The National tribune., 1888-04-05
STRANGE PREMoNITIoN.



EDITOR NATI0EAL TRIBUNE: Seeing the
narrative OF the Phantom Iorseman,' re-
minds me of a true incident that came under
my observation, an incident which has made
so deep an impression upon my mind that now,
quarter OF century almost having passed,
the rgcollcCtiGus of the event which / shall at
tempt to narrate seems as vivid as though it had
occurred within the past year. There is not
that romance attaching to il that there IS to
tho Phantom H0Tseman" Still it wound up
with a tragedy. But / anticipate
Irwin Moody came into ecamp Of my regi-
ment SD Ind while we were being organized
in August, 1862, at Madison. Ind, an entire
stranger 20 ms all, bat with q commission in his
pocket signed by Gov. O. T. Morton, Of our
State, giving him the position Of hdiutant of
the 93d Ind. lie was decidedly Eastern in
his manners. and although deportng himself
as q polished gentlemen and scholar, yet he
made but few friends
The Lientauauts became nc once Jealous of a
stranger stepping into position they all covet-
ed, and gave him but little encouragement in
has arduOus duties while we Of the rank and
file in our wild Western rolliCking style MINI
licked his every action and order IN a manner
truly provoking. But the true gentleman and
Christian scholar Irwin Moody. bore all with
ont q sign that il gave him pain. We only
learned this much of his history that his home
was in one Of the Eastern States that through
influential friends he had secured the commits
sion Of Adjutaut Of our regiment We all re-
solved to hate him. because he was more pol
lshcd In his manners than we knew how 20 be.
Bat time changed all those feelings to the
greatest Of respect and finally to love
On June s, 1861 we a mixed command, m
der Gen. Sturgis.) were marching leisurely
through the State Of Mississippi, hunting that
slippery foe Gen. Y. Z. Forrest, When near
Ripley, Miss, the command was halted al noon
and told they would be permitted to stop long
cuogghto parjakc 0ilguch, said lunch consisting
OF bareback and s0wbelly, with possibly little
sugar rs dessert. The writer al once broke for
the welcome shade OF 4 small scrubby oak, COM
monty called jack oak by the natives where
! soon rcgaled the inner man with the Tatlons
Uncle Samuel had issued 10 NE through his
QuarteTmastcr-S Sergeant, Hclmsly Wood after
which, slipping NY kuapsac6 mp undermT head
as pillow, j stretched myself SIT full length,
contemplating a snogzc. ] had reached the
brink OF the river ana was about 10 take pas
sage with the tcrryman who promised to safely
carry me 10 the Land Of Nod ? when | became
conscious OF approaching footsteps and with an
effort ! opened my cyJs and found Adj t Moody
at my side. lie remarked that ! seemed COM
tortabIy situated and taking q seat by my side
began a conversation which ] could see was
forced. aEd that something Of more Importance
eugF1ssed his mind. Finally taking a photo
from his pocket be said. Sergeant would you
care fer one OF my pictures at the same time
handing me one. ] replied I should preserve
II as precious keepsake Hcsaid, When yOu
set back home again and look at that pct
uTc sometimes, Think Of me. This in 4 sad
and mouruiuI tone which went straight 10 my
heart. ] replied ] would certainly 30 50, but
should expect 70 see The original often in our
home IN Indiana, that Co G would never con
sent 10 uis Tct lrhIiI- 10 Als Eastern home until