The National tribune., 1888-03-15


gloriously successful campaign against At
lanta. Just as we reached the gates of that un-
fortunate city, and the glistening spires of her
steeples had become visible, l was taken down
with n fever and was sent back to Chatta-
nooga. few days thereafter | was favored
with 30days furlough for home Passing
through Louisville | was obliged to-stop at the
Quartermasters Office for transportation. There
was large crowd of furloughed and discharged
soldiers present on the same errand as myself
Our papers were handed in and examined, and
then clerk called off the names and handed
back the papers, accompanied with an order for
transportation. The name called next after
mine was that of Robert Stton. The name ap-
peared familiar to me, but could recognize no
aequaintanceship in the cOuntenance of the
soldier who responded to the name. As we
passed out of the office my comrade was Joined
by pretty and well-dressed young lady with
babe IN her arms. / had seen that lady be-
fore She was my old patron at the Shelby
vile postoffce. felt that needed no intro
duction to her. and l accosted her st once. She
was prompt to recognize me- and gave me
formal introduction to her husband, reminding
me of my former distrust Of him. and adding
told you he would take me home with him
to ONO as soon as he was discharged, and we
are on our way now"
So, then, you are discharged from the serv-
ice?" interrogatiyely remarked TO Mr.. Sit
ton.
Yes sir; my three years were up more
than six weeks ago. but l didn't get mustered
out and paid off until last week"
| Well, Mr.. Sitton, / congratulate you on
| your success in this Southern country. You
/ go home to resume the duties of citizen with
good start in domestic matters"
| es, sir; reckon have got as good wife
| and as pretty little baby as the country can
! afford; and that is not all, sir pocket full of
! greenbacks-enOugh to buy farm when get
! home"
"And he came by it honestly" broke in Mrs.
Sitton. " You remember Jim Wyatt, the rebel
who wrote the letter you showed me once;
well, he turned out just as l expected. He was
| a regular bushwhacker, but he is done for now
| Bob spoiled his fun for him"
How about that, Mr. Sitton?" I inquired
!" Well, sir, just this way. ] came up from
| Alabama last Spring on 20-days' furlough to
| see Susy here, about two miles from Shelby
| ville / hadn't been home three days before I
| heard of Wyatt being in the neighborhood. It
was we'll known that he had committed several
robberies and murders of Union people in Lin
coin County, and | thought it about as well to
| be on the lookout for him. One day I had
been up to town and was on my way home
| that Is, to where Susy lived with her mother
| when two men darted out of the woods close by
| the road, and was their prisoner in a moment.
One of them was jim Wyatt. / knew him at
first sight, although | had never seen him be-
fore. felt mighty mean to be taken prisoner
by him, when | had thought all along to shoot
him the first time / should set eyes On him.
They took my pistol and jack-knife from me
| and hurried me off to their camp about five
miles back III the country, where there was
about dozen more guerrilla cutthroats, and
all provided with good horses. suppose Wyatt
would have shot me if be had been alone. He
wanted to do it. but his companion would not
let him. That night the whole party started
off in the direction of McAIinnville, taking me
with them, and mounted on as good a horse as
any of them had They tied both of my legs
to the stirrup. straps but in the dark / had un-
buekled the straps and was ready to slip off the
first good opportunity | should see. Just be-
fore daylight we had to pass stream Of water
and here we had to go in Indian file. Jim
Wyatt was the last man, and / was just ahead
of him. was tolerably slow going across. as
was thinking if | escaped at all about now was
my best chance, and l was a little surprised
that Wyatt was so easy in letting me fall be
hind. just then | saw what Wyatt was up to-
The others were some rods ahead of US. He was
getting his pistol out to shoot me. In a second
gathered one of the stirrup- straps in my right
hand, and suddenly turning my horse, and
with the iron stirrup swinging at the end o
the strap | dealt Wyatt blow that knocked
him off his horse. l immediately recrossed tbs
stream, and before 8 o'clock / was in the camJ
of detachment Of Stokes Tennessee Unior
cavalry"
" But about those greenbacks you spoke Off
"Oh, yes; / don't forget that. Well, you
see, when knocked Wyatt off his horse and
turned back, his horse, now without rider
followed right after me. When got into camp
everybody seemed to think the two horse!
ought to belong to me, and so / kept them, anC
that same night l got back to Susy's house
She was worried considerably about me because
did not come home the night before, but sh,
was glad enough when did come. She helped
me to put the horses in the stable, and she tool
the saddle of of the other horse, the one Wyatt