New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-02
WHY HE REMAINED LOYAL.
A COUNTRY IN WHICH RED LIQUOR COST s25 A
DRINK DID NOT SUIT HIM.

COUNTRY IN WHICH RED LIQUOR COST $50 A
DRINK DID NOT SUIT HIM.
From Tho Washington Post.
They were talking at Chamberlln's about rare
specimens Of ancient coin and currency when Colo.
nel ;. " Fordyce, the popular president of the st:
that he owned a hve-pound note Issued by the Co.
lonia Bank of Virginia, at Richmond in 1863. It
curiosites in this way. and he has of the best
collections in the country; But the mention of the
the talk drifted to the money of the Confederacy
about which most of the company had "A story 10
Down In Nashville" said Colonel Fordyce. there
was living at the breaking out of the an old
BACHELOR named John Armstrong, When secession
talk filed the air and the ho-headed young men of
the city were ranging themselves on the side Of
the South John Armstrong made speech to a
group Of his intimate friends.
. :, Boys said he 1t grieves my heart, to part
this great and grand Union and tell you that
on now taking e South aG n?f w vine n hs
fight. You will be licked OF the face of tho earth
But you won't heed what l say so goodby. ! am
going to stay here If no one else does and I'll be
arrive on the banks of the Cumberland
Johns eloquence did not influence his cronles a
little Bit and off they staHed to Join the rebel
army. He stayed. and when Buell. got to Nashville
John Armstrong was cxuberant I'm his welcome and
of few days notices sent around to the citi-
zens requesting every to call on the provost
strong got one but he treated It as formality and
tore II up. shortly after he got second notice.
press him. and he tossed II aside The next day to
his utter amazemcnt he arrested and taken
before the prOvost-marshal Before that official his
pent-up feelings found vent. He considered that to
make him take the oath was an outrage. Didn't
everybody In the country know he loyal to the
core aud hadn't he made sacrifices by the score for
the Union? What WAS the sense OF requiring him TO
perform such an act OF supererogation? He kept
up this kind OF rant for long time. the officer
being patient man. but likewise inheXlble. and
the upshOt OF IL was that Armstrong had TO sign
get out Of the lines. His stubbornness was
reused. and he wouldn't take the oath.
within twenij -four hours John Armstrong had
shaken the dus. Of Nashville from his feet and
was headed for tie South. lie knew where his
howl of delight went up when they saw him APP
preaching
Hello old man. We knew you were with us at
heart all the time. We knew you'd never stand
these blamed Yanks.'
These and sucn like greetings and warm hand
shakes put John In high good humor and he In
vitcd the crowd, at least Il dozen, TO aud
all his property before leaving home into cash.
and left with 1900 Of money that had behind Il the
credit Of The State of Tennessee. money thft at
the time. good any, and which every
body valued at leo cents the dollar The gang
told him where the drinks could be bought and
they proceeded TO qucnch their thirst When Arm
strong asked the sutler who sold the refreshments
what the hin WIS the man answered: "TweEty-nye
dollars "A drink-Se5 fer all
John Armstrong gaapsd for breath
What did YOU say? Twenty-Five dollars a
drink? why, man. this IL Tennessee money I'm
paying you, and us good as gold
" MY friend said the sutler I advise you TO be
careful. IL you don't mind. you'll be uttering
treason against the Southern Confederacy. !