The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-07-01
4 STORY or THE WAR


h.scn neutral. OF had tried 10 b. now te-
came cuefrillxs anc bushwhArkers and
lost no opportunity Of killing Federal
Aftsr that burning Mostly had no DIM.
culty Ii securing all tho men he could
handle, other guerrilla hands sprnn9 into
life In the various valleys and scfupied OK
nothing which would cripple the enemy.
know thai scores 81 Federal prisoners,
who would otherwise have been treated A.
prisoners. we're shot down a. soon tls cap
iured on account Of that burning.
Among those who turned bashwhaekcrs
was an Old man named Humphrey. living
about two miles from Strasburg. He was
e2 wears old, quito lame In ono lex from
hip disease, and upto the burnine was look.
cd upon rs kind-hoartesl. good-natured
and forriylng old man. Tho federaIs
burned the houses and barns OF his two
sons. further down tho valley, and one
day two or three drunken soldiers came
u bis house and demanded dinner. he
refused TO give them anything. Ono OF
them drew d revolver 10 shoot him down,
hui the weapon was accidentally dis
charged and Mrs. Humphrey was NOR
After her death and burial old Hum.
phrey disappeared and was next heard .,
In tho mountains. He lived IN cave anu
became bushwhacker. That term ~
hardly strong enough. lie became mau-
hunter. While q Confederate IN hent-
ment, he had little TO do with them, secur-
ing his arms from his Federal victims,
and his few provisions from INC Iarln
houses. In his old age the man became
an avengIng spirit. There was some
. ..s,siIlna Of Federals. He hung about
camps and picket-posts and marching
columns, and he took desperate chances
10 crafty his thirst for blood. II no
came across three foragers together two
would certainly bite the dust and no
would not hesitate to attack even where
the number was Ave. -,
In one year old Humphrey killed thirty
ak Fedcrals. mako the statement on
the authority Of people who saw the tally.
Tho old man preserved relic from each
body--knife, ring, watch-chain or button
and there was no chance TO mistake tho
Ono day, In making . scout near Cross
Keys, l was discovered by . scouting par
ty OF ten Federals, and ran into tho
mountains. The pursuit did not end here.
Some OF them dismounted and hung TO
nv trail for another hour. 1t was In
avoiding these men that ] accidentally
stumbled upon old Humphreys hiding
place. II was verltable cave, warm and
dry, and well hidden, and had entered
it before knew 1t was occupied. Tho
old man was not at home, but l had
scarcely detected signs that the place had
an inhabItant when voice called from
tho e,iaon at the rear end
"For Gods sake, who Is it--Yank or
Reb?"
"Reb, I guess. Who are you"
"Then there Is no HOPPER he groaned.
struck match and advanced towards
him. On o rude bench was dish Of fat
with rag in 1t for wick, and as soon
as / had lighted this / could see every
thing In the cave. On the hard stone
floor lay prisoner, tied hand and foot.
He was o Federal, second lieutenant,
and belonged either to the Twenty-flfth
New York or the Twenty Pennsy-
vania Cavalry. Having afterwards lost
my notebook am not sure OF the regl-
mcnt.
The cave contained bench or two, q
pile Of straw and two or three quilts for
a bed, and lot OF trophies in the way OF
guns and sabers.
"Who are you 2" asked OF tho man as
! bent over him.
Lieut. johnson, ri Sherman's Caval-
ry," he answered
How came you here?"
II was riding with dispatch last
evening when ! was bushwhacked and
made prisoner. Ihavc q bullet In the left
shoulder
who brought you here?"
An old man. who acts rs II he wero
,razy."
1t was the first prisoner old Humphrey
'ver took, and ! greatly wondered overit.
lis policy was to kill, and how came he
0 spare this mans life?
VINO are you9" suddenly asked tho
ris0ner.
Zone OF Gen. Early's scouts"
"Then ! have no hope. You may have
he heart, however, to hand mo drink
I water. lam burning up with fever"
There was gourd on the bench and the
urest, coolest water ran down the rocks
the door. raised the mans head and
o imblbed more than pint.
His hands were tied together Mt tho
rists and the cords had sunk deep into
he flesh, Iscvered The bonds with my
llllc uuu IuDbtu Ills udiiuS uIllll llkc tlIs
ulation OF blood was restored.
"Ged bless you for that have snf-
cred leath twice over!' no said, sort O.
reakng down likea woman.
His wound had not been dressed.
ropph him up, cut away his coat and
hirt. and washed off the blood and dressed
10 wound as well as possible under tho
/ was finishing the oper-
tion When heard step behind me, and
3 rose up and turned my head old
humphrey sprang upon me. He had
un with him. and why he didn't shoot
10 down could not guess unless 1t was
} thehopc OF making another prisoner.
Theold fellow sprang at me like an en-.
lgedtiger, and during his first fury he
Dt tho better Of me. However, after
,rugele OF three or four minutes he lost
Is wind and tied him hand and foot
hen 10 broke out In revilings, and such !.
lths and imprecations never heard be-
ire or since. He boosted that he meant
J torture the lieutenant TO death, and he
illedsuch curses down upon my head as
d not seem possible for human tongue
} utter.
BY and by, when he had exhausted him.
III, the prisoner asked.
What will you do with mcy"
That was puzzler. had no show to
t him into our lines. could not remain
cre and guard him, and as for leaving
IN IN tho hands OF old Humphrey 1t was
1t tobe thoughtof The old man had
ldlred privations and brooded over his
rongs until he had become insane. His
wings showed that.
I'm tell you" replied tothe prisoner.
no was on his feet 20 try his strength.
am going nwny for threehours. When
rdurl ! shall take you 10 Port Re-
lille. Dc raady."
With that i waikel out. 1t was slx
,srs before returned. The prisoner =
Is gone. The oil ia4A lay on his back
Il where had seem hin last, and US
nj over him sls that hn MAS dead.
day or two str q s.s0.!er whom we :
pturd stated | ! the li.si,oiIant got .
ELY into Stra yurs. Detroit Free