Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-05-29

depth of about thirty feet. The sudden
disappearance of the Major was noticed,
and a search resulted in finding him
standing on his horse at the bottom of the
well entirely uniDjured. The horse held
an instant by his iore-feet, which gave his
rider an opportunity to release himself
from his saddle and catch the animals
name, and in this way he went down
without injury. and found himself safely
clinging to his horses neck. If the
horse had gone down head foremost, the
Major would have been crushed to death.
He was hauled out by lariat, and found
himself the unexpected hero of hair
breadth escape from an accident scarcely
ever reckoned among the perils of the
battlefield.
Meanwhile, during these engagements
at Ingraham' Mills and at Wyatt, Bell
was plodding his way toward Golfers
vile. He had pass in pencil from
Colonel Hatch, requesting all Federal
troops to allow him to proceed unmo-
lested Hatch had also proposed that he
should ride to Colliersville, but Bell
thought it best to go on foot, fearing that
he might be known by residents along
the road, and that Chalmers would hear
Of him and suspect where he obtained his
horse.
The day was quite pleasant, and Bell
felt considerably elsted by the confident
belief that tie Union prisoners which
Chalmers had now in his power, would
be recaptured before night, and that the
Confederate command would be much
broken and weakened.
He arrived at Collersville at 2 pm.
and reported to Lieut.. Col. Anthony. The
Colonel was delighted to see him, and
commenced totalk over the details oil, the
recent victory which Bell had been so
largely instrumental in securing.
They had been conversing but two or
three minutes, when Bell caught a
glimpse of man passing the window as
though about to enter the room, whom he
instantly recognized as Surgeon Beattie,
of Chalmers command; who, it imme-
diately flashed across his mind, had re-
mained at Colliersville to take charge of
the Confederate wounded.
"There's DIR. Besttie coming in"
whispered Bell, springing up. "He must
not see me-"
Anthony opened door leading into
the next room, and Bell slid through 1t
Just as DR.. Beattie entered. In short
time Anthony opened the door, and said
that the Doctor had taken his leave.
After some conversation, Bell went to
the telegraph Office and sent message
to General Hurlbut. During Chalmers
attack on the place, cannon bal, had
torn away one of the instruments while
in use, and severely injured the opera
tors hand. As soon as the east-bound
train arrived, Bell, having obtained
pass from Anthony, boarded it and went
on to Memphis
He reported to Hurlbut and remained
in Memphis two days, calling once to see
the young lady on Shelby street.
On the third day, Hurlbnt proposed to
him TO take trip to the South. Bell
eagerly embraced this opportunity for
service and adventure.
"There are rumors," said Hurlbut, \
" that troops sent by Johnston from Ne. \
ridian are moving in Northeast Missis-
sippi, to obstruct Sherman as he ad-
vance,. Do you think you can go
down as far as Meridian with safety ?"
"I think / can" said Bell. Whom
shall | report to 2
"If there is danger to Sherman, you
will report to him if possible" said Hurl-
but; "and if you cannot. you may re
port back to me-"
Bell was furnished with necessary
means for the journey, o transportation
pass, and a confidential letter to General
Dodge, at Corinth. He went on board
the frst train, and arrived at Corinth the
same evening
The next morning he reported to Gen.
eral Dodge, and handed him the letter.
The General is a brother to "Gail
Hamilton" and had occasion to know of
Bells many services. In recent letter,
dated No. 20 Nassau street, N. Y, De-
cember %, 1868, General Dodge writes
to Bell:
take great pleasure in stating
that l knew you well during the war as
an efficient scout, and while in my en-
pIoy you were of great service in that
line of duty.
Yours, respectfully, G. NJ. DODGE,
Late Msj Gen. U. 5. A.
The following is an extract from re
cent letter written by General Hatch,
who is mentioned in the present sketch:
New ORLEANS. La. Jan. 10, 1867.
General U. S. Grant, commanding q.
S. Army-# . 1t gives me great plea
,ure to present the bearer, c, s, Bell, to
your favorable notice as a very efficient
soldier and daring scout during the war.
EDWARD HATCH,
Brevet Maj. Gen. US. A.
These and similar letters, which have
been interspersed through these sketches,
the testimony of nearly every
General with whom Bell served, are given
not so much because they are necessary
10 the interest of the narrative, as to fur
nish the reader, as far as possible, with
he evidence of the truth Of Bells his
tory,
General Dodge, after delay Of several
hours, finally obtained an excellent horse
for Bell, which he mounted snd rode to
The Tishimingo Hotel, near the depot.
he had obtained some Northern papers
and also miscellaneous assortment of
officers buttons, gold lace. quinine, NOR
mime and percussion.caps. These he