The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
A STORY or THE WAR.

Southern Historical society the following
interesting paper containing a war story,
was read by Col, Il. II, Alusscr OF CHAR.
ton county:
was commanding the post at Washing.
Ton, Ark, in the summer OF 1864. The
4 Ninth regiment of Missouri infantry, of
(which | was colonel, WAS stationed some
vihree miles from the town on the planta-
ton OF Judge Hubbard along with Frost's
bid brigade, OF which it was part, then
nnder the command Of Col. Mitchell of the
Eighth had been assigned 20 this duty
by Major-Goncral Thos j, Churchill, then
temporarily in command of the district Of
Arkansas. The time OF my service MS post
commandant was during the period when
Gen. Price, with the Arkansas and Mis-.
souri, cavalry, with such OF the Missouri
infantry as could get leave and mount
themselves, was making the celebrated
raid into Missouri, diversion intended to
help Confederate military operations in
Georgia and Tennessee, and Tor the pur-
pose OF recruiting the Missouri forces in The
service. We had had brisk campaign in
the spring, and some hard fighting on Red
river AT Mansfield aud Pleasant Hill in
Louisiana, besides some hard service in
Arkansas, winding up at jenkins Ferry
on the 3lst day OF April, 1854.
Capt James I. Oley, OF the Eighth Mis-.
souri, infantry, with his company, did gar
rigon duty at my post, and was an officer Of
| great skill ~ a soldier rs well ne Of great
intelligence and gcntlemnnly department.
IL was on one occasion his duty to report
10 me q zine lot Oi Federal prisoners, who
had been brought in, among them three
or four Officers two or thrCc licutcngnts
and major The latter, | think, was
from Ohio, and his name was ilOp.n or
some such name. lie seemed 10 be IN OK
cellent spirits, not AZ all east down by his
captivity, and very willing TO make the
most OF his condition. lVJs much pleased
with bis manly and sullicrly behavior.
and expressed nay rc,rei Hlat ! could not
parole him 90 the limits Of the town, OF 10
pfvaic quarters. but told him | lclt sure
Capt. Otcy would make Hun rs comiurtl-
bic as possible under tire circumstance.
aud /, thrWupon, recommended Oicy to
give the prisJncr officer his best huspi-
taiity.
Tie captain marched the prisoners to
the place occupied ~ u prison aud bar
racks IN which Ice hal hi- own quarters.
lie only installed them in his own apart
nents whurc the major aud snblltorns
were to mess with him for the double pur-
pose oi their comfort and lhc greater con-
ycnicncc OF guarding thcul. Oicy had
been IN Prison himself, and having served
the Coulcdemcy IN the Alton pcritcnulIy,
lac could fully realize how irksunc and
tedious is the enforced idiCnoss AMI con-
siraini ~ prison life. lie therefore. made
dispositions for entertaining hi, guests
a. the iull extent of the resources Of the
post.
lie negotiated with John Harper WHO
sold brand new whisky, served ina tin
wiuc-g.as,, 90 - (COnl, dcratrl drink. u
was pure whisky, clear Ms cry stall had been
distilled IN wooden still ami had never
heard OF giugcr. The price VI tnis whisky,
according 90 currcnt quotations. in camp,
was $50 n quart. Otcy secured a whole
gallon; whether his rank as captain in
command Of the guard Which policcd the
town Influenced The vendor 81 alalc his
demand IN consideration Of the wholesale
nature uf the transaction, never inquired.
Anyhow the gallon Of whisky was taken
20 Cept Oteys quarters, where he, his
lieutenant and the Federal officers were
lodged, and they determined TO make q
white night with the white whisky.
The char1clt risiics Of Conicd, rate whisky
when brapi new land Il mrcly survived q
week were is intense drunk power COM
bined with minimum Of headache the
next day. II ought 60 be- mentioned as q
historical and philosophical fact, that the
new whisky used by the Confederate sol.
dicr, whilo IL was always of high fighting
proof, never, in case OF the pruaicst and
most prolonged excess, produced singl,
case Oi dSiiriHu bem,ts. And Il ought Ia
commend itself 10 the Woman's Christian
Temperance mnion ~ anurgumcnt In favor
OF the abolition Of the internal revenue
laws, that new, homemade whisky make,
at least a more hcalthiul and conscryauy,
drunk than whisky that has paid excise
duty.
- II my he conceived that Capt. Otcy''
quarters were on TINT night the scene 81
the most JOYOUS ics,iyiiy, In which She
captive Federal officers were most Gorilla
participants. The great conflict thcr
pending between the northern sud south
cm States was forgotten in the social true,
around the genial jug, Though hc liquol
did not need any pcuuasivcs 10 make \
palaiablo the tOddics were mixed IN On
rups with water and brown sugar, cut Of
"nat" sugar being bCyond tho range o
possibility, except when Yankee convoy
had been recently captured with suite
stores along. Tho wa'vail not only recon
cilcd friend and foo, prisoners aud capi0r
but the Representatives OF the two armies
Boon became last friends and seven ycan
acquainted"
l Inspired by tic feast, and amid tho OK
hilamting flow 81 tho ardent, Mai. BOfci
told the story OF tie circumstances that w.,
90 the happiness Oi his being then tlic pris
onct and guest OF Capt. Otcy.
l, has not been preserved TO what Obi
Regiment he belonged, or 10 what arm
| furps probably the one commanded bl
Gon. Fmnkln. lie had fallen into tbl
han,I Of Gen. Dick Taylor about tho Tim
Den. Banks train Of 80 wagons, loadc,
With whisky and paper collars, was cap
turcd by the Confederate forces, on thl
day Gen. Mouton was killed. II was lh'
9Th day Of April. 1854, near Mansfield, IL
the State Of louisiana From thence h,
had been sent 20 Shreveport ~ n prisonc
oi war with some ! 200 or 1900 Others
and remained several weeks in unoomiort
.ablo confinement Secretary stanton oil
1owcd at the time Of no exchange OF pnf
eneip, bong assured they could be bette
el,arcd nun the Federal army than th
cpturod ConicdcTalcs ffoin our own dc
rletcd ranks. All hope Of any arrange
nonts being elected for an exchange hav