The National tribune., 1890-07-10
BLAINES CROSSROADS.
A Klrht with tho Girls IN East rcnnessoe.

| EDITOR NATIONAL. TRIBUNE: Several of
| the comrades have given TO the readers of THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE accounts of the " IIeadless
| Ghost of Blaine's Crossroads, Tenn. and with
| your permission ! will give q short experience
with ghosts with heads on ut the above named
| place.
During the Winter of 1863, 'Gi I was on de-
! tached duty in tho Commissary Department.
| serving under n Capt. st. Clair, Of an Illinois
| regiment the number i cannot now recall
| We were moving supply train through East
| Tennessee. One day, late in the afternoon,
while passing near Blaine's Crossroads, we
| found standing at the gate of plantation two
| young ladies, who seemed to be very glad to SEQ
the Stars and Stripes While conversng with
one of the young ladies, she remarked, as it
was near night, we might accept an invitation
| to come and spend social evening mt their
home, she representing their father Mr.. Griffith,
rs being q true Union man. We promised to
return, and after going into camp for the
night near Blaiuo's Crossroads we soon were
prepared to accept tho SOuthernor's hospi-
tally. Several comrades and myself mounted
our horses and started. Our cavalry escort
having placed their pckets out on tho road,
refused to let us pass. After going some dis
lance to the left of tho road through tho woods
we forded a mill pond and proceeded, soon
after arriving Mt our destination.
The ladies warmly welcomed us, and said we
could have better time If we would ride over
to neighboring plantation and bring the
young ladies living there over We went rs
directed, and found them willing TO go. We
q" toted them over 10 Mr.. Griflith's behind
our saddles and soon the festivities began,
dancing and card. playing being tho princi pal
amusements As n matter of safety, and at the
| suggestion of our host we placed a guard in
charge of our horses Everything passed off
| pleasantly. every few moments few additional
| accessions to the company arriving. Every fresh
arrival seemed to create anxiety to the host, as
we'll as the young ladies.
might here give short description Of tho
| two young daughters of tho host. They were
twins, about 20 years Of age, we'll educated,
| beautiful, and members of tho Presby teran
| faith as was their father. and loyal to our flag
| The daughters answered to tho names of JO
sephine aud lyme the latter being my special
| partner for the evening.
| All passed off pleasantly. Many of those
who arrived later in tho evening seemed TO be
acquainted with the family, but they failed to
supplant us in the good graces of the ladies'
Our company of strangers proved to be quito
mixed one. There were both Union and
Confederate soldiers, Union and Confederate
paroled prisoners and Union and Confederate
desertors, all mingling in that little company
of about 50.
About an hour after midnight our guard,
who had been left in charge of the horses, came
in very much excited, and said that quite
body of horsemen wero approaching, and every
person began 10 look out for his personal
safety. Some went through the windows and
some through the doors, but none stopped to
bid the members of tho household good-by.
The Confcderates seemed to feel as much
alarmed as ourselves. We mounted our horses
and dashed for our camp. some two miles away,
whore we safely arrived, after convincing the
pickets that we were Union men hotly pursued
by rebel cavalry. The camp was soon put
under arms, and, after waiting for daylight
moved on without any further moicstatiou.
Who were those mounted soldiers2 | doubt
If those soldiers who saw the "headcss rider 4"
were more frightened than were we.
One word moro in closing this little reminis-
coneo. If these lines should be read by Miss
lyme Griffith, whom l promised so faithfully
TO write TO, and whose autograph ! still retain,
she will know that | promised TO remember
the occasion, and have not, nor shall / soon
forget IL; and should this meet the eye
Of any Of tho comrades who participated
In this excursion, would BIO pleased to hear
from them. One Of them whom ! met. a
member of the Igth Ohio, has long since been
doad.-JoHE NJ, EwrEd, Go. ID, 18th Ohio,
Upper Sandusky Ohio.