The National tribune., 1891-07-09
Read Better than Pension 4" on page ..
IN OLD VIRGINIA.
New York Cu,aIriman Finds Sweetness Gal

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New York Cayalrman Finds Sweetness Galore.
EDITOR NATIONAL tribune: Ny mem
DRY recalls many Of the scenes and incidents
Of 1903, when our regiment list y. y. MID
Rifles were kept necessarily in the saddle
scouting through Virginia and North Caro-
lima, hunting down Euerrillas and bushwhack-
Crs. capturing trains OF blockade runners,
Selling all horses aud mules wherever found,
and making thorough search of all suspected
houses for guns and other implements Of war,
which we destroyed. Many Of those sbotguns
were of the most expensive imported English
manufacture, yet dearly rs ] priced good
f0wlug- piece, was compelled 10 strike them
against the butt Of a tree until they were rem
dcrcd useless. -Four beautiful silycr-mOunied
shntguus that were loaded were handed 70 me
on one occasion TO strike against the trees,
with a warning to De careful that they did not
explode aud kill me. IL was wonderful how
my hump of caution commenced TO enlarge At
that moment aud led me into the woods, where,
away from the gaze Of the officers, took alast
fond look at them and gently laid them down
by the butt OF a large tree, covering them mp
with leaves aud brush rs carefully rs though
they were four Of my dear departed friends;
then sadly retracci my steps 20 my company,
entertaining q hope that would soon return
aal remove them 10 safer quarters. Bot, alas,
that time never came
We reached the Eleuton Road, n. c., April
j.. lSG3. and there encountered a strong force
OF Confederate cavalry, whlch we immediately
charged and after hard aud wcil-Contested
fight succeeded ia routing, capturing many
prisoners with but slight loss on our side
Having now more than 200 horses and mules
that we had captured on this raid, aud having
10 depend altogether on the country that we
passed though For our subsistence aud being
many miles from our camp in Suffolk, Fa..with
our horses and ncu completely Jaded by rccs-
SAINT marching and encounters with the enemy,
u was deemed necessary 10 make halt within
a few miles Of tie town Of EdeHt0n for a few
days rest. Then small detachmonts from each
company were sent out 10 s-our tie country for
corn, oats aud hay Tor the horses and pTovis-
ions Tor the men, Tor which We gave receipts,
showing the quantity Of grain or hay, by whom
aud for what company and regiment taken.
Those claims were 10 be paid by tho Govern
ment on proof Of the owners loyalty to the
United States.
Daring this halt two Of our men procured
passes 10 90 outside the picket 10 buy butter
aud eggs. As the day and night passed away.
aud they did not return, Capt. Harmon ordered
me 10 take two men ana hunt them up and
arrest them. Af;er riding a couple of miles
we got on their trail, and tracked them 10
distillery, where ! learned they had been tho
day before and bad their cautceBs filed with
on their way towards the town OF Edenton.
il was a dangerous uuacEtak ing FOR three men
20 trayc! in that direction, as the woods were
alive with bushwh1cEers, and we expected 10
have a yollcy fired into us 40 any moment; but
VIC resolved 10 20 through or die IN the attempt.
SO putting our horses 10 the top Of their speed,
we soon entered the town aud ddshcd ~ 90 the
hotel. made inquiry Of the landlord whether
he bad seen two Of our men around there, and
was informed that he had, aud that their horses
were n las stable, but the mCa had gone away
and had been under the influence Of liquor
ever since they had been in town, aud many
families had become greatly alarmed at their
actions. During this conversation ! noticed
I that the piazza Of the hotel had become crow led
/ with excited citizens but soon quoted their
/ spprcEeus!uns ~ any further annoyance from
! those two men by stating that had been sent
4 10 arrest them, and il they had committed any
dcpredatiCns upon the citizens, they would be
1 punished, as Cur soldiers we're strictly forbidden
T TO modest ANY citizen.
This seemed 10 have the desired effect !
I quoting their fears and they became mole
] friendly, and told me where ! could find the
two men I was looking for, and one man vol
untecred his services 10 show me where the
house was that they were in. ! took him
along aud he pointed IL out, and we went IN,
/ arrested and disarmed the men, and marched
/ back 10 the hotel.
II being now o'clock in the afternoon, and
feeling quite hungry, ] asked the landlord ii
he could provide Us with something 10 eat and
I would pay him for g. lie said il was past
the dinner hour but be would sse what he
could DO, aud left us bat soon returned aud in.
vltcd u5 into tie dining room, where we found
the table beautifully spread with cold ham and
the remnants Of turkey, 10 which We did
ample justice, As ID WAS the best dinner / had
eaten since left New York in ISL. / asked
the landlord how much the bill was. but he re,
fused 10 make any charge. whcreuIon each o.
ms handed him a silver half dollar, with which
he seemed 10 be well satisfied.
As / was anxious 20 find out from tho partic
themselves the extent Of the dcprcdatious thai
had been committed 10y the men, asked one o
the citizens % 20 with me 10 n Mrs. Sugars ant
her daughter, who, he said had been 50 terribly
frightened that they had fed into a c0rnfclt
and remained there at night, not daring 10 g
10 the house. lie willingly accompanied Ia
T 10 Mas. sugars's, whom ] found TO be just thr
sweetest lit.le lady had had the pleasure 0
meeting With either ia Virginia or North Caro-
lima. IN fact, she was the very essence 81 sweet
ness; aud as FOR her daughter, she was noIhiul
short Of the concentrated extract Of the esscnc
Of sweetness.
IN conversation with them, 7 soon Iearnet
that they were more frightened than injured
Their story was 10 the eject that about O'clUc
The evening before, while sitting on their iFou
I stoop, they Jaw two men approaching the house
!. They Aastsned inside locked the door, got OF
+. Of back window unseen by the men, auG tool
e refuge in the CgTHilcid. The men, arriving q
y the house, knocked for admittagcc, aud ate
@ waiting some time without getting any answer
. and thinking IL was u deserted house. the
, cgeut through the window, aud finding pleut
Of provisions made fire aud cooked a goo
{ supper, remaining there all night, not know
IS ing anything 81 Mrs. Sugars and her daughte
] being ia the corUGcid. They left early ucz
q morning without disturbing anything IN IA
j. house except what they took 10 eat.
Il i succeeded la convincing the ladies tha
Il they need have no fears in the future, an
upon 40 consideration 10 leave their h0us
{ when they saw any OF our men, rs they woul
2 not dare harm them even il they were so di
n posed After receiving pressing invitation
% call upon them AZ any time ] returned 90 ElcI
2 ton, j left for the hotel, satisfied that I'll
}, stories had heard were greatly exaggerated.
IS Arriving at the hotel, aud finding IL quit
z, late iu the afternoon. aud knowing that Cap
e Harmon would be anXigusly waiting my r.
is turn, had the horses brought out. We wei
10 soon IN the saddle and waving an adicu 10 ii
40 landlord aud those who had assembled AT n
hotel, VIC started on tie trOt Tor our cam
r which we reached in safety 20 the great j
Z light Of Capt. Harmon, who had given Us
~ for lost. When l told him that had been
10 the town OF Ldentun be could scarcely cred
le 10. and ceu-urrd me Tor running such a risk
Is, Three days later We were again in the saddl
and 20 my great joy VIC were marching la n
y direction 81 Elluton. The shades OF evcnit
lt had Just closed over the town as SIC rode in
r. tle main street Va here We halted for the ui \