Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1886-03-31

Sunnestied. Knowing that Joking OF Aai
description would subject the perpetfator 70
court martial, he made q bee line 10 the
White House to consult President johnson.
which resulted in a telegram to the Provost
Marshal: @Who are they and where did they
come from?" The answer was direct to the
point. Sergeant Tewksbury and guard
from Dismal Swamp. Did not know the
war was over" After a good roar of laugh
ter the Provost Marshal was ordered 10
receive their capitulntion.
Tewksbury, q virginian, ordered q couple
OF Georgians to come forward, give up
their shooting.irons and stick their fists to
the hdocyment," resolving himself as the
last man and old Dismal Swamp the last
ditch. Tewksbury's description Of how he
asceftained the war was over was amusing.
He and his companions had been posted
o N the edge Of the swamp to watch move
ments OF Yanks from Norfolk, with orders
to remain until relieved. He never was
relieved and had subsisted on game and
fish for three years. He met an old negro
who tpld HIN that the war had been over
about a year, which tickled him better than
II he had been kicked by a mule, as he
fa~eetiously expressed it.
An Anecdote of Robert Toombs.
D.. .- -
In General Longstreet's account of "His
March Against Pope" in the Century Wa
Series, occurs the following:
General Toombs, our Georgia fire.
eater, was given to criiicising pretty
severely all the officers Of the regular army
who had joined their fortunes with the
C~onfederacy. He was hot blooded and
impatient, and chafed at the delays of the
commanders in their preparations for bat
tie. His general idea was that the troops
e out to fight, and he thought they
should be allowed t. go at it at once. An
incident that occurred in the second Manas-
sas champaign will serve to illustrate his
characteristic ot-headedness. As We were
preparing to cross the Rapidan, Stuart sent
me word that he had cut off a large cavalry
force and had all the fords guarded except
one. He asked that l detail Q force TO
guard that point Of escape. The work
was assigned to the command under Gen.
eral Toombs, who was absent at
the time. He had met a kindred spirit in
the person of a wealthy Virginian named
Morton. whom he had known in Congress,
and was out dining with him. They were
both good ~livers, and loved 10 have their
friends with them. In going back to his
command, General Toombs came upon his
tApOP5 oA tilG WI, uuh lululTtu Will ItlcY
were doing there. The explanation was
made. Toombs had had n good dinner and
felt independent. He said he would give
the General to understand that he must con-
suit him before sending his troops out to
guard a ford, and thereupon ordered them
back to camp. As the mystiied troops
marched solemnly back, the matter was re-
ported 10 me, and l ordered Toombs under
arrest. ! allowed him to ride with his COM
mand as we marched against Pope, and ex-
pected that he would make some ~explana-
ton Of his conduct. He did not do
so. and the next / heard of him
he was stopping along the route
making stump speeches to the troops
and referring in anything but compile
mentary terms to the commander of his di-
vision. l sent him back to Gordonsyille,
with instructions to corine himself to the
limits Of that town in arrest until further
orders. He obeyed the command and went
to Gordonsyille. just as l was leaving the
Rappahannock / received a long letter Of
apology from him, and directed him to join
his command. As We were preparing for
the charge at Manassas, Toombs got there.
He was riding rapidly with his hat in his
hand, and was much enthused. / was Just
sending q courier to his command with q
dispatch.
Let me carry i'll he exclaimed.
with pleasure / responded, and
handed him the paper.
"He put spurs to his horse and dashed
Off, accompanied by a courier. When he
rode up and took command of his brigade
there was wild enthusiasm, and everything
being ready, an exultant shout was sent up,
and the men sprang to the charge. 1 never
had any more trouble with Toombs. We
were ever afterwards warm personal
friends