Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-11-25
THE CAPTAINS STORY.


From the Semi Weekly Tribune of Octo-
Der sth, we copy the following thrilling
story. 1t is from the pen of EDMUND
KIRKE, and viii sbundantly repay peru
sal 1t is one of a series of articles-pub-
lished under the title of Down IN Ten
nessee:"
The Captain handed me cigar, took a
long Whit from his own, and began his
story.
"It is not much of a story, and, besides,
| haven't handy way of dressing up a
common incident so as to make it fit for
good society; but, such as it is, it is true. -
at was before the great foot-race be-
tween Bragg and Buell., when old ''Slow-
coach" won the stakes-two States and
court-martial; and we soldiers immor-
talized ourselves by using our legs instead
of our muskets. l was stationed at Gal
latin in defense of thersilway, and, being
short of fodder, took squad of a dozen
men one day, and went out on foraging
expedition. L had sent six or seven wag-
on loads back to camp, and, with the re-
naming wagons, was securing the district
around HartsYille. when, Just after we
had set our pickets for the night. about
200 of Forests cavalry came suddenly on
Us, and surrounded and made US prisoners
before we had even time to run. A small
party took US in charge. and striking a
course due east, made for the Knoxville
Railroad. Nothing worth mention occur
red during the first two days. At the
close of the second we reached a small
xr.1l. III n,o,.,,.lo -.
houses, barn, and Niger shanty-just
in the edge of Bledsoe County, and halt
ed for the night. We took supper at the
house of well-to-do planter, the name
of BOylan, VINO gave us good meal, and
was very courteous 10 the Con federate of
fcer, but, in my presence, cursed and
swore at the Union, and the "Linkum
hirelin's," hard enough to have shocked
the Parson. The Lieutenant, who was
social fellow, and gentleman, pressed
me to share his bed at the house, but |
declined, asserting-not very mildly
that l wouldn't sleep under the roof of
such an old reprobate as the planter The
rebel officer appreciated my feeling, and
lending me an extra blanket-for the
night was cold-consented to my camp
ing out with my men which meant sleep
ing in corn-feld, on the plowed ground,
with The sky for bed-Quilt. The boys
had made rousing fire of pine-knots,
and were eating their suppers near it
when joined them. Spreading blanket
on the ground, and seating myself before
the roaring blaze, lit my last cigar, and
fell TO studying Ayers Cherry Pectoral
Almanac, copy of which delightful work
had somehow lodged in the pocket of my
overcoat. was pondering its astrologic-
al predictions, when long. loosejointed
native came up to me, and said:
'Wall, stranger, yer takin' it powerful
cool, bein's yer in purity clus FIX"
"Not very close fix" | answered;
there's lots of room round here"
"Yas, lots Nv it; but ye hain't the run
O. the ground-though 'spect ye would
run eff ye he'd the chance"
81 reckon ] would"
.'Whot's that yer readin' thar"
IAN almanac"
'Almynac! Whot's thet?"
"A book that tell all about the weather;
when it will rain and when it won't. A
man that carries one doesn't need an UNI
brella"
AN do it tell when it wull be far fur
shootin' snipe an kotchin eelsY'
oh, yes, it tells all that, and when
husbands may look out for squalls If
you've wife you ought to have one"
Il hain't morrid. Number one ar bout
so much as kin find in Eittles. But thet
mus be monstrus nice book; eff | could
spell, I'd spill quart O. humin grease ter
git one"
''Twould be worth that; but here, I'll
give you this. You can learn to spell it
somehow" s---7
With look of stupid surprise he took
the almanac, but in moment handed it
back, saying, Il doan't mean ter pose on
ye, stranger, becase yer kotched in the
tedders (tethers). ! hain't no such sort
O. man, nohow."
You'll not impose on me; you're well
come to it. Make your preacher learn
you how to read it"
Lord bless ye, the parson don't know
how no more'n does. Ye see we hain't
no schules round yere; an eff we he'd,
pore men karin pay no fifty dollar yar
ter guy thar childring lsrnin.' Dad an