Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-08-01


for IL was Captain J. 7uthan, OF
the Seventeenth Indian t.avalry. his
attendant and prisoner, reached his
command, about seventy-ave men,
who had been detailed as scouts after
the Columbus fight In tho meaRtimo
the Captain had said TO his prisoner
that II he would promise not TO at
tempt escape he would be treated
properly aud bo protected in camp
from any trouble. The promise made,
tho young Lieutenant felt easy. When
they Joined tho command OF scouts the
soldiers around the camp-ires eyed
the prisoner-the only one in camp
inquisitively, and burly Pennsyl-
vanian remarked, the Captain having
turned asides
what do you want with that little
rebelp Wen just have to kill him to
get rid Of himw
Captain, said the prisoner, next
morning, "they are talking about kill
ing me; am TO be protected"
"Who talked about itpr tho officer
asked,
THAT man there" pointing TO the
Pennsylvanian who had made tho
threat
Dang you," said the officer, ''don't
you know that this is my prisoner
and will shoot the man who touches
himP"
To the prisoner he said: 81 have
your promise that you will not try to
escape. | viii take you at your word.
We are going from hero TO Macon, and
may get into several skirmishes on tho
march. A horse will be provided for
you, and when we get TO fighting you
must keep to the rear"
On the march to Macon the scouts
fell into several warm skirmishes, and
Captain Louthan was always in the
front "He was as brave man as
ever saw" said Mr.. Howell in speak
ing OF him. "He was hard fighter,
and always kept in front OF his men.
Whenever we stopped on the march at
houses along the road he was as gen.
tie and as kind 10 tho ladies as any
man could be. He would say TO them
in assuring them that their fright was
unnecessary; Madam, these men
shall do nothing that your own SOL
diers would not do. You will oblige
us with something to eat, and trust
you viii not consider il plumber on our
part It is one Of the exigencies OF
war;"
At this time the Federals held Macon
it was the week that Lee surren.
dered-and thousand Confederate
prisoners we're under guard in q large
cotton warehouse in that city, Cap
tain Louthan Joined his command in
Macon, and his single prisoner fell
into the warehouse with the other
prisoners. A day and a night he
stayed there, almost suffocated, poorly
fed, and scarcely cared for at ALL On
the second day Captain Louthan, an
officer of the day. saw him through
one Of the warehouse windows, near
which he was standing, and exclaimed;
why, l forgot about you. You
must get out Of that?'
The Captain elbowed his way
through the jam OF prisoners and
telling him TO 'como along" led
the prisoner out and carried him to
his tent on the bank OF the Ocnulgee.
"YoL will stay here" he said. and
with the promise that you will re.
member that you are my prisoner and
will report here three times a day at
meals. ! will relieve you Of guard"
nr sbf.a sl,.
marking that the "trouble was about
over" asked his prisoner II he would
accept parole II can getit for you.
and you can go home and Heaven
prosper you.
And thus It was that Lieutenant
Howell finished his war experience
and returned to Atlanta.
And now for the after war part OF
the storyl
Naturally, Mr.. Howell, no longer
Lieutenant, has often wondered what
became Of the brave Federal Captain
to whose kindness he was so much In
debted
Four years ago, while on trip
through the West he concluded to 90
to the meeting Of the Grand Army OF
the Republic at Minneapolis, hoping
to find some trace OF him there But
he could near nothing.
Several weeks ago, in casual CONVEX
sation with Mr.. Ira NJ. Swartz, with
Captain Jacobs in charge Of the work
on our new army post something
about the story vvas tnentiopad