Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-09-04
Captain 0. 20. Pratt.


20 vonsPieu0usly famous, through
the late seriinmage over him in
New York belwcen the military and
civil authorities, we have inquired
in every direction TO lind out some.
thing about him, Ills name and
fame had passed completely out OF
our recollection, We found every
body else in the same fix, until We
met Mai, II, S. lemon, who at once
told us all about him Ii happens
that the two often weathered the
storm together on the same erait.
Capt, J ii, Pratt was n Confeder.
ate artillery captain, lie served al.
together this side tho Mississippi,
mostly in the cavalry brigade OF
Col, W, II, Parsons, His battery
consisted Of fur pieoes-a smooth.
bore six, rifle piece and two twelve
pound howilzers, lie was q bold
and sk'lliul officer. cool as q cucum-
Der in action. rather fond of fight,
an always played havoc with the
enemy, lie was especially fond Of
working his battery and leading the
enemy into traps. Maj. Leman tells
us of one instance on White River,
Arkansas, where he drew the un.
suspecting Yanks within forty
yards of his battery, when suddenly
no let hy at them. charged to the
muzzle with musketballs and buck
shot. or course they busted in hot
haste, what there was left of them
10 dust. lie is u civil engineer by
profession, and resides in Jefferson.
lie was arrested in New York,
where no was visiting, by tho mill
tary, at the instance of Gen. Roy.
nolds, military commander in Tex.
as,-thc charge against him being
that he participated in the Jefferson
riots, in which tho notorious G.. W.
Smith lost his life. Our readers are
already familiar with the progress
of the case and his release from mr.
rest. 1t is fortunate for him that he
happened TO be in New York when
arrested, and not at his home in JEFF.
ferson. Had he been in Jefferson,
he would now be pining in dun
geon, TO be taken out finally and
shot. In New York tho military
had to back down from their high.
handed proceedings, else they would
have been squolchcd out by a gcner.
al uprising Of people to sustain the
civil law. The Northern people
know how 10 treat tyranny and its
when brought to bear upon
themselves or in their midst. They
will learn how to appreciate the sit.
lation in the South after awhile,
md then look out The American
,cart is both inst and generous, and
.hcsc qualities will assert themselves
,tter awhile. 1t will do 10 depend
lpon Il Houston Times.]
Capt Pratt, we believe, is native Of
Virginia or Maryland. He came to Texas
n 1851, and remained temporarily in Dali
rs for several months, where he is we'll
nj and favorably remembered by all our
Id citizens. Starting on his homewarj
rip, some time in the fall of 1854, he had
he IN sfortune 10 lose his wife, "a beautiful
accomplished, aud most cstimnblc lady who
lad won the love and esteem of every one
With whom she became ncqutintcd,) who
led very suddenly at GAINESVILLE, Red Riv-
r county. The loss Of his wife was such
heavy blow to the Captain, that he did
lot continue his journey home, but remain
d in Clarksville, or some Of the Northeas-
ern towns of the State, until the wa, broke
ut when he raised company ofartillery,
which he commanded with signal ability
uring the entire war. The writer of this
new Capt. Pratt well during his brief
csidence in Dallas, and always found him
high-toned, honorable gentleman, and
here are many of our old CT items who will
ccord to him the same name.