The National tribune., 1898-10-27

awoke the next morn ng Just as it was
beginning to get gray in the east. and
found | had lain down in low piece of
ground, and the water had run under and
around me, until it was about four inches
deep. / was cold and wet, and hungry as
a wolf ! made the railroad my guide after
that, and passed through Madison lust
as the citizens were beginning to stir
about, and saw four or five rebel soldiers
starting at that early hour toward a saloon
for their morning drinks.
/ soon discovered that the railroad was
the safest route | could travel as there
were no houses near it, and | followed it
till l reached point nea- Mooresville,
where ! stopped at tho house of a Union
man for breakfast, or rather dinner for it
was about I'D o'clock. He took me for a
rebel in disguise, sent there to try him
and ascertain his sentiments. He gave
his name as Porter Bib. ard gave mine
as Gahe FItzhugh j was tISjng To sound
him and he was trying to sound me-
We spent about two hours in lying to
opinions, but had mutually failed
and when We had commenced lamenting
the death of \. Sidney Johnston in the
battle OF Shiloh, we were interrupted by the
entrance of Il Quartermaster's Sergeant
and Corporal, who ascertained TO he
long to Young's I'd Tenn. Cav, and that
they were guarding the identical bridge
was sent to inspect. got into a converse
ton with them, and gave the 9Th Tex.
tWharton's Rangers) as my regiment
They wee without suspicion, and | do
not think they had ever seen Yankee
before.
My first business was to get their conf
dence; the next, to draw them into a con-
versation respecting the bridge. This was
done without exciting the least suspicion
as 10 who ] was. They told me all about
the bridge and its defenses, and how they
h1r1lf nf cftf ton B.. loo. IL
geant gave me description of how they
tried its qualities as defensive work
We took six pound gun" said he
. ard planted it 600 yards from the fort.
loaded with heavy charge Of powder and
a solid shot, and then aiming at the
fort about breast-high to man. We fred
The ball went through the first wall
and turned downward AMI struck the
ground, glanced upward struck and went
through the top bale, knockingit to pieces,
turned downward again and hit the water
about the middle of the river, glanced up
and struck a house on the opposite side Of
the river, then went through the walls and
fell In the yard near the house"
Why did not the officers make the fort
stronger? ;" inquired
Well" he said, Il asked that question
myself, but the Colonel said it wasn't in
tended to stand siege, nor to turn artil-
lery, but merely as protection against
Yankee cavalry; that the tn Ohio was
everywhere and pitching into everything,
and no one knew what day they might
come to this section of the country But
let 'em come; we are fixed for 'em now -
He was SO explicit in his description that
he actually mapped out the notifications
on the floor OF Bibbs shop
While we were talking rebel CAPTAIN
came IN. who, l suppose, was relative of
Bib. lie vas very inquisitive, and
wanted to know all about me, adding that
he hoped / would take no offense at his
questions, as these were very suspicious
times"
''Not at all, sir" was my answer; IAN
honest man is never afraid of being
watched"
is not that Yankee uniform Won are
wearing" he asked.
Yes"
why do you wear it?" was the next
inquiry.
Because" said /, "it is unsafe to wear
any other where have been"
Where was that" he wanted to
know.
Near ShelbyyiIle''
Z" How came you to be there7 Why are
you not with your command ?" was his
next query
II was said calmly, left behind at
house, on the retreat from Nashville, too
sick to travel"
Whose house were you left att" he
persisted in asking.
was left with, man named Butler. {"
=" Where is your horse ?" he wanted TO
know
" let a comrade have it," told him.
because was afraid | would never be
able to ride again"
Where are you going now 2" he asked.
T" To my regiment"
What is your regiment
Wharton'S Rangers"
What is your Captains name ?" he
would like TO know.
Capt. Cook, T" told him.
What part of Texas were you from ?"
he asked.
From Waco, on the Brazos River"
was my reply.
All have been there; were you ac.
guainted with Dr. Tindsley 2" he in
quired.