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

suggestion by thrusting into the face
of the bewildered and astonished
traveller an enlarged and improved
edition of Colts siX-barreled "per-
suader." In this way he armed
mounted, equipped, and subsisted
his band. One thing may be said to
his credit. he seldom if ever disturb
ed private houses. The most des-
peratc of his enterprises and the
most daring of his exploits were di-
rected against the Union army and
soldiery. He would creep on dark
night through the picket lines and
steal mules and horses from under
the very noses of the guards. He
would ambuscade and kill patroling
parties-steal upon and shoot down
yidette or a picket. At times he
was as wary and stealthy as an In
dian-then again he would dash up
on an outpost or reserve with the
recklessness and audacity of Name.
luke or n Cossack. In firing up
on railroad trains he seemed to take
peculiar pleasure. His men. from
some hiding place, would deliver n
volley, upon some passing train we'll
filed with unsuspecting troops, and
before it could be stopped and the
men put in position for action, the
guerrillas would be on their horses
and scampering speedily away to
their coverts in the Bottoms. In this
way they killed three and wounded
some ten Federal soldiers at one
time, between Germantown and Col
lersville, during the past summer
| shall not now, however, recite par
ticular instances of crime as it would
make this sketch much too volumi-
nous.
HIS CAPTURE.
He was captured by Capt. j. ".
SHELTON and a detachment of the 18th
Indiana cavalry, near the Cold Water.
Miss, some twenty miles southeast
of Memphis, on the I'd day of Octo-
tober last. The Captain, in command
of some forty men, was sent out on
a scouting expedition in the direction
of Holly Springs, and when near An
derson's plantation his advance
guard was fired upon. He immedi-
ately ordered q charge, taking the
lead himself, and as he passed ont Of
the wood into the open ground be-
yond, n man dressed in the gray jack
ct of the Confederate army was dis
covered making the best possible
time across the fields toward the adj
joining wood. The Captain gave
immediate chase, Haping his horse
over the intervening fences, and was
soon upon him. Before, however,
he was overtaken, he had slackened
his pace and was rapidly reloading
his carbine. The Captain putting
his pistol in uncomfortable proXimi
ty TO the fellows head, demanded his
surrender. to which he coolly replied,
- guess I'll have to surrender, but
d-n it, / thought | could load and
kill YOU before you come up, bat
you was too quick for me" He was
armed with Il navy revolver and
a Spencer breech-loading, eight
shooting carbine. While Captain
SHELTON was engaged in making this
capture, his men had pursued and
taken three others of the band. The
first Of these captives gave his name
first as Rogers, and subsequently as
j. w. Smith, and profcsscd TO be 4
private soldier in the ID Missouri
rebel cavalry. These prisoners were
delivered, on the same evening. to the
General commanding, the Captain
little thinking at the time that he had
captured the veritable Dick Davis,
whose name was terror to all tray
elers and scouting parties, and who
had successfully eluded the vigilance
ofthc United States forces for months
and almost years. Yet such was the
case. When he was sent 10 his Old
quarters in the Hotel Gle Irving he
was Mt once recognized by several
officers who had become acquainted
with him during his previous con
tinemcnt.
HI ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE.
A prison cell was narrow abode
for one like Dick. Davis. who had
been accustomed TO live ''with heav-
en- for canopy and the whole wide
world for a habitation." Although
pinioned to the floor with irons, in n
strong prison, surrounded 10y strong
and ever wakeiul guard, and envi-
roned upon all sides by an army pick
citing the whole circumference Of the
city, he did not despair, but deliber-
ately and adroitly planned an escape.
No sooner had he matured his plan
than he attempted to put 1t into exc
cution.
Amongs. those who had been sum
moned as witnesses in Dick S defence
was the daughter of q planter living
near Colliersville, Miss Annie
r, whom Dame Rumor whis-
pered was his aflianccd bride She
was indeed beautiful and captiva-
ting woman Of about twenty sum
mers. If ! was writing romance
might indulge in more particular
description of the bandits affianced'
bu: for the purposes of this sketch II
is auite sufficient for the reader to