The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-14
A New Story ON Hon. Judah p. Bon
jamin-A South Carolina Captain
Under Fire.

man remarked that in physique Genera
Duke hardly filled his ideas. II fancied,'' -
said he, "from what had read, that Basil
Duke was at least six feet tall and as broad
shouldered as the late Senator Beck
At this General Duke smiled. It remind
ed him of story of the war. He speaks
with great exactness and rapidity. The
best stenographer would find it hard worl
to "take him down." He said that the
congressman was not the first man who had
been disappointed in his personal appear
ance.
s'When Burbridee made his last raid in
Kentucky" said General Duke, "my COM
mand was quite active. While was in
camp one morning an old mountaineel
walked into my tent. He was six feet tall
and as thin as shadow. He had sharp
gray eyes, with shaggy brows, and beal
rifle and was arrayed from head to foot in
buckskin. To tell the truth, he looked like
a hickory-rammer in a buckskin sheath.
The weather was quite cold. Without say
ing word he sat down in front of the
fire. He made such an impression upon
just as clearly as saw him then. He
gazed at the blaze minute or more, wiped
bead from his nose with the back of his
hand, and then glanced at me. thought
that the boys had been appropriating one
of his horses, and that he had come to seek
horses just then. We were like st. Paul
in want of all things. was coRitating az
to what was best to do. wanted. il possi-
BILE, to satisfy him and yet keep the horse.
He was evidently man of few words and
of action. He sat gazing into the fire some
rcotipn, emptied his mouth Of tobacco
juice, and then said: This is General
Dukes headquarters, take it,
Eyes, SIR replied, it is.'
"He clasped his hands over his knee,
fastened his eyes on me, and after full
old !t gine1l ss must be at breakfast iist now,
His GOODNESS unnerved me. Twas ratified.
There was no doubt as to the old mans
honesty. He had taken mo for an orderly.
He seemed SO positive that. for the world, I
General Duke. replied firmly: Yes sir,
the old general is in at breakfast. Pll 20
and call him for you
~ went into an adjoining tent, where
General Davis, my adjutant, sat. The gen.
eral was the personifcation of dignity.
He had bald head. massive face, a
Qrizzled mustaohe, broad shoulders and
q naughty bearing. I asked him to
represent himself to the old man as Gem
eral Duke, and hear his complaint. At
first he demurred, but finally con-
sented. He was gone some minutes. Upon
his return he asked me why I had urged
him to play the role. Pledging him to
Gen. Davis was man of honor. He un-
doubtely kept his pledge. But the next day,
when mounted and rode to the head OF
my brigade, every man in itshouted: "Well,
sonny, reckon the old Giner'l is in at
breakfast, jist now, hain't he ?'''
General Forney, Of Alabama, told a good
story of the war, not long ago, in cloak
room of the house of Representatives. He
heard it from the lips of confederate of
ticer, who got it direct from Judah P. Ben
jamin, the confederate secretary of state.
some little town in Western North Carolina
on their way to Texas, after Lees surren-
der, when they heard of the assassination of
Abraham Lincoln. The news appalled,
them. A council of war was held. All felt
that the indignation of the north over Lin
coins death would be 90 great that sum-
mary vengeance would be wreaked upon
who were captured. Benjamin struck out
for himself. He tried to make his way to
the sea coast and take his chances of escap-
ing to Europe. He had little money. At
first he was assisted by the members of his
own religious faith. But in time his sup
F.A-S ~NAA OAU3 eAAAN AO A0O dAy yuAAuk UuV q
pleasant experience. He understood that
for his arrest. 'kT The fecouu country oneaya Waa
secured by federal cavalry, and sew
eral times he narrowly escaped cap
tnre he hnally reached the boundary 4
him to apply at plantations for shelter. He
slept In thlckets and wherever he thought it
would be safe. One night, hungry and
footsore, he went to sleep upon bed of
pine needles in scrub of saw-palmetto.
Soon Soon after afaa+ah he .E aMoke: sharp falsetso
1t startled him. At first ne thought that
it came from some Yankee trooper who was
on his trail, and was trying to lure him ont.
The mocking-b birds were singing in the pine
trees above the palmettos, and finches were
twittering in the tops. Occasionally car
dinal groesbeak flew over him. All the
time, however, he heard the words: ''Hur-
rah for jeff uttered in the shfill falsetto
tone. At last he sentured to raise his head
and cautiously peer over the scrubby pal
mettos. Nobody was in sight: He raised
himself to mis- full height, which was very
short, and looked around him.
saw. a few yards away, parrot sitting upon
limb Of burnt pine. He quickly con-
cluded that the owner of the bird could be
trusted. He approached the parrot, which
eazed at him with apparent interest, and
then began to whistle, Away down in
Dixie" A moment afterwards the bird
few hundred yards or more and again
shouted: 'Hurrah for Jeff.''
Benjamin followed, and soon arrived at
plantaaon in the edge of a hummock,
shaded with live oaks. Its owner lived in
large log house with cartway through the
middle. The chimneys were built upon the
outside of the dwelling and there was row
OF negro quarters near by. tall cracker
sat upon the stoop. dandling half naked
Doy upon his knee. Benjamin asked him if
did. and added: '.,That birds a rale old
rebel like the rest of u.s.
Iherenpon Benjamin made himself known |
and Was freafed With thu ntxnraf h<,..,;A.l;s.r