The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-10

and il had sometimes proved more difficult
matter 20 get away than TO meet him.
When he came into our territory he always
had hundred or more finely mounted and
armed men, and il occasion required
WOULD FIGHT HARD.
didn't ache TO have any truck with him,
and while ] should have given him warm
reception 81 he had forced himself on me. j
frankly admit that ! wasn't hunting after him
ii my orders could be construed otherwise.
When / found how the land lay ] ordered
the men 90 scatter through town aud get their
breakfast, going myself 10 the house Of lady
who in former years had moved with her
family from Grand Rapids, Mich. AT the
breakfast table noticed she was III NJ ease.
When in response TO my inquiry she told me
that she feared for our safety. scattered as We
were through town. She acknowledged hay-
ing received information she knew % be cor
rect that the guerrilla party mentioned was in
the vicinity and probably had accurate inior-
nation OF our numbers and movements. i
waited for no further breakfast, but had the
assembly sounded, and in five minutes had my
men IN the saddle and was moving out Of town.
We were counter marching the route Of the
morning, and had reached tho summit OF an
elevation about quarter Of a mile out. where
we could plainly sec every buiding and street
below us when with the familiar yip and yell
the guerrilla band charged into town 20 find
Us. by luck, just out Of their grasp. They out
numbered Ia three 10 one, bui seemed 10 con-
slider il advisable 10 keep
OUT OF RANGE or OUR sPEEcERs.
Some time afterward. I'm May, think, our
Colonel learned that a rebel regiment was being
organized in Grocnville lie planned and exc
cuted little campaign that resulted IN the
total destruction OF the command, aud which,
as one Of the minor events Of the war, deserves
a record. Twenty Of the best-mounted men,
with Lieutenant, were detailed from each OF
the ~ companies, our Colonel in command.
had the honor OF being one Of the Lieutenants.
We left Strawberry Plains late in the afternoon
and went into camp at Bulls Gap in the night.
The next morning officers were called and we
were ordered 10 set our watches together, each
having been instructed 60 carry one. Then,
under the guidance OF scouts, 10 detachments
were TO be at different points about Greenville,
| and precisely nt 4 p m. have complete cor
don of skrnshcrs depl0ycd about the town,
when the Colonel with the remaining 40 men
was TO open the ball by charging directly into
town. Promptly. MT we had the town in-
vested, and ms promptly, with flashing saber
aud ringing cheers, the charging column dashed
1 through town. but not a shot was fired or an
enemy seen. j was stationed on the north side
OF the town. ] had rallied my men, and we
were having laugh az the Colonel's expense
/ hhbu Tue enemy came thaiElbE IN from tue
south, and Tor time made il decidedly inter
esting for portion Of our scattered force. We
/ soon
RALLIED TO THE RESCUE,
and 10 10 minutes had the enemy stampeded,
/ some Of our men chasing the fugitives fully
five miles into the country. lt was the last
ever heard Of the rebel regiment.
Asa side Issue, had one of the most exciting
| episodes OF my life while on my way 20 Green
I IL r -.
\ by the name Of Andrews who claimed the rank
Of Captain, having been commissioned by the
Government for services rendered as a scout.
The position assigned me was on the north
side Of town, and in order 90 reach IL by an
uRirequented way il was necessary 10 make a
detour Of some eight miles TO the north. A
4 short time before noon we struck the fresh trail
OF % guerrilias, out on a general plundering
expedition. They had "a led horses and were
making for the mountains with their plumber.
Andrews was as fierce rs a bloodhound on their
trail, and could hardly be restrained from rush
! ing beadlOng after them. i acted on the sup
] position that they would soon stop for feed and
might be caught mapping.
After following some time ] stopped at a
house 10 mako inquiries, and found the occu-
/ pant, woman, in terrible state Of excite
ment, the gang having left her house but half
an hour before and taken her last horse She
begged us to hurry up and get her horse. /
/ learned from the woman and Andrews that the
house stood AT the foot Of rocky declIyity,
down which there was only bride path, the
road turning 10 the right and making circuit
OF about quarter Of mile. The hill WAS COW
4 cred with thick growth Of stunted oaks 10 the
very point where il broke down to the house.
4 halted my men az a safe distance, aud An
drsws and MYSELF dismOunted, went cautiously
forward 70 investigate. Sure enough, on the
right Of the road, within pistol-range Of as,
stood the house while In front, hitched 30 the
fence, with brides of. mHnchng their feed,
were q horses. The men were scattered about
the yard aud on the porch, without a guard,
As yILLAINOUs A LOOKING GANG
as one could imagine. ] saw at glance that
the only way 10 take them al an advantage was
i down the brdle-path. as onr position was such
/ that we could reach their horses as soon as
4 they. and their only means Of escape would be
by the rear Of the house. II they made no fight.
Andrews aud took the lead, and with a
shout and yulley, that brought the astonished
bTigands 60 their feet like an electric shock
we charged down over the rocks, aud before
they could take in the situation were among
them. part Of my men passed the house and
throwing down the fence got in the rear aud
cut OF those who attempted % escape that
way. SiE Of the gang were shot down in the
yard, and the balance 10 a man. were our pris
Oners. ] shall never forget the pleadings Ol
one poor wretch, shot through the body, for q
Surgeon. did all ] could for him. and thai
was in the way Of consolation with the only
Bible quotation ] had IN stock, The way o.
the transgress0r N hard"
ia the chase we had detected several miles
from our course and ] found, after we had col
lected together the spols Of our victory, thai
IL would require forced march Of seycra
hours in order 10 reach my station on time
The animus OF Andrews cropped ont when we
were about 10 start with the prisoners. III in
sisted upon taking them into the woods ant
massacring the whole lot, and Only prevented
il by having the power.
Sitting Bull was Murdered.
Sitting Bull was murdered, says Courat
Disstler, who made the 60 mile march acros