The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-08-01
SOLDIERS BUDGET,
A Strange War Story.

The preparations for a trial of land
suit which is to come up at the ap-
preaching term of the circuit court at
huntsville, KY, has revealed singular
story. Throughout the civil war this
backwoods region-Burksville is forty
miles from the nearest railroad-was
debatable ground. 1t was harred alike
by federals and confederates, and,
worse than all, by the guerrillas, who
claimed either flag, as it suited their
convenience, and robbed the friends of
both alike.
In the early days of the war party
OF guerrillas, who were mainly of con-
federate sympathies, made their head
quarters in Bennett township. From
that vicinity they made many raids into
the surrounding country, and often at
tackled attachments of federal troops.
One of the boldest and most dashing of
the guerrillas was a young fellow
named Jack Mason, who said he was
from Tennessee. But of his family
and antecedents, he told his com
panions nothing. He was slender in
form, and effeminate in face and man.
ner, but these circumstances were at
tributed to his extreme youth. His
enterprise and bravery in battle pre-
vented his companions from comment
ing upon his girlish appearance.
One day smart skirmish between
the guerrillas 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 off 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. Orth nursed him.
Mason had not been in the house of
the Orths long before they discovered
that their wounded guest was a girl in
disguise. The girls wound, though
not serious, 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 disap-
peared from the home of the Orths,
leaving her baby. She left also a con-
siderable sum of money and some Jew
els, and 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 in this
county, which he sold. Later a ques-
ton of title came up and his wife was
summoned as a witness. In the course
of her testimony, she told the strange
story of her abandonment by her
mother, the disguised soldier. Local
newspapers printed the facts, and thew
were reprinted in newspaper at Knox
vile, Tenn.
Recently midde.aged but good
looking woman arrived here. She said
she was Mrs. John Mason, who lived
near Knoxville, Tenn, and that Mrs.
Mayhem was her daughter. Then she
told her story. She said that she was
the disguised soldier, Jack Mason. She
had run away from her home in Ten
nessee and had married a young man
against the will of her parents. After
ward she became jealous of her hus-
band and deserted him. Ashamed to
return home, she had put on mems
clothes and joined the guerillas. When
she left the house of the Orths she in
tended to return and claim her baby,
but when she reached East Tennessee
she fell into fever and was never after
ward able to locate the place where the
Orths resided. She and her husband
were reunited, and they advertised ex-
tensively for the child, but heard moth
ing. Mrs. Mason was overjoyed at
finding her daughter, Mrs. Mayhew.-
Exchange.