Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-07-25

AZ was the man who found you and lei
the cavalry from you.''
"Why, give us yer hand, Captain, w
'uns hev never forgot ye, and ye'd fare vel
IL ye ever fall in our hands,"
"Do you know this Morgan familyP'
ayes, know 'em like book. Twas Col01e
Morgan's overseer, and had been fur twenty
nve years. When he lived in Tennessee
was his overseer, and four year ago, when
he sold out n come to Missouri, came
with him. cause he alters said was the
best man to manage niggers he ever saw
Never had any tronble with but one o. his
niggers, who was great big teller named
Pete. He owned him in Tennessee twenty.
three or four vars ago. Pete was stubborn
and whipped him. He tried to kill me, an
his master to punish him sold his wife \
child, n Pete run of. An the strangest
thing is yet to come. Captain; I'm hanged Il
didn't see that niger last fall, after list
ed in the sarvice."
sit was only striking likeness"
avail, that's what Colonel Morgan said,
but I'd bet hundred dollars it war that n
same Pete"
1.-THE Morgans are very strong Southern
ers, are they not!'
"Reg'lar fire-eaters. From the old man
down all war Confederate. r tell ye the
truth, Captain, l war kinder on tn fence my.
self long time. Didn't like shootin' at the
old flag, but they turned we N hundreds o.
others.n
"Colonel Morgan has daughterf'
ayes, Elsie Morgan, an the pizenest lit
tie rebel ye ever seed"
"Imet her once and saved her from ar
rest and her house from being burned"
"Her mother died ten Vars ago, an she
wouldn't stay up in Missouri when her
father n brother come South"
"Was she in Fort Donelsonf'
ayes, till We larnt you'ns war comm an
then she went to Nashville"
"She will soon have to move from there,
for General Grant will not stop at Fort Don
elson"
ut do seem . Il you'ns hev way o.
goln' just wherever We want to. But II
Buckner ID . had command at fust instead
O Floyd an Pillow ye wouldn't got in here
20 easy"
"Were there any other ladies here from
Missouri in the Sanitary Corpsl'
"Yes, q hull passed."
ibid you know others than the Nor
gansi"
"No, except the Jennings women, the
Ryans and Oldhams."
Luke thanked the wounded man for the
information he had given him, hoped that
he might soon recover, learned that his
name was Dick Sneed, and promised to see
that he was well cared for.
On leaving the hospital an orderly in
formed him that he was wanted at brigade
headquarters. On reaching General Nc
Clernand's tent he found him surrounded
by his staff and 50 busily engaged that it
was some time before he was recognized.
At last the General saw him and said:
captain Mason, your regiment Is in .
bad condition, and will have to reorganize
and be filed with recruits, but this can not
De done now, and for the present you will be
placed in command of it. Muster your men
as soon as you can and report to me how
many answer to roll CALL"
Hev they made ye KernelW asked
Arkansaw Tom, on learning that Luke had
been placed in command Of the regiment.
"No, have charge Of the regiment, but
monty Captain"
SCOT tn work without tn pay. 'Tain't
fair. faint fair" growled old Tom.
Luke had each company call its roll, and
made out his reports, which he forwarded
promptly to headquarters.
One evening he was again summoned to
brigade Headquarters. Generals Grant,
Smith, Wallace and McClernand were there
awaiting him. He was informed that on
the 21st of the present month February,
1862 they designed moving on Clarkville,
and seven days later to Nashville, unless
orders to the contrary were received.
'sWhat we want, Captain Mason, is for you
to make reconnaissance along the roads
leading to these two Cities" said General
McClernand. 'The country is said to be
overrun with bands of Confederates, and
we want you with sufficient force to start
to night and 60 out at least dozen miles
and report to us tomorrow, or just as early
as you can. Will you do it!'
81 will try" he unhesitatingly answered.
'That's all any man could ask, :" said the
conqueror of Donelson. "How many men
do you want?"
Fifty light horse will be amply SUN
Gent"
.s1ake your pick from the army"
After selecting the cavalrymen suited to
his service he chose in addition his four
tried and trusty friends-Arkansaw Tom,
Max, Snow and COtton-and securing the
best horses to be found, with negro guide,
started at once upon their perilous expedi-
ton.
The pickets were passed, and they were
in q dark road surrounded by forest The
dull splash, splash, splashing of horses feet
in the muddy water was the only sound
which broke the silence. The feet and legs
Of the soldiers were covered with creamy
ooze which penetrated to the skin and
chilled them.
The night was too dark for any object to
be seen, and as Luke rode at the side Of
the guide he held q cooked pistol in his
right hand.
els it woods all the way to Clarkvillel"
he asked the guide.
Eyes, boss, bout all de way, I rechin',"
the negro answered. "Dar am some
fields"
"Are the people about here loyalf'
"No. boss; dey's al secesh-"
"Then we can expect no favors from
them.''
"Dey'd cut our heads Of Il dey could"
"Iheah bosses feetcomin' down tn soad,
Cap'n," said old ArkansaW Tom, who was
just behind Luke.
"How many do you think they aret'
asked Luke, checking his horse
"a hull passed."
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