Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-10-13
MOSES j. WlCKS
A Texans StOry-Bread Cast upOn
the Waters.


the Waters.
A mans good deeds are not remembered
by the baser sort, nor are they treasured
up with that fidelity employed in perpetu.
adng the memory of reprehensible acts.
The malicious and invidious of our race
are more active In detraction than the
generous and good in awarding Justice to
personal worth and ennobling qualities.
These thoughts are suggested by encoun-
tering in the Gonzales CTexas) hlder, a
recital of facts affecting the conduct of a
citizen of Memphis, which it becomes us
TO reproduce. The author of the narrative,
in the autumn of 1861, commanded in
this city the 18th Arkansas regiment, en-
camped not far from the old Fair Grounds,
northeast of the city. Water was difficult
TO obtain; many soldiers were sick, and
the condition of the regiment was grow
ing steadily worse. A stranger appeared
at the encampment, and the Texan says
of him: "He introduced himself as
Mr.. wIoKs,
and proceeded at once to business. Said
he, 81 don't like your camping place. /
fear il is unhealthy. Your soldiers will
fall sick and be unfit for duty. The pros
pect is there will soon be enough for all to
do. live just across this wood. There
is near me q good camping place and am
pie shelter for the sick. Wood is conve-
nient A small creek runs near, and with
the springs and wells but little distance
away, water is abundant | was not
sufficiently acquainted with the bills of
the Bank of Memphis to know that it
was one of the chief officers of that in
stitution that was speaking with me.
Upon his invitation, took a seat in his
buggy, and went in quest of this new
camping ground. We soon halted IN the
midst of an enclosed grove of stately
oaks. There was an elevated ridge, Just
the place for the line of officers tents, and
in front and at the proper distance
another ridge parallel with it, and of
equal elevation for company tents-be-
tween was a depression-just the thing
for the kitchen line. Hard by and in full
view was Edgewood Church, a stately
building with large room above for pub
lie worship, and basement for Sabbath
schools To the right but a few PAGES
stood framed building used for com
mon school. "These buildings, said nv
friend, ''you can use for hospital pur-
poses. / have two cisterns; your men
are welcome TO one of them. l have at
my house there q followed the direction
and saw a large, plain mansion, within
beautifully Ornamented grounds), a
quantity Of lumber with which / intended
TO inclose my grounds anew. This you
can take 10 make floors in your tents,
there is perhaps enough for all Your
men having nothing but blankets, will
want beds. have two large stacks of
-. fresh hay, one will be enough for my ne
cessities; you may take one of them l
never have TO this day, to my own salts
faction, expressed my gratitude for all
this kindness. ''But my story is only
half finished" continued the Texan.
AN UNEXPECTED REBUFF.
CATER we were comfortably establish
ed in our beautiful and well ordered en-
campment, Mr. Wicks, bethinking him
that the soldires might like green peas,
took US 10 a little field, Of perhaps five
acres, completely enveloped in pea vines,
all in full bearing. He pointed to a tree
just midway the field, and asked me to
see that the soldiers did not go beyond
that tree, but to give them full liberty to
gather at will up to that point. Within a
very few days every pea was gathered
upon half Of the field thus donated, and
am not aware that soldier ever tram
scended these bounds
After so many manifestations of kind
ness to the soldiers under my command; |
took il for granted that / might ask a
personal favor at the hands of one so
generous without being repulsed.
My wife and child were in the country
fifty miles distant. The duties of camp
and hurried preparations to join Gen.
Polk, then at Union City, did not admit
of visit to them. For the little time
that yet remained before meeting the
enemy in deadly conflict, l wished to
have them near me, and applied to Mr..
Wicks for a room in his commodiOus
house. My astonismGnt and disappOint-
ment can hardly be imagined, for instead
of hearty welcome, / received an en-
phatic, but polite ''No, sir" And after
a moment be added: "You are an officer,
and with your ample pay, are able to pro-
cure a room anywhere; | shall reserve all
my room for sick soldiers who have not
the same advantages Instead of being
chagrined at the disappointment, my
heart leaped toward the author of it, and
to this day, the writer and the little rem.
nant of his surviving comrades in arms
bless the name of Moses.J. Wicks.
l never saw my friend but once again,
and that was after Shiloh's bloody fight.
His beautiful suburban home had been
<sold, his family sent South, and he in
command of noble band of young men,
chosen as the body-guard of the com
manding General Mr.. WiCks may have
forgotten all this, and may not thank me
for this notice, if it should ever meet his
eye, but l publish it, in spite of his mod
esty, to get revenge for his refusing me
the room.