The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-08-31
An Historical Buffalo Robe.
ONE UPON WHICH sTONEWALL JACKSON IS SAID
TO HAVE LAIN WHEN DYING.
To HAV u lain WHEN DYING.
From the Atlanta Constitutional

TO HAVE LAIN WHEN DYING.
From the Atlanta constitutional
Yes" said wellto-do business gentleman
of Atlanta to a Constitution representative yes
terday, that buffalo robe Is old, worn faded,
ugly and worm eaten, but wouldn't take five
thousand dollars tor it,
Then you are not as sensible as | thought
you were, replied the reporter, as he eyed the
the buffalo robe spread upon the floor
Sensible or not, mean it. | have been
offered 500 and $500 for it repeatedly, and
once had an offer of $780, See" continued
the speaker, pointing to the faded hieroglYph
les on the inside Of the robe, that was paint
ed by Sioux Indian artist 70 years ago, and
for many winters kept warm the body OF one
of the greatest chiefs that tribe ever produced.
The robe was his treasure and for it he fought
and many OF his best braves died."
That's good speech and well delivered,
but it sounds like a snake story" remarked
the cedar shower, as the gentleman paused, out
of breath.
mo, it is no snake story, and l will show
you why value that robe so much. My father
was Georgian, and when Georgia sent her
soldiers to the Mexican war, he shouldered
his gun and went along. From the time he
lett home till the treaty OF peace was signed
he stayed with his regiment and when AZ last
he came home that robe was all he brought
with him. He put great store by it and always
kept it in his room. To his family he told
how he got it. One day during the war, he
was scouting with II detachment ofhis regi-
ment and came upon band OF Indians. A
fight was the result and after Il few volleys the
Indians retreated, or rather those who could,
did So Among the wounded was al old chief,
and when the soldiers came up TO where he
lay ON the battlefield, there was some talk OF
killing him, for he was recognized us the most
heartless. cruel and fearless Indian on the
plains, but my father intertcred, and from his
own canteen, put water between the wounded
chiefs parchcd 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 1t came into
the family"
'And is that why you wouldn't take $500
for it?'
No, not exactly. When the late war came
on enlisted, and when my old father sent
my tricks to the camp he sent that robe. l
did not want to take it because it was 50 cum
bersome, but when he insisted, yielded.
We'll, | went to Virginia, and while trotting
around after Stunewall jackson, lost the robe.
| was greatly worried over my loss. and used
every exertion to recover the old robe. Every
body in my regiment knew OF the robe, its
history and lis loss, ana every one KEPT an
eye open for it. Well, about the time of the
Cross Keys and Port Republic fights l learned
enc day, that my robe was i'll Stonewall Jack
sons tent. l went to sec, and sure enough it
was there. When | entered the tent, or rather
looked into the tent, old Stoncwall 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 him about a week before by an Ala,
bama soldier He offered to surrender it, but
couldn't take it, and told him to keep it-at
the same time giving him It's history-and
would get it after the war if he did not lose 1t
Well, he kept it. At the battle OF Chancel,
louisville he received his deathwound, 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. Alter his death
| claimed the robe-thcn doubly dear to me-
and sent it home. Now, would you take
$4,000 for it? can prove every wcrd OF my
story true"