The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-10
How Bible Smith CAPTURED thu
Rebel 0HR NAea

Rebel O@ceFS.
In Mr.. Kirke's new volume, "Down III
Tennessee" he gives an interesting &C.
count OF "Bible'' Smith, q representative
OF the better class of poor Southern whites,
whose adventures as q scout in the Union
service, read more like romance of the
middle ages than q matter Of fact history
OF the present time.
On one occasion, when about Eve miles
outside OF our lines, became, late in the
n!ght, upon party OF rebel officers, ma.
king merry at the house Of wealthy Sc
ceesionist Riding cody up TO the mounted
orderly 90 guard, before the door way, he
into his mouth, and led him quietly out oi
hearing. Then bidding him dismount, and
tying him to tree, he removed the i'm.
prOmtu gag, and dwelling q revolver at his
head, said to him:
| Now tell me, We rebel villun. who,
whisky kags wuz ye watchin thar? Speak
truth, or I'll guy ye free passag to a no:
kentry.'
''Nine ossifers,, said the trembling re.
bel kunnel, two majors, sargeon, two
cap'ns, and the rest leitenants."
"Whar's thar weapons?''
1.-The swords is in the hallway None
on them hain't no pistols, except the sar-
geon-he mought hev 'volver,"
"Whot nigs Is they round?"
4
thar, (pointing to kitchen building) an
the gals in the house."
"We!l, I'll let ye go fur this, il yes tellet,
the truth. Eff We hAin't, ye'd be sain yer
prayers ter 0nst, fur the Lord won't we're
ye on the t'other side Nv Jurdan."
Fastening his horse in 1.-The TIMBER" and
creeping up to the house, he then recon-
mana stout, stalwart negro of about fifty
sat doing in the corner, and his wife, a
young mulattO woman, was cooking wild
fowl over the fire. Opening the door, and
placing his finger on his lips to enjoin si-
lence, Bible beckoEed to the woman. She
came to him, and, looking her full in the
face for moment, be said to her:
II kin trust We. Wud ye an yer old 'nn
like ter git out o. the claws NV these durn-
ed Secesh?'
"Yas. vas, Massa. she replied, 1--WE wud.
We's Union! We'd loike ter git way,
Nassau
Then awakening her husband, Bible said
to him: "Uncle, wud We risk yer life fur
ger freedOm?'
"Ef dar's chance, Massa, right smart
chance. Dis darkey links heap Oh his
life, he does, Massa. It IN bout all him
got"
Eyes, yes, know; but We shill hev free.
dom. l'll see yer te. the Free States, ef
yell help tuck them secesh ossifers.'
"Holp tuck dem, Massa! Why oars a
dozen on 'em; dey'd chaw ye UP IN no
time" exclaimed the astonished African.
''No, thar amt a dozen on 'em; thar's
only nine; but yes a coward" replied the
scout.
..No, l hain't no coward, Masse; but
loikes y chance, Massa, right smart
chance.
Bible convinced the negro that he would
have fright smart chance" and be con-
scented to make the hazardous strike for
freedom. Entering the house, he returned
in few moments to the scout, confirming
the sentineps report; the weapons were re-
posing quietly in the hall, near the door
way, and the officers very much the worse
for liquor, were carousing with his master
in the dining room.
Selecting three OF the best horses from
the stables, Bible directed the yellow wo-
man to lead them to the road, and to bring
my own from where it was fastened in the
woods. Then, with his snoty ally, the scout
entered the mansion. Removing the arms
from the hall, he walked boldly into the
dining room. Gentlemen" he said, point
ing his pistols-one in each hand-at the
rebel officers, I'VE is my prisoners. Sur.
render yer shootin' irons, or yes dade
men,"
"Who are your" exclaimed one Of them
as they al sprang to their feet.
"Cunnel Smith, Nv the Fust Tennessee
Niger regiment-one old black man an
a yaller 'ooman," coo!ly replied the scout.
+ ''Go to -" shouted the surgeon, quick
~ drawing his revolver, aud dischargng
it directly at Bibles, face. The ball grazed
his head, GU. of lock Of hair ius. above
the ear, and lodged IN the wall at his back.
The report was still sounding through the
apartment, when the surgeon uttered wild
cry, sprang q few feet into the air, and fell
senseiess to the floor! The negro had sho.
him.
Come, gentleman, none o thet,' said BIZ
BILE, as coolly as if nothing had happened,
'guv me the shootin' iron, an surrender,
or we'll s0t the rest on yer ter wuck-ra-
kim Goals fur the devils furnace-in less
nur minnit.o
Without more hesitation the rebel colo
mel handed the scout the fallen mans pistol
and then all, followed by the scou: and the
negro marched quietly out Of the front door.
TIE mulatto women, holding the horses,
was standing in the highway.
Hitch the nags, purity gall" said the
scout, 'an' git q coil. An We gentlemen sot
down, an say nothin'-'cept it mought be
yer prayers; but them, reckon, ye hain't
larned yit."
The negress soon returned with the rope
and while Bible and her husband covered
them with their reyolvers, she tied the
arms of the PROSTATE chivalry. When this
was done, the scout affixed q long ropc to
tie waist Of the officer on either flank Of
the column, and, taking one in his own
hand, and giving the other to the negro,
cried out:
"Sogers nv the Fust Tennessee!-Moun.w
The regiment bounded into the saddle,
and in that plight-the planter and the
eight captive officers marching on before
the selfappointed 'cunnep and his chief
officer bringing up the rear, aud the rest Of
his command-the yellow women-a strad-
die Of horse between them-they entered
the Union lines.
Here Mr.. Kirke ends this incident, but
we think we have heard that on Bibles ar
rival within our pickets, Colonel (now Gem
eral) Stcugbton demanded of him the deliv-
cry of his prisoners. The scout refused,
saying: II doan't report ter no small fry
like " is, cunnel, 'ticularly when yes only
u regiment, an I hes holl division. I
loan't deliver my corpse ter nothin' short
q the General himself"
And he did not. At half past three o.
clock, in the morning, he marched his
corpse up 70 headquarters, and made an
orderly awake the General. Rosecrans
came 10 the door in his night apparel, aud
on learning the real state Of things, went
nh