The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-01
EVADED THE YANKS.

"Say, son, do you know what good all
up and down the backbone thrill is
wOrth2''
where does the thrill come imp Max
well, the Golonel's partner, called from his
corner. The colonel chuckled again, then
said very slowly, ''Can you imagine how
it feels to know yourself within an inch of
hangiRgS''
ooh, there's story Tell it, - Maxwell
said, putting down his pen. The colonel
flung over to him the most unforgivable
OF the penwipers, then sat down on the
edge of my desk, folded his arms and be-
gan:
Don't know that I ever told you fit
fer Cousin Sally Ann, as our company
wag used to express serving the Confedera-
cy. But 1 did. I was a daredevil too.
Would you think so to look at me now?''
mot much,'' we said in chorus He
smiled and went on: Il belonged to Mr.
Forests 'eritAer company You don't
know it, but that means that had a heap
of chances to get myself shot. He was a
fighter from way back, was Mr.. Forrest.
But that didn't feaze the boys who rode
with him. 1t was what they were there
for. He made things lively, tell you, in
the country between the rivers-the Cum
berland and Tennessee North Of the Cum
berland, after Denelson fell, it was mighty
hazardous for a graycoat to venture. The
river could be forded only in time of
drought, and the strict gunboat patrol made
swimming or sailing across it about as
dangerous as anything could be. Still we
wanted now and then to get news of our
friends, the enemy, over there, and one
day volunteered to swim the river and
bring back word to my chief. Go, if you re
a-nind ter, Billy, but 7 sorter think you'll
come back dead, he said. But went.
Home was across the river, you see and
girl who-but never mind. 1 didn't see
her that trip
Hardly had I crossed when I ran
plump upon a former overseer, who was,
1 knew, a Union man. He recognized me
at once, yet if I had been the prodiga1 son
his welcome could not have been warmer
When 1 asked if he meant to inform on
me, he almost cried. His feelings were so
hurt, indeed, that I had to agree to stay
all night at his house and let him help me
next morning across the river, which was
the main lion in my homeward path. I
wanter show We Jessermfne's drorin's,
too, he said. You amt forgot Jessermine
she's the little young un yer ma used ter
make much on. GrOwed up now, she is,
an er scholler right. Why, she paints COWS
an hawgs an sech like that natchul ye
CANT help but know EN-
81 didn't know 'em-nOt apart mean
until Jessermine herself differentiated
them for me. She was a big, fair girl,
wholesome as the day is long 1t gave me
a heap of comfort to hear her whisper as
we separated for the night: 'Pap's the on
ly Union man in this family I'd fight
for the Confederacy every day in the year
If only had not been born girl.
''The speech was still more comforting
when 1 got up in the morning and found
a whole division of bluecoats stacking
arms in the turnpike outside the gate.
They had made night march and meant
to cross the river the next day. was trap
ped squareIy and likely within ten hours
to bangle from limb. If my host did not
betray me, my horse in his stable, with
cavalry saddle and holsters, most certainly
would. Escape was out of the question
they were before and behind me and all
around, with more coming in each half
hour.
"Then every mothers son of 'em was
mighty mad with Forrest. He had whip
ped 'e1n when he had no right to do it and
run whom they ought to have whipped
him. There was, besides, a sort of talk of
retaliation. Altogether I made up my
mind that I had less than six hours of life
unless miracle saved me or Jessermine
stood my friend.
''She did that, like the trump she was.
Don't you worry she said when she
brought me breakfast. Fat hearty an rest
dAA gu Cd43 OAeAA gov O446uA AaAA5cS al
fed It's likely you may have to ride all
night without stoPPin, but don't you be
uneasy whatever you do
''Win you believe it, trusted that girl
blindly-lay down and slept like top IN
til she was back again. She had her paint
box and brushes, besides a couple of raw
onions. When she had told me her plan for
me, laughed until cried.
Garry it out? 1 shouldn't be here if
had not. That afternoon, about 2 O'Clock,
a man rode YEARLY into the camp. His
eyes were red and swollen and ran water
continually. He was broken out all over
with red, angry looking pustules Take
me to your general. I-I-sErrender. I am
Captain LilIard of Forests cavalry he
said in a weak voice. / want to be sent to
the hospital. AS you see, have small
pox'-
1.-THE sentry waited to hear no more. He
passed the prisoner on like a hot potato.
So did the corporal of the guard, and so,
in the end, did the general The prisoner,
whose eyes kept getting redder and more
watery, sInelled strongly Of onions but
none of them came near enough to per
ceive it. By 4 O'Clock he had been escorted
to the river bank and told to cross it or
drown or do anything that pleased him,
except strew infection through United
States army corps. He did cross the river
he got safely to Mr.. Forrest, toO-but
did not escape quite scot free. 1t was all of
a month before Jessermine's paint wore
of. New York Journal
n57