The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-11
A Cotton Buyer on a Razor backed
Mule.


Cones, in company with two or three
other bnyers, had bought some cotton out
at Moscow, twelve miles from La Grange
just before cur army marched from the
latter place, and as General Quinby's di-
vision had just removed from there, they
thought the sooner they got the cotton in
TO La Grange the better, consequently
four Of them, besides the drivers Of the
teams, started out after il. Cones was
the only one of the four who was not ar
med and was not on horseback, he
riding in one Of the teams They sue
ceeded in getting the cotton, and hurried
back until they came in sight of the Fed
eral piekets and then, Cones three
friends thinking the teams were out of
danger, left him, and rode on into town.
Only two or three minutes after they
had left, and as the wagons went down
into hollow, ont of sight of the picket
guard, five guerrilias dashed out Of the
woods, and were alongside in an instant.
Halt Every one of the teams halted as
though they had run against stone wall.
The next instant the muzzle Of cooked
revolver was at the ear of every one Of
them, Cones included, who was riding on
the cotton.
"Are your armed 2" said the guerrilla
who held his pistol at Cones head.
"No, sirp
"Tben get down and unhitoh them
mules and turn 'em around d--d quick y
IL was done in the time specified.
Guerrilla-"Have you q match? |
want to tonch off this cotton"
Cones--"NO, sir. am glad to say |
havn't."
Guerrilla-"Then git onto that mule,
quick !"
In an instant Cones was mounted, on
what he says was a wonderfully sharp
brcked mule"
Guerrilla Giving the mule a terrific
slash with the wagon whip)-'Now, ,d-n
you, lick them mules upl Make 'sm
gol Give 'em thunderp
Aud away they went at space, which
TO Cones on his razor back mule, he
thought must split him in two before
many miles, three guerrillAs behind
lashing the mule at every jump. Five
miles or more they went at this pace, and
not another word had been spoken by
any one, when they turned out of the
main road into old and un frequontsd ID
road, that wound its zigzags through onS
Of the denssly wooded creek bottoms
"HaltW said the guerrilla, and he who
gave the command commenced hurriedly
TO relieve himself of some OF his accout.
rements as though he was now about Il
go TO work in earnest At some devilist
deed. This place was lonely and fitting
10 such murderOus intents, and Gomez
says he felt cold sort of chill run dOwI
the full length of even his long legs
Guerrilla drawing the cork cut Of hi
canteen)-"You look like a pretty d.
good feller. Let's take drink and 70
fear you might think It's pizsn, PHdiR
first p
And suiting the action 10 his word.
he placed the canteen TO his lips AM
turned his face up in the position Of on
making Astronomical observations AZ
ter long pull he passed the cantee
over TO Cones, who thought il "mightn
be pizen," and imbibed.
Guerrilla-"NOw d---n you, lick u
them mulee give 'em thunder Hurr
upV
And each injunction he emphasize
on the rear Of the flying mules with nj
whip,
They bivouacked in thickot ,hi
! night but early next morning began the
journey AT the same pace, and towar
, evening Of that day they galloped into
I rude-looking camp, which turned out
: be the nest Of Richardson and his que
. ! rillo band, within a few miles Of 70