The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-12-24
a WAR Incident.

NEWS was commented upon
by q number of our people, and We have
induced the old soldier to tell us anoth-
er, bel ewing that an occasional short
story of the war will be interesting and
He said:
81 was originally private in Wis
consin regiment, but in the fall of 1861
became atteched to q regiment OF loyal
Marylanders. Most of the officers were
Shareholders, and had their slaves IN
camp with them as servants. AS might
be expected, a negro was not much
thought of in that command, and have |
seen many slave tied up to the dsg-
staff of our winter quarters and logged |
most numerically. To illustrate this |
feeling will give a circumstance
that occurred In this camp of
United States troops in the year
Of our Lord. 1912. We were winter
ing In a camp of instruction in Mary
land, and connected with q town by =
bridge over a creek, wide and deep, in
which the tide rose and fell regularly.
The winter was severe, and frequently
this water would freeze, forming a coat
ing of Ice over the entire surface. One
day poor old colored woman came into
camp from the town, with some wash
| ing for one of the men. He complained
that some of the articles given out were
missing and reported the fact to the
major. then in command. The major
gave the woman q certain time in which
to return with the missing goods. She
returned protesting that she
had never received them. The
major was accustomed to
drink freely, and this day he was GER
tainly out of balance. He ordered the
guard TO take the woman to the bridge
and duck her. A rope was tied around
her waist. and after breaking the ice she
was dipped three times, and then allow
ed to find her way home as best she
could on that cold winters day. heard
that she became q mother q few days
after this undeserved punishment. But
l did not start to tell you that story, but
another.
1 We WOAO oboSAOACA ~ HA6kNAAAC1 II
ginia, on the peninsula forming the
Chesapeake bay, country without rail-
roads or other communication except
the "pungy," or an occasional steamer.
It was near here that old Gov. Wise
had his law Office, and boosted that,
''thank God" he hao but one newspaper
in his district. Well, I was in that
printing Office and in his law office.
But, how stray awavi Well, the peo-
pie were irightfully ignorant down
there, though many of them were very
rich and owned many slaves. Well, one
day, white woman came into camp
and reported that she had a rebellious
man servant whs refused to work,
He was living in q house on
the farm with his family /;
that he made his house the headqurters
for all the disafected negroes around,
and she wanted him punished. She
said he was dangerous, but intelligent
yellow man, who never left home except
with a gun. You must remember this
Was long before the emancipation procla-
nation. and We were compelled at the
time, under the orders OF the war de-
partment, to refuse all shelter for the
negroes in our vicinity who were tempt
ed 10 run away.
Well, our slsveholding officers, of
course said they would punish the man
to accommodate her, and detachment
was ordered down to arrest and bring
HIM TO camp. The distance was about
nine miles, and it was almost night De-
fore they started. l got the de-
tails of the expedition the
: next morning from the officer
IN command. 1t appears that the six
teen soldiers and q commissioned Off.
Ger found the place about ten O'Clock al
night, and surrounded 1t. The house
was q one story frame, neatly painted
with q nice little garden patch, few
peach trees, and altogether, as saw the
, grounds the next day, denoted thrift ano
intelligence. 1t might be well TO STATE
right here, that for six months before, Oh
ever since that peninsula had beer
cleared of rebels. this servant
had refused TO be q elave, sno
every missing chicken or devilment o.
any kind which had transpIred in the
neighborhood for that length of time
had been laid at the door of the little
cottage of the "free" man. The neigh
borhood was 'up in arms' against him
I but all were afraid. Well, the soldiers
} crept through the garden, and wher
T they were in place to cover every win
dow and door. the officer. accompanied
, by three men. went up to the house and
knocked.
, "Who's therei" came from within.
ave are United States troops sem
: here to arrest you and we want you tc
turn out and come with u.s."
, al can't do it. have sworn never &c
, be taken alive. have done no harm &c
anybody. I am frse man, and intend
, to remain free. No. sir, I can't do it."
The officer replied, "If you don't open
the door immediately, I'Il break it in"
"Better not, massa.' came from with,
in; an shoot, surel'
/ The boys got . rail, and soon
broke the door in, but just as it tell the
, colored man fred, killing one soldier
and cutting the finger of another. See
, ing they had serious business on hand
. the officer and hls men retired q short
distance. he then gave directions 10
Ia