Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1863-02-18

know tHelf character ANA probably know
their intentions. They left your houses by
stealth, going in the direction Of a place
where an infamous crime was committed,
Just about the time that they had got
there. Now you say that You have seen
no such people for long time. You don't
tell the truth; You have just ten minutes
TO move Your woman and children and
things out Of yonr houses at the end of
that time ! shall set them on fire ~
lie was Just AS good as his word With
his own hand he applied the torch TO the
three only remaining houses which were
standing when We came through there
last, and Mud Town WAS botted ont of
existence
Another instance or two of Capt. W. S
style, and YOU will fee! acquainted with the
man when YOU hear his name mentioned.
You remember that | wrote YOU that a
courier had been badly wounded at keits
when We were down in Arkansas last fall
and that keitsyilc had been burned in
consequence Yes. Well, Lieut. G..
saws that the finding and furnishing of the
mnrdercrs was entrusted to Capt. w.
and his men, in that instance. The Capt.
selected about a dozen men who, like
himself, were residents Of that vicinity
and well acquainted with everybody for
many miles around, and, being disguised
as bushwhackcrs, they surrounded kcts-
vile and patrolcd the woods for several
days, catching most OF the gang, and af-
ter finding out all they could from the
prisoners, they would shoot them without
mercy. One day Capt. W. saw butter
nut approaching him, gun in hand, and
as be recognized him at sight, he went
forward to meet him. A conversation
cnsued, during which Capt. W., as good
rebel, learned many interesting things
aud then began to admire the others
gun. "lcs,' SAYS Mr.. rebel, Yes, it
shoots very WE'LL Il should like to try
it," saws Capt. W., "mav j" "Oh yes,
certainly was the reply. A moment
later and the rebel lay dead, shot thro
the head ~ his own bullet. Capt. w.
had killed the leader Of the gang Of
bushwhackcrs, and his job was finished.
4 few days ago, as one Of the army
surgeons at Fayetteville was taking a
ride on horse back. he met some men
coming towards town, and stopped and
talked with them for Il few minutes, du-
ring which time scme cavalry men oi the
Isl Arkansas, came up and Joined n the
conversation. Altet little while one of
the lst cavalry said to one Of the men,
"look here, Bob, come this way, will
you, want TO say word or two 10 you"
The surgeon started on, but had not gone
far before he heard revolver talking
very fast and rather emphatic. lie turned
back, of course, and found Mr. Bob ly-
ing on the ground, with five bullet holes
in him. lie was rebel officer, sent back
TO try to organize n guerrilla band, and
had all the necessary documents on his
person.
guess it will answer to leave the pac
ifcatlon Of this part Of the country III
the hands OF Capt. w. and his conferes
OF the lst Arkansas cavalry.
This letter is already uncomfortably
long, but ss it is the last Retrospective
glance which | expect to cast over the
events of which it treats, you must in
dulgc me in one reminiscence of the bat
tie of Prairie Grove, and perhaps il will
extend to days events more remote than
the 7th Of December.
! suppose that a, the beginning of the
year 1891 there was not man doing
business in Davenport who was more
universally respected than Mr.. NJ. Il.
Chew. OF the firm Of Evans, Chew d co.
always heard him spoken of as being
high toned, honorable gentleman, be-
loved by those who were his friends, and
implicitly trusted in by those who did
business with him. But, unfortunately
for him, he WAS born and educated at the
South, and when the terrible storm Of
rebellion and civil war was gathering, he
did not hesitate to say, as man should
say, boldly and fearfully, when he be-
lleves himself right, tnat his sympathies
we're With the South. You will rcmem--
Der how, when the whole country was
boiling with indigestion at the attack on
Fort Sumter, the firm with which he was
connected turned a jet of infamable gas
upon the already raging fire by pulling
down the American flag which was wont
to float over their warehouse, and re-
fused to run it up agan. 1t was well for
Mr.. Chew that at that juncturc of affairs,
be numbered among his friends men
who were Of the highest position among
us,and whose loyalty was unimpeschable,
But for the attitude which these friend,
Of his maintained, it is impossible to
guess what result might have followed
this action on the part Of i. G. d. Co.,
Even myself, staid, conservative, opposed
to Vigilance Committees as | rather
pride myself upon being ordinarily
even favored the idea that they should
be compelled to hoist that flag again,