The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-11
4 STORY ABOUT CUSTER.
How Virginia Confederate Once Saved
His Life.

ii is not probable that any one who was
old enough during the late war between
north and south to recollect anything can
ever forget wher the Yankee raiders came.
Certain it is that though ] was but little
child at the time can never forget the
first and only time the blue coats were
ever in our midst. There were only few
thousand, but to our unaccustomed eyes
they seemed full ten thousand as they filed
around the hills and spread over the conn
try in view. When they pitched their
tents the hills and valleys seemed covered,
and when their camp fires were lit it
would have been beautiful sight had it
not been so sad one. Nothingcould look
beautiful, though, that meant destruction
OF life and property to us, and that was
what the enemy in our midst meant TO US,
we thought. All night long we could hear
the whack, whack VI their axes MS they
knocked down the fences and cut them
up for their camp fires.
This body OF cavalry was part OF Gen.
Sheridan's command, Gen. Custer COM
handing, which came TO the valley OF the
James toward the latter part OF the war,
and, indeed, il was not many weeks before
that saddest OF all sad days 10 southern
hearts-the nh OF April.
Gen. Custer mode his headquarters Mt
the parsonage home OF the Episcopal
minister in the village OF New Market
and his family were protected. Thisgcntlc-
mans little boys took quite fancy TO Gen.
Custer, and wero always going TO his
rooms, which greatly provoked their
mother, and she threatened 10 whip them
II they did not stay out, but the general
would not let her touch them. lie greatly
enjoyed their innocent prattlc and their
Confederate talk" She, though, had had
one brother killed in the war, and another
made cripple for life, and could not help
feeling very bitterly. Gen. Custer left
some most excellent maps here Of Virginia.
MARYLAND and some other States. Gen.
Breckinridge sent for them rs soon as he
heard of them, as they were ~ much bet
ter than anything the Confcdency could
afford. lie gave one OF them, map OF
Virginia, TO nay brother, and l have Il now.
II Is one OF the most correct maps | have
ever seen, and very complete.
Gen. Custer never knew how nearly his
days came To being ended at this time and
place, and but for my father h. would
never have lived 10 fall by the bands Of
treacherous Indiana II was thus:
We lived ON the opposite side Of the
river from where they were In Bucking-
ham, Just above I've river dam. IL was
all important that this dam should bc
saved, Tor 1ye river pond fed the canal
with water for many miles, and il the
dam were destroyed the chief source of
ltchmond's supplies would be cut of.
10 soldiers we're hidden behind the cliffs
and trees ready 10 fire on any one ap-
preaching the dam. Many Intellectual
efforts were made 10 destroy this dam. but
our soldiers guarded II well and there Il
still IL.
The river cmptics into the James only
2lO or 800 yanls above the dam. A bridge
spanned the Tye at its mouth, no that any
one crossing the bridge was in as much
danger from our soldiers guns as those
approaching the dam. Gen. Custer rode
mp 10 this bridge 20 cross, but was de-
tanned several hours by tho burning Of
some wagons. Soine OF our soldiers were
eager 10 Kill Custer and had their guns
leveled on him, but nj my fathers earnest
enireatics they were lowered, unfrcd, aud |
bis life spared. My father urged that the
killing OF une man could DO our cause no |
good, and killing the commanding officer |
would only incense his men and make |
thom lay waste aud destroy norc than
ever.
We afterwarl learned that Gen. Custer
had planted cannon ready 20 shell our
house, because soldiers had been seen
going from there Ia the ellis below, when
he was induced TO spare II 10y Mn R
Tin whose yarl the cannon we're plantc,D,
who begged that he might spare Us, for
she assured him that Mr. C, my father,
was not at home and could have no hand
In the shooting 81 his men, and told him
how hard she thought Il would be TO fire
upon women and children because they
were ON that side Of the rivet Con. Custer
did not fire upon us How little did lac
dream that In sparing us he spared the
family Of one Who had saved his life a
short time before. Nm. r. had every
rcsson 10 think my iather was thea In
Richmond.
Fortunately Tor IN We lived ON the south
eide OF the James and that WIS NJ high at
the time that they could not cross with
their ponioon bridge and every ono along
Tho ivcr took good carc that their boats |
were either sunk or sent adrifi, and thus
all means 81 communication destroyed.
aud all We S.w oi the invader WIS from
across the rivcr. They shouted over To my
father To come over and preach Ia them,
but he declined, telling them lac preferred
10 keep the river between them.
My mother and another lady went down
into the lower part III the yard 10 look at
them, when they werc startled o. hear some
thing 70 Zip" by their heads They did
not know their danger, hut some Of the
servants called ont, "Run, Mis.---R;
they are pointing their guns al you" Nv
mother had not rnu for twenty years. but
she ran then. and her curiosity after that
was confined 20 the housc and What sho
could see from The windows.
There were many henuic deeds during
the war, but none drawer than that oi a
youth Of sixteen during this mid. This
10y stopped 10 take mp fallen comradc,
place him on hons,, hold him ON AMI
pallop by In the lace Of an approaching
land Of cavalry. They we're close upon
him, when his oomnlde who had lost n
leg ia the var and could not help himself
--icll, but he never hc-itatod an instant.
but quick ~ thought Jumped down, nut
linn ON bis horn and dashed by the Van.
KEGS. They find upon the two repeatedly.
hut the shots fell harmless. n Il lad me-,
been that they were riding magnificent
horses their escape would have been i'm.
Pos1oic' Nc.
Execution by EiestricIty.
albany, N. ", Jan. l0.-The meeting
OF the commissioner aptointed 10 lnyesii.