The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-06-19


Gus adventures and hair breadth escapes
reads like a page from ii work OF hctIon.
and would scarcely be credited nad Inc
narrator omitted to give dates, IocaHles'
and the names of the actors in the exciting
life drama in which he was an active par
ticipatOr. 100
gins Major German, / received orders TO re-
port to Gen Forrest for picket duty on the
Cumberlal d River, between sparta and Gal
latin. | there received orders TO report to
Gen, Forrest at Murfreesboro, which did.
Gen. Forrest wish ed me to undertake COM
mission entirely foreign to the duties OF
soldier, being a 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.
Senator Sims at Richmond, Va, for duty
on behalf of the Confederate Government.
! net Senator Sims, President Davis, Vice
President Stephens and Wlnder IN confer
ence and they unfOlded the plans. Cen
eral Forrest was to make 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 unorganIzed. and 1t
was their desire that / should organize
those men and march them to Springfield
at the appointed time, as a contingent to
Forrest and Marmaduke.
This plan was carried out so Tar as Cir
cumstances would permit Invent to North
ern Missouri and organized the Paw Paw
militia: General Forrest started through
West Tennessee and General Marmaduke
through Northern Arkansas, 1 had organ
lied 5000 men at Blackeet Hills, ready for
marching orders. when l learned OF For
rests defeat at Jackson, Tenn, and Mar
maduke's defeat fifteen miles from Spring
= field, which drove the men back TO bush
Whacking.
There we're a number Of incidents on my
trip l returned to General FORESTS COM
mand and asked him for pass. In his
gruff way he said: 60 to HI for pass;
II you can't steal through the Confederate
lines, you can't steal through the Yankee
4rted on foot from Franklin. Tenn,
for Hickman, KY, making the trip in ten
days. and stealing through both lines. the
Confederates and Federals being picketed
from Gallatin to Memphis,
At Hickman, tired, dirty and ragged from
swimming streams and climbing througn
and over bushes, went to hotel and ate
supper That night l heard music III the
parlor and going up l saw two young
ladies, one playing the piano and the other
singing. / knew that il they. We're Conted-
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 me 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 svmpathizers with my cause, and
asked their assistance to get me a 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 l got the pass
and left for ST. Louis. l claimed that / was
on my way to Kansas to visit relatives, and
that I was Union man. The boat was
loaded with Federal soldiers who were
going home on furloughs or for the purpose
of re- enlisting. was we'll 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
nv body in the river, Nv money was that
of the Bank OF West Tennessee, and was in
bills but in those days a S. bill could be
cut in two and each end was good for 81. 30
in fact, change was scarce. and was gener-
ally made in that way. Each end OF s.
bill was good for 81.
When I reached st. Louis had my West
Tennessee money and 81, 600 in greenbacks.
/ went to Bingham. Wright u 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 q
st. Louis-a man could not leave the CITY
nor even obtain work in the city with out 8
certificate that he had taken the oath o.
allegiance. I was not going to take the
oath and finally devised scheme. Going
down to the levee met an honest lr1shmaI
by the name of Murphy. got in with him
made him drunk and bought his certificate
for $50. Being an Irishman myself was
not afraid of the name. Invent to the Wedge
house and bought horse for $3.50 and LEI
town. When about four miles out / me-
two Young ladies and saluted thems They
returned the salute, and saw that they
wore red and white ribbons around theiI
necks. Turning my horse we went to thell