Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1884-02-13
A WILD RIDE.
A Lopisville Doctors Experience with
Guerrillaa During the War.
ouf.xiila poat

GuerrilIas During the War.
louisville Post.l
"An interesting event occurred to me
in my lifetime" remarked well Unknown
physicianIo of this city, which hmight do to
write up. In the year 1864, when the
guerrillas wero very numerous in Ken
lucky, l was living with my father in one
of the mountain counties In the Northern
part of the State One morning started
to 90 from my fathers farm to that
Of a neighbor's about four miles distant.
1 was dressed in a grayish-blue suit,
with = close-htting blue cap, and had
much the appearance Of being Federal
soldier. To make the picture complete,
1 was mounted upon large rsw-boned
gray mule, that was one of the strongest
and widest animals in that part of the
country. l trotted along the road at
brisk pace, and at q short time had
reached the summit OF hill about two
miles from home. The country around
was very rough and broken, and directly
below me was a large ravine, at the end
of which was broad valley, in which
there was a farmhouse. was sitting
on my mule looking down into the val
ley when 1 saw three men step out OF the
farmhouse below me. A glance sufflced
to show that they were guerrillas. They
saw me about the same time l did them,
and, taking me for q Federal soldier,
started TO get their horses. knew l
was in for it, and determined to try them
for two-mile race. The ravine runs so
that they could ride up through it with
out me seeing them and come out on the
road directly behind me- determined
to dodge them, and, turned my mule
short around, l laid ON whip and spur
and started him down the road, and If
ever mule did its duty that one did. L
had got about three hundred yards away
when l heard O yell behind me and knew
that the guerrillas were in hot pursuit.
The race continued this way for about
half mile, the mule going at break
neck rate of speed over rocks and stumps,
and my purSuers following close in the
rear. About fifty yards in front of me
the road made short turn, and by
striking across the country / could cut
off about half mile to my fathers
house. but to do this 1 would have 10
lump high fence. | resolved to try the
experiment, and running toward the
fence struck the mule with the whip. He
made terrific bound and in going over
caught his hind foot on the fence, throw
ing him violently on the ground, on the
other side, while l was sent over his
head about twenty feet. i fell on the
broad Of my back in the mud, and was
not hurt in the fall. l gathered myself
up, and. looking around, saw the mule
walking away. l instantly went to him
and jumping on him again galloped off.
By this time, however, my pursuen were
close on me, and when they saw me ride
away the second time, opene fire. One
bullet struck me on the shoulder and
another glanced along the mules back,
making slight wound. The pain max
ing the animal perfectly wild. and he
struck ont, striking a direct line for
home. Just ahead of us was farm
house, on the other side of which two
roads forked, Que leading in a round
about way to my fathers house, and the
other and broader one leading across the
country. The mule made straight for
the house, and clearing the fence at a
leap, dashed through the yard and out on
the road. He turned down the narrow
road and We we're soon out of sight of
pursuit in a strip of woods. The guer-
rillas also came through the farm ard
but took the wrong road The flight
ened mule still continued to run and !
was powerless to stop him. In few
moments he halted me in my fathers
yard. The next day made inquiries
about the matter, and found ont who
the gentlemen were. All OF them turned
out to be men living close around.
didnot venture ont for week afterward,
and when l did L took care not 10 dress
as a Federal soldier. Since l have been
practicing medicine here 1 have met Il
couple of guerrillas who chased me, and
am now treating one of them. We
often get together and laugh over the
matter, but it was no laughing matter
for me that day. As for the mule, 1 KEEP
him until he died, which occurred il