The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-08-21
Adventures Of a Union Man.

| Some years ago young man named S.
G. Jones, a resident of Sandusky, left that
city, and made his way to Kansas
He resided in that State during the STIR
ring and turbulent times caused by the
border war-engaging in various occnpa-
tions. He built the first bridge across
the Kansas River at Wyandotte, which
structure was completed in the year 1859.
A short time after finishing this job, he
proceeded to Pixies Peak, and was one of
the party that discovered the famous
Gregory's Diggings. Mr.. Jones laid out
and surveyed the town of Denver, or
Denver City, and also took an active part
in surveying the proposed route for Pa
ciic Railroad across the Rocky Mountains.
In the fall of 1860, our hero left Kan
sas and proceeded to Taos, New Mexico,
and short time subsequently, to Santa
Fe. AT the latter place he joined an ex-
pedition against the Novajoe Indians,
under Kit Carson, the famous Western
scout. The expedition was absent three
M onths, and succeeded in capturing from
the A5originals 1000 sheep and 400
mules After the expedition had accom-
plisheo its object, Jones returned to Alber-
que, on the Rio Grande, a few miles
below Santa Fe. After residing at the
latter place some time, his rowing nature
prompted him to continue his wanderings,
and after visiting various places, he finally
| set himself down at the head waters of the
ella River, in which region he discovered
the Pine Alta gold mines.
| Finally our wandering Yankee conclu-
| ded to try a more Southern latitude, and
accordingly started from Ell Paso, on the
18th of May 1861, with 2l0 mules, which
property he had secured as his share of
| the spoil-the result of different expe-
ditions against the Indians, and arrived
at San Antonio, Texas, Oh the I'd day of
June, 1S6l-having travelled distance
of $50 miles. At this point Gen. Van
Dorm, of the rebel army, politely confsca-
ted his 20 mules, and gave Mr.. Jones
ten hours, in which to leave the town.
Our friend started for Columbus, dis
tance from San Antonia, of 12O miles
walking the entire distance, with his bag
gage upon his back. At Columbus he
| fell in with some old railroad friends, who
furnished him with employment on the
Columbus & Harrisonburg r.. r., as one
of the track hands. He engaged lii this
| business uutll lie Sdlucu
enough to pay his fare to Memphis He
arrived in the latter place on the 18th OF
February last, where he found some
! friends staunch but secret Unlonists-
who prevailed upon him to remain until
the arrival of the Northern troops, who
were expected to appear in due time, when
he could go north. The famous rebel
conscript law went into effect on the 18th
of May, after which date every man under
thirty five and over eighteen years of age,
was liable to be impressed into the army
Jones was seized one day, while on the
streets Of Memphis, by patrol and taken
to the guard house in hurried manner
no questions being asked or answered.
The next noon he sent message to the
officer of the day, requesting his presence
in the guard house. Upon that parsonage
arrival atthe latter place, he said to Jones
"What branch of the military service will
you join artillery, infantry OF cavalry
YOU can have your choice % Before Civ
iny direct answer to the officer question,
Jones INDUCED in hasty recital of the
many and gross wrongs to which he had
been subjected, and closed his narrative
by fat refusal to join any branch of the
"scrvice" High words ensued, resulting
in His Highness, the officer of the day
being knocked down with chair Thai
afternoon Jones, with FIVE other men, who