Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-03-16

~ VIII AAAf Vt - NHhA 'Hh' -
TAYLOR in tie Mexican campa IN.
lie CO he had alnueheN experience as a
mil tary "a ge0n lie had long left
the army when the rcbe lion broke out.
tut l. the summer of lS6 he entered
n yolunt erreg ment as surge n Beng
under the command OF "A strlplng OF a
colonel, who showed too much Il soosi
ton TO interfere Wi h what the doctor
considered his W prero9at yes. he
rendered his resignation and retired
from the army.
But he could not be contentCd at
home when he knew his services were
required in the field.
In the autumn of 1852, the post of
Corinth, NJ IS then in possession of
federal troops. was attacked 10y a large
confcderat force, nder Van Dorm and
Price 4 desperate struggle ensucd,
which resul ed IN the defeat OF the o
feieratc-. Many wounded confederate
ms well rs federal soldiers. crowded tho
hospitals, and Watson FASTENED to
Corinth and offered his services. They
were la accepted.
tut after the wounded were made
comfortable-all the important opera
tions had been comp cted and the
hospital were in 81 ooth running order,
the doctor was ready TO return to the
north.
AT this time, there had accumulated
uron the han : of General Ro%secrans,
several thousand refugee Hegroes-then
termed %c1HfrdbdHd and Surgeon Wat
son was requested TO take charge of
them for a few weeks.
IAnrtp.r tho tipta ba was in rhnrrp Of
these contrsbands. he gathered much
informal on with regard to the great
staple of the south. and tbs informal on
led him t. become a cotton buyer.
This was regarded as a very danger
Gus business. espec ally within the con-
fe ierate lines. But the profits were so
great and the chances Go make fortunes
i'm "A few Succc.sfU! operations were SO
much i'm favor of the fearless buyer,
that men were iourd Wi.lin1 TO run n Z
risk, of capture, impr ,onment. and
even death IN the prosecution Of tins
exciting business.
The confederate authorities were es-
pocially severe on all persons CAPTURED
while engaged in ths traiic. Order
had been issued bv ell. DAVIS and his
subord nate, 10 shoot and hang north
ern men suspect Il of entering the lines
i'm the capacity of cotton buy ers: while
southern citizens were forbidden TO sell
the staple, save TO southern agents
The object Of Jhe,e orders Wa not
only 10 prevent cotton from find NJ is
way to the northern markets. but u se-
cure tall for the friends, the British
BIO kade runners.
d.. bttt,.,- ttafBpsp tho ggn1a
whether in the bosom of southern
chlvalry, or the breast OF money
making Yankees. And a. green
backs were regarded as more rel able
than southern bonds or confederate
gray-backs. the planters were only toe
Glad to deal with the Yankee cotton
BUYERS for the former.
Special revenue permits were sold by
government a ent~ TO the adventurous
BUYERS; and military officers having
local iur sdiction. eXtorted heayily-a
sort of blackmail for licenses-as the
ord r. usually read, ''for secret service
money. subject to order Ct the general
commauding:' VIII ch secret service
was strongly suspected to be in the
trowsers' pockets of the commanding
officers.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks,
and extra eXtortionate freightS over
government railroads, sops to under
lings etc, the profits were so great
that. as | have already said there were
brave and money-loying men, who
were willing TO run all risks To gain
this much coveted staple.
1t always appeared to Watson, as a
] ;,,,,1,r ,rlt,,- or, tho navt pf tho ,r.v.
ernment and its officials. that instead
of encouraging the obta mig and for
ward NJ of cotton to the north. where
L was iu-t then so much needed,
they should throw 20 many obstacles in
the way of these \ y%enturers who ran
20 many risks t. hunt up and purchase
il.
The doctor made Corinth his base
of operations. and proved a very uc-
cess al hu er.
Armed tn revenue permits. local
license provost marshal permits. and
all the necessary par phernllia OF re-
tape. he was continually on horseback.
V siting the outposts and on er CIR OF
picket stations. where planters having
cotton & sell would meet him aud con-
tract their crops: or hav NJ come with
WAGONS loaded with the staple, would
deliver it into his own wagon on the
SPOT. They were not permitted to enter
our lines. If supplies, such as our
settlers cluld furnish, were required by
the people bringing IN cotton. a special
permit was Necessary, and the articles
and quantities in each case were speci-
fed.
4 pound or one yard over the stipu-
lated amount mentioned in the Provost
Marshal s permit would subject the
cotton buyer to severe penalties and
EXPULSION lro - the lines
\ large pile o. cotton bales accumu-
lateI in the publ c squire Of Corinth,
besides much that had been shipped TO
Mcrplis. the result Of the Doctors
purchases.
Many ol these bales bad been obtained
10y solitary trips INTO tie ] mes OF the
enemy. whore guerr Has and other
troops were cost naally on the scout
for cotton buyers.
Generally the lanters DESTROYS of
sell ne Inc r cotton TO the best adran-
tage would give inform zion, which
would sqvp HIM ron cruture. they