American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-11-30
AMONG THE GUERRILLAs.

King. ". Y. Observer.
! AMONG THE GUERRILLAS.
surgeon Watson was cotton buyer
1857 He had been regular army SUI
geon. and was with General Taylor in ii
Mexican campaign. Hence he had muc
experience as military surgeon. He ha
long left the army when the rebellio
broke out. But In the summer Of 1856
heentered volunteer regiment as surgeon
Being under the command of q striplin
I of . colonel, who showed too much dispt
sifion to interfere with what the docto
considered hts own prerogatives, he ter
dered his resignation, and retired fror
the army.
But he could not be contented at home
when he knew that his services were re
quired in the field.
In the autumn OF 1862, the post of Cor
NTH, Miss, then in possession of fedora
troops, was attacked by large confed
crate force. under Van Dorm and Price
A desperate struggle ensued. which re
suited i'm the defeat of the enemy. NAM
wounded confederate as well as fedora
soldiers, crowded the hospitals, and Wat
son fastened to Corinth and offered hi
services. They were gladly accepted.
But after the wounded were made com
fortable,-all The important operations
had been completed, and the hospital
were in smooth, running order, the Doc
tor was ready to return to the North.
At this time, had accumulated upon thu
hands of General ROsecrans, several thou
sand refugee negroes,-then termed con
trabands; and Surgeon Watson was re
quested to take charge of them for a few
weeks.
During the time he was in charge o.
these cOntrabands, he gathered much in
formation with regard to the great staple
of the southland this information led
him to become Cotton Buyer.
This was regarded as a very dangerous
business, especially within the confede.
rate lines. But the profits were so great
ard the chances to make fortunes, in q
few successful operations, were SO much
in favor of the fearless buyer, that men
were found, willing to run all risks-oi
capture. imprisonment, and even death,
| In the prosecution of this exciting bust
ness.
The confederate authorities were espe-
cially severe onan persons captured while
engaged in this traffic. Orders had been
issued by JEFF Davis and his subordinates,
to shoot and hang northern men suspected
Of entering the lines, in the capacity of
cotton buyers while southern citizens
were forbidden to sell the staple, save to
southern agents.
The object of these orders. was not
only to prevent cotton from finding its
way to northern markets, but to secure it
all for their friends, the British blockade
runners.
But human nature is the same, whether
in the bosom of southern chivalry, on the
breasts of money-making Yankees. And
as greenbacks were regarded more relia-
BILE than Southern bonds, or Confederate
grey-backs-the planters were only too
glad to deal with the Yankee cotton buy
orc for tho former
Special revenue permits were sold by
government AGENTS to the adventurous
buyers; and military officers having local
Jurisdiction, extorted heavily sort of
black mail, for icenses-as the orders
usually read: 'sfor secret service MONEY.
subject to order of the general command
ing''@which s'secret service" was strong
ly suspected to be in the trousers pocket
Of the commanding officers.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks, and
extra extortionate freights over govern
ment rail- Dads, sops to underlings, ETC.,
the profits were SO great, that, as l have
already said, there were brave and Money
loving men, who were willing to run all
risks, to obtain this much coveted staple.
1t always appeared to Watson, as
singular policy on the part Of the govern
ment and its officials, that instead of en-
couraging the obtaining and forwarding
of cotton to the North, where it was just
then 10 much needed-they should throw
SO many taxes and other obstacles in the
way Of these adventures, who run so
great risks, to hunt up and purchase it.
Tbs Doctor made COrinth his "base
Of operations" and proved very sue
cessfal buyer.
Armed with revenue permits, local IL
cense, provost marshal permits, headquar-
ter passes, and all the necessary parapher-
MALTA of red tape, he was continually OF
hrp iaif fhn ia nd
outer circle of picket stations, where
planters, having cotton to sell, would
meet him and contract their crops; or
having come with wagons loaded with
the staple, would deliver it into his own
wae ons, on the spot. They were not per-
mitted to enfer our lines. If supplies,
SUCH e. our suffers could furnish, were
required by the people bringing in cot
ton, a special permit was necessary, and
the articles and quantities In each case
were specified.
Apound, or one yard over the stipulat-
ed amount, mentioned in the Provost
Marshars permit, would subject the cot
ton buyer to severe penalties, and expul-
sion froN the lines.
Alarge pile of cotton bales had accu-
INFLATED in the public square of Corinth,
besides much that had been shipped to
Memphis, the result OF the Doctors pur-
chases. .t.
Many Of these hales had been obtained
by solitary trips into the lines of the en-
envy. where guerillas and other troops,
were continually on the scout for cotton
buyers.
Generally the planters, DESTROYS of sell
ling t1Ieif cotton to the best advantage,
would give Information, which would save
him from capture; they would sometimes
protect the buyers when pursued by guer-
hllas, or hide them safely till The danger
was past.
Sometimes Watson owed his safety to
his revolver, and the speed of his horse.
Cotton buyers were mounted on the most
reliable animals to be bought for money.
One day, it was in December, the Doc
tor roile out to the Tuscumbia creek.
This was some eight miles from Corinth :;
and was one ofthe stations ofthe advanced
pickets. 1t was cavalry station. Be
yOnd this point the country was occasion
ally secured by guerrilla and Confeder-
ate cavalry.
On this occasion Watson's pass speci-
fed permit to Z" go as far as the cavalry
picket at Tuscumbia creek" But from
some cause or other, the officer, whose
duty 1t was to station the pickets, had ne
elected to post the usual guard at the
bridge.
lie had ridden to this point to meet a
Colonel McCauley, resident planter,
whose crop he had partially bargained for.
McCauley was not there. as agreed upon,
deeming it not safe to cross
the creek,-into the Union lines, in the
absence of the usual guard; and know