Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1894-07-06
A Strange War Story.
Jack Mason, n Noted Guerrilla Leader
Is Now "a Happy Grandmother.

Jack Mason, Noted Guerrilla Leader
Is Now Happy GRANDMOTHER.
The preparations for the trial of land
suit which is to come up at the approach
ing term of the Circuit court in Burksvile,
KY, has revealed singular story
Throughout the Civil warthis backwoods
region-Burksvlle is 40 miles from the
nearest railroad-was debatable ground.
1t was harred alike by Federals and Con-
federates, 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 a party of
guerrillas, who were mainly of Confederate
sympathies, made their headquarters in
Bennett township in this county. From
that vicinity they made many raids through
the surrounding country, and often attack
ed 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 Ten
nessee. But of his family and antecedents
he told his companions nothing. He was
slender in form and etfemnate in face and
manner, but these circumstances were at
tributed to his extreme youth. His enter
prise and bravery in battle prevented his
companions from commenting upon his
girlish appearance.
One day smart skirmsh 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 OF with
them But he was so seriously wounded
that the rude surgery of the camp was not
4 fri T,1
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 pain
full 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 considerable sum of money and
some jewels, 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. May
hew owned some land in This county.
which he sold. Later question 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 abandon
ment by her mother, the disguised soldier.
Local newspapers printed the facts, and
they were reprinted in newspaper at
Knoxville, Tenn.
Recently a middle-aged but good-looking
woman arrived here. She said she was
Mrs. John Mason, who lived near Knox
vile, Tenn, and that Mrs. Mayhem was
her daughter. Then she told her story.
She said she was 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.
Afterward She became jealous of her hus-
band and deserted him. Ashamed to re-
turn home she had put Oh mems clothes
and joined the guerrllas.
When she left the house of the Orths,
She said, she intended to return and claim
her baby, but when she reached East Ten
nessee she fell into a fever and was never
afterward able to locate the place where
the Orths resided. She and her husband
were reunited and they advertised extern
sively for the child, but heard nothing
Mrs. Mason was overjoyed at finding her
daughter, Mrs. MAYHEM. 1HdHtd CoHSti-
| tuition.