Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1864-1865, 1865-02-02

the country thoroughly, and was
much of his time employed in that
service. Morgan sent him several
times into the States north of the
Ohio, as a spy, and he never failed
to return with information valuable
to the rebels. Just before that
grand scare-the demonstration of
Kirby Smith on Cincinnati-Dick
had been in that city and reported
its defenceless condition to that G. EN-
eraI. With this information the Con-
federate General thought the Queen
City" an easy prize, and such, indeed,
it would have been, had not unexam-
pied promptness and energy been
displayed in the preparation for its
defence That the city was not sack
ed and barncd is almost wholly ow-
ing to the rapid and numerous re
sponse made by the squirrel hunters
and minute men" Of Ohio and Indi-
ana. who rallied TO its rescue.
While on one of his secret mis-
sions into Ohio, he was suspected by
some of being connected with the
rebel army. Hearing of these sus-
picions, and fearing an arrest, he
concluded to return South, and put
ting into practice the lessons he had
learned so well from his leader, help
ed himself to a fine horse belonging
to a friend in the neighborhood, with
out even thanking the owner. He
was pursued, captured, thrown into
Jail. indicted by the grand jury, and
was about being brought to trial,
when, Mt the instance Of friends, the
prosecutor was induced to enter a
noile proSeque in the case, upon con
dition that he would enlist in the
Union army. Upon being released
from 'durance oile,' he volunteered
in an Ohio regiment, accompanied
it to the field, but soon afterwards
deserted and returned TO the rebels.
He was present and participated in
Van Dorn's attack upon Corlnth, at
the time the lamentcd Gen. Hacllle-
man was killed. Shortly after this,
Dick turned up in the vicinity of
Memphis, as the leader Of a guerrilla
band. He was subsequently captur-
ed blythe Federal forces, and confin-
ed, OH the charge Of being robber
and SPY, in the military bastile,
Irving Block, in the above named
city, but before he was brought to
trial. he managed to escape, through
the completely of the guard who was
placed over him. Having escaped
from prison he rcjoined his fellow
marauders and resumed his old oc-
cupation OF highwayman.
HIS FIELD OF OPERATIONS
Extended from the Cold Water on
the south 70 the Bottoms of Wolf
and Hatchic rivers on the north, and
from the Federal picket lines near
Memphis eastward to the junction Of
the Memphis and Charleston with
the Mississippi Central railroad
This area embraces the villages of
Whites Station, Germantown, Mos
COW, La Grange, and Grand June
ton. on the line of the first named
railroad, and the base of all the
travelled roads leading into the Bluff
CITY. He was continually changing
the rendezvous of his band, but gen
orally kept it in the Bottoms OF Non
connah creek or Wolf river. His
strategy was so admirable that he
outwittcd and outgeneraled every
scout or party sent to capture him.
For months he lived, robbed and
murdered with impunity, almost
within the Federal lines, and within
ear shot of the Federal army. He
was enabled the more etlectuallv to
eludc his pursuers, by the fact that
he had so managed it rs to secure
the silence OF most of the citizens in
the country infested by his band
The friendship Of some he secured
by acts of kindncss--others were ST.
lent because OF their sympathy with
him and his occupation of butchery,
while the majority feared to disclose
the hiding place of one who possess
cl the power and the will, when pro
voked, to inlict upon them the most
hellish cruelty. To incur lis indig-
nation was equivalent TO losing their
property, and, perhaps, their lives.
Ills band consisted Of from fifteen
to twenty men-young, active and
reckless as himself. They were all
well moInted-armed with q pair of
revolvers each, and carbine. His
men were principally deserters. some
from the rebel and some from the
Union army.
OF the many incidents of his
chequered career. but few that are well
authenticated, have reached me. All
| know is that he frequently y relieved
citizens coming into and going out
of the city Of their money. watches,
iewclrv, horses and other valuables.
His men and himself had stronSbar-
tering proclivities, and frequently in
dulged in trading their old hats,
shoes and coats with some city gen
tleman who might happen to be
caught with articles of that kind SUI
perior TO their own. 1t is said that
in these exchanges they always got
the better end of the bargain. In
his exploits as highwayman he made
no distinction between loyal and dis
loval. white and black, nor did he