Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-05-14
WHOLE NO. 2,37l.
A Two Hundred mIIe ridc In Two
DaYA.


Days.
Gallatin Examiner.
Many OF our citizens reneinbe
Tom Milier's old Seiim. lie Is now
twenty-seven years old past. ant
went through the wars. lie hare,
a blue coat To this day, and for over
three years borne his master through
flood and field. Miller was in
Wheeler's Cavalry, and was "A favo-
rite and trusted scout, and the Gen
was constantly sending him out on
enterprises that required the great
est daring aud the coolest courage
and the greatest knowledge of wood.
craft. Tom Miller had all these
points in marked degree, and was
a most valuable aid To the service
He was Wheeler's eyes, for an army
is great big blundering machine
without the faithful scout. MANY
are the tales told of Tom Miller and
Selim, and we will tell one Of them
that we know to be authentic. I'm
the spring of 1862, when Wheeler
lay encamped above McMiunville.
he dispatched Miller. upon a trip
Short Mountain to take a peep Mt
the Yankees about La Vergne. In
Rutherford county, Which is about
half way between Nashville, and
Murireesboro. He wanted to know
about their strength and purposes
with thought of striking blow
Mt them. Miller started at daylight
and crossed south of Short noun
tain. picking his route through the
woods and fields, going past Gaines
Vile and Statesville, crossing the
Lebanon pike near Baird's Mills.
and Stones river at Buchanan's
Mills. He reached La Vergne at
dark, having ridden between 80 and
100 miles. Selim was not at all
wearied with his 200 pound rider
who hitched him out in the bushes
after a cJrn feed, and took TO his
own leet tp carry him around. He
walked the whOlenight with short
nap before day on the ground near
Selim after visiting Il number of
friends who gave "a
large amount of information. All
about was scattered the federal
camps but he evaded them safely.
AT daylight next morning he START
ed on his return and reached Vince
ler's headquarters at sundown with
his budget Of news. The distance
travelled during daylight of two
lays was from $50 10 200 miles, ST.
linn was not hurt a bit, and was
ready next day for another raid.
The route led through mountain
fortress, through woods and fields
many streams. On anoth-
er occasion while scouting in Will
son county, near Gallatin, he was
captured by federal company, be.
ng torn from horse by an over
hanging limb as he was escaping
rom their tolls. Selim was too
smart to be caught by blue coat,
)ut took to his heels and took ref
Ige with some confederate acquaint-
lnces he had met some miles dis
ant, who sent him shortly after
wards TO Wheeler's Headquarters.
Miller had wounded q blue coat
when captured, and was brought
o Gallatin, sent around soon and
and soon was again
stride Of Selim, who was i'm camp
Waiting for him.
There is no end OF the stories the
'Oys tell of Selim's sagacity. lie
Ould scent a yankee far Off lie
,newa confederate equallyas truly.
1t night while his master was on
cOut, after feeding from the corn
'ag, he was turned loose to Craze,
nd when through with that he
would come and lay down close 20
lis rider, and if the least suspicious
oise came to his sharp ears he
you'd nudge the sleeping soldier
With his nose until he aroused him.
After the war, in Gallatin he did
ot like the blue coats who were
tatiOned here. In 1875, long after
hey had left he was stalled one
ny i'm Whiteside's livery stable,
1hen "a party Of Revenue officers
Ome in with their hated blue coats
n. He broke the halter and took
efuge in the back yard. lie was
len hitched again, and again sec
~ them about he broke loose,
ashed through the paled fence, and
lade himself safe at his muster's
ONE in the country. He did not
Ike them. He was born rebel of
le first water.
Tom Miller now lives I'm Ruther-
rd county, and raises cotton. He
aeps Sellm still, and he is still SER
ceable. The other day he took n
n mile Journey with him. And
)w what this old horse don't know
} horse knows. What IL be could
Tx like folks. Like Othello he
'uld tell
'Of many accidents by hood and field
u hair-bredth 'scapes ifhlmminent dead
ly breach"
Who knows but horses can talk
their way? They certainly do
member, and, no doubt, Selim, in
5 old age daily recurs to his event
I experiences during the four
,ars of the Great rebellion.