The National tribune., 1886-10-14
THE BEWITCHING WIDOW.

hl0A hoA SAh AihAS ANoAAbs.
THE BEWITCHING WIDOW.
A Great Joke That Was Played Upon Two STAFF
Officers.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In the Fall of
1862 while Gen Grant army was OH the march
southwark via Holly Springs, Miss, we camped
az Lumkin's Mill. The boys as usual foraged
each side of the road as far as could be done
with safety. The foragers coming TO the farm
or plantation of Mrs Walker, widow with
two daughters, she appealed to a couple of staff
officers who happened 10 be passing that way for
protection against the dspredations of the boys.
OF course the officers. being gallant, used their
position and authority TO protect the ladies.
As the army returned North after the capture
of Holly Springs by Van Dorm, we camped again
at Lumkins Mill, and the natives hearing of
our retrograde move, the aforesaid widow sent
colored boy TO our division headquarters with
a note inviting those two staff officers TO spend
| the night at her house, for her protection
against foragers. One of the officers was an A.
| Q. NJ and the other one an Aid on our divis-
ion commanders staff. The Adjutant-General
of the division and the A. Q. Nj. had praeticed
| Jokes upon each other, and the q. Nj. being
ahead, the Adjutant thought the present good
time TO get even, and set 10 work organizing a
bogus expedition TO capture the Quartermaster
and Aid and parole them.
Ii was about two and half miles 10 Mrs.
Walkers from our position. The Adjntant sent
a messenger over 10 our camp for three men
who would volunteer to go with the expedition.
| A. l.. Bates Geo NJ. Bird and the writer of this
article enlisted in the service Of the Adjutant.
We were escorted 70 division headquarters by
| the messenger and duly prepared for the cap
| ture. receiving the following instructions: The
staff and 0rderlies were to accompany us TO Mrs.
| Walkers and
SURROUND THE HOUSE.
But only we three "high privates" and an
| Illinois officer, disguised as Confederates, were
| to enter the house. the others to remain outside,
mounted. We were also provided with blank
paroles and instructed 90 take their side-arms
and horses, and also their money and valuables,
| if we could obtain the latter without force or
| violence
The party left division headquarters in time
to arrive at Mrs. Walkers about midnight, that
we might surprise them. We surrounded the
house. making all the noise possible Our select
party Of four dsmounted and advanced TO the
front door. We awoke Mrs. Walker by loud
raps at the door. She raised window and in
quired who we were and what we wanted. We
| replied that we were Confederate soldiers, and
were informed that there were a couple OF
Yankee officers in her house. She came into
the hall and opened the front door, very much
alarmed and excited. We assured her there
| was no cause for alarm, rs the house was sur
rounded by cavalry. She conducted us to the
room occupied by the two officers, which was
upon the left side and at the rear end of the
hall. The Yankees were yet asleep, and We
raped them up, telling them they were prison
| ers; that the house was surrounded by cavalry
They lighted lamp and opened their door in
short order. surrendering to us as prisoners o.
war. We told them we belonged 10 the Isl
Tenn. Cav, Col. Jackson commanding, and tina
we were in camp about 10 miles OFF. We Offered
them their choice, TO be paroled or go with u
20 Col. Jackson's camp
THEY ACCEPTED THE PAROLE
and they were made out in duplicate anC
signed by them both. We gave them eacl
copy and retained a copy ourselves. They
were completely taken by surprise. They
would look at each other and then at u.s. re
marking: We'll, boys, you have got us thi
time"
One of our party informed them if they haC
any money or vauabes we would relieve then
of any further trouble in carrying them. A
this proposal they rebelled, saying they wouli
go 10 camp with us; that they knew Col. Jack
son by reputation. and that he would accOr
them protection as prisoners of war. One o
our party Bates made himself so conspicuou
that they inquired his name. He replied tina
/ "a
regiment gave him. The noise had arouse
the young ladies Mrs. WIS daughters), VIII
were sleeping upstairs, and they came down int
the hall while our leader and the prisoner
were in the parlor signing the paroles.
: The rest Of our party were on guard in tn
hall. The young ladies, after taking in tn
situation as they saw it, greeted us kindly an
showered their blessings upon US for being j
T. the Confederate cause We made our prison
0 ers pledge their word and honor that the
would not leave that house until daylight cam,
. under the pretext that we wanted time enOug
i TO get safe distance from their camp befor
I they could give an alarm. Then with the ~
y roles, duly signed, sidearms, and one of thei
horses-we could find only one horse-we r,
T turned 10 camp.
1 Next morning, just as the column was in lin
!, ready TO march,
\ OUR CAPTIvEs CAME IN,
q one riding and the other walking. Upon NEE
i ing the division commander, he inquired
n them what was the matter. Captured, by u
iumping Jehosaphat!" they replied. The Ger
+, eral, being religiously inclined, demonstrate
e with them for their profanity, when they e.
L planned further by saying that they had mad
It their escape. All day, as the army marchC
c through rain and mud, the division staff an
n Orderles were quizzing the victims about the
Il being captured.
y AS division headquarters were waiting
night for their tents and baggage TO come u
d having selected n camping ground, the Adj
d tant drew from his side-pocket the parole
v asking the gentlemen if they recognized the
own writing or signatures Just then an AT
p bulance came driving up. He informed the
l. they would find their side-arms In that vehcl
II Then came a colored boy riding the captur,
r. horse. will not attempt to describe the scel
4 that followed.
lie The Adjutant wrote the story just after
lie occurrence, and had il published aud illustrate
is in Haper's Weekly think in November
T.. December IS62-the story was entitled ct
Ct Bewitching Widow and ordered copies of q
At paper sent to their friends in the Northe
or States. The writer of this has often thong
ID that he would like TO inform Mrs. Wake
family Of the truth of the capture of tho
n. Yankee otiicers.-E. G. WILSON, Goth Mo-, NJ
as pleton, Bourbon Co., Kan.
10 Knew Where His Office Was.
IadiaaafOlis Journal