The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-04-04

Custer's Mark.

II was q horrible scar. Commence
ing at the roots of the hair, just over
the left temple, it ran down across tho
face to the right-hand corner OF The
mouth. The flesh had closed together
in a great ridge, and the nose seemed
to have been shortened half an inch
bv the process of healing. The man
with the scar sang two or three songs,
and then passed his bat around for
pennies.
"Did a blow of ain Iniun's tomahawk
do that 81 he repeated. "No, sir; got
cut down in Old Virginia during the
war, bout the time it looked as if JEFF
Davis was the biggest patriot in the
country"
"You we're in the cavalry ?"
"You bet | was! | smashed up so
many horses that was owing the Con-
federate government $4,000 when 1t
collapsed If she hadn't collapsed, I'd
} been forced into bankruptcy"
He chuckled, and raised his hat so
{ as to reveal the scar in all its hldeous-
ness, and continued
Il don't believe tomahawk could
9 leave a scar like this. 1t takes a good
!, sharp sabre to spoil mans face SO
that he daren't look in the glass or
o have his photograph taken. A Yank
g slashed me, of course bat who do you
a suppose it was You couldn't guess
!. to save your neck, and SO I'll tell you
it was Custer, that long haired, dare
s devil Yankee general, who used to rids
y around with blood in his eyes and an
% extra sabre between his teeth. tie
l. thought he'd done for me when be
n gave me this lick, but he didR't know
E our family"
1T elbow was it p
is at was down at Travillian Station.
le He was riding around with lot of
is cavalry, and our folks got him in
box. Somehow we got around him on
f. ali sides, and we had cavalry, infantry
We and artillery. We wero two to one,
ty had him fairly coopered, and by all
G. decent rules of warfare he ought to
or have hung out the white flag, handed
lie over his sabre and politely said: Boys,
te- you've got the crap pe.vine twist on me,
. and | cave. We expected it; but,
blast hin he didn't do any such thing
I'd, No, sir. He massed his troopers, gave
ne, 'em to understand it was 'hell or home,
I'd, and the whole caooodle Of 'em come
an from dozen hills; our infantry fusi'
ice laded 'em good and strong, and oui
4 s. troopers got the word to charge.
"Durn my buttons, but wasn't 1t
hot fight? We were all mixed bullet
)ic- fying, sabrcs hacking, men yelling
| horses neighing, everybody shsuting
tell and it was the devils dance all around
lily | heard Yank shouting orders as /
mes he was some big gun or other, and
is worked up to him through the smoke
ok It was Custer. l had seen him before
airy and | knew what a fighter he was.
Ich pushed right up to him, gave MY oil
aw. sabre twist and cut, and oil wen
and his head !"
be He looked up with wicked twink
him in his eyes, aud added
and "In horn! rose in my stlrrup
mp and struck at him with force enoug
and TO cut clean down to the saddle, but b
cart parried the blow, leaned over, saw
flash, and the next thing | knew | ha
loc. been in the hospital for two week
the and the surgeons were trying to loo
ain. into nv boots through the sabre CT
hus. across my face. was whole yet
ye." getting over it, and then looked
wife handsome that | was turned over
tor the home guards for the rest of u
10 P' war. Sometimes l feel like suicid
.but and ag'in don't care. | didn't be-
SO y no grudge ag'in Custer for the slas
must but he might justGas well put his chee
late, knife through me as to give me this
euld his mark to lug around. And tina
what ails this old reb, and that's he
feel. IN Y. Sun.