Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-11-13
AMONG THE VETERANS
DR.. HERRDON TELLS HOW 1T
FEELS TO KILL YOUR MAN.
The Rifle That Caused the Death Of Thirty .eig HI
Men-Capturing Gnerrilla-Chased BY
Bloodb ounds-A Thrilling Story
OF Army Life in 81.

G. Heron, Il well-known physician
and n lieutenant-general in the Asso-
citation of Naval Veterans of the
United States, but she came near
taking my life first. 1t was near
Springfield, Mo-, at the time of Zago-
mis- ride to death, when Fremont
bodyguard made the bloody and dis
astrous charge. l was riding past
dense wood, when suddenly II gigantic
rebel stepped out from behind tree
not twenty feet away aud leveled Long
Nancy at me. lnvoluntarily stopped
my horse and aimed my revolver at
him, but | was so paralyzcd with fear
that l had not strength to pull the
trigger. My horse seemed to be aware
of the danger too, and stood trembling
tried to spur it on, but my foot was
powerless to use the spur. There we
stood. had bead on his heart, and
az l looked into the muzzle of that
rife | saw that the bullet would strike
my left eye. Why the reb did not
shoot has always been mystery TO
me. thought my time had come and
l began to pray, looking all the time
into the muzzle of that awful rifle.
BY and by the mans arms grew tired
and tho gun wavered up and down and
sideways, but could not bring myself
to shoot At last my enemy pulled
the trigger. l shut my eyes and
thought all was over, but the ball
grazed my ear as it passed and brought
me to my senses. l dug the spurs
into my horse and with one bound
was upon the rebel. l touched the
trigger and my revolver ball passed
through his heart. He Strengthened
himself up to his full height, grin ned
at me horribly and settled back slowly
dead. l grasped the rifle and plung-
ed ahead into the bushes.
"When went aboard the gunboat
Covington, took Long Nancy as we
named the rifle. with mo. 1t was a
magnificent gun, as perfect ss.could be
made, and handsomely mounted with
silver. l never knew it to miss. You
see on the river our greatest danger
was from the bushwhackers along the
shore. One would hide in tree.top
and take deliberate aim ut a soldier on
deck and fire. On such occasions
Long Nancy was brought out and
aimed at the smoke, and when the
smoke cleared away, out would come
the head of Johnnie Reb to see what
damage he had done, when Long
Nancy would bark. and down would
60 the reb. l saw thirty-eight drop in
that way, for never a man escaped
when Long Nancy was on board"
Ibid you ever capture bushwhack-
er?" queried the reporter.
EYES," was the reply. ut was neal
Island No. 10 one night that we saw ,
light on the shore. These lights were
often TO decoy us to the shore to "
shot by hidden rebels; but asked per
mission of the captain to 60 ashore ant
see what this was. l had the cutter
and gig manned and set a howitze
aboard and hid it under some canva.
and started ashore. There was a negro
awaiting us with the information tha
guerrilla was hidden in the canc brake
near by. With ten men l started t.
search for him. and we went through
the four huts in the brake. findin,
nothing but negro weuch lying il
bed. She pretended t. be sick, but
detected some movement by her sid
and while questioning her as to he
condition, made signs to my men Il
surround the he'd with drawn swords
When all was prepared, q soldier jerk
ed off the covers, and there lay hug
guerrilla with an Arkansas toothpicl
between his teeth. and a pistol in eacl
hand. Quick as q fash the pistol
dropped into position. but just Us h
fred, he received sword cut on eac
wrist. Sailors swords, unlike thos
used on land. are sharp as razors. ant
one hand OF the rogue was cut of. an
, the other wrist was shattered so as t
, render i: powerless. One of the bullet
pierced my cap, aud the other graze
the ear OF soldier. The guerrill
tried to get hold of his dagger, but hi
hand hung limp from the broken wrist
Spare him. l cried. as one OF the me
was about to run him through. W.
bound him with the cords from tn
bed and gave him a court martial. Q
which the testimony of the negroe
showed that our prisoner was o rasci
OF the worst sort l sent q note TO th
captain saying: 1 sentence this ma
to death and await orders Sen
him to hell and come aboard was tn
reply. He was stood upon barre
: and rope was put around his necl
He fought SO fiercely that we could n,
blindfold him. rs it took four men /,
;, keep him still. He was a magnificer
= looking man and seemed to be fine
educated. and it seemed q pity to D,
~ - a. u