The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-06-18
Guerri11as Scared BY nIu1es.

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'The worst fright I ever had was
caused by drove of young mules,'
said Frank James, who was one Of
Quantrelfs most daring night riders.
"A detachment of Quantrelrs COM
mand was suddenly and unexpectedly
unhorsed in Western Kentucky about
the middle of the war. l was one of
them. There were ten of us in the par
ty. We hustled around III lively fash
ION for new horses, and could not af-
ford to be very squeamish about the
style Of the animal or the means EN-
ployed in acquiring them, for the enc
my was close upon us and pursuing us
hotly. Along toward night we came
upon pasture filled with a motley ar
ray of horses and we helped ourselves
to them. In the bunch was an olds
mare with a big bell tied around her
neck. OF course, we knew that this
meant she was the leader of the drove.i
But we pressed her 4nto service, any
way, and away we struck down al
rocky branch road. You don't know
what rocky branch road is unless you
have had to travel over one in Western
Kentucky. 1t is no road at all, but sins
ply a level bank along branch, or
small creek, that flows through val-
ley between the high hills, which in
most any other country would be call.
ed mountains.
''Well, we were going lickity-split
down this rocky branch road toward,
our command. 1t was soon after dark,
but it was as black away down in that
rayine as the innermost recesses of the
Internal regions are supposed to be.'
Though we We're riding fast and MAXI
Ing good deal Of noise, we could hear
tremendous commotion in our rear.
We halted to determine the nature and
cause of it. The uproar sounded like a.
cavalry charge, and we concluded that
whole division of Federal cavalry
was pursuing us. We resumed our
course under whip and spur. and loud
er grew the noise in our rear. 1t sound
ed exactly as if the enemy was gaining.
on US at every lap, and I suggested
that we shy off into the bushes and
wait for the Yanks to come up. Then
we could surprise and rout them. On
the mad rush came with mighty clat-
ter Of hoofs on that rocky branch road
AS the uproar grew louder and more
distinct, we knew the enemy was near
ing us and we threw ourselves into line
Of battle.
pretty soon we heard the clatter
just over the brow of hill from our
position and we cooked our guns ready
to throw broadside into the onrushing
Yanks as soon as they showed them
selves on the hills crest Tn anothar
instant black mass could be seen
sweeping over the knoll. Then we
thought probably it might be some of
our own men, and that before sending
our deadly fire into the mass it would
be best to find out what composed it.
We shouted 'Haltv at the top of our
voices, but still the mass continued to
sweep toward us. Then we fired a vol
ley into it. The flash of our guns made
a brilliant red streak in the inky black.
ness, and through it we saw lot of
young mules. They had broken out of
the pasture when they discovered the
absence of the bell mare. and their in.
stinct had guided them in our direction
in search of her.
IL have no idea how many of thenr
we killed. but 1 do know that was
was mad enough whefN got over my
fright to shoot them all down, and
would probably have done so if It had
not been for the fear that the cannon
aiding we had already INDUCED in had
aroused the enemy and put him onto
the direction we had taken.'-St. Louis
Republic.