Dodge City times., 1890-06-13
HIS old MASSA'S SON.

Just before the battle of Gaines Mill,
which resulted in McClellan's change of
base and the Seven Days fight, a power
full big negro escaped from his master S
plantation one night, and after skulking
about in the woods and thickets for two
or three days and nights entered our lines.
stood under tree in a little glade in the
woods, with the next picket 100 feet to
my left. Ii was a clear, starlight night,
and about IL o'clock. After had been
on an hour 1 heard suspicious move
ment in the brush opposite me and across
the glade. which was about fifty feet wide.
On such night, with ones ears strain
ed TO catch the slightest sound, sentinel
could detect a rabbit moving in the brush.
l located the noise, but it was difficult to
determine the cause. Naturally enough
believed it TO be made by some confede-
rate who had crcpt up to give me shot.
stepped behind the tree, raised my gun
and cooked it, and then waited. A long
minute passed away and then saw black
object which knew to be man steal in
to the glade. He was on his hands and
knees. and no longer doubling that he
was bushwhacker took fair aim at him
and fired. On the heels of the loud re-
port lie sprang up with shriil yell and
shouted:
''Doan' kill dis nigger-rze yunion.'
The alarm was running around the
picket line when l called to know who
was there, and the same voice answered:
"Why, fze Zeb.''
''Who is Zeb:''
Runaway nigger who wants to jine to
de ymion.''
'.Have you sun:''
"'Deed, no."
"Well, come in.''
He rose off the ground and walked
straight to my tree, holding one big black
hand to the top of his head. My bullet
had cut through the wool over his left ear
and drawn blood. l was soon satisfied
that he was what he claimed to be, and
when the corporal and his guard came up
Zeb was sent to camp.
Next morning hunted him up, and he
turned out to be genuine runaway
man about 30 years of age, and one Of the
most powerful men, black or white, l lever
saw. 1t was no trick at all for him to
back up an army wagon loaded with ], 900
pounds of hay and lift the hind wheels
clear off the ground, although no two
white men in our brigade could do the
same. He was taken into the brigade
cOmmissary department, and when the
battle of Gaines Mill began lie was two
or three miles away with a train of
wagons. My regiment was in the thick
woods, sheltered behind a temporary
breastwork, and although we could hold
the cOnfederates on our front we knew
from the sounds of battle that they were
gradually outflanking us on both wings.
We finally got the order to withdraw.
We broke back sullenly and grudginsly,
and the confederates followed foot bv
foot.
We had just taken a new position, and
fresh troops had come up to protect the
TANKS, when Zeb appeared. was stand
ing behind a tree when he came ND and
exclaimed:
''Lor' almighty, but what everybody
tryin' to do? Seems like de whole airtl
am gwine to smash!''
You'd better get back-you'll get hitr'
replied; but lc raised himself on tip-tOes,
looked into the woods ahead. and sud.
dely called out:
''FO' de Land, but dat's Marse Harryi
Ize gwine to bring him right i'm yere!'
And he dashed by me straight ut the
confederate skirmish line, which was only
few rods ahead of their line of battle,
and ! saw him rush at a young officer al
most opposite me, lift him from the earth
and throw him over his shoulder, and
back he came with his human burdeh,
straight to my tree. His captive was a
first lieutenant in Virginia regiment
one of the regiments coming with jack
son from the valley-and the officer was
son of Zeb's master. myself took him
to the rear and delivered him over, while
Zeb trotted along by my side. He was
handsome young fellow of %, rugged out
in new uniform, and in spite of his deep
chagrin at being captured in such man
ner he could not help but see the ludi-
crous side of the adventure.
'.YO' mus dun 'scuse me-" said Zeb, as
we made our way to the rear, ''but Fze
dun fined to the yunion army now, an
dem ar rebels is no fit 'sociates fur yo'.
Tze sorry if l mussed yo'r clothes, but /
knowed it was my only way to bring yo'
in"
We had the officer about two months
before he was exchanged, while Zeb stay
ed with us a year or more and was then
made assistant porter in some of the de-
partmcnts in Washington.-M. Quad in
Detroit Free Press.