The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-02-07

prisoners were captured. AS usual
we paid little attention to them during
the day, but in the evening when they
we're inspected, previous to being for
warded to Richmond, it was discover
| ed there we're number of officers of
rank am ing them. 1t was with no
slight annoyance that I recognized
with these my cousin and former
friend. Robert Nixon. He was a
Philadelphian by birth, and although
his father was hot Southerner in his
sympathies, Bob had accepted a
Colonelcy in the Yankee army. He
had often paid visits to, his relations in
Virginia, once spending whole sum-
mer with me at my old home. On this
occasion he had, of course, became
well acquainted with David, SO when
he saw David passing about among
the men. detailed to guard the prison
ers, he greeted him as an old friend.
But David had no idea of lowering
his dignity 80 far as to seem on good
terms with a Yankee Major, SO he
gave very brief responses to Nixon's
inquiries after the home people.
Nixon perceived it and unwisely at
tempted to reason with David, con-
corning such ungrateful treatment of
one, who was not only an old friend,
but who was at that very instant a
prisoner of war ia consequence Of his
having came South to tree David him
self from slavery.
David listened to these arguments
in dignified and solemn silence, then,
waving his right to be heard in his
own defence, contented himself with
the laconic rejoinder, "Dat may be all
so, sar; but all de same, you cum out n
dem boots" Nixon protested angrily
that he had never heard Of anything
so monstrous; but as he saw others
receiving the same treatment, he was
forced to comply.
You see, we had to do these things
from necessity. We were i'll fed and
i'll clothed aud our only chance for
comfort during the following winter
was to provide ourselves with boots
and coats taken from the prisoners we
captured. $50 out'n dem boots Maj
or Robert Nixon came, receiving in
exchange very much patched and
worn pair of shoes from Colonel David
Lane, who had blackcned the same
articles an hundred times for Nixon,
when visiting us. Ifever there was q
man disguised with the whole human
race it was Nixon, as he saw one OF
that race whom he was willing to shed
his blood to free, calmly and admir-
iug.y contemplating his feet encased
in his eNixon's) fine new Cavalry
boots.
This little episode soon spread
throughout the camp, and was every
where received with great glee and
applause by the r,en, the officers were
supposed not to know anything about
1t. 1t was David's performance OF
the following day. however, which OBJ
tanned him greatest celebrity as a
wit.
It seems that David had been one
of party who whilst on little mar
anding expedition had captured d
Suffers wagon with its owner, David
being the fortunate man to capture
the sutler himself, who was no lesser
person than great black negro. He
came into camp leading his captive by
the collar, pausing now and again to
shake his fist in the face of the trem
bling darkey, breathing the mean
while dire threats as to what he in
tended to do with him. It was at this
critical moment that Gen. Rosser, fol-
lowed by a number of his staff, met
the couple. The General took in the
whole situation at q glance, and called
out to David, "Wel. Colonel, I see you
have prisoner there; what do you in
tend to do with him ?" David's ebony
face gradually lost its ferocious aspect,
and, spreading his mouth in broad
grin, he responded, "You see Gen'r'l
as / catched him, he b'longs to me, SC
I thot I'd SEN him down South an
sell him.
I thought the General would have
died laughing, and as for the men
standing about, they simply rolled or
the grass and shouted. The story wa.
told around every camp fire that night
and Colonel Lane was the toast of the
hour I have no doubt that every
man who heard the story that nigh
will heartily join me l.: the ferven
wish that the Colonel may long live t
beg tobacco from all his friends ant
former companions in arms, to enjoy
telling how he wore 'Marse Bob. Nix
on's" boots that winter, and at last dy
ing at green old age:in the iaith. ma.
peacefully sleep in the shadow of th'
Old Thumb Run Baptist Church.
Charlotte Neus: Mr.. Alexande
Foil, q prominent citizen Of Cabarrus
died at his home in Concord in th'
54th year of his Charlott'
drummers who have come in from
trips down the Carolina Central tel
the Ne,os that considerable excitemen
prevails in the Scufletown section o
Robson county, over the supposed
reorganization Of the famous Henry
Rarrv 7 r,wery ranp that terrorixeC