St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-17

our quarry. With these two curiously DIFF
ferent additions 10 our force we wended
our way OnwarI Arriving at a thick
grove OF trees IN rayine halted the men.
What was / 10 do on rapid scout with
these incOngruOus companions? Even If /
could mount them both and take them
along with me. my Confederate friend
might-dOubtless wOuld-make il precious
awkward for us. by crying out or shouting
when we were trying 10 surprise party OF
his late comrades. An idea struck me.
and carried it out without
loss of time. / asked my friend from
Africa if he could guard the prisoner until
j retured. 1t was then about noon. and /
would surely, j told him. come back early
next morning. He said he could, and would
keep the gentleman for US. l told the
0ilicer TO sit down in the angle Of a rail
fence. and assured him he would be unhurt
II ne madet no move. ! put the slave in
front OF him. gave the latter loaded car
bine and told him to
SHOOT HIS PRISONER
u he, on any preCeXt whatever. tried 10
rise. Then we rode away. How the mat
ter would turn out / knew not and cared
little; but if j had time TO think / should
have said the chances were ten to one that
/ would never see the captain OF guard
again.
We executed the duty assigned to US
and an arduous and important duty il was
and started on our return. About 9 o'clock
next morning. as we again neared the spot
where we mad left the strange couple, the
men were craning their necks for a sight of
the spot. When we came into view of that
angle of the fence, there, Just as we had
left them. were they-the officer seated. and
IA i'm IA
For twenty mortal hours had they main
tanned their positions! Now we had horses
10 spare and we took both men with us to
COyingtOn. In the frame building used as
headquarters y, ere several officers waiting
anXiOusly for the news we brought. |
had been twenty-four hours i'm the
saddle and was precious tired, but /
knew that in Gen. a. j. Smiths bright
vocabulary there was no such word as ia
tigue where duty was TO be done: 50 / told
my story and answered all questions asked
me, well aware. meanwhile, that ii was as
likely as not that ! would b ordered TO
MOUNT AND RIDE AWAY
again. In due course L spoke of my cap
tain and the officer was turned over 10 the
provost guard. Then l told the general
about my cOlored friend and the service he
had rendered. 1t must be remembered that
the Emancipation Proclamation was not
made until Jan. /. 1863 and that under the
orders of commanding officers interference
with the peculiar institution" especially
in a state not seeded, was ticklish bust
ness.
Il could not leave this man." said L.
"He had done us service and his life
would not have been worth five minutes
purchase after we were gone. They would
have Killed him as they WOuld q snake
What is to be done with him?" Before
Gen. Smith had time to reply small man
with red hair rose TO his feet
Turn him over to me-" he cried, 81 am
Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky. Now.
gentlemen, a little subscription if you
please, to help the boy" and he ''passed
round the hat' with much success.
Jim" said he 10 the colored man, "here
are $50, and here" (he had been hurriedly
writing), lis a pass across the bridge.
Away with you, and don't You stop until
you reach Canada" The man needed no
further Instructions, but in five minutes he
was making the best time of the season
toward the Ohio river.
In all the long years that have passed
since September, 1862, l have never seen
that negro again, but / have an abiding
conviction that L shall meet him yet, for
the world is very small. Doubtless twenty
three years have changed his appearance
materially, but l think | should know him.
Some day it will be my lot to see passing
the dishes in hotel dining-rOOm. making
up my berth in sleeping-car. or, for all
know, preaching to the brethren and
sisters i'm colored church-One Of the first
slaves liberated on Kentucky soil.
AN OLD SOLDIER.