Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1884-01-26
A WAR MEMORY
Arkansas Traveller.

Arkansas Traveller.
In 1862, while Gen. Hindmar
was commanding the confederate
forces at Little Rock, piece o.
strategy which should not be left
unrecOrded, was practiced by the
Gentleman in Gray HindmaH
only had a few thousand alarmed
troops, and when he heard that the
federal general, Curtis, stationed al
Helena, was preparing to muve on
Little Rock, he sent for Colonel
Robert Newton, chief of staff, and
said:
"Look here, Bob. / understand
that Curtis, with 81, 900 or AZ, 000 men
is preparing to march on US. You
very readily understand that we
cannot entertain so much cOmpa-
n.y."
"Can't we send out and borrow
from the neighbors ?" Newton sug-
gested.
mot very well, and besides, 1
think that the visitors would prove
to be troublesome. My idea is to
send them word not 10 come. Now
let us put our heads together in re-
gard to the best means of making
known our wishes" and after ear.
nest deliberation they decided to
arrange a mail, ostensibly for DIFF
ferent persons, but really for Gen.
Curtis.
One letter was addressed. to the
confederate secretary of war. 81
do not like to make complaints, 4"
the communication ran, "but cir
cumstances compel me to call your
attention to certain short comings
of Gen Beauregard. Several weeks
ago he promised to send me 10000
stands of arms and 80 pieces of ar
tillery, buf instead, he has only
sent me $4,000 stands of arms and
90 pieces of artillery. This, even
counting the stores we have receiv-
ed from Texas, is not enough for
the proper equipment of my troops.
1 contemplate moving to Missou-
ri"
Then followed a number of let
tiers from soldiers. One soldier said,
in letter to his wife: "We have
about 10000 troops here, and al
though they are not all quite arm
ed, yet l think that within a few
days we will be ready for business"
Another soldier, writing to his IA
Their, said that Hindman had at
least 80, 900 soldiers, and still anoth-
er made different statement, done
of course TO give to the cOmmuni-
cations the finishing touch OF gen.
uineness.
Now" said Hindman, "the
idea is to deliver these to Curtis in
a manner that will make him glad
of their reception"
81 think" replied an officer,
"that I've got a man IN my COM
mand who is the very individual
for such an undertaking. I'll send
him up"
Pretty soon a tall. slim young fell
low reported for duty.
"What Is your name?"
"Walter Scott"
Well, my literary FRIEND" said
Newton, 1--WE want you to start out
from here with a lot of mail, with
a view of taking it across the Miss
issippi river. Federal scouts are
between here and there,
and we want to know if the mail
you start out with Is not likely to
fall into the possession of the enc
my?"
Scott winked slyly and replied:
Sure to be captured"
"This is dangerous undertake
ayes, | know. but they'll capture
-hf. Inc rrfxr MI I
want and l assure you that every
hing will work we'll"
''What do you want 2"
"The fastest horse in the command
and a pair of saddle-bags."
"Ail right; report within an
hour"
When Scott reported at the ap.
pointed time a swift horse and q
pair of saddle-bags were in readi- |
ness.
Nothing was heard of Scott for |
several days. At length the fol-
lowing dispatch, dated at Browns
Vile. Prairie county, Ark, was
received:
"Maj. Gen. Hindman-I regret |
20 say that my saddle-bags and con-
ents have fallen into the hands of |
he enemy, and that l barely es-
,aped with my life. L will report |
n person as soon as possible" /
A few days afterwards he arrived |
It headquarters. He walked in
With detected air, as though he |
would surely be court-martialedO on |
.ccount of failure to discharge his |
luty. Newton called him into an
.djOining room, and closing the
loor, asked:
"Well, how did the scheme
york ?'
Like a charm. l was riding
long the road, and in turning a
point / suddenly
anne upon body of federal caval-
Y. l wheeled, and the several
men always in the
an of the cavalry command pur-
ued me, firing, it seemed, at every
imp. / leaned forward in my
light, and my saddle-bags worked
-om under me until at last they
lmbled of. L made iruitless eff
,rt to grab them, and looked as
1ough 1 was shocked at their
IS. This practically ended the
ursuit."
The first intimation that the ruse
al been successful was the follow
Y paragraph in the Memphis Bull
tin /:
"When last heard FROM Hind
IAN. with a large body Of troops,
a. marching toward missouri.
7e are credibly informed that zen.
artis will soon be upon him..
Scott's career was of short dura-
on. He was contaminated on .
large of horse stealing whIfe ~
en-. Danridge McRae's com manu-
Id shot.