The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-09

A great many interesting incidents
occurred in this county during the late
war, no doubt, bus We know of none
more thrilling than one in which Mr..
Thomas G. Walker, who lives about four
miles from Columbia, acted a prOmi-
nent part. 1t was in the spring of 1865,
only short while before the surrender
of all the Confederate armies. Mr..
Walkers son and nephews were all away
in the Southern Army, and he Was at
home with his wife and several daugh-
tiers, the oldest of whom, now the wife of
Elias Armstrong, was then about seyen-
teen years old, and beautiful, lovely and
spirited then as she is handsome now.
An Indiana regiment was camped at
Columbia, and large number of them
honOrably discharged. They did not go
back to their homes Immediately, but
fingered here, and roamed all over the
county, Tobbing and plundering helpless
women and children, of jewelry and ev-
cry other valuable thing they could
find. Mr.. Walker learning that these
marauders had robbed the houses of sew
eral of his neighbOrs, Mr.. Fulton, Mrs.
A. o. z. Nicholson and others, came to
! town and procured permission from the
| commandment of the post, Col. Daniel j..
! Mccoy, whom our citizens pronounce a
| gentleman. Mr.. Walker had two shot
guns, and finding some minnie cartridges
| III TIC lOdu9 hO lnOllluON LAOII 1hbO
shot cartridges. One evening, seven
! teen of these eX soldiers came to Mr..
! Walkers and set about pillaging the
/ premises. Mr.. Walker threatened to
| shoot them, and they finally lett. About
| eleven o'clock the same night, they
! came back and started for the beegums.
| They had to pass under tree in which
were some fat turkeys, and one old COB
Ter made fuss. Immedi ately the ras-
| Gals commenced shooting them, and soon
| killed them all. Mr.. Walker went up
stairs and commenced shooting a little
| himself, out OF window. His first shot
killed one big fellow outright, and then
| the remaining sixteen opened up a ter
rife fire upon him and his brave daugh-
| ter, now Mrs. Armstrong, who stood by
| his side and urged him to fire the first
| shot. She loaded the guns and he fred.
| 1t was, an unequal fight, but he kept it
up until he wounded two others, when
! they retreated. The balls passed through
| the upper part of the house, and it is a
wonder that some of them were not kill
| ed. Next morning he went to town and
! reported to Col Mccoy, who told him
z he had good notion to take his gnnS
/ away from him because he had not kill
| ed more OF the robbers. The dead sol
| der was buried temporarily near where
! Alex. Walker now lives. but was after
| wards taken no ana buried in Rose Hill
! Cemetery, and finally taken to Murrrees-
| bnro. Mr.. Walker did not sleep any
/ more for several nights, fearing that the
/ soldiers would return and burn his
/ house down aud murder his wife and
/ children. But they did not come, and
indeed they ceased their maraudings af-
| ter that. Wlen we take into consider
/ alton the surroundings, we think Mr.
Walkers fight against seventeen s---
soldiers, one OF the h-a--- ---lIleO
/ war II vest things OF the
.Ie said he would have giveI
1 worlds for Col. Dunk Cooper's squad tC
have come to his rescue about that time
He thinks the soldiers were led by col
Ored manlnamed Joe Hammer.