Helena weekly herald., 1889-12-12
Helena, Montana, Thursday, December II, 1889.
ZEB'S PRISONER.
An Incident of the Battle of Gaines
Mill,

Just before the battle or GalneS MILL
which resulted in McClellan's change of
base and the Seven Days fight, powerful
big negro escaped from his masters planta-
ton one night, and after skulking about in
the woods and thickets for two or three
DAYS and nights entered our lines. | stood
under tree in little glade in the woods,
with the next picket 100 feet to my left. 1t
was clear starlight night, and about IL
O'Clock After / had been on an hour l
heard a suspicious movement in the brush
opposite me and across the glade, which
was about fifty feet wide.
On such night, with ones ears strained
to catch the slightest sound, a sentinel
could detect rabbit moving in the brush.
l located the noise, but it was difficult to
determine the cause. Naturally enough l
believed it to be made by some confederate
who had crept up to give me shot. l
stepped behind tree, raised my gun and
cooked it, and then waited. A long minute
passed away and then l saw black object
which l kL ew to be a man steal into the
glade He was on his hands and knees and
no longer doubling that he was bush
whacker, took fair aim at him and fired.
On the heels of the loud report he sprang
up with shrill yell and shouted:
"Doan' kill dis nigger-Tze yunionw
The alarm was rum ing around the
picket line when l called to know who
was there. and the same voice answered:
why, I'ze Zeb!'
"Who is Zeb?"
Runaway niger who wants to jine to
de yunion."
Have you gum"
Deed, no."
well, come in"
He rose off the ground and walked
straight to my tree holding one big black
hand to the top of his head. My bullet
had cut through the wool over his left ear
and drawn blood. was soon satisfied that
be was what he claimed to be, and when
the corporal and his guard came up Zeb
was sent to camp.
Next morning hunted him up and he
turned ont to be genuine runawsy-a
man about 80 years of age, and one OF the
most powerful men, black or white, ever
saw. 1t was no trick at all for him to back
up to an army wagon loaded with 900
pounds of hay and lift the hind wheels
clear off the ground although no two
white men in our brigade could do the
same. He was taken into the brigade com
missary department, and when the battle
OF Gaines Mill began he was two or three
miles away with train of wagons. My
regiment was in the thick woods, sheltered
behind temporary breastwork, and al
though we could hold the confederates on
| our front we knew from the sounds of bat
tie that they were gradually Outfanking
us on both wings. We finally got the Or
der to withdraw. We broke back sullenly
and grudgipgly, ar d the confederates fol-
lowed foot by foot.
We had Just taken new position, and
fresh troops had come up to protect the
fanks when Zeb appeared. / was stand
ing behind tree when he came up and eX-
/ claimed:
"Lor' almighty, but what everybody
tryin' to do? Seems like de hull airth am
gwine to smashn'
you'd better get back-you'll be hitn'
replied; but he raised himself on tip-toes,
looked into the woods ahead, and suddenly
called out:
'Fo de Lawd, but dat's Marse Harry
lie gwine to bring him right in yerew
And he dashed by me straight at the
confederate skirmish line, which was only a
few rods ahead of their line of battle, and
saw him rush at a young officer almost op-
posite me, lift him from the earth and throw
him over his shoulder and back he came
with his human burden, straight to my
tree. His captive was first lieutenant in
Virginia regiment-one of the regiments
! coming with Jackson from the valley-and
the officer was son of Zeb's master.
myself took him to the rear and delivered
him over, while Zeb trotted along by his
side He was handsome young fellow o1
%, rugged out in a new uniform, and in
spite of his deep chagrin at being captured
in such manner he could not help but see
the ludicrous side of the adventure.
"Yo' mus dun 'scuse me-" said Zeb, as
we made our way to the rear, "but I'ze dur
fined to the yunion army now, an dem ar
rebels is no fit sociates fur yo'. I'ze sorry
if I mussed yo'r clothes, but knowed il
was de only way to bring yo' in"
We had the officer about two months be-
fore he was exchanged, while Zeb staiC
with us year or more and was then made
assistant porter in some Of the department.
in Washington.