The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-07-28
s. q u And HaeYou Card
in Directory

by the succession of disasters that had
followed the outbreak of the war.
He knew nothing Of war beyond it's
fundamental principles, which is that
| a large force can beat a small one
/ but he was called upon to solve a
/ problem which has puzzled the ableSt
! generals, namely, how two small bodies
of men, placed widely apart, can unite
/ in the presence of an enemy and beat
him when he is twice their united
/ strength and strongly posted behind
/ entertainments. The Confederate Gen
eral Humphrey Marshall, with 5000
men, had invaded Kentucky. Enter
/ ing it at Pound Cap he had fortified
a strong natural position near Point
Vile, and with small bands was over
running the whole Piedmont region and
scattering frebrands among its rural
/ population. Stump orators were blazing
away at every crossroads, lighting a
fire that would, if not soon checked,
sweep Kentucky from the Union.
The Need of n Trusty Messenger.
| To avert this disaster, the Union
! commander had only 800 men, divided
| into two bodies and separated by 100
/ miles of mountain country. This cOunr
/ try was infested with guerillas and
occupied by a disloyal people. The
/ sending of dispatches across it was
next to impossible, and were commune
cation opened, and the two columns set
( in motion, there would be danger that
they would be fallen on and beaten
in detail before they could affect
junction. Evidently the first thing to
be done was to find trustworthy
messenger to convey dispatches be-
tween the two halves Of the Union
army. To this end the Union COM
mander applied to the colonel of the
/
men," he asked, who win die rather
than fail or betray us?"
The Kentuckian reflected a moment,
then answered. Il think I haYe-John
Jordan. from the head of Blaine
GarfieIds Interview with John Jor-
dam.
Jordan was sent for. He was a tail,
quaint, sallow man of about so years.
He had small gray eyes, fine, falsettO
voice, pitched in the minor key, and
his speech was the rude dialect of the
mountains. He had q face of great
mobility, and he seemed a strange COM
bination of cunning, simplicity, I'M
daunted and undoubting faith.
The young commander sounded him
thoroughly, for the fate Of the little
army might depend on his fidelity.
why did you come into the WARP" he
asked him.
L Y,
gin'ral," answered Jordan. And 1
didn't draw no barg'in Wi tn Lord. I
guy him my life squar' out; and eff
he's mind ter tuck hit on this tramp.
why, its a his'n. I've nothing to say
agin hit
You mean that you come into the
war not expecting to get out of it?'
That's so, gin'ral."
viii you die rather than let the dis
patch be taken ?''
Il wull," was Jordans answer. His
soul seemed as clear as crystal and the
Union officer promptly said: Very
well. I will trust YOU
The dispatch was written on tissue
paper, rolled into the form of a bullet.
coated with lead, and put into the
hand Of the Kentuckian. He was
given carbine, a brace of revolvers
and the 1leetest horse in the regiment
and when the moon was down he set
out on his perilous journey. He was 10
ride at night, and lay by in the woods
or IN the houses Of loyal people in the
daytime.
Jordan Starts on His Mission.
1t was pitch dark when he set out
but he knew every rod of the way.
having trodden it often, driving mules
to market. He had gone twenty miles /
by early dawn and the house of a
friend was only few miles beyond.
The man was away. but his wife was
at home and she would harbor him ill I
nIghtfalL He pushed on and tethered /
his horse in the timber; but it was /
broad day when he raped a { the door /
ana was admitted. Tie good woman |
served him breakfast, then showed him
to the guest chamber, where. living !
down in his boots, he was soon in a /
deep slumber
The woman sent an old negro on a
mule up the road to warn them of any 4
danger; and about noon
they came hack, the negro CRYING: /
Dey's coming, Missus; not half a mile /
aWay-twenty secesh ridfn ez eff de /
debit was after en-
She barred the door and FASTENED to
the scouts room. GO" she said
through the window. ter the woods.
They'll be here in minute"
scout. 'A'
Twenty-go-go-at once-or you'll
be taken"
He did not move, but fixing his eyes
on on her face he said, Yes, 1 we're 'em.
Rachel, I've tibet bout thet's worth
MORN any life-thlalt, maybe'n save
Kantuck. If I'm killed will Yer tuck #
to Colonel Cranor at Paris?"
yes, yes, L will, But go, you've not
a minute to lose''
nc LII -iOl 20, lor nOrSeS hOofS were
already sounding in the door ward,
They demanded his surrender. He re-
fused, and then they threatened to fire
the house, which one of them objected
to. saying they would thus burn the dis
patch. Then there was dead
silence, and the woman went to the
loft, whence she could see all that was
passing outside. A dozen of the horse.
men were posted around the house
the remainder dismounted, had gone to
the woods, and were telling a weel-
grown sapling to batter down the cabin
door.
Jordan's Bold Dash For Life.
The woman explained the situation.
and the scout said: Hits a sorry