Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-01-22
Written expressly for the Staunton Spectator.
OUR MESS-BY A REBEL SUBALTERN.
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
JE. B. sTUART-A MOONLIGHT sKIRMIsH.
Ben's unique manner of description elected
a smlle and sometimes smothered laugh from
the mess-no one had the temerity to burst out
into merriment through dread Of stirring up the
'ebenezer' Of man who could chew up a
| thunderbolt and wrestle with streak of light
ming. There was fund of amusement in his
| recltals, and 1t was a pleasure to hear him.
Stretcher was the only one who maintained a
stoical fixture of muscles; he seemed perfectly
abstracted while the Lieutenant was speaking
probably laying the groundwork for another of
his Munchausanisms.
Duncan, after relieving his pent up humor
by congratulatiDg Ben on his peculiar style of
| defamation, volunteered something for the
amusement of the company.
sOf course you all remember the great raid
of Colonel, now General j. E. B. Stuart, around
the grand army of the Young Napoleon, Me
Clean ?' said he. after that great event,
he visited Richmond, and was received with
great fervor by the citizens of that city In fact
he was, as he ought have been, on that occa-
sion very huge lion. He made stirring
speech to the train bands in the Capitol
Square, where they had come to an ''order-
arms, and stand at ease - and then he put
spurs to his little sorTel mare and ran her
| through the crowd like cat, much to the ad-
| miratlon and fear OF the beautiful ladies there
assembled to witness the parade of the Home
Guard Dear mel how the sweet creatures
admired his horsemanship-ho their bright
eyes sparkled as he made the animal squat and
| rear, and leap, and wind. like serpent,
| through the mazes of the crowd. He was the
hero Of the day, who had won glory enough to
| give him one of the brightest inches in the
| temple of Fame.
| 1t was whispered around that he, in company
with several officers of his celebrated command,
were to visit the theatre at night. The rumor
gained wings, and the managerrubbed his hands
| in anticipation Of the mighty shower OF prom
| ises to pay that was to ill his Golfers. The
house was crowded OF course; and everybody
| looked around for Colonel Stuart A quarter
| master sergeant, a son Of the Emerald Isle,
| was seated in the centre of the parquette he
| had long red beard, slouched hat with a
black feather in it, and vast quantity of yel-
low tape on his grey uniform. He sat quietly
awaiting the rising Of the curtain, not dreaming
of the figure he was about to cut before the soye-
| reign PUBLIC.
where's Colonel Stuart?" asked number
of persons, eager to see the stalwart and gallant
raider.
where's Colonel Stuart?" whispered the
interesting Miss into the ear Of her interesting
| lover.
| The Irish quartermaster sergeant still sat
quietly in his seat There was devil care
air about him, and he became the victim of a
wag in the lobby.
"Why-dont you know Colonel Stuart p
| asked he OF a verdant companion. There he
is, seated on the fourth seat of the parquette-
| that gentleman leaning on q large cane-he with
grey uniform and long red beard
This was enough. Greeny Immediately spread
the information.
There he is-there he is, went from mouth
to mouth and the sergeant became halo of
light kindled up by the electric spark from the
the eyes OF Beauty. The curtain rung up-but
everything was neglected-Colonel Jeb Stuart
was the attraction
| What fine fgure!' exclaimed a young
widow, peeping over her FAM
| His features are expressive Of mildness, ex-
claimed a Miss who had been schooled in the
Buntline, Lippard and Murray line ofsensation
literature Il had imagined that the terror OF
the Yankees was fierce and determined man.
But, he a brave fellow.
rs it me they re squirting at?" asked the
sergeant of friend by his side. by my sowl,
if those beautiful crathers don't turn their eyes
away, shall be consumed, | shall. Murther
what is that big belied spalpeen staring at,
| wonder? Now he tips his hat to me-be the
powers, but he polite. .
'Why, the fact is, my friend, whispered his
neigh bor-' they take you for Colonel Stuart y
DO they? Well, by the mother o Moses,
| that a good joke-I niver was taken for a
brave man before, and. bother me, but III car
| ry it on, and bowldly face the battery Of lovely
| eyes that are knockln my heart into flinders. -
Here he placed his hat on the right side OF
his head and curled his lips in true martial style.
| The glances OF the ladies were returned with
| ten-f0ld warmth, and the battle was kept up
| until the close of the performance, when the
| gallant Colonel arose from bis seat and made
his way with great difficulty through the crowd
OF his admirers who had gathered in the lobby
to greet him.
| boasted of having seen the brave Colonel j. E.
B. Stuart, the hero of the great raid and the
terror of the Northern army.
Captain Smilax, who had been quietly listen
ing, was now called upon for story.
Il am no story-teer, gentlemen, said he
in response to the call my friend, Major
Stretcher, has so completely taken the wind out
of my sails, that | had almost made up my
mind never again to attempt to astound the
mess with statement Of facts However,
will, with all due modesty and humility, en-
deavor to give you an account of the manner in
which slave sold his own master.
Matthew dODSOn kgenerally calleQ Dlack
Mat on account of the darkness of his com
plexion) was we'll known to the inhabitants Of
the Seaboard Of Virginia, some years ago, as
slave dealer, and an accomplished breaker in
Of bad flesh. He once purchased bright mu.
latto by the name of Sam, at a very low price
on account of his numerous bad qualities, such
as thieving, lying and drunkenness. Sam was
intelligent with all his faults, could read and
write and ape the airs of most polished gen
tleman. He was so far removed from the pure
African, that he could scarcely be distinguished
from white man. On his becoming the prop
erty Of the slaVe-dealer, he received several Sc
we're admonitloas, in order that he might have
a tore-taste Of the temper of his master Sc
cretly he vowed vengeance for these striking
proofs of Mats affection, and in a short time
an opportunity offered to crafty that vengeance
Matt made up his gang, and shipped then
at Norfolk. The barque arrived safely at New
| Orleans, and was brought to the wharf. In Or
der that Sam might bring good price, he wa:
logged off in fine clothes-calf skin boots, sill
hat and kid gloves. Matt thought by this ex
/ tarnal show to realize at least ST 500 for the
mulatto, as the body servant to some rich plant
er. Sam was, consequently, allowed to go or
shore in order to show himself off. He pro
ceeded to the Alhambra, and there struttec
about among the best of them. Hearing ;
| nortlv gentleman remark that he wished to pur