Omaha daily bee., 1885-05-18
WAR R%EC0LIECTIONS,
The March On Raleigh FiragiBg in
North Carolina,
Dinner for Eighteen-A Mysterious
Courier-Capturing an officer.
Written for The BEE.

From March "a to April 10, 1865, W
g remain at Goldsboro receiving supplies {
9 clothing and other necessaries, and o
, the date last named begin our march t
Raleigh, the capital of North Carolins
I the men carrying eight days ratlons Ii
: their haversacks and sixty rounds of cart
ridges. The load is too heavy and t,
Tighten up, blankets, clothing and al
kinds personal effects are thrown away
Our first days march is continued unit
eleven o'clock OF night, and on the secont
night we do not go into camp until three
o'clock the following morning. April IL,
while bivouacked by the roadside waiting
for our trains to cross q swamp we hear
of the surrender of Lees srmy, and the
widest demonstrations of Joy are In.
dulged in. We had had reasons before
this to believe that the end of the war
was near at hand, but now we knew 1t
for q certainty.
April 13.-I am detailed to take charge
OF a brigade forage tquad, consisting of
fifteen men, including q sergeant and
corporal, and for the next ten days
LIFE ssUMRs ROSY HUEs
for us. The detail is made up as the
command marches over the sllppery, clay
hills, In the midst of q drizzling rain and
when completed we scoot off through the
heavy pine woods at right angles to the
line of march, which Is to the westward.
Finally we strike a road which run par
allel to those occupied by the moving
column and, following this, notice a mans
tracks, freshly made, (the rain having
ceased meanwhile) and indulge In much
speculation as to who 1t Is that Is
trudging along ahead of US. The
country is thinly settled and we
agree that the first farm house we
reach of any size will have our party for
guest1 at dinner and as hone Of us had
eaten In a house for over a year, the an.
ttoipsted repast served as a pleasant dis
CUSTOM. At 3 o'clock q large white resi-
denoe with evidences of comfort and
abundance is seen on the left of the road.
There were several young ladies at the
house In addition to the members of the
family, and there was a general indica-
ton OF something out of the common ex-
pected by them. To our surprise we
were cordially welcomed and before we
could prefer a request, were told to sit
down, that dinner would be on the table |
in a few moments. We vera soon invl-
ted into q pleasant dining room where o
and we'll cooked meal was
"But where are the other two menu"
inquired the lady of the house, when our
squad was seated and 1t was found there
wers two extra plates.
"What other two menu" was asked.
"Why, the rest of your party"
We looked at each other In surprise
and explained that we were all present.
hat there were only sixteen of us, and
then she stated that about two hours be-
lore our arrival O yankee soldier had
stopped at the house and told the family
TO at once set about getting a good din.
,er for eighteen yankees who would be
slong In an hour or 30. This explained '
he footsteps which had excited our curl
,sity during the day, but who that sol.
iier was, or how he knew anything about {
is are mysteries unexplained to this l
lay. However, we were very grateful |
or his thoughtful kindness and also glad
o know that the family thus forewarnsd |
It u approach had improved the time as |
hey did, instead Of notifying t
wHEELER's REBEL ALE t
which was In the vicinity and might have l
asily ambushed and annihilated us. .
Our first night out is spent on the 8
magnificent plantation of the famous q
of that locallty-"'Squlre Thomp. :
His colored cooks prepare supper .
us, but inadvertently use silver forks !:
nd spoons in setting the table, and these q
no boys. likewise inadvertently "bor- z
ow at the close of the meal. We tell the q
quire that We are a small band and re- .
lie that we are then o good many miles "
istans from our army; that we know "
Vheeler's cavalry is near at hand, and :,
lggest that it may be in his mind to :
end word by some of his darkeys to '
distinguished guerilla that we are n
'mporarily the guests of his fine man :,
on, but that If he has, and we are u
during the night, our "
'st act will be to burn that 1,
no manlion over his head. He ex. al
ressed surprise that we should have W
lspected him of such d~esigns-said he re
as a southern gentlsmen-a man of u
onor, and then added the information ca
Iat he had served in congress several re
rms. We were disposed to trust him Of
receiving the last statement but az
at destroyed our confidence in him, 90
I'd half our party stood guard until mid. I'd
ght, and the remainder, the latter por.
of the night. The parting, at a very co
rly hour the next morning. was mutu. al
y agreeable-the squire was glad to see ia
go, and we were thankful that we go
sre able to go. Oh
Squire Woods, a rich neIghbor, two
lies distant, had the pleasure of our al
mpany at breakfast. Thus far u en-. Ga
avors to convert ourselves into mounted
had proven a failure, owing to mt
9 lack of ''beasts" (as horses are STYLED sw
North Carollna.) In response to a ne
ggestlon that he might be able to help TO-
out in this regard, Squire Woods said m'
hadn't a horse or mule on his place. we
It after breakfast we took the liberty to bu
arch, and found seven head concealed mi
the brush near by, and at n~eighboring an
antations others were found, SO that by RE
on we were sll de
SUPPLIED WITH HORSES, 10
ldlea and brides, ana had four mules hi,
to a bigfarm wagon loaded with wa
DIVISIONS, and another team of mules tai
VS.