The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-04-18

a Kentacky Guerilla WurAerer Arrested
A 1neieaa-A lost singular lnstaaes
Joseph B. Thurber Of this place. was /.
member Of Co. K, Seventeenth Indiana vol
unteers, and son of Alonzo B. Thurber, OF
Coolspring township. He was captured, in
company with comrade named Matthew
Summers, also from this county, near Tyre
Springs, Tenn, on the 7th of January, 1866,
by q party of FIVE rebel bushwhackers They
we're marched some three miles, when they
fell in with another party of guerillas, who
had four captured Union soldiers in charge.
The six prisoners were then taken fourteen
miles further, when they were stripped OF
their clothing, tied two and two, and shot by
their brutal captors. Young Thurber receiv-
ed ball in his shoulder, and in falling fell
under his comrade. He feigned death, and
4hough the scoundrels fred two or three more
volleys at the helpless bodies to make sure Of
their work. he escaped fatal wound, and af-
ter the rebels retired, he crawled into the
woods, and naked and weak from exposure
and loss of blood, travelled some thirty miles
to where his regiment was encamped. On
reporting his story, . party was sent out, who
found and buried the bodies of his dead COM
rades, and made fruitless effort to discover
the guerillas. On leaving the bodies, the
rebels placed paper on the breast of one Of
them, on which was statement that the deed
was done in retaliation.
In due time young Thurber recovered from
his wounds, was mustered out Of the service,
and returned to his home in this county. He
was employed in the stave factory Of Messrs
Graham l. Murray, at bonneville, about
nine miles west of this city, on the Michigan
Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad.
About two weeks ago, he was astonished to
recognize in q man who had just been sent to
the establishment from Chicago, one Of the
gang who had shot his companions and left
him for dead in the bloody tragedy Of Tyre
Springs. His employers are also doing bust.
ness in Chicago, and this fellow had been in
their service there, and Icing no longer want
ed, had been sent out to the factory at
Holmesville. Thurber kept his own counsel,
but watched the movements Of the new com.
er closely, and took pains to draw him into
conversation on every possible occasion. He
| soon became fully satisfied that he was no,
| mistaken in his man. The new conner was
talkative, admitted that he had seen rough
| service during the war, though he denied
having been in the rebel army. He seemed
fond Of detailing exciting incidents of the
contest, and among others told, with minute
particulars. the whole history of the affair in
which these six Union soldiers were the vic.
TINS. Receiving this confirmation of his
already well founded belief, young Thurber
resolved to kill the miscreant at once. He
held a conversation with Mr.. Murray on the
subject, and the latter advised him not to nc,
rashly, but to consult with his father. The
result was that he secured the assistance oil
constables Henry C. Brown and Messrs.
Closer and Robinson Of this city, and arrest.
ed the guerilla on Monday last He was
brought here and lodged in Jail, and q state
ment Of the case sent to Gen. Palmer. COM
handing the Department of kentucky, who
| We presume, will order him to that State for
trial before military commission.