Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-08-09
TALKs OF WAR TINES.
why = Federal Colonel Wasn't
Shot Out Of a Confederate
CannonAA Man Who
Ate 3a2 Pies.
Loul.rllls CommerciaI.

Three noble heroes of the late wal
met night before last, and helda little
reunion. all BY themselves. The three
noble heroes were Major Ed Hughes
Colonel Richard Watts sad Captain
Eli Marks. Many were the thrilling
stories told OF individual adventures
with che enemy during the mighty
conflict. Colonel Watts led of with
blood curdhng tale Of his narrow
escape from horrible fate,
1t was Just before the battle Of
Shiloh" said the colonel, when l
was engaged carrying dispatches from
our division to another located about
hundred miles south of us. Every
precaution had been taken to head
of all communication, and the sreat
est care had to be exercised in keep
ing dispatches and the like secreted,
so that in case OF the carrier being
captured nothing of tell tale nature
could be found upon him. When /
entered the scouting service | had four
of my front teeth Knocked out and had
them replaced by false ones, These
were followed out behind and ad
mitte6 q good sized message being
secreted therein.
"On the trip that started out to
tell about had my dispatch secreted
as usual, and was riding along peace
fully in the guise Of a farmer going to
the mill, when | was suddenly sur
prised by the enemy. | pretended to
be very much enraged at them making
me their prisoner, but there was no
getting out of it, for they had kinder
dropped on me. They proceeded to
search me, and compelled me to take
off every stitch OF clothing. These
they ripped up into ribbons, but OF
course they found nothing, and was
beginning to feel safe, when, standing
before them Unexpectedly nude, one
ofthe fellows stepped ups to me, and
shaping me on the back, said: Amt
be fat2 He'd make good beef The
slap was so vigorous and unexpected
that out popped my false teeth That
settled it. The jig was up, and l he.
gan contemplating my fate. Seven
teen men jumped for those false teeth
at the same time, and it didn't take
loug for them to find the dispatch.
which read, Send US 100000 men at
once so you we're going on your
way for reinforcements, we're your
said a red nosed Captain sneeringly.
We'll. we'll just help you along on
your journey. Bring up, that mortarI
Great God, thought |, they certainly
didn't intend to blow me to pieces
The mortar was brought up and
planted, aud pointed in the direction
in which l had been travelling.
Double charge her, and stick this
fellow in head first. Vivid recollec
tions Of everything mean that | had
ever done in ny life fitted across my
mind, and, boys, l actually prayed.
But while | prayed | felt them rams
ming the charge home, and | con-
cluded that my prayers we're of no
avail.
II smelled the powder right in front
of me, and a happy thought struck
me. Something told me to eat the
powder and began on it. At every
jam of the ramrod | swallowed an ex.
ira sized mVuthtul, and when the
ramming ceased | could see daylight
through the touch hole. A fuse was
inserted and touched of, and no
doubt the 6ends retreated to safe
distance to watch my flight into Ala
bama. l heard the fuse sizzling as the
fire drew near me, but | felt safe, as
not grain of powder had l LETT lying
around loose. The fuse went out with
a sudden sDurt, and felt that my life
had been saved. The would be muir
derers couldn't understand why the
gun missed FIRE. and they began draw
ing the charge to see what allied her.
Just about the time they got me out a
lot Of our cavalry charged upon them
and / was saved; but, boys, | can
taste that saltpeter and sulphur to
this day.
"Why, there's nothing so very re.
markable about that" said Captain
Marks. 1T simply illustrates the
GOODNESS and presence Of mind of our
worthy comrade. "
Yes, but the idea of man eating q
keg or tive Of powder oil ct one meal, >
remarked Major Hughes.
Why, that's nothing" retorted
Marks. II saw a man eat up wh0lt
baker shop one day. I'll tell you how
it was. We were camping up in the
mountains, when one day pie and
cake peddler made his appearance
with a whele wagon load Of pastry
Stories had been circulated that these
peddlers were in the habit of poison
| ing their pies, thus making the mar
Who ate them sick and unfit for service
There gas an officer in our command
who had been laying for one Of thes,
pie peddlers, and no SOONER did tn,
poor fellow strike the camp than b
was surrounded by squad Of infantry
ard in less than no time about twept!
cooked muskets we're pointed at hi
head. You've got to eat everything
lVou'ye got In that wagon yourself,
! commanded the officer. Refuse, !
YOU dare, and twenty minnie balls Q
close range will be your fate. Th,
peddler turned pale, but he saw deter
mination in the eye of the officer. ant
he commenced his feast. | kept tall
on a fence rail with piece Of dry clay
and | hope that Leondias won't vii
the omnibus stake at Long Branch j
that fellow didn't get away with "a
PIES" -.