Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-29
BuroRp AND rHE WOE.
An Exciting Experience at the Close OF
the late WAR

the Late War.
The tragic death Of Gen. Abe Buford,
Of Kentucky, says the Chicago Netes, re-
calls story he told during last visit to
Chicago:
4 have passed through many trying
and perilOus scenes" he said to a party
of friends, ssbut never felt so near deaths
door as at Springfield. ILL.,, just after the
war. To begin with, / had a narrow es-
cape during our fighting in Georgia. Our
forces were encamped with the Union
troops in our front. The sentry lines were
thrown out as usual. One day / passed
through the lines TO make some ob5erTa-
lions at a distant point. / was unattended
but mounted upon a powerful horse.
During my absence the Union forces drove
back our lines and occupied the same
ground with their own pickets. This was
unknown to me, and | was surprised and
alarmed on my return TO be halted by a
Union soldier. / attempted to ride on.
The soldier tried to stop my horse with
his bayOnet. Drawing my revolver fired
at him, and rode on to camp without
waiting to see the effects Of the shot. The
war went on. and finally ended. We sur
rendered to the superior forces on the
Union side, and / went home. Soon after
ward / went to Springfield to get some
horses which / had LETT in charge Of Will
lis Renfrow. On the day Of my arrival
large number Of Union soldiers were
CLUSTERED OUT OF THE SERVICE.
'sThey literally swarmed into the hotel
where | was stopping. Pretty soon l dis
covered they were cycling me very closely.
The more they did so, the more excited
they became. Their excitement made me
nervous, and not a little frightened when
[ reflected that | was alone, without
friends and in the midst Of soldiers just
from the scenes Of conflict that had
aroused all their bitterness toward the
South. AS an officer in the Confederate
army. felt that l would bear no small
share of their hatred. This thought fright
ened me beyond measure. For the first
time in my life ] was really afraid, be-
cause there would be no escape for me.
The landlord came over and urged me to
conceal myself before an outbreak oc-
CURED. Although terribly scared, | had
no thought Of showing the white feather.
l merely went to my room, secured my
revolver and came back to my seat, watch
ing the crowd over the paper | pretended
to read. After awhile a man wearing a
corporaPs uniform came in. Several sol
dieTs ran to him in an excited manner. /
could not hear what was said, but knew
| was the subject of talk. The corporal
went to the hotel register, looked at my
name and then came toward me. Behind
him were several of the men. A score Of
them were eagerly watching the scene
from the other side of the room. The land
lord. with bIanched face, stood behind the
counter, and l could see he was
''FRoZEN WITH TERROR.
"As the corporal and his comrades
came toward me my hair literally stood
on end. l could feel the blood leave my
face. With all my power Of self-contrOl
could not conceal my agitation. / felt
that after going through the perils of war
/ was to die at the hands of mob. No
man can portray his feelings at such a
time. Though great strength was de-
manded | was 50 weak | could hardly
stand When the corporal approached
me he asked If was Gen. Buford. With
a feeble voice, told him ] was"
"sDo you remember the Union soldier
you shot when breaking through the
Union lines i'm Georgian he asked.
81 do was my reply.
4" y am that man, said the soldier, and
| want TO thank you for merely wounding
;'The man held out his hand. never
was so glad to shake a hand in my life.
The peril 1 had supposed l was in had
caused great beads of sweat to cover my
face As l took his hand / sank exhausted
in a chair. / looked upon the corporal as
my savior. When he grasped my hand
felt that l had gone from hell to heaven.
The other soldiers crowded around. 1t
seems they were only excited because a
late enemy was there. Before | left we
all drank to the success of our common
country, and agreed to forget we had been
enemies.
81 think that is the most thrilling per-
sOnal experience | ever had"