The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-13
CONFEDERATE WAR STORIES.
CONGRESSMAN CUMMINGS HEARS SOME
coon ONES IN HASBING TOM

Gen. Dukes Experience In BurbridEe's
Raid-A New story OF Judah II. BenIs.
NINA South Carolina Captain Under
FIro-MArtIn RIey's Friendly Tribute.
WARRINGTON. July l2.-Gen. BAIL Duke Of
Eentucky stood In the rotunda OF the Ebbitt
House the other day conversing with Col. Dick
WIutersmlth Col. Cummings OF Louisville. the
Hon. Asher G.. Oaruth and other distinguished
Corncrackers A member OF Congress was In
troduced to tho General. Tho Representative
Jaw slight gentleman. shaped like n pipe
stsm with flashing eyes, and hair and beard
barely streaked with silver. His head was
crowned with bright straw hat with rim
about an inch wide. There was broad white
ribbon around the hat. The Congressman re-
marked that In physique Gen. Duke hardly
filled his Ideas. II fancied." said he, from
what had read, that Basil Duke was at least
ak feet tall and as broad shouldered as the
late senator Beck"
At this Gen. Duke smiled. It reminded him
OF a story Of the war. Ho speaks with great
oxactncss and rapidly. The best stenograph-
or would find 1t hard work to " take him down. "
He said that tho Congressman was not tho
nrst man who had been disappointed In his
personal appearance.
When BurbrldGe made his last raid in Ken
lucky said Gen. Duke. my command was
quito active. While was in camp one morn
inG an old mountaineer walked into my tent.
He was six feet tall and rs thin as a shadow
He had sharp gray eyes, with shaggy brows,
and beak like an eagle. He carried long
barrellod rife and was arrayed from head to
foot Ia buckskin To toll the truth. he looked
like hickory rammer in buckskin sheath.
Tue weather was quite cold. Without cay
ing a word. he sat down in front OF the
fire. He made such an impression upon
me that can SEQ him at this moment Just as
clearly as / saw him then. He gazed at tho
blaze for minute or two, wiped a bead from
his nose with the back Of his hand. and then
glanced at me. l thought that tho boys had
been appropriating one Of his horses. and that
be had come to seek satisfaction. The Con-
iederacy needed horses Just then. We were
like st. Psul-in want OF all things. | was
eogitatinR as to what was best to DO. l wanted
II possible, to satisfy him and yet keep the
horse. He was evidently man OF few words
aud OF action. He sat gazing into the fire
some time longer. cast another glance in my
direction. empued his mouth OF tobacco Juice,
and then said: This is Gen. Dukes head
quarters. ! take It,
He glatped his hands over his knee. fas
tened his eyes on me, and. after n iull scrutiny,
said: Well sonny, l reckon the 9Id Glnerl
There was NJ doubt II tho old mans honesty.
So positive that, Tor the world 1 would not
have had him know that | was Gen. Duke. l
replied hrmly Yes sir the qid General is in
81 went into an ADJOINING tent. where Gen.
Davis. my AdIutant, sat. The General was tho
a ma-sGIe face, a sri2iei mustache broad
shoulders and a naughty bearing ahked him
70 repre.ept himself to the old man. as Gen
Duke and hear his COMPLAINT. At first he de-
INJURED. but finally consented. He WAS gone
some minutes Upon his return he asked me
Ing him to secrery, told him all the circum-
stances. Gen. Davis was a man Of honor. He
when mounted and rode to the head ID OF my my
brigade, every man in i shouted: Well, sonny
reckon the oll Giner'l is in at breakfast, list
Gen. Forney OF Alabama told good story
81 the war. not long ago. in CLOAK room OF the
the lips 0, Con ederate officer, who got it
direct from Judah ?. Benja the Confeder-
ate e ssSsStaF Ba Of ssStG bi
little town In western North Carolina on their
way to Texas after Lee 8 surrender when they
war was held. All felt that the Indignation Of
the North over Lincolns death would be so
Sonsdsrate Cabinet WIN Rsrs csptur9a.
trie1 to MAKE his u' way ayf to pli the sea sea
coast. and take his chances OF escaping to
assisted by the mem oers Of his own reIisi H
faith. But in time his supplies ran ont and he
mao any5aang Eb but e
offered, tor his arrest. The country was
secured by Federal cavalry. and several times
Tsached he beun%ay of fI f}oria and Georsis
4 was unsafe for him 10 Apply at plantations
FOR shelter. He sep! IL, thickots and whore
hungry and footsore he went to sleep upon q
bed Of plne needles in scrub OF saw, palmet-
ia!setto voice shouted: HHrrah for } or!'
came l,om some Yankee tr"oprSr on his
ing birds were, singing, in the pine trees
shove the palmettos. an hnches were 1witer.
beak flew over him. All the time, however, he
heard the ", rds: Hurrah forJeI" uttered IN
the shrl ialsctto tone. At last lis ventured TO
scrubby palmcttos. NohoIy wa in sight. Ho
raise, himsc 70 his, rmI height. Which was
Hd"rah for JeiT!" was repeated. He cav. n
ii tN%b yGrd lay parrot sitting unon thee
KIP 81 "SWrned PIN" q@Gk concluded
He Approached the parrot. which galed at him
VIII epParsnt Interest, apd then began TO
onward tho bird flew a hundred yard or
more and again shouted; llurrah for joni"
n'ag:ation in the edge Of q hammock, shaded
with live oaks. Its owner lived in a large log
housG- with cHrtwhy through tho middle
IhH chtiurev5 wore built upoa the outside Of
the dwelling, and thore was. row OF negro
Quarters near by. tall cracker sat upon tho
knee. BENJAMIN asked hin Il he owned the
parrot. He repied that no did and added:
That birds II rale cid rebel li..o the rest OF
TO-"
Thereupon BENJAMIN made himself known.
end was rreutei with tho utmost hospitality.
Mora than that, the crac;or gaNo him a mule
and slIdle, and after tnat hs nIl no diillcuity
In making his way 10 the coast.
Congressman John Allen recently told an
amusing war story. 1t occurred upon -CM0
battlelled In the South. whore u south Caro-.
qua br gado had change Federal works and
had been driven back The works weie alter
ward CAPTURED By Mississippi brigade. They
t hal fairly Gst tClished themselves in the in