American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-11-30
VOL. XXI.


| which buyers and sellers made terms.
was known, among the soldiers, as Il
Cotton Buyers Exchange"
AS there was considerable cOmpetitiC
among the purchasers, Watson was di
appointed in not meeting the planter
had come so far to see.
He looked at his pass. There it w:
explicitly specified that he might go q;
far as the Cavalry picket" But there W;
no picket guard there. McCauley live
but two miles beyond the bridge. 1t wa
/ necessary that he should see him, as theI
was much to be made by the purchase I
this mans cotton.
He rode upon the bridge. All was gu
ct. There were no indications that an
party of the enemy were within miles {
siWho knows" thought Watson.-''bu
the picket has been extended, I'll see.
And he ventured beyond the bridge, an
some distance into the swamp.
Hang it," he exclaimed he sank hi
spur into the flank of his horse-''picket
or no picket, I'm now outside the fedora
lines, and 1 must see McCauley,-so herr
goes,' and galloping through the creel
bottom, he tried tojustify himself. for thi
! constructive disObedience of Orders-by
saying that he had not yet reached thu
picket guard.
As he rode through the bottom, Watson
examined, carefully, the path, to see i
any fresh horse tracks were to be seen
There were none.
This satisfied him that no guerrillas had
approached the bridge, since the cavalry
guards had been last there. He, therefore,
thought he ran no great risk in pushing
on to the planters house.
As was his habit, however, he had his
reyOlyers in readiness, and kept a sharp
lookout about him, as he rode through
the woods.
The Doctor had reached within sight of
the clearing Of the plantation he was in
search of, when, in passing through a
close thicket of second growth, he was
startled by the sudden rustling of the
dried leaves that strewed the ground.
Checking his horse for moment, he
bard, and listened. Thinking it mighI
have been only the leaping of a frightened
rabbit, he was in the act of moving for
ward, when, suddenly, a rifle shot close
at hand, burst on his ear, and his horse
fell dead beneath him.
Instantly he found himself surrounded
by party Of confederate soldiers, and a
half-scOre revolver muZZles staring him
in the face.
Watson's first impulse was to empty
his revolvers upon his assailants, but a
second thought told him better. True, he
might kill one or more of them, but what
good could result from that-the next
mOmcuC MS DOuy WouIu NC Iluuicu Will
ssHa! ali, You thieving Yankee
Drop your shooting irons, or We'll cool
your carcass for you," shouted fellow
who seemed to be the leader of the But
ternuts. ''Throw down.your guns at once.
There's no use, old fellow, we're to many
for you"
the better part of valor, just then, and
yielded.
ssWell, boys" said he; ''I'm your pris-
oner, but L don't think you give me
good show,-a dozen of you against one
poor fellow"
That's SO, old chap" goodnaturedly
answered one of the confederates. ''We
did get little the start of you' that's a
s'I've been a prisoner twice before"
said Watson, wishing to propitiate their
good will. 'sand faint SO bad after all, for
The boys treated me well enough then,
and I've no doubt you'll do the same"
Don't know about thai old fellow
but reckon this is the third and last time
you'll be prisoner among us.-fOr we've
orders to hang all SIGH as you"
81 hope not so bad as that. my friends"
the doctor. But what do you
intend to do with me now?" said he as he
stepped away from the body of his horse.
80! we won't hang you 'soso, Yank,
but come along-this way. Wen take you
to the lieutenant"
And disarming him, they surrounded
their prisoner, and ,Onducted him some
half q mile into the swamp, where he
found camp of about fifty cavalrymen.
Here he was introduced to the officer in
command of the party as ''a Yankee cot |
,on buyer they had just captured.
The lieutenant was Young man, wear |
ng the gray uniform of the regular con-
ederate army. But his men were all
lressed in the shabby, butternut, home |
,pun of Euerrillas. In fact they were a |
portion OF the command of the guerrilla |
thief Roddie-One of Forests follow |
RS.
The officer regarded Watson with an
OF severity, and demanded, IN
10 very gentle terms: "Who are you?
md what are you doing outside the Yam
zee lines ~
knowing that it would be useless to at
,empt to deceive, the doctor frankly ac-
that he was what his men had
and when arrested by them, was
IN his way to the next plantation to make /
! purchase of cotton.
"If you are Yankee cotton buyer, and
,ame here to get McCauley's crop, l reck-
IN you didn't come empty handed. Have
you any greenbacksT'
81 have few" replied the Doctor.
"Well, hand them over old fellow. 1
they'll be safer with me, you know. My
elbows are great scamps and might rob
Tou.'
Watson drew from his breast pocket
package containing several thousand dol
airs and passed it over to the lieutenant,-I
It the same time thanking him for what he
pretended to think were the guerrillas
rood intentions.
He then drew forth his watch, tender
mo- ii to the officer with a request to take
charge of th,t also for him for the Doc
or had no doubt he would be robbed of
hat, as well as of his money.
But to his surprise-he was told to re-
urn the watch to his pocket.
81 am no thief, M. Yank, If have
aiken your money, that is lawful capture;
but your watch and clothes 1 have no
claim to-"
''Thank you, Lieutenant" said the Doc
or, as he returned the time-piece t. his
pocket. snow, my friend, will you en-
tighten me with regard to your intentions
20 me.'
Eyes sir, il you are DESTROYS to know. 1
was ordered to scout i'm the vicinity of the
7 ankee lines, to capture just such fellows
Is you, who are buying up our cotton. And
my orders are either to hang or shoot you.
Now, old fellow, you can take your choice.
Will you be choked to death with grape
vine or would you prefer to die Ike
,oldier?''
swell, to tell the truth Lieutenant. just
low, I'd rather not die at all"-said Wat
ION with Door attempt at righteousness.
: Hanging is the death of felon, that you
<now am not;-and death by shooting is
by no means agreeable"
Z" Well, sir. you will have but one hour,
n which to make your choice for my
orders are imperative. Its an unpleasant
Iuty sir, but 1t must be done. You, your