Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-05-12
A LONG SWINE.
A Hitherto Unpublished Story of
the War.

Wilmington IN. C.) Reyiew.l
No land has been more fruitful of
heroes or furnished more striking ex-
amples Of lofty patriotism than our
sunny south. But there are many
unrec0rded incidents of the late war
of more thrillingly romantic nature,
perhaps, than any yet known in his
tory, while many a gallant act per-
formed by some humble soldier must
remain forever unknown, because un-
told. A day or two since we learned
Of an incident, in which one of our
own citizens was an actor, which
we think deserving of men
ton, though from the modesty
characteristic of our people we are
prevented from giving his name. The
gentleman in question was a soldier
under General Forrest, and shortly
after the battle of Chickamauga Yves
sent with a detail of picked men TO
gain information concerning the
strength Of the enemy along the two
lines of railroad crossing the Middle
Tennessee. How well he succeeded
is evidenced by the fact that Gen. For
rest acted on the information
brought back, and made one
of the most successful raids
of the war. In the pursuit
of information this gentleman informs
us that he met with many exciting
scenes and passes through dangers at
which he cannot now look back upon
without feelings of horror. We give
one incident as an evidence of how
true in general our soldiers were TO the
cause of the south. After obtaining
the information desired, he started on
his return trip to Forests camp. on
the south bank of the Tennessee river
near the old battle ground of Shiloh
On the last day he was so closely pur-
sued that he was forced to ride sixty
miles almost without halting. The
river was reached just before daybreak
but the expected means of crossing was
absent. With the enemy momentarilv
looked for, and knowing the eimportapce
OF his information, it required only a
moment to decide on taking water in
preference to capture. Hastily dis
robing he patted his faithful horse on
the neck, which seemed to understand
the parting, and bidding his comrades
adieu he boldly plunged into the
stream. 1t was not moment too
soon, for before he was an hundred
yards from the shore his pursuers
were on the spot but they
missed their man, though they report
ed him shoe at the waters edge. AT
that point the distance from bank ia
bank was estimated at about one mile
but not until long after the sun had
risen did he doubt IN the least his
ability to reach the other shore. The
long ride had fatigued him and he
found when nearly quarter OF a mile
| from his destination that hi,
strength was failing. 1t was
then that the thought of home and
loved ones, together with the belief
that his cOuntrys cause might suffer
if he failed, nerved him for the only
real struggle experienced with tht
waves, and it was successful. He had
to be taken to camp after landing
being too weak to stand, but in da,
or two felt none the worse from hii
perilous swim. The distance he esti.
mates at about five miles, while h,
was over four hours in the water Ii
a few days the command started OF
the road, and though rendered fur
Tough of indefinite extension, ho wen
with it,
Il is proper to add here that tn
balance of the scouting party, havin,
refused to take to the water, were al
captured, Our friend was at thr