St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-09-15
ST. CLOUD MINNESOTA, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1874

Jay, SEPTEMBER l
miles. Hating to consult for informa
ton with man who came out from the
side of the road in his shirt sleeves,
looking as if he had just come from
bed, we baited the horses with few
spears Of corn and pressed on to a we'll
known secesh neighborhood near Wash
ingron. As we turned curve in the
road we "gobbled" a galvanized rebel
l. e., one with an oath in his pocket.
"A squad>went to his house, searched it
and found gun, two pistols and three
cavalry sabres secrcted between bed
ticks. Our guide directed US to an
Unionlst's house where VIC procured
something to eat. The Unionist's wife
was delighted to see us, and though
extremely poor, insisted on our dispos-
ing Of all the sweet milk she had and
eating large peach dumping she made
while VIC were detained. While she
regretted her inability to do for us as
she wished, her two rather pretty bux-
on, daughters brought in a basket of
fine ripe peaches and some apples to
which We did ample justice. Your
correspondent was kissing the delicate
bushes from the peaches and enjoying
conversation with the fair entertainer
in lomcspun, when "Stand to horse !"
abruptly terminated eating and con-
versing. AS soon as mounted we DASH
ed off at gallop. divided into small
squads, and descended like thunder
bolt upon the houses in the vicinity.
The party l was with, guided by an
Union man, rode up to house where
a portion of the men dismounted and,
with catbines ready, surrounded it.,
while two or three entered the dwell
ling: Seemingly none but women we're
there. They We're willing we should
search, opened closets, and drawers,
tumbled over bedding and unlocked
trunks. AS one of the men proceeded
up stairs, a young girl hew by and
reached the rooms before him. His
suspicious aroused, he quickly followed
and instituted careful search. Her
actions betrayed her. She sat near a
corner on the floor and when order
cd to get up turned deadly pale and
falteringly said ''There is nothing
here" Force was used to get her
from the spot; a board was taken up,
and there, wedged in between the
beams, lying on his back, was Johnny
Reb of Wheeler's cavalry. He cried
out, III give up!' and turned out. The
scene that followed exceeded anything
in the memory Of your informant.
The two sisters turned ashy pale and
with Wild lamentations besought the
captain not to kill him nor tear him
away from his home His mother fell
into a chair and bowed her head in a
paroxysm of tears. The old grand
mother burst out OF the house moaning
iu terrible manner, and when last
seen was walking around the house al
most distracted. The prisoners Sis
tiers hung about his neck and we we're
obliged to force them away. After a
touching farewell, even to our seeming
ly hard hearts, he trotted of With US.
On our way to the appointed rendez-
vous, we pounced suddenly upon man
in the woods, and 1, with two others,
was ordered to 90 to his house and
search it. Arriving there, were sur
} ptised to find a suit of blue and nc
arms. He proved to be Union sol.
der, home on Through which had ex.
PRED. IT'S very disagreeable business
to search house, prying into closets
drawers, rummaging trunks, pdlling W
floors and overturning bed. Clothes
But such were orders and in this in
stance we were accompanied by the
mans wife who looked on in alarm
t She thought we were disguised rebels
, Every flattering,) and when l told he
: husband to mount the told mare" she
$ halt frightened, sat down and will
I tears. INQUIRED q Re you going to taxi
! f. i q 81 y 1II2
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