The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-08-22
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"Y'aint no Yank, are y'?'
"Pm Confederate officer"
sri do anythin' for our sojers."
said Ton, with Dash in his eye.
"Then come with me-"
And without ceremony the child
was pot on he back Of led horse
beside cavalry man, and rode
with the general and his staff TO
headquarters. When they arrived
at camp the general turned the
child over to an aid, but in half an
hour ordered him to be brought to
his tent.
Now my boy" said the officer,
looking intently into the child's
honest brown eyes, "Tm going TO
send you on an important errsnj.
Though you are boy you must
have the courage of man"
The boy made no reply. He
was looking straight at the general.
II want you to take this"-he
held up something tina, looked like
pill. "Its roll of tissue paper
in tin foil, and ther's message
written on it.. Take it to Gen.
commanding the confederate force
at j.. There's but o.. road
you know the road2 60 down the
pike till You come TO the picket
near the fork by Scragg's tavern.
Take the right fork, and W u'll find
another picket line on The opposite
slope. Do you underestimate
ayes, SIR"
General interposed an aid, i'm
patiently, " this is duty for me-
not for this child"
How could you pass the enemy's
pickets" demanded the gene. a.
sharply. Then, without permitting
reply he went on giving the boy
his instructions.
"You are go young that / think
the pickets will let you go where
you please
"I'm H." interrupted Tom.
care you? Well, you must keeE
up a stout heurt and not looked
frightened"
II reckon l won't be scared con-
siJ'able."
"Take thls." The general put
his finger into the pocket of The
boys jacket to see if it was whole
then, rolling the pellet in a piece o
newspaper, he Slipped IL into tbs
pocket. "It you must lose it, swal
low It."
Swallow itp'
Swallow it,"
al will" said Tom, resolutely.
The general took the little fel
low by the hand. 1t was q Gu.
rious contrast, the grizzly bearded
southern commander looking dowl
from his six feet Of height into tn
boys little round face, and holdln
the chubby fist in his kno ty hand
He was loath to relinquish it; Loaf
TO let the boy go. He was abou
to send the child on a perilous er
rand. He could have sent ma
without compunction, even il b
knew the chances were nine in te
that he would be shot; but thi
boy
SOP he said, suddenly, an
motioned the aid to take him ava,
Another moment and he could nc
have done it.
Tom Lane, Jr., now advanced I
The dignity Of confederate courie
was placed on good naiured hore
which was TO carry him on his joul
ney. The and took him to the Coz
federate picket line, and starte
him eff up the road. He stoo
looking at the faxen haired urchil
whose little legs stuck out On eithe
side over the round Hanks of th
horse at an ootuse angle, wishin
that he might call him back. II
watched the boy till he rounded
curve in the road. The youn
courier turned and smiled: a 8 mi
OF innocence, of courage, OF con
scioIs pride in the work to be done
In another moment be was lost {
the officers view.
That day passed and the mex
The commander, who was waitin
the outcome of his plan of commu
nication, did little but pace anx
iously back and forth before hi
tent. Though abrupt in manner
; he was usually siDgularly kind I
those under his orders. Now h
seemed the very incarnation {
: military severity. When twenty
|, four hours had passed aud his coul
Ter did not return, he became 8
, crusty that no member of his sta
Jared TO approach him.
On the second evening at dus
the pickets heard the clatterin g {
hoIse's hoofs on the pike. The
sprang to their guns, and levele
them 10 the direction OF the noise
A horse came in sight, and on b
, back was the little courier, hatles:
swaying in the saddle, but ridin
at gaIlop. The soldiers gras pc
the bride.
"Take me to the general, quick
, He was deatnly pale and The me
noticed that he was bleeding. Tue
led him away from tho picket lin,
man walking on each side sus
tanning him in :he saddle. As the
walked along he told his story. o
going out he had little difficulty /
, getting within the Union lines, q
anticipated, on account of his your
but was obliged to try sever.
times before being able to lexy
them. On reaching the eoufeder
, ate lines he went to headq 1arter
delivered his message, and ws
well cared for by the generals OF
der.
i The next morning reply to th
message he had brought was give
him, and he started back. Agai
he passed free into the the Unto
, hnes, and again he found difficult,
. In leaving the lines on the oppo
site side. At last, getting some dis
tance beyond q picket who wa
watching him, he resolved to max
dash for it. IL thought h
wouldn't shoot me-" said Tom
"cos / war SO little. l reckon b
couldn't see who / war fur the tr ee
n things."
Where are you hit2' asked one &
the men
"Here." He put his hand on hi
left side below the heart. "Go or
lquick I'm Weakening"
A drop Of blood fell in the dus
at the feet OF rugged infantry
man. He shuddersd and hurrie