The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-06-04
AN lNClDEsf w IIIg WAR
A Federal spy nuntins 90 Lost Dua o. -
Captured w ths unsuspeetinG
inE sentry and Ills soul
sent Marching IN.

FoRSEY, May 3d. Editor HERALD. J.
Those losg ard rainy spells drive tho
blaok-land farmer b the wall for en-
ploymsnt. His wheels are all ologged.
|, being one of that class, on small
scale. having nothing to do but brood
the past, will spend fow hours
In copying one OF my war incidents.
When all who wore tho gray, or the
blue, have answered TO the final roll
call, no more war stories will be 70.
lated. This Is one mixed with sadness,
but 10 those whose hearts were TOO
young 10 bleed may DO most interest.
ing. i know 1t is wrong 10 open old
wounds. Many have never healed.
With me, the war and all Its issues are
buried. fortune was lost, but my life
WAS spared, no doubt for the purpose
II has been employed for q years
tho care OF large family, on farm.
This entire nation has boon made TO
tremble. Shiloh had boon won and lost
by the Confederatos, who had retreated
from Corinth 10 rupelo, Miss, the great
vancing foe. II digress little.)
About two years after tho war closed l
had OCCASION to board south. bound
train ~ Corinth, just at night. The
road lad boon made anew. We made
I rapid speed for several hours. Among
tho passengers who had begun TO get
sleepy was an old ax.Confederate, on
joying a good sleep. Tho whistle blew
for station. The brakeman
squalied out, "Tupelow just as
the train slowed up, all being
unusually still. Tho old soldier raised up,
rubbed his eyes, and remarked "Tupelo.
| Yes, this Is the first station after leav-
ing Corinth." A smart, knowing kind Of
fellow Just behind him, corrected him
instantly, and commenced TO name the
different stations, Rienzi, Boonville,
Baldwin, Saltillo and
Aw, hush, said the reb, l mean
il was Gen. Bragg's frat depot, al
ter leaving Corinth. Quite, laugh by
many of us. Now TO my story. All
that vast region south OF the Memphis
& Charlston railroad for 10 miles, soon
was devastated, by the raids OF both
armies, citizens moved ont, and where
once stood elegant mansion, the lone
chimney and blackened wall marked the
spot. II was tho home OF bushwhacker
and jayhawker, and many were the
tragic scenes enacted. My command
was on duty in this region. 1t was our
business to watch the movements of
the Federals, loafn, SEQ and re-
port. On the morning | write cit'aon !
hy the name OF Furgsrson, who lived |
near Burnsville Joined our command. |
He was we'll mounted and equipped, |
marched beside the captain, IL was
soon whispered down the line that |
romething unusual was on hand. About |
midday we came to cross road. halt, |
front into line, was the order. Men,
said the captain, you see, Fedora scout |
has Just gone down this road, and, on |
their return, we must capture the |
last ono. So / shall expect each of you 70 |
obey orders and do your duty. We were !
dismounted and the horses carried oil |
the road some distance. The com |
mand was placed in positioni picket
was ordered down the road. [ was led |
by the captain and placed as picket on |
the old East Port road, some 800 yarcs |
from the company, with orders 10 Keep |
q constant iook-not to fire on the APP |
proach of the enemy but hasten quietly |
by near path and report and lot no one
pass. 1t was hot day in August; had !
been on duty several hours. / was
worried, thirsty and hungry. The sun |
shone with pale, sickly hue. The dust |
from the road had covered the leaves |
high up on the scrubby black jack
trees. No Texas breeze TO give me- a
good breath; no cheerful note from the !
hooking bird; all was still. / was
brooding, thinking how long this cruel
struggle would last; what would be the
result. / had served one year in the |
army of Virginia.; had been disabled
for infantry service; had ioinod parti.
san company for the war, and what
would be my fate in the event of cap |
ture, as we were not recognized by the |
enemy as enlisted men. A slight noise |
to my LETT in the open woods. L sew a |
tall, lean old man, but with quick erect, |
cautious step approaching me. l had
full time to study him: In citizen,s
dress, but had canteen and we'll |
SLED haversscs, and seemed to be
on the lookout, too, for someone's
strange character in these lonely woods. |
When near the road he looked both
ways anXiously, seemed content and |
seated himself upon grassy spot within
40 feet of me, raised his canteen and took |
hearty drink, THEN commenced smoking |
a short-stem pipe. / wanted to study |
him closely, though to share his canteen |
and haversack was then my greatest
thought. Little did 1 think the native |
Mississippi southeru-born Federal spy |
was in my grasp. Noted tor his zeal TO |
the Union cause; noted fol salt-sacratic- |
ing spirit, had left home with all It's |
comforts and was engaged in the most
dangerous duty. Ies "a ne . v wss more; more
nation to the enemy, but would convey |
contrabands to the Federal lines on
every visit from one army TO tho other.
Truly he was second John Brown.
/ could bear my thirst no longer with
a refreshing canteen so near me.
cleared my throat to speak. Quick the
old man was on his feat, turned his ewes
only to see that he was my prisoner. In
stantly he seemed a changed being.
Half bent and with tottering step APP |
preached me, and with trembling voice,
said: "Young man, have you seen any. |
thing of large dun OK this mornipg?'
mo-" said /, "but how fresh is the wa
but help yourself" and with much |
seeming relief handed me his |
canteen. After good hearty drink
1 spoke kindly to The old man; told him
to take seat and keep still; that | ex-
pected Federal scout every minute,
and was ordered to retain every one
passing. "Certainly," said he, "such is
trouble. 1 think the Feds must have
driven them into camp. Been two days
looking and can't even hear their be H."
I thought the good old man was telling
the truth, and felt sorry for him. Was
taught from childhood to honor and re,
spect old age. We quietly conversed
for some time, when suddenly the
bugle from my command sounded to
mount. Information had been received /
that the expected scout had returned on
another road. The old man started to
go. 1 told him no., that the captain
made a familiar dive for his haveI-
saok-a practice common among sol.
diers. Hardtack and cheese satisfied
me something was wrong. Down the
road, saw my company had mounted,
and filed in my direction. Knowing
my horse would be led to me, we waited.
tested by the old man. He begged me
niteously 10 let him go. Duty and or