The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-02-07
A War Memory.

In 1867, while Gen. Hlndman Will
confederates was at Little Rock, 8
piece of strategy which should not
be unreeorded, was practiced by the
gentlemen 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
Little Rock, he sent for Col. Robert
Newton, chief of staff, and said:
"Look here, Bob. l understand
that Curtis, with $4,000 or 10000
men, is preparing to march on us.
You very readily understand that
we cannot entertain so much com
pany."
Cant we send out and borrow
from the neighbors?" Newton sug-
gested.
'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 re-
gard to the best means of making
known our Wishes" and after ear
nest deliberation they decided to
arrange mail, ostensibly for differ
ent persons, but really for Gen.
Curtis.
One letter was addressed to the
confederate secretary of war: Il
do not like to make complaints"
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
stand Of arms and 80 pieces of ar
tilery, but instead, he has only sent
me $4,000 stand of arms and 90
pieces of artillery. This, even
counting the stores received from
Texas, is not enough for the proper
equipment of my troops. con-
template moving to Missouri"
Then followed number of let
ters from soldiers. One soldier
said in letter to his wife: owe
have about 10000 troops here, al
though we are not armed alike. yet
/ think that within the next few
days that we will be ready for bust
ness" Another soldier writing to
his father, said that Hindman had
at least $4,000 soldiers, and still an
other made a different statement,
done of course to give to the COM
the finishing touch of
genuineness.
''Now," said Hindman, "the idea
is to deliver them to Curtis in a
manner that will make him glad of
their reception"
81 think" replied the officer
"that I've got man in my com
mand who is the very individual
for such an undertaking. I'll send
him up"
Pretty soon tall, slim young fell
low reported for duty.
"What is your nameY
"Walter Scott"
"Well, my literary friend" said
Newton, "we want you to start out
from here with lot of small mail,
with a view of taking it across the
river. Federal scouts
are numerous between here and
there, and we want to know if the
mail you start out with is likely to
fall into the possession of the en-
emyY'
Scott winked sly1y and replied:
'Sure to be captured"
This is a dangerous undertak
ing"
Eyes, L know, but they'll capture
the mail. Just give me what l
wan: and assure you that every
thing will work we'll"
"What do you want?'
"The fastest horse in the com
mand and pair Of saddle bags"
'All right; will report within an
hour"
When Scott reported at the
appointed time swift horse
and pair of saddle-baes were in
Nothing was heard of Scott for
several days. At length the follow
ing dispatch, dated Brownsville
Prairie county, Ark, was received
"Maj.- Gen. Hindman-I regret to
say that my saddle-bags and con-
tents had fallen into the hands of
the enemy, and that 1 barely es-
capped with my life. 1 will report
in person as soon as possible"
A few days afterward he arrived
at headquarters. He walked in
with a detected air, as though he
would surely 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. / was riding
along the road one day, and in
turning a thickly wooded point 1
suddenly came upon body of fed
raj cavalry. 1 wheeled, and the
several well-mounted men always
in the van of the cavalry
command pursued me, firing it
seemed at every jump. l leaned for
ward in my flight, and my saddle
bags worked from under me; at last
they tumbled off. 1 made fruit
less effort to grab them, and looked
as though l was shocked at their
loss. This practically ended the
pursuit"
The first iutimation that the Tuse
had been, successful was the follow
ing paragraph in the Memphis Bull
letin: ''When last heard from
Hindman, with a large body of
troops, marching toward Missouri.
We are credibly informed that Gen.
Curtis will soon be upon him."
Scott's career was Of short dura-
ton. He was court-martialed on
a charge of horse stealing while in
Gen. Danridge McRae's command
and shot.
A Bloody Scene.
A bloody scene was witnessed
1,oe4 a,.1 Nv TDornino in a harm nm the