The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1890-01-10
by Prison Life and Hsca DO.
by Col. ]. q. GREEN. }

I
| tory. This day never comes round that
/ do not go into the woods and examine
with the greatest care and nicely the ex.
act growth of foliage on tree and hazle
bush and compare it with growth of April
8th, 1853, my object being to see how near
hazel thicket comes to hiding a horse
and man. Now | viii tell why became
so deeply interested in this particular date.
1t was at the close of this day that / was
captured by Col. Hurst, commanding a
Tennessee regiment in the Federal service.
William Sanford, then youth of seven
teen, and James Barrett of the 7th Cav
airy, myself, DR.. Dickson and John Thorn
son of the 18th Cavalry, were hiding that
day from yankees in Big Creek bottom,
near Anthony Barrels in Shelby county.
How we came TO be separated from our
commands need not be told. The yam
KEGS had. for reasons satisfactory TO them
selves determined to clean up West Ten
nessee south of Hatchie. All their caval.
ry from Memphis, Grand Junction, Boil
var, Jackson and Fort Pillow started out
for raid ON this devoted section, and
there was no escape from them except by
taking the bush and even that was not
perfectly secure, as the sequel will show.
The halle leaf was about the size of sill
yer quarter and hid man and horse ele-
oo,tf,- % a 1fsta,,oa of t,.z,.- J,updroJ 1,a-J,
and if we had gone without eating we
would have been safe. Having watched
the movements of the yankees all day, we
supposed we knew their whereabouts and
went to Anthony Barret's house to get
supper and feed for our horses. Thomp-
son stood guard over the horses in the
bush and was not captured. The remain
ing four went to the house. John Green,
colored attended to my horse and DIR.
Dickson's. Jim BaFret, Willie Sanford
| and John went to the crib, while DIR.
Dickson and myself went into the house.
1t was Just at dusk before lamps were lit.
Before had taken my seat / heard a
noise in the yard and looking out of the
window | saw the yankees filing in
through the front gate. Giving Dickson
the alarm we started for the back door,
only to ind the house surrounded and es-
cape hopeless. My first thought was to
save if possible one of my pistols. To
this end, l thrust it as far as ] could reach
between the bed and mattress before the
yankees entered the room, A lady pres
ent saw what did and after the yankees
left sent it to my family and ! have il
yet. When asked where the missing pis-
toll was told a small lie, which, however,
/ do not intend to defend, as / am not
writing on ethics. Jim Barrel and Will
lie Sanford were in the crib smoking corn,
when looking out and seeing some one at
the door Jim called out in mis- cherry way
"hello! boys who are you and where do
you belong" Another glance showed
them, and the corn fell from their arms
as if they had been paralyzed. In few
minutes they entered the house under
guard. We were closely searched and
everything taken from us-among othev
things a canteen which carried, contain
ing little whisky, which was thought &c
be necessary against snake bite to persons
so much in the bush. Presently an officer
entered the room and took a seat, HI
was a large man, probably over six fee
high, with ford face, blue eyes and vel
low hair. l asked who 1t was and wa
told it was Colonel Hurst. Immediate
" stepped up to him and introduced my
self He met me with courtesy, remark.
ing thai he was'very much pleased in meet
ing me. l replied that also would have
been gratiied with our meeting If the cir
| cumstances had been a little different
Having some knowledge OF his character
and remembering my canteen and what i
had contained two or three minutes before
and thinking to placate my captor | re
marked that | had a canteen of gooC
whisky and asked the Colonel to take &
drink. / noticed peculiar smile on hii
face when l made the proposition; then
turning to his men he ordered Colonel
Green's canteen to be brought and taking
it from the soldiers hand he held it up t.
his ear and shaking gently he handed il
to me. / then held it to my ear and shook
but no gurgling sound was returned. See
ing my disappointed look, he turned to
! his men and cursed them for a set OF
thieves, then ordered his own canteen tc
be brought out. We took a drink, he
drinking to the stars and stripes aud
drinking to the stars and bars. AT sup
per time Col Hurst invited us to eat with
him, and at bed time divided his bed with
me, sleeping on The same bed in which
had concealed my pistol. Among the
prisoners IN Hurst's possession was an ole
gray headed man of Upton named jam
ison. Before We started the next day
Hurst called the old gentleman up anC
cursed him until he had exhausted all tn,
vile epithets that the English Language
will afford for being a rebel and not being
in the army. Jamison excused hlmsel
on the ground of his old age. Hurst be-
came all the more violent until Jamisoni
7 patience was exhausted, when he replied
"turn me loose, Colonel Hurst and 1t
don't get gun and shoot you the mex
time you come through Upton, you may
carry me to prison and keep me there un
please Hurst and he Immediately ordered