Morris tribune., 1889-04-24
War Incidental Brave Union
Woman.

Woman.
We want to relate an incident of the
late war which we know to be true: On
the mountains of Tennessee, between
Chattanooga and Bridgeport, lived
man by the name of Bob White. He and
his wife lived alone in q log cabin. Bob
was employed by Gen. Rosencrans as
Union spy, and good one he was; as
true to the old flag rs the needle to the
pole, and most valuable services did he
render the Union cause. One day Bob
would be seen dressed as a Confederate
soldier; the next day, perhaps, he would
appear dressed as a citizen, dressed in
butternut clothes; and then again you
would see him dressed as o Union
soldier. Bob was good one, you bet.
We remember seeing him at the fight at
Bailey's Cross Roads, a short time be-
fore the great battle of Chickamauga,
mounted on his old light sorrel mare.
with rope bride and without saddle.
1t was known to the rebels that Bob
was employed as spy for the Union
army, but appeared in so many disguises
that they had never been able to detect
him. His residence was known to some
of the rebel commanders, and after the
battle of Chiekamauga and before the
taking of Lookout Mountain and Mis-.
sionary Ridge, the rebels had possession
of the mountains where Bob's cabin was
located, and rebel sergeant and four
| privates were sent to Bob's house, with
instructions to burn it, unless his wife
gave information as to her husbands
whereabouts.
After the capture of Chattanooga and
Lookout Mountain we were at the cabin
and saw Mrs. White. She was one OF
those tall, lank, slab sided, Ratchet
faced women that is often met in East
ern Tennessee. Chewed tobacco, and
could turn her head over her shoulder
and squirt tobacco juice o distance OF
twenty or thirty feet, and when she
made direct shot with the fluid could
hit cat across good sized room in the
eve every time. She was as brave O
woman as was eyer wrapped up IN
calico, and as true to the Union as was
her brave husband. She feared no one
Such woman was Mrs. Bob White, Of
Tennessee.
When the squad of rebel soldiers ar
rived at Bob's cabin, they found Mrs
White alone, and the following CONVEX
sation took place, as near as we can re-
late it, after lapse of twenty-six years
Sergeant-Old woman, where's Bob?
Mrs. White-None of your business.
Sergeant-Do you know where he is
! Mrs. White-Well, 'sposlng I do?
Sergeant-Well, I want you to tell me
If you don't, have orders to burn you
house.
Mrs. White-Well, here's the cabin
Burn it if you dare to, docking up a
her long rifle hanging on the wall)
Sergeant-Now, old woman, you jus
tell us, if you know, where Bob is.
Mrs. White-I sha'n't do any such ;
Id thing.
Sergeant-Well, then, boys set fire t.
the institution.
Mrs. White took down her rifle, thu
hammer came back with "click," ant
she said: "Go ahead with your burning
d-n ye, but one Of We will drop"
Sergeant-Whst shall we do, boys?
The soldiers all said they would have
nothing to do with burning the cabin, ane
after some further parleying, went away
The next day came a lieutenant and {
larger squad of soldiers.
Lieutenant-Now. Mrs. White, you
must give us some information as tt
where your husband can be found, o.
we shall certainly burn your house.
Mrs. White took down her rifle
cooked it, walked out Of the house int
the road, and said to the Lieutenant
"There's the old cabin where Bob and
live. Bob and are for the Union, ant
we are going to stand by it. You cal
burn the cabin, but one thing is sure
the first man that lights fire arounC
that cabin, dies, d-n him. Now g
ahead"
The cabin wasn't destroyed, neithe
did the lieutenant gain any information
as to Bob's whereabouts.
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