Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-07
ALEX. II. STEPHENS.


Forthcoming biography of the distin-
guished Southron. Here is an anecdote
Of his first adventure in beginning his
profession:
The next court was at Washington,
Georgia, the place of his school-boy days.
There were no railroads or public con-
veyances between the places He had
no horse, and was too proud to ask the
loan of one from any of his acquaintan-
ces in the town. The whole distance
was little too far for his strength should
he undertake it on foot. He walked to
his uncle's, which was about ten miles or
half the distance, and but little out ofthe
way, carrying his saddle bags, contain
ing a change of clothes, upon his shoul-
ders. He chose the cool of night instead
of the heat of July day for his under
taking, and resting frequently on the
stones Of the roadside, sadly meditated
in his darkened loneliness upon the deep
er darkness that enveloped his future
fate. A horse was borrowed from his
uncle without scruple, and the next day
he proceeded on his way. The change
of clothes above mentioned consisted in
part of pair of thin, white, cotton pants,
of cheap material, very suitable for the
season, and some what of the appearance
of linen. That he might enter the town
and the court room as decent as possible,
he dismounted short distance from the
suburbs and doffed the somewhat worn
unmentionables with which he set out,
and donned the aforesaid white ones in
their stead; also, otherwise arranged his
toilet the best he could for his first ap
pearance as member of the bar on the
circhit. Thereverse operation was gone
through with on his return.
The following narrates difficulty in
which Mr.. Stephens became involved,
because it was one of the first efforts
made to afiix the stigma of traitor to
the South upon him--a method of con-
yincing more fercely or generally used
later. This occurred in l848:
1t was reported to him that he had been
proclaimed traitor to the South, in
public speech, made by one who had held
high position in the State. In personal
interview with this person, he inquired
whether the charge had been made as re-
ported; and though the charge was de-
MED, and the parties separated in
friendly manner at the time, yet the
words used by Mr.. Stephens ON that oc-
casion led to q subsequent demand upon
him for retraetion. Mr.. Stephens was
unarmed, while bis sssailant, who was
more than twice his size aad weight was
duly prepared for the encounter which
he sought. Upon the refusal to retract
the words, an assault was made upon
Mr.. Stephens with open knife. This he
for some time parried with an umbrella
RECEIVING several wounds upon has arms
and breast; but his assallant,, pushing
upon him with all his superior force and
weight, threw him upon bis back. One
blow with the knife aimed at the heart
would have done its fatal work. but tor
the fortunate position of the blade OF the
knife. Another blow, on the other side,
nassing between two ribs, severed an
iuter-costalery artery. The strong man
then, with his left hand on the forehead
of his adversary. and the knife in his
right hand, said, NOW, -, retrsot,
or | will cut your ---- throat J. The
reply was No, never Cntp' As the
knife came, Mr. Stephens caught il IN
his right hand, and with his left seized
the right elbow of him who welded it
In tbis way the struggle lasted until
beth parties yere on their feet again, and
others came to the rescue, The right
hand. that seized the knife as il vas
aimed at ths throat, was horribly man
gled by the farming and twisting OF the
Made. in efforts 10 get II ont Of the grip.
The bemorfhags from the seyerad artery
would have resulted In speedy death, but
for the fortunate presence Of DIR. Hitch
eock. of the United States army, whose
skill arrested it.
III, soapo occurred in the piazza Of
Tbompson's Hoial, 10 Atlanta, Georgia,
on the 4th Of September, 1864 AT. ste-
phens was laid up for several weeks WIN
these wounds. The right hama was
thought TO be permanently disabled; Ihe
tendons Of several fingers aud the thumb
we've severed. Ee could not use the hand
Al ali for about twelve months In the
meantime. be accustomed himself TO
write With bis lafl- But, 10 the pefma- |
nent injury Of the right, bis bad CHI ,
rrapby is now partly owing.
We have alluded to this affair nOE. |
only because IL is an important fact IN
the life Of him Of whom We write, and
w;sh no view or wish to awaken any OF
The M pleasant "Reminiscences ofthe times
when 4 occurred
Ia Il propsr 70 add that the gentleman
Who figured in The scene with Mr.. Ste
nhsns lad been previously on FeTy
E;sndlx terms with him-and sons years |
afteruard they became friendly again
The in blood Of that day entirely sub |
- =