream in a
grand style, freighted with Rives,
myself, two guns and cartridges,
boxes, knapsacks, &c. We stuck
to our bargain until she floated
down some 20 or 80 feet, and see
ing that the old thing was going
to sink we made a powerful leap
for the shore. Bidding farewell
to cur bed, [ jumped in about four
feet of the shore, falling broad-side
in the water, which was very swift
and deep, and fortunately caught
hold OF a root that extended out
n the river, and, you ought to
have seen me pulling and swinging
to that root | have often heard
people telling others to Jump eff
and grab a root" but meyer real
ized its true meaning before!
Kives was above me and as he
struck the water the swiftness
dashed him down against me and
It's | began to pull out he caught
hold Of one my legs, which he
made answer him the same purpose
the root did me. | pulled man
fully and Rives hung to my leg
with as much tenacity as | did the
root, and after dragging out, the
first thing was to look out for the.
old bed, and the last we saw of
her she was going down Cowpas-
ture River with perfect impuni-
ty, retaining our guns and all our
clothing. The water was indeed
very cold and the wind as sharp
and cutting as a two-edged sword,
and we made fast tracks from that
place to Milboro, where we got.
our clothes sent to us from home.
God bless our home folks, for /
never had anything to please me
better than did my clothes. Now, i
Mr.. Editor, | have given you some !
valuable information, all of which
is done without money and with
out price; and If You want to-
get your name in history You can
do so, by publishing this historic
article. Yours till death,
SALT. 4
The Memphis "Appeal.' In its