Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-06-26

Gus adventures and hair breadth escapes
reads like page, from work Oh letion,
and would scarcely be credited had the
narrator omitted to give dates, localities.
and the names of the actors in the exciting
life drama in which he was an active par
After the retreat at Perryville, in 1862, be-
gins Major German. received orders to re-
port to Gen. Forrest for picket duty on the
Cumberlaid d River, between Sparta and Gal
latin. there received orders TO report to
Gen. Forrest at Murfreeshoro. which l did.
Gen. Forrest wish ed me to undertake a COM
mission entirely foreign to the duties of a
soldier. being trip to st. Louis on private
business for my commander. went to st,
Louis and returned Just prior to the battle
of Stone River, in which l participated
with my battalion.
Six days later was ordered TO report to
Senator Sims at Pichmond, Va, for duty
on behalf of the Confederate Government.
I net Senator Sims. President Davis, Vice
President Stephens and Winder in confer
ence, and they unfolded the plans. Gem
eral Forrest was to make a raid through
West Tennessee, and General Marmaduke
through Northern Arkansas, the two forces
meeting at Springfield. Mo. Scattered
through Northern Missouri were $4,000 true
Confederates, as yet unorganlzed. and it
was their desire that l should organize
those men and march them to Springfield
at the appointed time. MS contingent to
Forrest and Marmaduke.
This plan was carried out so far as CIR
cumstances would permit. lwentto North
ern Missouri and organized the Paw Paw
militia; Goneral Forrest started through
West Tennessee and General Marmaduke
through Northern Arkansas. had organ
lied 6,0O0 mun at Blackfeet Hills, ready for
marching orders, when l learned OF For
rests defeaO at Jackson. Tenn, and Mar
madukes defeat fifteen miles from Spring
field, which drove the men back to bush-
whacking.
There were number OF incidents ON my
trip. returned to General Forests COM
o,1 onl L-o1 i'm fpt. n Tn
gruff way he said: go to hi for pass
II you can't steal through the Confederate
lines, you can't steal through the Yankee
lines"
| st irted on foot from Franklin, Tenn,
for Hickman, KY, making the trip in ton
days. and stealing through both lines. tho
Confederates and Federals being picketed
from Gallatin to Memphis,
At Hickman, tired, dirty and ragged from
swimming streams and climbing through
and over bushes, went to q hotel and ate
supper. That night l heard music in the
parlor and going up l saw two young
ladies'. one playing the piano and the other
singing. / knew that il they were Conied-
crates the ladies would be the truest
and best Of friends to the soldier boys so /
asked them to allow me to play. They
looked surprised but let mo have the use
OF the piano. sang, Maryland. My Mary
land" which at that time was new. From
the effect the song had on them knew they
were sympathizers with my cause. and
asked their assistance to get me pass by
steamboat to st. Louis. as the step-son of
Judge Fitzgerald, of West Tennessee, in
whose loyalty the Federal soldiers had con-
fidence. The next morning got the pass
and left for st. Louis, L claimed that was
on my way to Kansas to visit relatives, and
that l was Union man. The boat was
loaded with Federal soldiers who were
going home on furloughS or for the purpose
of re- enlisting. l was well supplied with
money, and whiled AWAY the time playing
poker with the men who, If they had known
who was, would have shot me and thrown
my body in the river. My money was that
of the Bank OF West Tennessee. and was in
bills, but in those days a So bill could be
cut in two and each end was good for $3.50;
in fact, change was scarce and was gener-
ally made in that way Each end of a 50
bill was good for 81.
When reached ST. Louis had my West
Tennessee money and 81. 600 in greenbacks.
i went to Bingham, Wright IL Co., with
whom had transacted the private business
for Gen. Forrest on my previous trip. Here
had all of my money changed into gold.
The question then was, how to get out OF
st. Louisa man could not leave the city
nor even obtain work in the city with out
certificate that he had taken the oath Of
allegiance. | was not going to take the
oath, and finally devised scheme. Going
down to the levee met an honest 1rishman
by the name Of Murphy. | got in with him,
made him drunk and bought his certificate
for $50. Being an Irishman myself l was
not afraid OF the name. went to the Wedge
mousse anu DOuEhb Il npIbb lOl pDJp anu lbIJ
town. When about four miles out I met
two young lalles and saluted them. They
returned the salute, and | saw that they
wore red and white ribbons around their
neeks Turning my horse, we went to their
home together. That acquaintance was my
starting point in Missouri. Their father
was Lieut.. Col, Kioble. Of Prices regi-
ment, aud their homo was the hot bed Of
the whole Southern organization in North
Missouri
At midnight that night 1872 determined
Confederates met there, inside the Yanko o
lines, and within four miles of st. Louis,
twenty eight oil them being commissioned
officers.
/ left the next morning, going through
the State on the south OF the river, making
my reports through the mail at Paris, Ill.
My next eXper ences OF interest were in
st. Charles County. where / met with
Craighil's Dutch Home Guards. At War
renton, VIII lie eating dinner twenty-six OF
them came in to arrest me. showed my
certificate of oath, pleaded Union scnti-
ment, cursed Jefferson Davis and tho whole
Southern Conlederacy as an honest Irish