Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-15
ROMANCE OF THE WAR.
Mrs. Jack Mason Led Band Of Guerllias
In Kentucky.

A BurkeyIlle QKy) correspondent or the
New York World says: The preparations
for the trial Of land suit which Is to
come up at the approaching term OF the
Circuit Court. in this town. has revealed
n singular story. Throughout the civil war
this backwoods region-Burkeville Is forty
miles from the nearest railroad-was ue-
batable ground. II was harried alike by
Federals and Confederates, and, worse
than all. by the guerillas, who claimed
either flag as II suited their convenience
and robbed the friends OF both alike.
In the early days OF the war party OF
guerillas. who were mainly Of Confede-
rate sympathies. made their headquarters
In Bennett township. In this county. From
that vicinity they made many RAIDS
through the surrounding country, ana
often attacked detachments OF Federal
troops.
one Of the boldest and most dashing OF
the guerllas was n young Fellow naine1
Jack Mason, who said he was from Ten
nessee. But OF his family and antece-
dents he told his companions nothing
He was slender in form, and effeminate
I'm face and manner. But these circum-
stances were attributed to his extreme
youth. His enterprise and bravery in
battle prevented his companions from
commenting upon his girlish appearance.
One day smart" skirmish between
guerillas and Federal troops was fought.
Jack Mason was wounded In the shoulder,
and fell from his horse. His companions
picked him up, and carried him of with
them. But he was so severely wounded
that the rude surgery OF the camp was
not sufficient. a friendly farmer, named
John Orth, took the wounded youth into
his house, and Mrs. Ortiz nursed him.
Mason had not been in the house OF
the Orths long before ahey discovered that
their wounded guest was a girl In dis
guise. The girls wound. though not seri-
Gus, was painful, and slow in healing.
She was in bed several months, and in
that time a baby girl was born.
When the mother became strong and
well she suddenly disappeared from the
home of the Orths. leaving her baby.
She left also a considerable sum Of money
and some jewels. and a note directing
that they be used for the benefit of the
baby.
The Orths adopted the little girl, and
she grew to womanhood. married "A pros
porous young farmer named Mayhem.
and is now the mother Of two children.
MAYHEM owned some land I'm this county,
which he sold. Later a question Of title
came up. and his wife was summoned rs
n witness In the course OF her testimony
she told the strange story Of her aban-
donment by her mother. the disguised sol
der. Local newspapers printed the facts,
and they were reprinted in Il newspaper
at Knoxville, Tenn.
Recently. d middle-aged. but cookbook
ing. woman arrived here She said she
was Mrs. John Mason. who lived near
Knoxville, Tenn. and that Mrs. May
hew was her daughter. Then she told
her story. She said she WAC the
disguised soldier Jack Mason. She had
run away from her home in Tennessee
and had married a young man against
the will OF her parents. Afterwari she
became jealous Of her husband and de-
serted him Ashamed 10 return home.
she had put on mems clothes and joined
the geurilas
When she left the house Of the Orths
she said. she intended to return AMI
claim her baby, but when she reached
East Tennessee she fe.l into a fever
ana was never afterwards able to locate
the place where the Orths resided. She
ana her husband were reunited. and they
advertised extensively for the child. but
heard nothing.
Mrs. Mason was overioyed at finding
her daughter. Mrs. Mayhem.