The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-28
Another Story About Brown.

"That was very good story about me you
had in The CALL" remarked Brown the other
night, as we sat smoking together.
"By the way" be continued, "did | ever
tell YOU of shrewd financial operation was
engaged in once near Chattanooga, Tennes-
seei"
lie never had.
"Another fellow and l tried to get up a
corner on wealthy old planter down there"
SIN cotton?" l asked.
Ono, it was in gold. We tried to control
the market"
ain Chattanooga"
Ono, out back of it about four miles. We
levied very heavy assessment on him, and
came near collecting it, but things went
against US and we had to knock under. 1t
was in this wise:
.In the spring of ga, while at home on
veteran furlough, / suffered from severe
attack of pneumonia. This neccssitated'my
remaining behind when my regiment left
| for the 'front.' in Georgia. | hung around
the Louisville hospitals awhile, and then
drifted down to Chattanooga There / be-
came acquainted with curious chap by the
name of Wright, belonging to Wisconsin
regiment. He was something Of an artist,
and had deserted from bis regiment in order
TO do some sketcbing around Lookout
Mountain, intending TO report to his COM
pany again rs soon as he could
make it convenient to do so. He
was detained longer than he expected,
however, and hence my good for
tune in meeting him. We used to lounge
along the Tennessee river together good
deal, fishing, playing chucka-luck with the
boys, and hunting up good points to take
sketches from. We lived in dog.tent up
on u hillside, drew rations down town, and
did pretty much as we pleased in all re-
spects. Being quite unwell one day re-
manned in my bunk. Late in the afternoon
Wright came home, accompanied by Il her.
culcan darby, whose mouth fairly gIittered
with massive array of ivory.
"Iye hunted all over town for this CO.
lored gentleman remarked Wright, as he
spread himself out on his bunk. Sit down
outside there, somewhere, my loyal frend.'
" Yis, Massa,' responded the black, grin.
ming and. perching himself on log ia the
sun.
"The upshot of the matter was that the
darby was runaway slave. He had ar
rived in camp that morning and had stated
to various persons that his master had IS, 900
in gold buried where it was very handy to
get ut, and Wright, hearing of the crcum-
stance, had hunted through most of the day
for the auriterous refugee, and had at last
secured him. The next thing was promo
stion that we take him along with us that
night and go in quest of the treasure. cit is
notorious fact that nine southern planters
out OF ten who buried money during the
war had one or two darkies present at the
obsequies in order to do the diggng.)
Z" l had some conscientious scruples about
going into such business, but Wright urged
them out Of me. His browning conundrums
beat Enc.
isn't it right to steal from the Govern
ment:' he impetu0usly demanded.
I" couldn't answer that in the negative;
too many honored preeodents forbade.
:" Well and il its rightto steal from our
own Government, isn't it good deal more
right to steal from an enemy's Government
admitted that it was.
"Weli, and isn't this nigger's master
fractional part of the Confederate Govern
neut. and shall we higgle over teehnicalities
ia this whirlWind.age when glorious OPP
portunity il presented9 Look at the i'm
mortal thieves of history-Alexander, Cesar,
Titus. Cortez, Pizarre. Did they ever hest
tatei'
81 agreed to go. ....
cat 10 O'Clock that night, totally unnamed,
we sailed forth. We found 8 canoe on the
river shore, and padded up stream TO the
picket line, where TEMPORARY halt was ne
cessary. There was post of SIX men and a
corporal on the river ban K, aad they had the
strictest kind Of orders. We gave them
an inkling Of our business, and, PROMISING
cheerful dividends to the whole Of them in
case OF success, requested the privilege of
Guiding their argus-eycd vigilance. After
some talk and discussion the corporal finally
marched his squad into the woods little |
way to see what was going on over there,
n BY the time he found out we had slipped |
,sst.
"a pleasant voyage of several miles en-
ued. the motive power being supplied by
ur African friend. While he was thus oc-
upied Wright and 1 decided how the
8 700 should be divided. Wright was to
ave $1,490.75: ( was to have 81, 499 so;
he darby was TO have $O.75, and the bal.
nee WIS to go to the pickets.
In due course OF time our guide sue.
ested the ACCESSIBILITY of halt. We hid
be canoe In the bushes, and after consider.
BILE journey through fields and bramble-
atches arrived In close proximity to the
isnter's house. 1t stood on the summit of
0 Inwooded hill. About TWENTY-FIVE wards
70 nj = n |