Daily Yellowstone journal., 1889-07-03


les, of sDme northern paper, which
contained resident Lincoln's procla-
NATION offering absolute pardon and
security To any soldier who would vol
unfairly surrcader To the nearest
United States military post, etc. |
arcs ms the captain entered he at once
said
Lieutenant, | have here some cop
les Of Mr.. Lincoln's proclamation,
with orders TO get them conveyed TO
the enemy. in some way, rs speedily
as possible. Can you aid me in do
ing iti'
With the exubcrance of youth, for
1 was then but stripping, in my teens,
| jumped at the idea, saying:
Certainly, captain. nothing's cas-
ier-hcre, one of you men" said |, ad-
dressing the reserve of the guard, who
were budding about very poor fire,
find Dixie for me that was the ami
mails namcl. Hurry up now" Upon
which there was such yell of Dixie"
and such a whistling, ms would have
almost reached the animal had he
been in JET Davis back yard, in
stead Of munching a ham bone not a
stones throw away.
The dog caught, it took but a few
moments TO tie the bundle of half
sheets securely on his broad, black,
curly back, and leading him myself
down 10 where he could see tho long,
gray line of grim warriors opposite, i
started him with q Go il, Dixie"
Go. good fellow" and off he sprang,
soon covering the few hundred feet
separating US from the enemy.
| looked over and saw that all our
preparations had aroused the sentries
on both sides, and the dog was being
watched by hundreds Of eyes-by
none more sharply than those of the
officer commanding the southern pick
cts. Dixie reached the line some dis
lance from this Official, and in less
than ten minutes every Confederate
soldier, MS far as we could see them,
was reading copy of Mr.. Lincoln's
incendiary proclamation, for, from a
southern point Of view, it could be
considered nothing else. | saw the
Confederate commander reading n
copy, then he turned and seemed TO
speak sharply 10 some subordinate. IL
he directed the seizure or suppression
of the paper, he probably saw il was
too late, for the most of his command
read the proclamation at the same
time he did.
Turning to Capt. Goss, ! said,
That's a good dog, captain; If he
comes back he shall have extra ra-
tons for this days work"
And he has earned them" said the
captain, ''for | was really at loss TO
know just how TO place those papers
where they would do the most good"
After a smoke together and a chat
on camp topics, Capt. GoSs left me TO
return TO his wi quarters. The rain
came on heavier as the day waned;
putting on my almost brand new
overcoat, quite an elegantaifair which
| had got recently from New York,
| strolled down near the place where
l had sent Dixie" off on his mis-.
chievous errand, looking for the dog,
who had not returned. | whistled
and called for him without effect;
just then | thought | saw him or
something stir in a bush in front of
me. | stepped across a small dry ditch
TO examine it, when my heart seemed
TO stop beating, for the instant | had
crossed the ditch l heard the ominous
click Of a half dozen rifles, and these
words:
Halt or you are a dead mani Ad-
vance without making a sign, or
you're a goner!'
| had stepped across the fatal line,
and was "a prisoner of war" My first
instinct was fight, but O glance at the
determined faces, the bright eye be.
hind each rifle aimed straight at me,
checked that idea. For u second even
| thought Of resistance, of calling for
aid, but common sense guided me, and
| walked deliberately over TO the other
side. could hear behind me the bus
tie and confusion among my own
stalwart black fellows, some Of whom,
| was afterward told, actually cried at
their helpless position, so far as aiding
me went
The officer IN command of the Con-
federate pickets stood directly behind
the guard on whose post | entered the
Conlcdcracy. and, extending his hand,
gave me Il hearty shake, assured me
that this MAS IAN unexpected but wei
come pleasure, and then said, Lieu
tenant, step this way, please"
! followed him tO a wrutched little
cabOose mudeo OF rough boardsund some
pieces Of rough canvas. Into this shan.
ty | preceded him.
Dismis ing the guard who had nc
compauiGd Us, he then began;
My uamo is Randolph-CapL Ran.
dolph, N g. infantry aud yours
isf'
"North, Lieut.. North, - United
States colorcd infantry, and / should
like, said /, ito ask you seriously il
you intend 10 hold me as a prisoner OF
war. who by such a mere chance have
fallen into your handsi'
To this Capt. Randolph replied'
II regret to say, lieutenant, not
only that / must mold you as a prison.
er Of war, bat that, owing TO the fact
that | myself saw you sending that
lncendiary document Of Lincoln'soycI
the line, | am puzzled 10 know just
what 10 do with you. However, ]
will send word n Gen, Gusts Lee,
and act upon his orders.
This ho proceeded 10 DO forthwith,
then turning ~ me, saidi
Make yourself at home, sir; Il will
loo some time before tho orderly re-