News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-08-06
A CASE OF "FAIR PLAY"
Little Story of the Late Unpleusnntn'ss.
From the Detroit Free Press.l

From the Detroit Free Press.l
"Git up"
1t vas in 1854, down in front of Grants
army, and l was mile or so outside Of
the Union pickets, having been out on
scout. In making my way back had
been followed pretty closely by half a
dozen Confederates, and had eluded
them by hiding in a thicket. After an
hours rest l was creeping along on hands
and knees toward the nearest field fence,
when the above command reached my
ears, and a "reb p" stepped into view from
behind large tree.
"Yank, in course2" he queried, look
me over, holding his carbine ready for
shot.
nodded in the affirmative.
How are you heeled2"
l had navy revolver in my belt, and
l showed it to him.
He threw down his carbine, drew
navy from his own bet, and, coming
quite close to me, he said:
Yank, one of US has got to diel A
week ago some of you'uns set the cabin
afire and med B2y poor old mother out
into the fields tasSe sick and die. 1
o"OlC Oh Az "OuANt NIL viz
fust Yank I could draw bead on, and
you're my meat
care you going to shoot prisoner
down in cold blood"
That amt Silas Curtis-not much.
It's ten -one-two-threc- ..
You shall have fair play"
"You mean we shall fight due'9"
"Sorter one expect you'll shoot at
me and miss, and I'll shoot at you and
put ball into your head. I'm no bush
whacker to shoot man down without
show, but I'm dead certain to kill YOU
all the same"
We backed away from each other. TIL
woods were fairly open, and whon
we had thirty feet between us there was
no obstruction to defect bullet or an
noy the eye.
All ready, Yank?"
eyes,
"rll be fair. You may do the count
ing. Goodbye to you, for I'm dead
shot"
Observation-Disclosures"
The two ristols made one report but
as the noise filled my ears went down.
l was bewildered, half-unconscious, but
realized that / was hurt.
"Shoo, now, but 1 'ust raked his
scalp l heard the man say, as he bent
over me- "Say, Yank, we must have
another shot. You cut powerful close to
my ear, and mebbe l doged bit. Come,
fair play, ye know"
tried to rise up but fell back, and at
that moment two bushwhackers pushed
out of the woods and came running up.
heard loud talking, oaths, threats,
and bullet from pistol tore through
the cloth on my shoulder. Then / must
have tainted, for the next thing remem-
bered was of being carried on the mans
back through the woods. When he felt
me moving, he laid me down al / asked :;
"Say, Yank, how fur is it to your
linesp
"About mile from where we fought
" Straight .rthG"
eyes"
because those bushwhackers was
bent on killing you, and to see fair play,
/ had to pllnt them both. Reckon
hain't no more business in the Confeder
acy after this. Reckon Uncle Sam WON'T
be any wus on me mr. jeff Davis. Yank,
sin y. hang ON to my neck2"
Yes"
"All right. Keep this ere handker
chief sorter waving as a signal to the
pickets, ana I'll-sarrysye safe as an am
bulance."
And clinging to the lack of the man
who had thirsted fol my hood, I was
soon inside the lines, and Sam was ex-
planning TO the pickets:
"No, / ham, no deserter. I've beer
sorter driven in here because Sile Curtis
will see fair play, if it takes a eg."-M
quad.