The National tribune., 1890-08-28
CAPTURING A TOWN,
Aud Subsequent Retrcnt in Good Order.

CAPTURING A TOWN,
Aud Subsequent Retreat In Good Order.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Comradc Shri
yer, writing from the Quapaw Agency, Indian
Ter, asks me TO tell the boys how two advoutur-
Gus young blue coats captured ID the little town
OF Montezuma, Tenn. and with your permission
| 1 Wall endeavor 10 comply with his request.
The little episode am about 10 relate hap.
nened in June, 1862 at which time ComTadC
/ s., or dick, as we called him, and the
writer were privates in Co. A of the 18th Ohio.
A few days after the evacuation of Corinth, we
pitched our tents at Bethel a station on the rail
road between Corinth and Jackson, Tenn, aud
about 81 miles from the latter place, expecting
/ TO abide there for time and obtain n few days
4 Of muCh-noeded rest
There vas other work TO be done, however,
/ aud our season of rest was cut short by an or
! der for the 18th Ohio, with parts Of the 29th
and 30th ILL., TO embark aud proceed by rail
/ toward Jackson, where they were 10 co. operate
with brigade of infantry and Col. Marsh S
cavalry, in a still-hunt, commanded by Gen.
/ Logan, which meant the seizure and occupation
of jackson.
Before leaving Bethel, detail of go men was
called for, TO guard the Engineers while bring
ing mp the telegraph from that point to Jack
son, and Dick and | CHANGED to be of the mum
Der set apart for that duty.
We Started from Bethel on Friday morning
one day IN advance of the rcgiments-with
three days ratious in our haversacks, and hav-
lng 10 assist the Engineers in pushing their
lat containing the wire, the work soon became
very rdOnUtouUUs.
Henderson Stahon-about miduay-was
| reached Saturday evening new instalment
OF wire 10 be taken on az that place had not
arrived, and, with only one days rations
ahead We were destined 10 wait there and nut
IN the time as best we could until the wire
came, which might not be for two or three
days
Forging at that carly stage Of the great
drama was regarded hy our commanders rs be-
ing criminal, aud offenders, IL found, were So
verciy dealt with.
Sabbath passed, but no wire came. patch
Of the finest dewb0rrcs ! ever saw, large and
luscious supplied the place OF sowbelly and
bareback. and We had "A Sabbath feast which
am sure has never been forgotten by any sur
ylylng e0mradc who was a member Of that
guard detail.
While the boys were gathering and filing up
on the delicious berries. Lieut.. Carothers. of
the 18th, who had charge of the guard, was
luzuriating at the home of "A wealthy cid
planter, who lived not far from the station
The Lleutenants account when he returned
late IN the evening Of his royal entertain
ment. the hOspiia5le kindncsscs that were
sh0wcTcd upon him, the delicious fruits, the
excellent hot biscuit and good butter. honey,
rich milk. etc, was a little too inspiring for
Dick and j, and our plans for the morrow were
soon concOctcd.
We slept under the same blanket. and that
night we spread our pallet a little distance
apart from the rest OF the guard. and the next
morning. before the Lieutenant or any Of the
men were astir VIC had partakon Of "A hastily
prepared breakfast Of smoking coffee meat and
bareback, douued our accOuteTmcnts and linn
and ny y.gr
with which 10 satisfy the wants OF the inner
man. During the latter half OF our slow and
WearisOme march, a WagOnToad which led
an a westerly direction from the station had
been chosen rs our line Of operations. and in
tic cool Of the morning the distance between
Us and the station widened more rapidly than
We had any idea Of, and we were not little
surprised, on making inquiry Of au old citizen,
10 learn that we were about eight miles from
whore we started.
Finding the people, almost without exception.
friendly 20 the old flag aud Hospitality inclined
toward those who wore the blue we felt that
We we're iu 40 great danger from Tcb cavalry or
Bushwhackers, but were none the less careful
70 keep q sharp lookout ahead for breakers
Learning taat there was a little town called
MonteZgma only half q mile farther on we dc.
cidcd % advance cautiously until we could get
a good view, and If things should appear IN the
least suspicious We would Tctrace our steps.
Reaching the summit Of little hin wc had
an excellent view Of the village, which con
tanned about 20 houses, aud as there were no
horses tied OF men 10 be seen on the streets and
all was quiet, we concluded to ads vance, keeping
under cover a. well as possible aud give the in
habitants little surprise. We marched in in
good shape, and having reached the center Of
the unassuuinP little city, we Glanced touotice.
in large printed letters, over the door Of GER
tam building
STORE AND rOsTOFTIcE;
but imagine our surprise on entering. 10 find
the room occupied by eight or ten men, not
armed, but most Of them stout. st-loOkInp
fellows, aud none much beyond the meridian
Of life.
The surprise was complete, for they were rs
much astOuishcd rs NC, and without the least
manifestation Of alarm on our part VIC tried to
appear perfectly 1t home" which under the
circumstances, was the best thing 10 do. See.
ing that We were peaceful aud well-digposed
they soon became quite communicative, and
began 10 ply u with questions relative to our
army what command We belonged 10. where
we were camping, and asked 10 be allowed 10
examine our LnIelds," which, Of course we
cmphatiCaliy declined 10 do. Ia answer IN
their questions We were careful 10 give the i'm
preston that We belonged TO q body Of troops
that were near at hand.
Not wishing 10 be interviewed TOO closely
and then walked out.
We lost no time until more than half the
distance 10 the station had been covered, when.
feeling that we were no longer ia danger from
pursuit, we took it more lcigurcly, making
several cails, and having, with Confederate
scrip, made the purchase Of all we cared 10
carry Of meat, biscuits butter, honey, etc, we
wcndcd our way slowly 10 the station, where
we arrived little before night The wire had
come, and carly Ia the day the guard aud En-
glheers had moved on, leaving a Corporal and
Two o. three men 10 guard some tools and
other property which were 10 be taken 10
Jackson the next morning on a construction
tram which was 10 come along about 8 o'clock
We tarrIcd that night with tho Corporal aud
his guard, and the next morning we all boarded
the train and ran into Jackson just in time to
see the Engineers and detail push their car 40
10 the depot and dispGTsc
Tho Lieutenant fumcd little and threatened
to have us arrested and punished, but when
reminded that we had simply followed his ex-
ample, and being informed the game was one
that TWO could play al, hc seemed content to let
the matter rest. +. Ross Lieutenant, Co.
H. 18TH Ohio, IudianOla, Iowa.
Chance 10 Make Money.
ME. EDIToR:
Having read Mr.. Mooreheads experience plating
with gold, silver aud nickel / feel II my duty ia