The Columbus journal., 1878-12-25
For the JOURNAL.
A Remini~cence of the War.

transpired, which did not get into
the reports of the officers of the de-
partmcnt. In an Iowa regiment,
which was in that department, there
were many fine, dsshing boys, who,
when opportunity presented, did a
little scouting and fighting on their
own account. OF these, "Slem."
Ewing, one Sunday morning, i'm
company with five other soldiers,
concluded TO make tour of obser-
walton, and therefore struck off into
the country back of Helena TO as
certain if there was anything better
TO eat. After riding until noon they
brought up at the house Of a farmer
and preacher, of the hard-shell Bap-
fist persuasion, and after some par
leying persuaded the clerical planter
to prepare dinner for themselves
and horses. "Slem." noticed that
while at first the old gentleman was
10th TO comply, he at last very read
lily assented to their request, and
that there appeared TO be a studied
effort on the old mans part, aided
by two young girls, to lengrhen out
the time in preparing dinner. How
ever, dinner was finally announced
and five of the boys sat down to a
meal they considered sumptuous,
leaving one as guard. While these
five were eating, the guard discov-
cred that the two young ladies were
also on guard, and were intently
watching in the direction of the
heavy woods off to the south nearly
a mile away. The soldier guard,
calling TO a venerable darkey, asked
why the girls were so intently
watching the woods to the south.
His answer was
"Fore dc Lord, massa, dere's
camp of Cornfeds down dab, in dat
woods, dere is, an lot O. de capens
is goiu' to be hah fur dere dinnahs,
dis da, dey is, sure"
This was a feature Of the case TO
be considered at once. About this
time the boys who were at dinner
came forth and were apprised of the
probabilities of a brush with the enc
my if they tarried there any length of
time. While talking about the mat
ter,they noticed some men on horse
back enter the lane three fourths
of a mile away. The BOYS tight
cned girthS, examined their arms.
led out their horses, keeping some
out-buildings between themselves
and the party approaching, while
the girls, induced, no doubt, by very
mischief, asked the boys 10 stay and
not tear themselves away. This
called attention to the ladies, who
during the hurry of the last few
moments had been forgotten, and it
was noticed that they were beckon-
ing TO the party approaching, with
an eagerness indicating that they
had an interest in their early ar
rival.
"Slem." cautioned the boys TO be
ready for a race, stating, that ii
possible, he desired to capture the
whole party. To this end he pro-
posed 10 wait until the Rebs were
sufficiently near. SO that they would
follow them TO the heavy timber TO
tic north, where he thought, lie and
the boys might, by dividing their |
little force, secure the capture of
the entire party. When they were |
within four or five hundred yards. /
4" Slem." and his comrades rode out
into the lane, whereupon almost in-
stantly, shots were exchanged. The |
boys did not wait TO repeat or
answer any further cOurtesieS, but |
bidding the ladies adieu, and ex-
pressing sorrow at leaving so alb |
ruptly, they whirled down toward |
The woods, hotly pursued by the |
enemy. When the boys were COW
cred i'm the woods, the Rebs checked /
UP and were careful to stay beyond |
what they suspected rifie-range of /
the timber.
After waiting sometime for some |
thing TO turn up, the enemy turned /
back toward the house, and the boys
struck back toward camp. Ewing
felt disappointed that no opportu-
nifty had presented TO capture the
party who had so hotly pursued |
them, and as he and his comrades
started toward their camp and had /
gained an eminence TO the east and 1
north of the planters house, he dis
covered that the party of Rebel
officers had repaired 30 the house,
and after placing their horses in the
stable, they all disappeared into the
house. This suggested to the boys,
that they now might capture the
entire party.
After waiting for awhile to give
them time to cook a meal, " Slem."
led his boys TO point directly east
of the house and in the rear of il.
Here four men were left TO guard
the horses, aud take them TO camp,
in the event that Slem." and his
comrade did not return; Ewing and
one of the boys started across the
field for the house, some three hun
4