Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-12-23
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
AN ODD WAR DUEL.

A Running Fight Between Gen. "Joe" Shell
by's Rough Riders and . Train Force.
What a narrow world it is after all"
said middle-aged gentleman, as he
contemplatively pulled at his cigar, in
a party Of half dozen old grand army
men, who had been swapping army
stories at post camp fire not long ago.
81 was q captain in New England regi-
ment," continued the speaker, at the
capture Of Roanoke Island and almost
the first man | saw among the confeder-
ate prisoners, was 1.-THE, slender, fiery
little fellow, who, four or five years
before, had been a classmate Of mine in
a New York college. He didn't see
me till clapped him on the shoulder
and asked him II he could shoot better
than when he tried to shoot me one
night in secret society meeting. His
eyes filled as he grasped my hand-we
had been good friends after the trouble
alluded to-and he replied. All!
Mac, ! was great fool in those days,
and I'm afraid I'm not much better
now I've never seen him since"
"Yes," said an old major with a gray
mustache "there are strangely mprob-
able meetings between people who have
met before, in both peace and war. I
can tell you queer story illustrating
that same narrowness.
"1n 1864 I was in Arkansas. where
war was carried on in about as rough
and ready way as war could be.
Scarcely day passed for some weeks
that I was not shot at by some scamp
skulking in hiding place, and ! sus.
pect most Of them would have shot
obout as promptly if had worn the
gray, and been obliged to go about as
I did. They were Tshmaeltes to the
last degree, many OF those fellows.
Zone day started with another Of
fcer and large sum Of government
money to 90 from Little Rock to Deval's
Bluff on White river, between which
points there was craggy railway, the |
sole line Of communication and supply
for Gen. Steele's frontier division The
train was one OF 'emptics' going for
supplies. My companion and stacked
up our personal belongings and the |
money, the latter In one Of those ride.
ulous little iron boxes used by the gov.
eminent discussing officers. in a box
car and took possession. It was fright
fully not, and after we had passed out |
from the cypress swamp on to the open |
prairie we climbed out on to the top Of
the car for air.
presently as we approached guard.
ed station, we discovered there was
going on there and soon re.
allied that Gen. Joe Shelby had large
force OF his rough riders had broken In
on the line Of communication, captured
q post and were tearing up the road.
We had unwittingly nearly run into
their clutches. The train was stopped,
we transferred the money to the cab Of
the engine, put it in charge Of our
clerks, and, instructing them II they
saw capture was inevitable, to open the
boxes and throw the half million into
the furnace-their testimony TO the
acts before congressional committee
being probably good, and ours certain.
" not worth a cent-we climbed back
into our car and the train began the
ticklish operatione-on such track--of
out Of danger.
"A couple Of miles or more behind us
vas spur or switch track, with only
'ne end connected with the line, and
Ten. Joe had already sent a considera
Die detachment Of his cavalry galloping
'cross the prairie toward that II they