Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-05
AFTER LEES SURRENDER.
1he Experience of the Man Who Is Said
to Have Killed the Last HMM Soldier

Az lex LEES SURRENDER.
1he Experience of the Man Who Is Said
70 have Killed the Last Union Soldier.
a rather tall and middle-aged man,
somewhat bald, of pleasant address,
STANDS behind the desk and greets the
guest on his arrival at the Norvell-
arlington Hotel at Lynchburg, Va.
: iils name Is Il. Stockwell Terry, and
ne has the reputation of having killed
rebellion. N - =
Inc circumstances attending and fol-
loving this event are peculiar and
dramatic, and repeat them as they
were related to me not long ago by one
OF Terrys friends.
When the war broke out Terry was q
somewhat adventurous STRIPPING of 16,
and together with two other Lvnchburp
BOYS, Claytur and Smith by name (the
latter, by the way, now the partner Of
q MASSACHUSETTS, man, George De Witt,
formerly of Greenfield, and leading to-
bacco manufacturers in Lvnchburg,
left home and joined Mosby's notorious
land of troopers.
At the time of Lees surrender at Ap-
pomattox and the final proclamation of
peace Terry was for several DAYS de-
tailed with squad upon some special
duty in the interior and had heard moth
Ing OF the collapse of the Confederacv
and the cessation OF hostilities. He
found himself, on returning from this
expedition, in the vicinity Of his home.
and, partly because of little affair of
the heart and partly for other reasons,
asked and obtained few days. leave Of
absence to visit Lynchburg.
AS he logged along alone on the out
skirts of the city. he was astonished to
see standing before him in the forest
road over which he was travelling, and
but few rods ahead, a horse which had
formerly been his, but which had been
captured by the enemy some months
before. 1t was hitched to a tree. and
its rider was not evidently far of.
Terry urged his horse, and was soon
at the side Of his old charger. The
latter recognized his voice, and COM
menced to whinnv and make loud de-
monstrations of Joy in spite of every
effort of Terry's to silence him. The
soldier in the woods evidently heard
him, and was fastening to learn the
cause of the commotion, for just as Terry
loosed the bride rein by which the
horse was hitched, and started ahead
leading his prize, the brushwood parted
few yards ahead of him, and Union
soldier, carbine in hand, appeared.
Driving the spur deep into the flank Of
his mare, he dashed up the Lynchburg
road. expecting to arrive in a few min
utes within the Confederate lines. Out
into the road after him rushed the
cavalryman, who, leveling his gun, fired
after the fleeing trooper. The bullet
buzzed by Terry's head and sped by on
bloodless mission ;the guerrilla turned
in his saddle, and perceiving his pur-
suer standing in the road preparing to
fire again, brought his ready rifle to his
shoulder, and with precision, acquired
by long experience, returned the shot.
Crack !! and then one quick glance
sufficed for Terry. He says the soldier
stagger and fall, but at the same time
saw number of Federal soldiers rush
out from the woods, doubtless to dis
cover the cause of the firing. On went
Terry at the top OF his bent, and as he
urged his painting beast up the ascent
leading into Lynchburg he turned again
and saw severed mounted men, evidently
comrades of his luckless victim, press
ing after him in hot pursuit.
As he neared the city he began to
have serious misgivings. No Conleder-
ate guard barred his way, and his anx.
ious eye deserted the Federal flag float
ing from the top OF the courthouse, a
signal of conquest. But retreat was
impossible, and with the daredevil
courage for which he was conspicuous
he determined to press on and trust to
fate.
Through the paved streets of the
war-scarred city rushed pursuer and
pursued, the foam dripping from the
horses, and their flying hoofs striking
the fire from the hinty surface. At the
door of his future father-in-law Terry
dismounted, and in the house sought
refuge. Scarcely had he time to make
hurried explanation before a tumult
arose without, and angry voices, en-
phasized with soul-curdling oaths, de-
manded that the id rebel be
dragged out and hung"
It was one of those terrible exigencies
which try mems souls, but the master
Of the house was quick to act Turn
ing his beleaguered guest over to the
other members Of the family, he rushed
to the door and found himself face to
face with the comrades of the dead man
aud mob of enraged soldiers, who had
learned of the affair and crowded into
the street from everywhere, all DESTROYS
of avenging the death Of the Union
cavalryman. An officer advanced up
the steps aud demanded Of Mr.. Hoag
the surrender of the man whom, he was
informed, was concealed in the house.
The old gentleman denied any knowl-
edge of the fugitive, and refused any
one admittance, falling back upon his
rights as citizen to deny admission to
any one not armed with an order from
the Provost Marshal. The officer with
drew, announcing his purpose to obtain
such an order forthwith, and warning
Hoag that if he did not care to submit
himself and family to such usage as the
infuriated soldiers might indulge in he
had better retire from the house before
his (the oficers) return from head