Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-04-05
Ulcers. The Sergeant detail.


the men at each corner of the inclos.
ure, with orders to fire upon any one
attempting to escape, while he boldly
entered the gate and approached the
mansion.
At the door he met Mrs. Irving, who
invited him to come in; that she was
glad he had called, as there were two
gentlemen in the parlor and she would
Immediately introduce him. Follow
ing Mrs. Irving he was soon in the
presence of Henri Watterson the
journalist and Lieutenant George Per-
cy, of the Confederate army, who, on
hearing that their sweethearts were
visiting at the Irving place, had donned
citizens dress and ventured over into
the Union lines to pay their respects.
When the introduction ceremony
was at an end and Mrs. Irving had
passed out Of the parlor, leaving the
gentlemen to themselves, Sergeant
Weir, not wishing to create an I'M
pleasant feeling in her presence, in
quiet manner informed Mr.. Watterson
and Lieutenant Percy that Captain
Shook, over at the stockade, had sent
a very pressing invitation to them to
visit him at the camp, and at the same
time displaying two navy reyolvers by
throwing open his coat.
The two Confederates were complete
ly taken by surprise, and, after short,
whispered conversation with Percy,
Mr.. Watterson, turning to the Ser
geant, said:
"All right, sir; we will 60 with you.
Aunt Mary, will you please send in our
hats?"
Mrs Irving, not understanding the
situation on coming in the room, said:
Gentlemen, protest against you
leaving until after tea."
To which Mr.. Watterson quickly
said:
ooh, Aunt Mary, we will accompa,
ny Mr.. Weir to his camp. have al
ways had very great curiosity to Wis
it a Yankee camp, and as we newspa-
per men are always on the alert for a
good item, l can't lose this oppOrtuni-
ty."
Taking leave of Mrs. Irving, after
promising to return and partake of her
hospitality, the party was soon at Cap
tain Shocks guard. The two prisoners
made the best of the situation, being
by this time very uneasy as to the turn
affairs had suddenly taken. They
knew full we'll that it was no laughing
matter to be caught in the enemy's
lines in citizens dress.
The captain felt he had an elephant
on his hands, as he hardly had men
enough to do the duty required of him,
let alone keeping guard over these two
prisoners. So in an hour or two he
sent for Sergeant Weir, who advised
him to parole them. The Sergeant
was then told to interview the prison
ers, and see If they were willing tC
give their parole,
When the inquiry was made, Mr.,
Watterson quickly answered:
eyes; we are only too glad to give
anything to get out of this"
The prisoners were then taken tt
Captain Shook, and when their pa
roles were given Mr.. Watterson asked
that Sergeant Weir be allowed to &C
company them back to the Irving
place, for they didn't want to be COB
bled up by another squad of Yanke,
soldiers. By the direction of the Cap
tain, the Sergeant saw them safe unde
the Irving roof; but Watterson would
not suffer him to return to the CAM
until after tea.
Henri Wattersop, Lieutenant Perc,
and Sergeant Wehr-two Confederate
and one Yankee-had a jolly, gooC
time together that night at Aunt Mar,
Irving's. Wine, confectioneries ant
delicacies of every description wer
spread, and they laughed and joke
and drank each others health from tn
same canteer, as 'twere, until a lat
hour, and this is the story of the CAP
ture of Henri Watterson and how h
and Joshua Weir became friends.