The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1883-01-03

ducked and lodged into the ience-cor-
ners. like a startled flock OF partridges-
The Yankees had lwo or three dozen
guns ranged along the high oiuAs, ABOUT
700 yards from u, and the way t4'eS p'aht-
ed their iron ''brick-blts" alon5 thai
row country road. was a caution TO SIN
ners. | felt sorry for the poor team
sters who had TO sit on lhelr horses
while the procession, slowly cra"led
back over the hill. into The woods.
Every time a shell knocked a wagon or
horse or man in pieces II seemed as II a
person really must get up ana get
away from that vicinity. However we
all came of safely in my mo
there were some close calls.
Ii appears we were led into the trap
by a Yankee spy. One OF Longstreet's
c~ouriers was ioined by a ca~valryman
who said he was carrying dispatches
from Jackson. The stranger managed
to fall a little in rear Of Longstreet's
couriers was joined by a cavalry
man pretending to have des-
patches from Jackson. The stranger
managed to tall little in rear of Long
street : man, and shot him through the
back of the head Then he dragged the
body into the ~chinquepin bushes, and
robbed it of the dispatches. Fortu
nately the courier survived long enough
to tell those who found him that his as
-assln was a tall, palefaced young man,
with curt one of voice, and a brok en-
front tooth.
Meantime the Yankee had examined
the dispatches and learned that Long
street was to follow Jackson" He scon
after galloted up to the leading brigade,
and ordered it to turn to the right, and
follow the turnpike down to the ford, =
and sross as rapidly as possible. Then
he rode along the line giving orders for
artillery, wagons, ambulance, etc, all to
turn out in the fields, and make haste to
the ford. Thus a confused mass of
troops and wagons we're brought within
short range of the concealed foe on the
bluff.
When the trick was discovered the bo
gus courier was hunted up, and proved
20 be one Charles Mason, of Perryville,
PENNSYLVANIA a village 10 Juniata coun-
". 5 miles from Academia where | went
10 school two years ago. In his pockets
we're a pair of L~ieutenaqts shoulder
straps, and quite a lot of notes about our
army, etc. If he had gotten safely back
10 the enemy his information might have
made mischief, indeed. He co ,fessed that
he was a Yankee scout, but denied killing
the courier, and said he had an uncle in
Clarke county, Va. A drum head court
martial, of course, decided that he must
die, and Gen. \. q. Evans superintend-
ed the execution. He was placed on .
mule, and brought under a tree; a moose
was fixed around his neck, and the
animal driven from under. He is said
to have died bravely e1ulting that he
had fooled Longstreet. | saw his
corpse swinging from the apple tree, near
S~tevenville, as we marched past. |
should rather not have seen it. There
was also a double execution of descrters
in Jackson's corps. The fools when
captured began to inquire about old com
rades! This sealed their fate, Of course.
GEN. Z WOUNDED.
4ug. 23d.-It is astonishing how we
have all learned in three months to feel
a personal affection for Uncle Robert. >
To-day there was almost a panic over the
report that Gen. Lee was shot! Whole
regiments stopped. on the march, to sur
round his couriers, aud ask about it. The
occurrence yesterday got mixed with it,
and rumor ran that a Yankee had come
in disguise as a courier and killed him.
If it had been true, this army would ncv-
er have taken any more prisoners. But
it seems the whole thing started from a
trife. The general was about to mount
his horse, a cap popped, frightening the
animal, which jerked him down and dis
located his thumb. The hand swelled
rapidly so the surgeons made him wear
a Sling and ride in an ambulance. Wher
he came along past the marching column
the men instinctively took off their hats
and then yelled tremendously. 7her,
was glory for you! Admiration, respect
trust. confidence and affection commin.
gIed, as if he we're a father instead Of
General
ITO be cOntiRued.)