Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1875-05-13
tror tie Huntington Advert,ser.l
TURNING THE TABLES.
An Incident OF the War

There was an incident of the late
war that is rather amusing. There
was family named McComas, that
lived ON the Glyandotte river, in
Lincoln county opposite the mouth OF
Six Mile creek, composed Of old un
Gle Isaac McComas, his wife and three
sons, Jack, jeff or dry hoof,' rs he
is familiarly called, and Isaac. The
cid man Isaac was IN early settler on
the Guyandotte river. and vas very
clever and hosr;table, as all the V:r
giniaEs were. But To my story: Du-
ring the late war, the Rebels made n
Raid down the Guvandotte river and
| finding the boys at home, concluded
they would force them into the Rebel
service: they forced JEFF, or "drv
hoot," as n conscript and started with
him for Dixie, bnt JEFF being of Uni
on proclivities and not having much
notion to fight. left them in T,zewcll
county, made his way hack and rcfu-
geed over into Oiio. He remained
there until sometime in tie winter !;
his brother Jack remaining at home
10 take care of the old folks, who
who would still write to jeff about
home and limiting excursions he oc-
casionaIv took there fell fine snow,
and jeff concluded he would steal
back home and take q deer hunt. So
he started and came over to l5arbours'
vile. and there being regiment OF
Federal troops there. he reported
to the Colonel and told him he wished
to 90 up home to see his old father,
bnt had no arms or ammunition the
Col. furnished him musket and
ammunition on condition that he would
report if any Rebels were in the county
above. So armed and equipped. he
started for home and reached there
safely.
After he rested day or two. the
snow heing fine for hunting, he con-
GUIDED he must have Il deer hunt. -
So one morning he crossed the river
and went ont into the Nine Mile
mountain and had good time. In
| the evening he concluded he would
come in home. So he cautiously ap.
pr .ached the main road leading from
Barboursville to Logan Court House.
rs he had it to cross and was fearful
that he might come upon the Rebel
forces and thev would arrest him rs II
descrter. just before sundown, he
came in sight of the rold in long
strait stretch, so he could see each
way for some distance. Remaining
on watch for sometime, he discovered
man coming down the road from the
direction Of Logan or Dixie. riding
with full saddle.pockets and his feet
stuck through the strrups. Finding
the man WAS alone. jeff thought he
would have some fun he waited un-
/ til the man came opposite. where he
was standing behind n tree, step.
ped ont. leve,rd his musket ut him,
and ordered him to halt; the man
looked at him and started on, he de
mandcd him to halt the second time,
/ if he didn't he would receive the con
tents of his gun. The man asked,
"what will YOU have -
"Dismaat and march up here if
Won want 70 save your life JEFF or.
/ dered.
The man obevoi orders. G;srlouat-
ed and marched up TO jeff and asked
! him what he wanted. Jeh told him
he wanted him to dance the man
sqd he was no dancer, but jeff told
! hirn he had to dance, there was no
excuse So the mau danced for halt
an hour rs hard as he could and the
perspirltion ran in'great drops from
his face. jeff finding that he was
about exhausted, told him he might
sit down on a log close by. which he
willingly did. They then commenced
conversation: the man told him he
was from Dixie, had left for good and
was making his way to the Federal
lines &c. JEFF then felt troubled be
cause he had danced him 50 hard and
tried t. excuse himself The man ask
cd him if he ever dranI ANYTHING.
JEFF told him no, but the fellow in.
sisted that he should 90 down to his
horse and take drink of the bcs,
/ Old Virginia Brandy that ever ran
down a mans throat, that he ha'i a
couple bottles full in his sadd'c-pock.
cts and he would like him just to taste
it. JEFF havin. been ou, in the snow
all dav. was finally prevailed on to
try a drink Of the brandy. 20 he sat
his musket down and they walked
down to the mans horse; he unbuck
led his saddle pockets and carefully
felt in as though he was afraid Of
breaking his bottle, He finally got
hold of the bottle rs jeff thought,
and commenced drawing it out, and
when nearly out he brought n jerk,
at the same time cooking and pre.ent
, Ing a Navy Rovolverinstea ola tex
Ter Of Brandy and said,
"Now dance OF I will bow hole
through YOU
JEFF seeing that he was caught, let
in and made the snow dy, he thought
it was loug time; the sweat drop
ped off him in great drops as big a.
peas and after the fellow thought he
had well paid for making him dance,
he made jeff about face and he noun
ted MS horse and galloped of.
Jeff then went up and got his gun
a saddef and a wiser man, while the
man went on his way rejoicing.
JEFF saws next day there was great
ridges swolled on his shins, similar 10