New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1884-02-06
A War Memory.

A War Memory.
In 1862, while General Hindman was
commanding the confederate forces at
Little Rock, piece of strategy which
should not be left unrecorded, was
practiced by Gentleman in Gray
Hindman only had q few thousand ILL
armed troops, and when he heard that
the federal general, Curtis, stationed at
Helena. was preparing to move on Lit
tie Rock, he sent for Colonel Robert
Newton, chief of staff, and said:
''Look here, Bob. l understand that
Curtis, with thirty-five or forty thou
sand is preparing to march on US. You
very readily understand that we cannot
entertain so much company.
Cant we send out and borrow from
the neighborse" Newton suggested.
''Not very well, and besides, think
that the visitors would prove to be
troublesome. My idea is to send them
word not to come. Now let us put our
heads together in regard to the best
means of making known our wishes, y
and after earnest deliberation they de-
cided to arrange . mail, ostensibly for
different persons, but really for Gener-
al Curtis.
One letter was addressed to the con-
federate secretary of war. II do not
like to make complaints, the comnu-
nication ran, "but circumstances COM
pei me to call your attention to certain
shortcomings Of General Beauregard.
Several weeks ago, he promised to send
me forty thousand stands of arms and
thirty pieces of artillery, but instead,
he has only sent me twenty-five thou
sand stands of arms and twenty pieces
of artillery. This, even counting the
stores we have received from Texas, is
not enough for the proper equipment OF
my troops: l contemplate moving into
Missouri"
Then followed number Of letters
from soldiers. One soldier said, in q
letter to his wife: I'VE have about forty
thousand troops here. and although
they are not all quite armed, yet ]
think that within few days we will all
be ready for business. Another SOL
der, writing to his father, said that
Hindman had at least fifty thousand
soldiers, and still another made q diff.
erent statement, done, of course, to
give to the communications the finish
ing touch of genuineness.
"Now," said Hindman, ''the idea is
to deliver these to Curtis in q manner
that. will make him glad of their recep-
ton"
Il think" replied an officer, ''that
I've got man in my command who is
the very individual for such an under
taking. I'll send him up.''
Pretty soon tall, slim young fellow
reported for duty.
"What is your name?'
walter Scott. -
'Well, my literary friend,' said
Newton, I'VE want you to start out
from here with lot of mail, with q
view of taking it across the Mississippi
river. Federal scouts are numerous
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 enemyp"
:. Scott winked slyly and replied:
"Sure to be captured"
This is dangerous undertaking. :"
eyes, know, but they'll capture the
mail. just give me what want and
assure you that everything will work
WE'LL"
''What do you want?'
he f.stest horse in the command
and a pair of saddle-bags."
"All right. Report within an hour. -
When Scott reported at the appoint
ed time, a swift horse and q pair OF
saddle-bags were in readiness.
Nothing was heard of Scott for sew
eral days. At length the following
dispatch, dated at Brownsville, Prairie
county, Ark, was received:
"Major- General Hindnaan:-I regret
to say that my saddle-bags and con.
tents have fallen into the hands of the
enemy, and that barely escaped with
my life. I will report in person as
soon as possible.
A few days afterward he arrived at
headquarters. He walked in with q
detected air, as though he would sure
" be court-martialed on account of
failure to discharge his duty. Newton
called him into an adjoining room,
and closing the door, asked:
''Well, how did the scheme work."
Like charm. l was riding along
the road, and in turning thickly
wooded point, suddenly came upon q
body of federal cavalry. 1 wheeled,
and the several we'll mounted men al
ways in the van of cavalry command,
pursued me, firing, it seemed, at every
jump. l leaned forward in my fight,
and my saddle-bags worked from un-
der me until at last they tumbled of.
made fruitless effort to grab them,
and looked as though I was shocked at
their loss. This practically ended tho
pursuit. y
The first intimation that the ruse had
been successful was the following par
agraph in the Memphis Bulletin:
''When last heard from, Hindman,
with large body of troops, was
marching toward Missouri We are
credibly informed that General Curtis
will soon be upon him."
SCOTS career was of short duration.
He was court-martialed, on charge of
horse stealing. while in General Dan
bridge McRae's command, and shot
ArkTnsasO Traveller.
Women in the Long Ago.
In the essay on "Women in the Four
tenth Century" we read some things
which, in view of the omission of the