The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1884-09-24
FRANK q. cURLEY.
a Man WHO Became a Terror
to the Federal Forces
During the War.

Democrat:
Capt. Frank B. Gutlcy was fellow
passenger on train from Huntsville to
Gurley's recently 1t was my fortune
to share seat with him. He Is hardly
medium in size, has paternal look
about him, with Il black eye that glIs-
iens at every turn. ] watched him
closely, recalling his notoriety during
he period that notoriety was expensive
when 10 took II nlan to make Il mark
hat would last Instead oi Il figure
with long hair and clothes characteristic
Ola Buffalo Bill, toani lin modest
and dcfGrcntial.
Tell me, Captain, Of yourself" said
/. What did yod do that made yon
conspicuous during and after the war p
Altcr Il a.omynts hesitation, and de-
Gliding that it was not mere idle curiosi
ty that Induced my qu'ry, he told me
tnai he enlisted with lev. ID. &. Kelley,
who has been pastor Of Mckendlee
Church, Nashville They went TO Mem
phis and located Camp Forrest. he es.
labIishcd the first picket line there, and
Of Fnrrcs's command.
lie continued with Forrest for some
time; was with him at Fort Dnnclson,
and when on Saturday night evacuation
or surrender WAS nesIlable, Forrest sent
him and another man To ascertain if
there WAS any way Of escape. They
followed II road along the river to II
biycG at The head Of winch the enemy
felt sure Of having cut away all means
Of escape On reaching he point where
the road entered the bayou be reasoned
that there must he a going out place,
and the last resort WAS thai Of fordng.
The nerve necessary 10 venture into 50
threatening body Of water one Of the
coolest nights ever known on the Cum
bcrmnd, may he imagined. All depend
ed upon the skill Of himself and com
radc. The bayou was crossed, the wa
ter reaching to the skirts Of the saddles
The passage was thus effected for the
escape Of II considerable portion Of the
army.
subsequently the valiant Gurlcy, af.
ter protracted illness, repnrled to Gen
T.. Kirby Smith, who gave him com
mission to raise and operate company
Of partisan rangers beginning with
four or five he soon raised large COM
pany Of very young men from good fam.
lilies aud dad much efficient service lie
captured aud paroled many more men
than he had in his command, besides
keeping away from the regular army Il
considerable force to & Iard against him.
lie, with his small band, attacked
the moving column Of General Il. l..
McCook's command, en- route to Win
chester, Tenn, from Athens Ala. They
cut the Federal line near its rear SC.
curing Il large drove Of cattle and bag,
gage stores. The commander and his
adjulant were cut off, and the driver
made for the rear mt rapid rate, utter
ly ignoring the command to halt. As
Il last resort they were fired upon, and
McCook was shot. His adjulant SAID,
on Capt. Gurlry's reaching the carriage,
that the General would die Garlcy
expressed regret, and McCook explain.
cd that the driver could not stop the
horses. The best possible under the
circumstances in every way was done
for McCook. His adiu'ant was cx-
changed for Row Mr. Trimble, in Gus
t, dy by the Feder,ls at the time.
Capt. Gurlcy declares now that in all
l'je war he did nothing unwarran;cL .y
The "H'cs Of war, and, with emphasis,
asserts that no man was ever harmed
Ivy his men afor surronlcring. lie he.
came greatly discouraged in ii, allotted
warfare because Of retaliation on lip,sr
Nio hcf,i2nio,l his coumaad. Ills oNu
Punishment VAS ic"r"c IN The cXlrrmc
lie was Cap'nrcL, and 'iur.ng sc,cutcrn
months he va. mach If the t,nc under.
the scntrnrc ii death. lie MAS at las;
lmrl'ned thr,ago Il very Mry" petition,
and very sopn ailcrwarl after the war
was ovcr-he was elected Sheriff of his
county. This evidence of good will on
the part of his fellow-citizens 50 infu-
rated Radical authorities that for five
months he was heavily ironcd in his |
own county Jail, the wIl'r holding, by |
appointment, the Office Of Sheriff during
the time He WAS again under sentence
Of dath and the second time carried to
Nashville To be hung, but was finally
Once more he Nas elected
'hcriiI, bat not permitted to serve
lis friends have desired that he be ap-
,ointcl Warden of the State Penitcn-
larry, but he can live quite indepcnd-
nlly.
As tie train halted at Gurleys,
where his family had ever shown much
beralily in pnblic matters, and the sta.
ion named in its honor, he said, in re-
ly to my question CONCERNING his per, !
DUAL affairs:
81 have farm yonlcr that rent
or $1,000, and another farther ON
'rings me Sl50; and then have houses {
,ere, 50 that my income is about 81
'oo, | make plenty Of money, but |
amt keep it,"
lie has never married, but provides
or some nieccs, and is ms worthy citi.
en- as fought for or against the Gov.
rnmeui. ..