The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-08-08
KEPT HIS WORD LIKE A soLDIER.
A Confe d.rafe Officer Risks His Life
~ to Furnish a Chew of Tobacco.
1a. From the Ahnnta Constitution

if;I to Furnish a Chew of Tobacco,
E8i From The Aannta Constitution.
Lieutenant c. A Coryeil, formerly
of the One Hundred and Forty first
New York volunteers, Twentieth army
corps, was with Sherman on the fa-
nous march to the sea. One bright
Sunday in December, 1864, the Lieu
tenant was detailed tn take charge of
the picket line in front of Savannah.
on the edge of a rice swamp There
was truce between the pickets, and
everything wore Sabbath like still
ness.a H 14f ft
Coryell had nothing to do and was
out of t"hacco How to get a chew
was the question. Finally han1
some young officer from the Confe =
crate side strollcd out betv cen the
lines CnryelI hailed him at once:
| 81 say, johnny got any chewing
tobacco owe. there p
"Yes. plenty off something good"
"Come overI" shouted the Federal.
Il want to buy some Got lots of
Confederate money but no tobacco
"Can't do it," replied the Confed-
crate. 'it's against orders to leave my
post"
"Well, then, come half way and I'll
meet YOU"
Sorry, Yank. but 1 can't do that
either" answered the Confederate.
"JohEny!" yelled the desperate
Federal, eff I come over to you can l
| get the tobacco and return safely to
my lines?'
"C,.me along, I'll treat you right"
Glow do know that / will not be
taken prisoner
"You have the word of gentleman
and Confederate officer"
| Coryell thought moment. He
wanted the tobacco, and the young
officer had spoken in manly way
| The Federal decided to make the
venture He laid aside his sword and
belt and started across the high and
narrow dixie leading to the Confeder,
ate line. On either side of the dixie
the water in the rice fields was five
feet deep.
The Lieutenant reached the oppo
site shore without any misgivings
The Confederate produced some to
bacon and trade Was made in AT
time Then the two tell into pleas
ant conversation.
Suddenly Coryell saw a signal fut
ier from house some distance in tn.
rear of the Confederate line.
"What does that mean?" he asked
sharply
81 don't know replied the Con
federate
Just then an orderly dashed up OF
horse back and with dignified salut,
said to the Confederate officer:
. "Lieutenant, the General orders yo,
t. take the Yankee officer to head
Quarters"
Ctr>ell was dumbfounoed. Vision
IF Andersonville, Castle Thunder ant
I Libby prison danced before his eyes
He thought of his loved ones st hom
} and the disgrace attached to such
capture.
He cursed the internal tobacco tina
had placed him in such an unlucl:..
position Then he looked at the Con
federate Lieutenant and noted hi
honest eyes and his manly face.
4 Am | your prisoner aske'
| Cor>.H.
Tie Confederate extended his rigll
hand. @
Il offered you my prntecti"n." h
! said. Go to your lines | will fn
= law you over the dixie, and if my bod
. can shield you from Confederate lea
You shall reach Your command i
a safety Good by and God bless you!
Tie Federal started ON his retur
trip. He dreaded the enemy's fir
:. and fully expected chance she
2 would cripple him and cause him I
fall in the water, where death woul
Q be a certainty.
He " as half way across when tt
$ first shot came. There was anothe
i, and another, until whole brigao
. seemed To he firing at him.
G The fugitive walked rapidly onwar
/ until he reached the Federal lines an
vaulted over the breastwork. The
he looked back and saw lis protectt
s;audin2 ON the dyke. The Confe
a crate waved his hand, turned abou
8 and marched back to his own sid
s He had kept his promise like tr'
satdit