The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-03-18
ANOTHER STORY ABOUT BROWN

"THAT was a very good story about
me you had in the Cdu," remarked
Grown the other night, as we sat smoking
together.
'.By the way" he continued, "did |
ever tell yOu of shrewd financial opera
ton was engaged in once, near Chat
tanoOga. rennessee?'
He had not.
Another fellow and tried to get up a
corner on a wealthy old planter down
there"
ain cottOn?''
"No. it was gold. We tried to control
the market"
''In Chattanooga
s'No, out back of it about four miles.
We levied very heavy assessment on
him, and came near collecting Il, but
things went against us, and we had to
knock under It was in this wise:
ain the spring of 1863. while at home
on veteran furlough, | suffered from Sc
we're attack of pneumonia. This necessi-
tated nv remaining behind when my
regiment left Tor tine front in Georgia.
hung around the Louisville hospitals a
while, and then drifted down to Chat
tanooga. Here | became acquainted with
curious chap by the name of Wright,
belonging 10 a Wisconsin regiment. lie
was something of an artist, and had de-
serted from his regiment IN order to do
some sketching around Lookout Noun
tain. intending to report to his company
again as soon as he could make it con-
yenieGt to do so. He was detained lon
ger than he expected, however, and hence
my good fortune in meeting him. we
used 10 lounge along the Tennessee XIV
er together good deal, fishing, playing
chuck-a-luck with the boys, and hunting
1aninfS take sketches from
We lived in dog tent up on hillside.
drew rations down town. and did pretty
much as we pleased in all respects. Be
inc quite unwell one day, | remained in
my bunk Late in the afternoon Wright
came home. accompanied by horculean
darkey, whose mouth fairly glittered with
n massive array of ivory.
1--we hunted all over town for this col
ored gentleman remarked Wright, as he
spread himself on his bunk. Sit down
outside there, somewhere, my loyal
friend
".Yis, Massa,' responded the black,
grinning, and perching himselfOn log i'm
the sun.
THE upshot of the matter was that the
darkey was runaway slave. lie had ar
rived in camp that morning, and had stated
to various persons that his master had
S3OOO in gold buried where it was very
handy to get at. and Wright, hearing OF
the circumstance, had hunted through
most of the dav for the auriferous refugee
and had at last secured him. The next
thing was a proposition that we take him
along with u that night and go in quest
of the treasure. 1t is a notorious fact
that nine Southern planters out of ten
who buried money during the war had
one or two darkies present at the obse-
ouies. I'm order to do the digging.)
~ had some conscientious scruples
about going into such business, but
- Wright urged them out of me. His crown
ing conundrums beat me.
Isn't it right 10 steal from the Gov
ernmentg' he impetuously demanded.
81 couldn'tanswtr that in ;he negative
too many hOnored precedents forbade.
49, Well. and if it's right to steal iron
our own Government, isn't it good deal
more right to steal from the enemy's Gov
ernmentg
-. admitted that ii was.
'"'Well. and isn't this nigger's master
fractional part of the Confederate Gov
ernment, and shall we higgle over techni
calities in this whirlwind age, when glo
rious opportunity is presented? LooE
AT the immortal thieves of hiStOry-AleX
ander, Cesar, Titus, COrtez, Pizarro
Did they ever hesitate?
- i agreed to 60.
ii.
"At 10 O'Clock that night. totally un
armed, we sailed forth. We found
canoe on the river shore, and padded u
stream TO the picket line, where ten
porary halt was necessary. There was
most of six men and a corporal on III
river bank, and they had the strictest kin
of orders. We gave them an inkling {
the business. and promising cheerful div
ideuds TO the whole of them in case {
success, requested the privilege of eludin
their Argis-eyed vigilance. After som
talk and discussion the corporal final
marched his squad into the woods a litt
way, to see what was going on over Their
and by this time he found out thatwe ha
slipped past.
"A pleasant voyage of several miles el
sued. the motive power being supplied b
our African friend. While he was thu
occupied, Wright and decided how tn
$1,000 should be divided. Wrigi
was TO have 81, ,499 75; l was TO have 81
499 90. The darkey was TO have
cents. and the balance was to go TO Il
pickets.
"In due course of time our guide su:
gested the advisability of a halt. We hi
the canoe in the bushes, and aft
a considerable journey tn ough field
and bramble patches, arrived in clos
proxiuity to the planters house.
Stood on the summit of an unwooded hill
About twenty-five yards distant from
was rude stable, under the floor of whiC
the money was buried. Directly in frol
of the house. three horses were hitche
and. as we ascertained by reconnoiierin
fhe1 were all saddled and equipped
military style. and were eFidsn6y owns
bv Confederate scouts or guerrillas- III
called Tor hasty consultation. was
favor of pOsrDouing operations untn
more convenient season. on the groui
that Confejerates were certainly in q
house. and that we would be massacred