New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-01-24

Calling a couple of men he told them to take me
to the house and let me wash and drink. We
started, but he called me back saying: "YanE.
hold on; | want to see your boots. What size are
they ! think they'll fit me. Pull 'em of, quick.
You won't need 'em any more"
/ obeyed, feeling, : suppose, as the minister did
when | made him pull 'em Oft He took the boots,
told us to hurry up for we were going to leave
pretty soon, and calling up his sergeant heard HIM
give the order TO call in the sentnels and have the
company form III front. Then he walked behind us
to the house.
l stopped and looked at poor George as I passed
him. He was lying in the road face up, with ball
through his head, dead. The JOhnnies had stripped
him and saw enc of them wearing his clothes. A
little further OH we passed the Rebel that Billie aud
had shot at dead also; he had two balls through
him. my guards told me, and some OF the darkIes
were DIGGING a grave for him little further on
we found another Johnnie lying OH the ground and
two or three of his comrades standing around him.
" How did he get hurt y L asked the man
who stood by him. One of them an
turned and fred back as he was
running and dropped poor Pete here. He's a regm,
lar deyi. had as fair shot ct him rs i could
wish for. and the BOYS here will tell YOU don't
often miss" We passed along, and l couldn't help
feeling proud of Dilly's shooting and l thought:
Johnnie. you'r hear that devil again, and pretty
quick, too"
Az we approached the house handsome young
lady came ont on the porch, and sad to my guards:
wait a moment, ] want to sec that Yank' she
was joined by he mother, and they walked up to
me and looked me over as though | was some wild
animal am not noted for beauty-never was ;
and on nat particular occasion presume u.u look
pretty tough l was covered with mud aud dirt
from my fall, bareheaded, my face covered with
blood from the cut on my head, aud in my stock
ings the captain having my boots.
Ugh" said the girl, what dlsgusting-ook-
ing object! Did you shoot HIM :" she asked of one
No" said he, IL Int him with my carbnc"
why didn't .you kill him." SAID the old lady
vindictively. "Iwi5h could see every tree on my
plantation hanging full of dead lankS"
Madame" said 1. before night you'll see more
live Yanks on your plantation than you ever saw
leaves on your trees"
They turned away andmy guards took me around
to the servants quarters for wafer We went into
darkey's cabin and Il ine-iO0king old aunty got
some water, washed my head. clipped tho hair
around the cut aud plastered ii up rs quick and
handy "A surgeon. She did not speak a word dur
ing the operation out of fear suppose OF the john
MES. she had just got my head nicely bandaecd
when we heard shot. One of my guards ran out
and the Other cooked hIs carbne aud said: - Yank,
if you make a move III down YOU Before could
reply the other came running III yelling. " Bring
out that prisoner quick" As we stepped outside
we heard more shots aud the captain ran out OF
the house, shouting. Fall IN. men fail in BE
hummng, and one man went down. Mount.
shouted the captain. Sergeant. take n couple of
men and the prisoner and make for headquarters
across lots. Get there with him at all costs y ; aud
turning 10 his company he gave the order " BY
tours TO the right. forward. Rallopp The sergeant
brought a horse for me- and hurryirg me
turned back OF the negro quarters on the jumlsJl
cast one glance up the road aud saw body OF our
cavalry coming on the gallop. and was hurried
away.
As we broke from behind the negro quarters we
struck large field of hundred acres or more.
CHANGING ahead saw it was nearly surrounded by
woods and OH htte to the left of the lIHe we
were Golug saw n sight that thrilled mo through
and through. Coming out of the woods dozen
lengths ahead of a body of bummers. came BiliS,
his horse Tying aud Billy driving the spurs at
"Boots,5 he shouted, we've got en-"
The sergeant sweryod 10 tho. night. and as he
turned he swung little of from me. heard
shot aud the thud of the ball. and the sergeant
fell from his horse. We were going at full s;ecd.
and JohuIie on one side Of me held my horses
which sped, and pulling the horse suddenly
to the lett yelled to Billy to fire He did tue and
at once. The other pulled up, yelling, aurren-
der, don't shoOt' BY this time Billy up to rs.
and a crowd of bummers in the rear. the two
Johnnies were disarmed and was free again.
Billy" SAID ], you're a trump
Are you hurt much Boots :" he asked
NO only a cut on the head" SAID /.
"Well. I'll see you later. ! want TO help catch
the rest Of the Johnnles. Take my pistol and come
on; see, there they go Oh toward the main road,
but got Duchy 10 send some cavalry ahead, for
reckOned they'd take that course; and there the
carbincs. They We run against the cavalry. Come
on. boys, wen cut 'em on" And away
we went after the company OF .Tohnnes who were
on our right across. the fcld but now found their
retreat cut OIL. The Rebel captain wheeled TO the
left 70 escape the cavalry IN his front, but We had
the shorter line and cut him of again. be cavalry
were coming mp fast IA bis rear and we had HIM III
a trap. On seeing the crowd of bummers rushing
across the field ia his front he recognized that he
was scooped, aud pulled up. Shots from three
sides were plungng INTO ms ranks aud he threw up
his hands. The bugle from the cavalry on his
right sounded Cease firing" and the firing stopped
all round. Billy aud gaIlOped up aud got to the
Johnnies the same time as the major IN command
Of the cavalry did
The FIRST thing | said was: Cap take off those
boots, and be id quick about IT,"
Hold on" said tho Major don't rob him of his
boots"
why, Major" answered, "it isn't an hour since
he captured me- and the first thing he did was TO
put on my boots, aud now want them back"
oh SAID the Major, all right by tho way
are YOU the fellow named Boots :"
Yes, sir that's what they call me-
Are those the boots you took from the ElderP
"Yes, SIR
well those boots change owners pretty often,I
think"
turned, TO the Rebel captain. Hand me those
What an Internal liar you are" said he; "You
told me there were no troops this side of the
"Strategy, Cap strategy; KNEW when told you
III oselIttle lies that you'd be gobblcd If you stayed
at that house half an hour,
wanted. ] picked tho Rebel captains mare and
rode her 10 Savannah and took her from there
North, sh" was the finest fastest piece Of horse
arms, etc, and Billy and rode back to the house
to sec about burying poor George, We had the
darkies dig grave, and as we found the place
Overrun with bummers we collected enough TO fire
the usual soldiers salute, over his grave,
marked the place Of burial and turned sadly
away. He met soldiers fatej for not
all arc killed in grand and glorious charges to the
stratus of martial music and tho thunder OF artil-
lery. Thousands of our brave boys met death in
little skIrmishes like the one just described
dropped out, the victim Of some Rebel skulker or
But no died dong his duty, obey
ing orders promptly, cheerfully and brayely. l
wrote full account of his death. place of burial
etc. to his father at Cleveland. Ohio, and be sleeps
his last sleep IN the family burial place. Billy and
| kept on the bum through to Savannah. and both
arrived there without further accidents though we
had some rather tight squeaks. Doors