Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-08-26
Rescuing A Prisoner.

miles of the Shenandoah Valley there
was a more bitter turn to the war
waged in that locality. Many of the
Confederate farmers who had been
neutral, or had tried to be, now became
guerrillas and bushwhackers and lost
no opportunity of killing Federal.
After that burning Mosby had no
difficulty in securing all the men he
could handle, and other guerrilla bands
sprang into life in the various valleys
and scrupled at nothing which would
cripple the enemy. l know that
scores of Federal prisoners, who would
otherwise have been treated as prison
ers, we're shot down as soon as captured
on account Of that burning.
Among those who turned BUSH
whacker was an old man named
Humphrey, living about two miles
from Strasburg. He was so years old,
quite lame in one leg from hip disease,
and up to the burning was looked upon
as a kind-hearted, good-natured and
forgiving old man. The Federals
burned the houses and barns of his two
sons, further down the valley, and one
day two or three half-drunken soldiers
came to his house and demanded din
ner. He refused to give them any
thing. One of them drew revolver
to shoot him down, but the weapon
was accidentally discharged and Mrs.
Humphrey was mortally wounded
After her death and burial old Hump
hrey disappeared and was next heard
of in the mountains. He lived in a
cave and became bushwhacker.-
That term is hardly strong enough.
He became man-hunter. While a
Confederate in sentiment, he had little
to do with them, securing his arms
and ammunition from his Federal
victims, and his few provisions from
the farm houses. In his old age the
man became an avenging spirit
There was something appalling in his
tireless, vindictive trailing of Federals
He hung about camps and picket-posts.
and marching columns, and he took
desperate chances to crafty his thirst
for blood. If he came across three
foragers together two would certainly
bite the dust, and he would not hesi-
tate to attack even where the number
was five.
In one year old Humphrey killed
thirty-six Federals. / make the state
ment on the authority of people who
saw the tally. The old man preserved
a relic from each body-knife, ring,
watch-chain or button-and there was
no chance to mistake the number.
One day, in making scout near
Cross Keys, l was discovered by a
scouting party of ten Federals, and
run into the mountains. The pursuit
did not end here. Some of them dis
mounted and hung to my trail for an
other hour. 1t was in avoiding these
men that accidentally stumbled upon
old Humphreys hiding-place. 1t was
veritable caye, warm and dry, and
well hidden, and l had entered it be-
fore knew that il was Occupied
The old man was not at home, but /
had scarcely detected signs that the
place had an inhabitant when voice
called from the gloom at the rear end:
"For Gods sake, who is it-Yank
or Reb?"
"Reb, guess. Who are you ?"
"Then there is no hope!" he groaned.
l struck match and advanced to-
wards him. On rude bench was a
dish of fat with a rag in it for wick,
and as soon as / had lighted this I could
see everything in the cave. On the
hard stone floor lay prisoner, tied
hand and foot. He was Federal, a |
second lieutenant, and belonged either
to the Twenty-fifth New York or the
Twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry.
Having afterwards lost my notebook
l am not sure of the regiment.
The cave contained a bench or two,
a pile of straw and two or three quilts
for bed, and lot of trophies in the
way of guns and sabers.
"Who are your" asked of the
man as / bent over him.
Lieut.. Johnston. of Sheridan's cav
airy" he answered.
"How came you here?"
81 was riding with dispatch last
evening when / was bushwacked and
made prisoner. have bullet in the
left shoulder.
"Who brought you here?"
can old man, who acts as if he were
crazy"
at was the first prisoner old
Humphrey ever took, and I greatly
wondered over it. His policy was to
kill, and how came he to spare this
mans life ?"
"Who are you :" suddenly asked
the prisoner.
"One of Gen. Early's scouts"
"Then have no hone. You NAV