Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-01-14
From the Banner OF the South and Plant
prS' Journal,
A COURIER'S SCRAPE.
BY c. o. GODFREY.

IL was udrh, TdIlly HlSuti ndN
just entered my tent, when the SER
geant of the guard came and said that
General Hampton wanted me. |
knew that ii must be important bus
iness that would make Wade Hamp-
ton call man out of his tent such
night as this. The sergeant said that
the General seemed agitated. On
reaching the tent the General dis
missed the servant, and we were
alone.
"Sit down, Pete. l have import
ant business that must be transacted
Immediately. 1t Is an undertaking
of great danger-danger but knew
that could depend upon YOU"
"Of course you can, General" an
swered I.
~ knew it, Pete" answered he,
" and that is the reason l sent for
you. The fact is, there are some dis
patches that must be at D. by to
morrow night. The distance is fifty
miles, and is through the lines of the
enemy. l tell you plainly, that there
is nine chances out of ten that you
will be either killed or captured, so
you can now decide"
know Pete Veidbinger to shirk from
anything that pertained to the good
of his country" ?"
No, Pete, never did," answered
he, grasping me by the hand
This was one of the proudest mo-
ments of my life. To be grasped by
the hand by Wade Hampton /
would not have exchanged places
with the richest man in the COnfed-
crate States. With such men as the
immortal Lee, Jackson, Johnston,
Beauregard and Hampton, 1t is not
strange that the war for the indepen-
dence of the Confederate States of
America should astonish the whole
| world!
Well, here are the dispatches.
y Iou must start in an hour. May you
return In safety" and taking the dis
patches, left the tent. Getting my
six-shooter and rifle, fixed my sad
die on my horse, and giving the coun-
ter-sign, | was outside the Confeder-
ate line.
| made the first twenty miles of
my journey without meeting with
any adventure. / was now in the
lines of the enemy. | determined to
stop at the house of Bill Reilly. Bill
had professed to ,have our cause at
heart; but did not side openly with
either party. expected to get fresh
horse here. The house seemed quiet
as | dismounted, 50 / Knocked at the
door, which, after being hailed, was
opened by himself
"Why, Is that you, Pete?" exclaim-
ed Bill.
Yes, here / am" answered I.
l wish to rest for little time,
and also get fresh horse"
"All right" said Bill, Sand in the
meanwhile, will send John (his som
out to keep watch"
After seeing that my horse was
properly housed, re-entered the
room. had first seated myself when
John entered the room pale As death:
"The Yankees! the Yankees :"
was all he could say.
How near are they ." asked I.
about IL quarter of a mile from
i here"
"Qn,ck, in the loft !" shouted Bill,
and he pushed me toward ladder |
ascended, and found myself in "a kind
OF lott. The house consisted of two
rooms below, and the loft extending
the whole length of the house. The
floor of the loft was covered with
loose boards; | hadn't been in the
loft long before there came a thunder
ing rap at the door.
"Who is there ~ inquired Bill.
"Open and you will see," was the
answer.
Bill opened the door, and seven
Yankees entered the room. They
seated themselves around the fire
without any ceremony. In my haste
to get good look Mt them, | stepped
on loose board, and was instantly
precipitated in the room below. All
was Instantly a scene of confusion :
but one, quicker than the rest, pulled
out his pistol and fired at me, but
the shot missed me. and gaining my
feet, / drew my six shooter and fired.
The man that had fired at me dropped
dead. Firing my other barrels, i
rushed out the door, and scizing one
OF the enemies horses. | reached
D In safety. | learned aftcrwar,l
that | had killed two and wounded
two of the enemy.