The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-01-15
THE CAPTAINS WAR STORIES.
Both Wonderful, Especially the On,
About Firing Mt II Puff OF Smoke,

About Firing ut IL PuT OF Smoke.
when [ was commanding o cavalry
outpost during the war, u said the can
tain, n former Confederate officer, IA
nous for his remarkable war stories,
u we we're camped near Salem, Va,
and 1T was the only time before, or
since, that Virginia has had such
heavy rains. We were wet through
and through, and almost dead from ex-
posture. l had received for my own
use q fi~ve-gallon key Of prime old Ken
lucky whiskey frolt an old friend, but
before L had a chance to sample the H.
quor was obliged to ride out on scout.
"All during that ride L was chuck
ling to myself at the treat I'd give the
boys when we got back, and, incl
dentally, how | would enjoy some of
the contents Of that keg myself. Well,
sir, when we came back after a five
i.curG' ride in that rain, soaked
through, hungry and disg dsted, l told
the men about that keg of old John
Barleycorn. DiG they smile? 1t was
the nearest approach TO u laugh that
had been heard in that section of the
country for many a day..
Upon dismounting, all gathered
round my tent. I entered, grabbed
q tin cup, smiled and turned the
spigot. But not a drop ran out. I
pulled the air-plug from the top, but
there was only the tantalizing odor of
the good old red eye kentucky alone
brews. The men were muttering at
what they called my ill-timed Joke.
The disappointment was greater than
grieved humanity could bear.
Suddenly | turned, saw q soldier
happy in his ~steadiness, in front of a
tent about fifty feet from me. In all
that outpost the only whiskey seen in
two weeks was that which l had re-
ceived. Twas but q moment to con-
meet the effect and cause. found
three heavy sleepers in that tent, the
ground was wet with rare, soft LIQUOR.
every tin wash-basin, cup and vessel
was filled with that heavenly liquor.
The secret was out, so was the whis-
key. [ investigated and found that
those men had learned of my having
tho keg, had cut some long rice straws,
made u conduit fifty feet in length by
joining them together, tapped the keg
and run the whiskey into their own
lent that long distance away"
The captain stopped, lighted his CT
gar anew, while his auditors ervou
ly shifted their positions. None spoke
for q full minute. Then the little man
who had tramped the region abont Sa-
lem under "Old Gloryn asked in a
mild and apologize voice, Captains
what does the rice crop amount to
now around the Salem country ?n
NO rice was ever raised there or
thereabouts, F" said the doughty but
forgetful warrior.
The painful silence was finally
broken by the captain himself, who
spun another yarn, which was as fol-
lows:
When | was commanding a cavalry
outpost during the wal / had occasion
TO make o personal examination Of the
land. | rode with my orderly to a
knoll some half mile from camp, aud
leisurely began to study my position
with the aid Of q field glass.
Suddenly | jerked my head back
involuntarily, and whizz went a sing
ing rifle ball so close to my ear that ]
could feel the wind OF its flight. A
pun Of smoko was the only evidence Of
the sharpshooter, Not one, but five or
six times, did this involuntary muscu.
lar action take my head backward
from the line OF tho shot and saved my
lifo. | could explain or under
stand that Providential muscular ac.
ZION. turning to my orderly, [ seized
his carbine, aimed at that smoke a
mile away, fired, and all was still
again. No more shots came and we
"eturned to.camp. In tho ait rnoon q
party OF us rode over the country, and
coming TO the spot where the shots
had come from In the morning, heard
groans.
They proceeded from d wounded
hidden behind a rail fence.
tie said no had fired several shots at o