Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-10
MARK TWAIN.
Some California Testimony About His
Queer War Record.
From the No0ales t0aJ.) Frontier.


From the No0ales tOGI.) Frontier.
Some OF the Eastern literary papers
seem to have just discovered that Mark
Twain Samuel L. Clemens) was a Con-
federate bushwhacler in the early part of
the late war. The fact was published in
Virginia. New, in 1864, during the hottest
period Of the war. And worse-the rival
journal that published the fact went fur
Their, and lntimated in language not to be
mistaken that Mark had violated his pa
role, and was then q fit subject for tar
get for a detail Of Union soldiers.
Lieut. Clemens, having been a pilot on
the Mississippi river, and therefore know.
ing the channel and being familiar with
the points where steamboats, would have
to hug the shore. was detailed for the
special duty of firing into the Federal
transports plying that stream, and be per-
formed the duty effectively. He was cap
tured and parOled. While under parole.
the account stated, he went ahead firing
into Union boats. He WAS captured a
second time, but by a different command,
none Of whom knew he was under parole,
or be would have been shot on the SPOT.
He was sent 10 st. Louis and imprisoned
Ia tobacco warehouse on lash avenue.
He got to thinking the matter oVer-the
probability OF being sent to Grants army,
by which he WAS irst captured, to be ex-
changed, and by which, II recognized, lie
would certainly be shot tor violation Of
his parole-and be skipped across the
plains to the Territory OF Nevada. Of
which his brother, Orion Clemens, was
then Secretary by appointment from Pres
ident Lincoln. Fearing the influence Of
his brother would not be sufficient TO save
him ifhe should be recognized by passing
officers or soldiers Of the Union army ne
did not remain long in Carson City, but
pushed on TO the Out-Of-the-way mining
camp Of Aurora, where be remained until
he fancied the storm had blown over.
When IN Aurora he wrote a series OF
letters to the Yirgiaia EnterDrtse, and
subsequently, acceI ted place on the edl.
tnrial staff OF that journal. His sharp pen
put man named Wills, city editor OF the
| YfrgiRtd Union. to hunting up his record,
and the publication OF the foregoing facts
was the result. For this Mark Twain
sent Wills a challenge TO mortal combat.
The challenge was sent by Marks
'game" little friend, Steve ellis. WiilIs
would nor accept-he would not meet any
man on the field of honor except a man OF
honor. This offended Gillis, highly. and
he challenged WINS. Willis would
not accept, because he had no
cause Of quarrel with ellis, but
his "beet mab" then came N and chal.
| leDged Mark Twain, who declined on the
same ground given by Willis for not meet.
! ing ellis. The three challenges all passed
the same day-within few hours, IN fact
and as duolling had just been made
popular BY the Dog Valley meeting OF
Tom Fitch, "the silver-tonguedv orator,
and Joseph T. Goodman, the pOetical edi.
tOr-in-chief Of the Enterprise. Il looked az
though Six Mile Canon was to be deluged
with blood. But the matter was dropped.
aud Mark Twain was never called upon
by drumhead court martial 10 stand up
and take the regulation dooo Of leadeh
LDilia.