The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1894-03-15
ANOTHER PAPER
Of the Last Days of the
COnfederacy.
He TELLS ABOUT A GRAY HORSE
Its Fate and the Sorrow 1t Brought,
Other Matters Touched Upon
For Your Perusal.

| !. One warm afternoon soon after
we had fallen into Federal hands,
a command OF cavalry was passing
in great haste. Their horses were
fearfully faded, and one fine gray
was so overcome with heat and ia
tigue that they were forced to leave
him near our house. AS soon as it
grew dark I placed him under cover
in the lot and early next morning
hurried him to pasture n'the plan
taticn, quite secluded and remote
from the public road. In this way
l had secured what proved to be a
very handsome and most reliable
animal, the field afforded fine pas
ture and with oats, which we had
several stacks hidden in the swamp,
| had plenty of feed. 1t used to
give me great pleasure to attend to
this horse. Alone, the blue sky
above and the green grass beneath
with no human eye to witness, l
never enjoyed so many nice horse
back rides, as bare back, on my
magnificent gray. In this secluded
place, from one side Of the field to
the other, and back again, We would
race. Often would / personate a
daring Confederate scout and at
tack whole regiment OF blue coats
and stretched at full length, hugging
close to his soft glossy body, / would
make good my escape. AS l look
back over my life | recall no in.
stancesin which ever enjoyed thai
/ Keeling of Ownership so happily as
did on these occasions. There was
something strangely fascinating tc
my boyish heart in keeping all this
a secret from the Federals.
But my horse was destined 20 60
the way all else went in those days.
For several weeks kept him hid
den in this way, until one afternoon
blue coats by the thousands settled
down alr around us, with head
quarters in the house. As far as
my eye could reach and especially
in the direction of my horse, | could
see them preparing to camp for the
night. Alas, it made me sad to
think of losing my fine gray. SO |
fell up on this plan--I went in great
haste to the pasture and rode him
to the house, fastening him securely
to the back veranda in FIVE feet Of a
sentinel. Then | called on the
commanding officer, who was in the
house, and asked his protection.
He readily promised that my horse
should rot be molested. The officer
would grant any reasonable request,
and detail a guard at any time to
protect our premises. 1t was the
stragglers who usually did the plun>
dering, and this was positively
against orders. AS an evidence
that they were punished for this, |
will relate two instances that came
under my notice. The evening in
question, after tea time, | walked
out to see how my horse was--or was
not-when | saw a soldier sitting
astride very high and sharp picket
fence. On enquiring of sentinel
that was walking his beat near by,
| was informed that he had DISC
beyed orders and entered a house
during the day and upon being re-
ported was receiving his punishment
in that exalted, though uncomtorta.
bic position. He seemed to be act
ing very philosopbically and making
the best of his folly. In the other
instance the poor wretch had not
only entered a house but was guilty
Of very improper conduct. His pun
ishment was quite severe. He was
tied up. almost suspended, by his
thumbs to China berry tree in the
yard. His conduct was very ugly
and the air was filled with "biue
blazes" from his blasphemous howl
ings. But to return to my story.
On the morrow, long before the sun
was up, the troops were all astir.
Everything was confusion and in
that confusion my good horse was
taken. Before knew it he was
lost in the procession and hurried
away.
More than thirty summers have
come and gone since this incident
occurred. With the knowledge and
experience ot~men and things gain
ed in all these years, / think | can
safely suggest that there was a con-
spiracy formed between the officer
and guard and a. dirty fraud perpe>