The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-04-19
lFOr the ADVANCED
INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES
OF THE LATE VAR. r.,

INCIDENTS AND ANECDOTES
OF THE LATE VAR. r.,
FROM zHB DIARY ora H1eHPR1HAzD
I g $IN TH1REAR RANK. -.s>.,
:. r. No. ii ~
"A GOOD SOLDIER CAPTURED BY AFFAIR
LADY.
w. S. Painter, was good soldier,
always to be found in the front rank
ready for duty as we'll as his regular
rations. He was never heard to grum-
Bile or complain as some did when call
ed upon to perform a hard or perilous
task: ga Thisdisposition won q warm
approval from our Officers, who often
entrusted to him the command of some
scouting parties, and picket post when
considered important to hold, and his
courage never failed him in the great
est hour of trial. 1 have known him to
try to sing patriotic songs all through
the night while we were peing drenched
with cold winter rain pouring down
upon us in torrents when he had Meth
er voice nor ear for music and when it
sounded like the noise of u file upon a
saw. General Roda had an irregular
force of about 500 men which operated
in northern Alabama and n. E. Miss.
issippi mostly near the Tennessee River
not far from Tuscumbia City. With
these he had made successful raids on
the corralls of horses, mules and cattle
near Corinth, when Genl. Dodge had
command Of the post in 1868. The lat
ter had tried several plans to punish
these Guerrillas, 1T mostly failed to in.
flict any serious loss on them. At one
time we were sent out in small squads
under command of the most daring of
our company irrespective of rank, each
squad taking a separate road and at a
certain distance they were to picket OF
watch the road for five days and nights
and then report. W. S. Painter was
placed in command of ten men and sent
out on a road not much used, about &c
miles, and after carefully guarding for
days we got out of rations and per-
suaded our commander to look for
something to eat. We had seen moth
ing in all this time. Not soul had
come in sight until just rs he was about
ready to start, Il handsome young Lady
came riding up from the direction of
our camp on a fine horse. SIZE halted
and talked freely with us, and when we
inquired for something to eat, she said
she could take us to where we could
find plenty only Il short distance away.
This was good news and our command.
er concluded to go and get it for US,
While we were to stay and watch oul
post. The young lady seemed to bright.
ell up ut this, and the two rode away in
the setting sun, to all appearances well
pleased with the company. But after
riding several miles our soldier found
himself suddenly led into Il trap, sur.
rounded by over Il hundred rebles and
made a prisoner Of war. The lady kept
her word though, and prepared Il splen.
did supper for her prisoner which she
urged him to eat, but he could not, sc
badly WAS he overwhelmed at his cap.
ture. A strong detachment was sent
out as soon as it was dark to bring us
in to supper, but we declined the invi.
tation. We had our suspicious aroused
and were looking for such an invita-.
tion and had changed our position, and
thus, when they closed in on our empty
post. We made good our escape
While apriSoner in the hands of his cap
tors, Painter was treated we'll, even
with kindness, but as soon as he was
turned over with other prisoners and
sent on to Richmond, he was stripped
OF nearly all clothing and forced tt
march hundreds of miles barefooteC
over burning hot stony roads until his
feet were burned into 4 crisp, while the
merciless guards pushed him on ut the
point Of the bayonet. He would ruiz
Oh his hands and knees to keep out OF
their reach and rest the sOles of his
burned feet. He related this to us OF
his escape from Libby Prison. He ha(
nine wounds received by the thrust O.
the bayonet from the guard that tool
him to Richmond in the legs and back
These had not all healed over when he
returned to us about five months after
his capture. On his march to Rich
mond Il young man, fellow prisoner
gave out entirely and was placed on :
horse behind reble guard who fell he
hind and shot the prisoner, claiming
that he had tried to escape, which O.
course was impossible. Mr.. P;.inte,
escaped by assuming the name and reg
iment of a dead fellow-prisoner and ex
changing clothing, thus getting ou1
sooner than he would upon parol in hi:
OWN name.
HIS SECOND CAPTURE.
He had been back to the compan,
but a short time and had declared Ii,
never would give up to be a prisoner a
live again, when, while on picket il
Arkansas, with p others, they were
surrounded by 105 of the famous Bill
Anderson's gang Of guerrillas and, il
4 hand to hand encounter, in the dark
he was overpowered 10y brute force ant
knocked down, his arms wrenched from
his hands and tied down. So desper
ate did he fight and others with him
who were wounded and captured will
him on this occasion, that Bill Ander
son released them the next day and sen
them back to us under Il flag of truce
and Gen. Buford exchanged Of An
derson's men for them. Our hero hat
thirteen different holes through his GOA
on this occasion, but was not seriousl!
wounded. n. Y. Med.