The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-02-23
BRAVE CONFEDERATES.
A NOTABLE MEETING OF TWO
FIGHTING GENERALS.
A story About Distinguished Tex
an Soidier-Statesman, Lately De-
ceased.

one of Its most distinguished cltlzens.
Colonel John Crisp of Independence, who
has been spending the week in st, Louis,
was a close acquaintance of the dead
soldier statesman, and his knowledge
of the striking incident of his career will
make a chapter that would be a fitting
addition TO the history of the great state
of Texas.
1 first met General Baylor in the city
or FL PaSo, after the late war was over,
TIE colonel said yesterday: i was walk
Ing on the plaza one morning When my
eye was attracted by a striking iGure
walking in an opposite direction not lar
away | asked some one who the man
was. but quily did not k:lo-x- Then con-
cludel that he must be a great man ana
that ] ought to know him. | accordingly
introduced myself. lie said that he was
General John Il. Baylor, and that he had
known my father and grandfather before
me. Lad an appointment with my wife
but j forgot IT in my interest IN the con-
Versation that followed We went and sat
in the park and then we went TO dinner.
When | finally thought to look at my
watch it was 4 o'clock. For six mortal
hours we two strangers had talked TO
each other regardless Of the thing called
time. The most interesting thing that
heard from. the lips or that grand man
was his story of a. meeting with General
Albert Sidney Johnson It is q story that
has never appeared in the history of
leXaS or OF Johnson, and is worthy OF a
place IN each.
Early in the war General Baylor, then
colonel, was in charge OF a company of
men III the northwestern part Of Texas.
lie had made a number of important cap
lures OF Federal outpostS, and was pur-
suing his way when one morning, in the
grey of dawn. a soldier on picket duty
came to him with the report that a. man
had been captured in an attempt to steal
the horses of the camp. Baylor ordered
the man brought before him:
was interested he said, eli any fell
low who would come to a camp as far
steal horses
. See, here I called to him, what does
TINS mean? What can you hope to do
with any horses you steal away out hereg
was not stealing them the man
FePleo, IN the very best tone and with the
openeSt manner i wanted them for
particular purpose and was only taking
His GOODNESS. sturck me with particular
force, and asked him what part Of the
prise when be said he hailed from Califor-
MA FOR dayS-Since the first rumor of
strife had gone out over the land-I had
Deen looking TO the west as for a military
Messiah in the person of Albert Sidney
johnson, with whom | had served in the
army Of The United States, and who was
enc OF my chosen friends. General john
sion was in California, and / wanted to
know whether or not he was coming TO
The east in the aid Of the southern cause
Wen, when this fellow told me that he
was from California, I took renewed in
terest in him.
=" See here I said, turning to him
sharply, did you know any of the proni-
nent men OF you state?'
. I knew them ALL he replied with con-
hdence.
{" Did you ever hear of Albert Sidney
Johnston I asked.
cry often was his calm response
When did you last see him?' 1 next
:. The day before I left California
" Did you talk to him.?
Yes, and at great length
p" Did you hear him or any other per
son say whether or not he was coming
east to engage in this conflict?
The man looked at me earnestly for
this question:
. What is your name9'
. John r. Raylor@ he asked.
ne same, answered, bit sur
prised that ne should know
wen, ne proceeded, you may you
may not he the man you say YOU are
But 1 Will tell you that General Johnston
IS not three miles from here and that it
horses He left California a few weeks
ago ana is now on mis- way east under
an escort or thirty men, one of whom I
am we understood that the uniform of
the confederacy was to be ANYTHING hut
due, ana when l saw these blue over
coats fastened to the sadles ] assumed
that they were the horses Of Union SOL
dlers. Hence my effort to take them
stlll 90 not know that YOU are not Prove
70 me that you are the man you say you
are ana L viii conduct you to General
johnston. de has often spoken of YOU
and has expressed the hope that Won
might meet him on his way through
Texas
! at once called two of my best men.
ana telling them to go with the stranger
lotd nm 70 ask any question of any
man whom he might meet until he was
satisfied as to my honesty and as to the
character Of our political belief. We We're
Nedrlng elue uniforms at the time for the
reason that we had found some very sery-
iceable garments in some of tile forts
that we had captured and a cold snan
sEat came along made them comfortable
Wen, 70 get back to the thread of this
narrative, the man came back in ton
minutes completely satisfied that I Ua
Colonel Baylor ana that l was honest in
my questions about the Intentions of tho
kreat general VINO had gone away IN
California We saddled up and rode oil
with he stranger. After going about three
miles We went up the skirt Of a mountain
ana when we reached tn summit orr
guide pointed to camp about a mile
distant and below US. At the Same in
slant the camping party noticed lIs ami
We were of course, the object of its gaze
General Johnston stepped to one side to
get better look at US. and as he raised
his glass he recognized me and / did ti,.s
same to him. We rode RAPIDLY To esf.h
other. and we actually embraced and shed
tears Tor ten minutes before we could
ind words for our utterances. I was IN IN
NY way north, and the general refused
70 allow me to change my course for him
] insisted, and he said that he would On
with me. / explained that it would nevss,
do for him 10 90 unless he We're in com
nlarld, whereCpon he turned to me with
this remark:
. What is the first duty of an officer
Of an army2'
To obey I answered
Then, said he, I command Won IN %
on with your expedition and allow me to
be d party to it,
i obeyed the command
That story, Colonel Crisp went on has
never been in print General BAYLOR ami
General Johnston met there On that 90
eaSlcn. ana they stood in that VAST en-
pire IL ke two William Wallaces on the
nils OF Scotland; but one died at Shiloh
and TIE other lost courage when the war
was over, and, like a mighty oak. river
and torD by storm, he was broken n,
lsody and spirit at the end of the war
de retired 10 the west, where he r.ecllDer-
sted, and there, surrounded by his multi
rlylng herds. he became d figure il, The
6reat domain Of Texas
General Baylor was a famous Texa,,
ard powerful man in every way ne
represented his state in the confederats
congress and was recognized long before
the war as one of the brainest. as well
as one OF the most brave, physically. of
Us many heroic sons. He was noted
indian lighter and had a record for sisx,
ing redskins in personal hand-to-hand
connlcL While living in USalde comic
ne kiiled so many desperate white char
s1tefs t9at MS name became a terror tn
the bad men of that part of the Lone
Star state He was 70 years old 81 ~
time Of his death and left wife and fars
married children TO mourn his end.--Sf'
Louis Republic. l