San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-09-07
s..,svall Jackson's Deathbed.

syas1 said wel'to'do pusihess gen
n Atlanta to Constitution
p'u Dassntative yesterday, shat buffalo
I'p II old, worn, faded, ugly and
TOW eaten, but wouldn't take $4,000
l@it.' oon,;,,,o >. 7
.,onobt YOU were," replied the report
~ ' as he eyed the buffalo robe spread
" sensible or not, I mean it. I have
ham offered two hundred dollars
~ 4 repeatedly, and once had an Of
~, Of five hundred. "See,' continued
.hs speaker, pointing to the faded bie-
arlvnbics on the inside of the robe,
chat was painted by a Sioux Indian
artist seventy years ago, and for many
enters kept warm the body of one of
.ho greatest chiefs that tribe ever pro-
anoed That robe was his treasure,
and for it he fought and many OF his
HUI IVA -
best braves died."
4Tbat's good speech and well de-
rvored but it sounds like snake story"
unmarked the cedar shower, as the gen.
teman paused, out OF breath.
aNo. it is 10 snake story and will
show you why Ivalue that robe SO much
nv father was O. Georgian, and when
Georgje sent her soldiers to the Next
can var he shouldered his gun and
went along. From the time he left
home till the treaty of peace was signed
he staid with his regiment and when at
last he came home that robe was all
be brought with him. He put great
store by it, and always kept it in his
room. To his family he told how he
gotit. One day during the war he was
scouting with detachment of his regi.
ment and came upon band of Indians.
A fight was the result, and after q few
yolleys the Indians retreated, or rather
those who could did so. Among the
wounded was an old chief, and when the
soldiers came up to where he lay on the
battlefield there was some talk Of kill
ing him, for he was recognized as the
most heartless, cruel and fearless In
dian on the plains, but my father inter-
fered, and from his own canteen put
water between the wounded chiefs
parched lips. But his wounds were
. mortal, and soon all knew that the cruel,
heartless chief was dying. just before
death he beckoned my father to his
side and by signs gave HIM that
robe. That is how it came into the
family.
"And that is why you wouldn't take
$500 for it?"
"No, not exactly. When the late
war came on I enlisted, and when my
old father sent my tricks to the camp
he sent that robe. I did not want to
take it because it was SO cumbersome,
but when he insisted T yielded. Well,
went to Virginia, and while trotting
around after Stonewall Jackson, lost
the robe. was greatly worried over
my loss, and used every exertion to re-
cover the old robe. Everybody in my
regiment knew OF the robe, its history
and its loss, and every one kept an eye
open for it. Well, about the time Of
the Gross Keys and Port Republic
fights, learned one day that my robe
was in Stonewall Jackson's tent. [
went to see, aad sure enough it was
there. When L entered the tent, or
rather looked into the tent, old Stone
wall was lying upon the robe. Finally
mustered courage to tell him of my
loss. He heard my story with patience,
and then said that the robe had been
brought to him about week before by
an Alabama soldier. He offered to
surrender it, but couldn't take it, dan
told him to keep it-at the same time
giving him its history-and l,
would get it after the war if he did not
lose it. Well, he kept it. At the bat
tie of Charlottesville he received his
death wound, and when he died he
died on that robe, and believe some OF
that red which looks like paint is
some of the hero's blood. After his
death 1 claimed the robe-then doubly
dear to me-and sent it home. Now,
would you take $500 for it? I can
prove every word of my story is true
l,,orfaor EohIpS