Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-24
9f|istellaueuns &eading.
RESCUISG A PRISONER.
BY AN EX-CONFEDERATE.

After Sherldan'S troops llaQ carried Out
the order to burn ten square miles OF the
Shenandoah Valley, there was a more bit
ter turn to the war waged in that locality:
Many of the Confederate farmers who had
been neutral, or had tried to be, now became
guerrilas and bushwhackers and lost no
opportunity Of killing a Federal.
After that burning Mosby had no diff
Guilty in securing all the men he could ham
die, and other guerrilla bands sprang into
life in the various valleys and scrupled at
nothing which would cripple the enemy.
| know that scores of Federal prisoners,
who would have otherwise been treated as
prisoners of war, were shot down as soon as
captured on account of that burning.
Among those who turned bushwhacker
was an old man named Humphrey, living
about two miles from Strausburg. He was
about 62 years old, quite lame in one leg
from hip disease, and, up to the burning,
was looked upon as a kind-hearted, good
natured, and forgiving old man. The Fed
erals burned the houses and barns of his two
sons, further down the valley, and one day
two or three half drunken soldiers came to
his house and demanded dinner. He refus-
ed to give them anything. One OF them
drew a revolver to shoot him down, but the
weapon was accidentally discharged and
Mrs. Humphrey was lnortally wounded.
After her death and burial, old Humphrey
disappeared and was next heard of in the
mountains. He lived in cave and became
a bushWhacker. That term is hardly strong
enough. He becamea man-hunter. While
Confederate in sentiment, he had little to
do with them, securing his arms and am
muntion from his Federal victims, and his
few provisions from the farm houses. In
his old age the man became an avenging
spirit. There was something appalling in
his tireless, :vindictive trailing OF FEEDER
ais. He hung about camps and picket-posts
and marching columns, and he took des-
perate chances to crafty his thirst Tor
blood. If he came across three fOragers to-
gether two would certainly bite the dust,
and he would not hesitate to attack even
where the number was five.
In one year old Humphrey killed 36 Fed
erals make the statement on the author
ity of people who saw the tally. The old
man preserved a relic from each body
knife, ring, watch-chain, or button-and
there was no chance to mistake the num-
ber.
One day in making scout near Cross
Keys, was discovered by a scouting party
of ten Federals, and run into the noun
tains. The pursuit did not end here.
Some of them dismounted and hung to my
trail for another hour. 1t was in avoiding
these men that I accidentally stumbled on
old Humphreys hiding-place. 1t was a
veritable cave, warm and dry, and we'll
hidden, and had entered it before l knew
that it was occupied. The old man was not
at home, but l had scarcely detected signs
that the place had an inhabitant when
voice called from the gloom at the rear
end:
"For Gods sake, who is it-Yank or
Reb?"
"Reb, l guess. Who are you?"
"Then there is no hope!" he groaned.
I struck match and advanced towards
him. On rude bench was dish of fat
with a rag in it for wick, and as soon as l
had lighted this l could see everything in
the cave On the hard stone floor lay
prisoner, tied hand and foot. He was a
Federal, second Lieutenant and belonged
either to the Twenty-fifth New York or the
Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Calvary. HaV-
ing afterwards lost my notebook am not
sure of the regiment
The cave contained bench or two, a pile
of straw and two or three quilts for a bed,
and a lot trophies in the way of guns and
sabers.
"Who are you?" 1 asked of the man as l
bent over him.
"Lieut. Johnson, of Sheridan's cavalry"
he answered.
GLOW came you here?"
81 was riding with dispatch last even
ing when l was bushwhacked and made
prisoner. l have bullet in the shoulder"
"Who brought you here?"
San old man, who acts as If he were
crazy"
It was the first prisoner old Humphrey
ever took, and l greatly wondered over it.
His policy was to kill, and how did he come
to spare this mans life?
"Who are you:" suddenly asked the pris-
Oner.
zone of Gen. Early's scouts"
"Then have no hope. You may nave
the heart, however, to hand me drink OF
water. l am burning up with fever"
There was gourd on the bench, and the
purest coolest water ran down the rocks at
the door. l raised the mans head and he
imbibed more than a pint.
His hands were tied together at the wrists
and the cords had sunk deep into the flesh.
i severed the bonds with my knife and
rubbed his arms until the circulation of
blood was restored
"God bless you for that! have suffered
death twice over! !" he said, sort O. breaking
down like woman.
His wound had not been dressed. prop
ped him up, cut away his coat and shirt,
and washed off the blood and dressed the
wound as we'll as possible under the circum-
stances. Twas finishing the operation when
| heard step behind me, and as rose up
and turned my head old Humphrey sprang
upon me. He had a gun with him, and
why he didn't shoot me down | could not
guess unless it was in the hope of making
another prisoner.
The old fellow sprang at me like an en-
ragged tiger, and during his first fury he got
the better of me. However, after strug--
gle of three or fourminutes he lost his wind
and I manged to tie him hand and foot.
Then he broke out in revilings, and such
oaths and imprecations l never heard be-
fore or since. He boasted that he intended
to torture the lieutenant to death, and he
called such curses down upon my head as
did not seem possible for human tongue to
utter.
BY and by, when he had exhausted HIM
self, the prisoner asked:
"What will you do with me?'
That was Il puzZler. | had no show to
get him into our lines, | could not remain
there and guard him, and as for leaving
him in the hands of old Humphrey it was
not to be thought of: The old man had
endured privations and brooded over his
wrongs until he had become insane. His
rawlings showed that.
cpl tell you," replied to the prisoner,
who was on his feet to try his strength. II
am going away for three hours. When l
return l shall take you to Port Republic.
Be ready"
With that walked out. Itwas six hours
before l returned. The prisoner was gone.
The old man lay on his back just where |
had seen him last, and as l bent over him
l saw that he was dead A day or two
after a prisoner whom we captured stated
that the lieutenant got safe into Straus-
L,,. lnkn Li,oo