The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1872-09-03
An Incident Of the War.


During the year 1865 Henderson's scouts
were encamped at Pamela, and parties from
the company were continually securing the
section between Tallahatchie river and
Memphis on the alert to catch the first
signs of a forward movement on the part of
the enemy, and to report such, a state Of
facts to headquarters, SO as to give timely
warning to the gallant band of scouts and
Chalmers buttermillS cavalry to make good
their retreat beyond the banks of the Yal-
labousha, where securely ensconced among
the pine hills, with room for forward
movement to the rear, they could look
down with minds serene and peaceful
breasts and cry out in the fullness of their
joy, What good thing it is to be horse
soldier - During raid Of detachment
of Federal troops in this section, this affair
has its origin. ..lI.
The gallant members of said band of
scouts came TO Mr.. Jones's house about
sundown one evening, and calling the aged
man from his house, asked if there were
any Federals about. He replied that his
little grandson had just come from neigh
boris house, and that there was quito
large detachment of Yankees there, being
about two miles distant. The old gentle
man urged the soldiers to leave, as they
would be captured, but they asked him if
he would not give them supper and some
feed for their horses; that they would hitch
their horses back of the house in the plum
bushes, and approach the house when sup
per was ready. He insisted that it was ex-
tremely dangerous, but that he would will
lingly feed them if they would risk the
danger. When the two Confederates had
retired to the orchard back of the house,
two Federals rode up, and calling Mr..
Jones from the house, asked him if there
were any Confederates about. He told them
the country. They asked him if he could
get supper and feed their horses. He was
in terrible dilemma, with no way to no
tify the Confederates, and, afraid to refuse
the Yankees, he had to tell them yes, and
they hitched their horses in front of the
house and fed them, retaining Mr.. Jones
with them. He saw his negro coming with
his plow horses from the field, and being
afraid the Federals would take them, he
ordered them back, which the negro obey
ed, and the Yankees made no obje ction.
Mr.. Jones' daughter, Mrs. s. l.. Blann,
endeavored to notify the Confederates of
the presence of the Federals, but could not
do SO, and at the same time the two Con-
federates stepped in from the front,
and The two parties met face to face.
Mr.. Jones thought that collision would
take place at once, but, remarkable 10 say,
each put their hands on their arms and
looked sharply at each other without
saying word. Mr.. Jones invited them in
to supper and both parties went in, taking
opposite sides of the table, and with one
hand upon their pistols, they sat facing
each other with fierce, glaring eyes, con-
stantly watching the movement of the
other. Not word was spoken by
either party and the meal vas finished,
neither party eating anything scarcely.
Mr.. Jones sat at the foot of the table and
his daughter, Mrs. Blann, at the head,
each expecting every moment to see dead
ly conflict but both parties arose simulta-
nously from the table, and the Confeder-
ates passed hastily out the back door in
the direction of their horses, and the Fed
crates with equal celebrity passed out to
their horses and the last dying echoes OF
the horses feet, as they moved in opposite
directions, was the last Mr.. Jones ever
heard of either party.
Mr.. Jones was satisfied from a few mo-
ments' observation, that it was not ruse,
by either Confederates or Yankees from
the intense anxiety displayed by each
party, and he can give no account why
the one or the other did not attack and try
to capture the other except that each were
so completely taken with surprise, and not
knowing what circumstances surrounded
the other, that they moved mechanically,
and each waited for the other to attack.
The Federals retreated the next morning
/ and Nc. Jones did not see any Of the com
, mand except the two who attempted tc
eat supper, but who found other guests
! who stole away their appetites.
> EB-An honest thrifty, well-to-do German
, in Connecticut city applied to wealth!
landlord who rents great many houses.-
f "The house is to let, certainly" said th'
= owner, and if upon inquiry, find you Il