The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1880-08-27
DURING THE WAR.
A Matter Evolved from an AnectlOtc Of
Gen. Hancock.
[Atlanta constitutional


The following letter has been sent to
us from Americus. 1t refers to the
capture of General Walker, who is
now the head of the census depart
ment at Washington
AMERICUs, August 1O.-Editors Con-
stitution: see going the rounds of
the press a little anecdote related re-
Gently by Gen. w. S. Hancock, DEM
ocratic nominee for President, about
the capture of General (then coloneD
Francis A. Walker, then acting Adju-
tant General on General Hancock's
staff, at the battle at Ream's station on
the Goth of August, 1864.
I was scout-the only one at the
time, 1 believe-in General G. T. An
derson's brigade at the battle Of Ream's
station. I and two other confederate
soldiers got within one hundred yards
of Federal battery and commenced
sharp-shooting, having just screened
ourselves behind a pine and an old log
cabin. We prevented the Federals
from using the guns of the battery to
shell our forces while charging. Gen.
eral G. T. Anderson's brigade made
three desperate charges and was re-
pulsed each time. A North Carolina
brigade was brought up little before
sundown. They charged and forced
the enemy from the railroad cut. N.Y.
self and two comrades held our posi-
tion and kept up steady fire on the
battery. We did considerable damage
to both men and horses, killing or
wounding all the horses to be seen
about the battery except one, which I
captured afterwards. After the enemy
retreated from the battery l went to it,
got the horse, turned him over to my
two friends, and ran down the railroad
to my command and exchanged my
gun for a pistol. When the firing had
about ceased, went on to the front in
pursuit of the enemy, crossing the road
leading from Ream's station to ttOld
Shops" on the plank road. I came up
with several Federal soldiers, but
being disguised as Federal soldier,
they did not suspicion me. My object
in going forward among them was to
see if they were making a general re-
treat or were going to make a stand.
To make my disguise more complete,
picked up a Federal army gun. I soon
found that was inside the Federal
lines pick ed up package of papers,
which I imagined might be of i'm
portance to my officers, and putting
them in my pocket, moved on. I was
going northeast towards the enemy's
main line, when an officer on horse
back came along from my left and
passed by me to my right. 1t was
nearly dark and 1 could not discover
mis- rank. I ran after, him about q
hundred yards, which placed me out of
earshot of any struggling Federal SOL
diers, and then called to him and said,
"You are going the wrong way"' My
object for this was to delay him until
had come up to him. He replied, stI
am looking tor General Curtis." I
think that was the name he used.
Being close to him by this time he
asked me what L wanted. 1 told him,
in very strong language, that he must
him, and he exclaimed, "Where am
?'' I told him Esa prisoner" and he
asked me to have more respect for him
as he was an officer. I replied that he
must respect my commands as I was
Confederate soldier, and stated that it
would be death to one of us if he did
not surrender and follow my directions.
Without dismounting him or emand-
ing his arms. I started in the dircc-
ton of Iseams's station. About the
time we crossed the road, dropped
the bundle of papers that had found.
I had the muzzle of my gun directed
at the officers head, and fearing to
stoop to pick them up asked a soldier I
Whether he did so or not I do not
know. Neither do I know whether
he was a Federal or Confederate
suppose the latter. In the excitement
of the moment, L moved my prisoner
on. Coming near our lines, I asked
the prisoner to surrender his arms.
He handed me Smith & Wesson pis-
tol and very fine sword. We then
went on to the railroad, where I called
for Lieutenant Jones, Adjutant 9th
Georgia regiment. AS soon as he ap-
peared, l asked the prisoner to dis
mount, and to give his name and rank.
He replied, as he dismounted "I am
Colonel Walker, Adjutant-G General Of
Hancock's staf.'' 1 saw he had a
watch, and told him if he would give
it and his money to me that I would
take care of them for him and return
them to him, as the guards would take
them from him. He replied that he
would as soon trust one rebel as an
other, but said that the sword which
he had given me was not his, and that
he would be greatly obliged if would
have it sent back into the Federal
lines where the owner might get it. I
laugh;ngly replied that I would take it
to General Hancock's headquarters