The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-03-13
Roman's. :Ansedote. Fiction.
A STORY OF THE WAR.
l. = An EN REBEL.

| ->eFSl; III ZIG dilG iilFtllOi( pIIioti,
will stories Of the war of the Union
cease to be told, with the 'Circumstan-
ces' which gives them an interest not
to be found IN history. Here is a good
| one
After Sheridan's troops had carried
out that order to burn ten square miles
of the Shenandoah Valley there was a
more bitter turn to the war waged in
that locality Many OF the confederate
farmers who had been neutral, or had
tried to be, now became guerrilas and
bushwhackers and lost no opportunity
Of killing federal.
After that burning Mosby had no
difficulty in securing all the men he
could handle, other guerrilla bands
sprang into life in various valleys and
scrupled at nothing which would Grip
pie the enemy. know that scores of
federal prisoners, who would otherwise
have been treated as prisoners, were
shot down as soon as captured on &C
count OF that burning.
Among those who turned bushwhack-
crs was an old man named Humphrey,
living about two miles from Strasburg.
He was 81 years old, quite lame in one
leg from hip disease, and up to the
burning was looked upon as a kind
hearted, good natured and forgiving old
man. The federals burned the houses
and barns Of his two sons. further down
the valley, and one day two or three
drunken soldiers came to his house and
demanded dinner He refused to give
them anything. One Of them drew a
revolver to shoot him down, but the
weapon was accidentally discharged
and Mrs. Humphrey was mortaly
wounded.
After her death and burial old Hum
phrey disappeared and was next heard
of in the mountains He lived in a
cave and became bushwhacker. That
term is hardly strong enough. He be-
came i man hunter. While a confed-
crate in sentiment he had little to do
with them, securing his arms from his
federal victims, and his few provisions
from the farm houses. In his old age
the man became an avenging spirit.
There was something appalling in his
tireless vindictive trailing of federals,
He hung about camps and picket-post
and marching columns, and took des-
perate chances 10 crafty his Unsuitable
thirst for blood. If he came across
three toragers together two would GER
tainly bite the dust and he would not
hesitate to attack even where the MINI
| Der was five.
In one year Cd Humphrey Killed
thirty six federals. | make the state
ment on the authority of people who
saw the tally. The old man preserved
a relic from each body-kniie, ring,
watch chain or button-and there was
no chance to miss the number.
One day in making scout near Cross
Keys, | was discovered by a scouting
party of ten federals, and ran into
the mountains. The pursuit did not
end here. Some of them dlsmounted
and hung to my trail for another hour
1t was in avoiding these men that I ac-
cidentally stumbled upon old Hum
ptrey's hiding place 1t was a verita-
bic cave, warm and dry, and well-hid
den, and had entered it before | knew
it was occupied. The old man was not
at home, but had scarcely detected
signs that the place had an inhabitant
when voice called from the gloom al
the rear end:
For Gods sake, who is it--Nank OF
Reb"
'Reb, | guess. Who are you?'
Then there is no hone y h. groaned
| struck match and advanced to.
wards him. On rule bench was {
dish Of fat with rag in it for a wick
and as soon as l had lighted this | coult
see everything in the cave. On the
hard stone floor lay a prisoner tied hanC
and foot He was a federal, seconC
lieutenant, and belonged either to Ink
Twenty fifth New York or the Twenty.
fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Having
afterward lost my book | am no
sure of the regiment
The cave contained a bench or two
a pile of straw and two or three quilt.
for bed, and lot Of trophies in The
way of guns and sabers.
Who are you?' | asked Of the mar
as | bent over him.
Lieut. Johnson of Sherman's Caval
ry,' he answered.
How came you here?
4 was riding with a dispatch las
evening when | was bushwacked an,
made prisoner. have bullet in the
left shoulder
Who brought you here1
AN Old man, who acts as if he were
crazy.
1t was the first prisoner old Hum
phrey ever took, and / greatly wondered
over it. lis policy was to kill, anc
how came he to spare this mans life -?
who are you?' suddenly asked The
prisoner.
One of Gen. Early's scouts
Then | have no hope You man,
have the heart, however, to hand me {
drink of water. | am burning up with
fever.