The National tribune., 1898-09-29

that might obtain and communicate the
desired information before he came nca
enough to engage the enemy. They warl
represented at 700 strong, while the
Majors command only numbered 100 men.
succeeded in getting into the town. and
| rousing some OF the inhabitants, repre-
| sented myself as a Confederate Quarter
master and asked them TO tell me where
the Texas Rangers were, and inquired
about Col. Wharton and other rebel Off
GERS with the air of an old acquaintance.
They informed me that the regiment had
left town about an hour before, but if
would hurry on ] would OveTtake them at
Whippoorwill Station; that they intended
to burn the bridge at that place, and
would be delayed q short time. l next in
Quired about the Government property
there. and one man went to show me the
different stores OF flour and other proylS-
| ions. of which there was an immense
quantity in town: after which l W. mt to
GTey's tavern and ordered breakfast Tor u
hundred Texan Rangers, telling hi4 to
have II ready Tor us just at daylight, which
he promised 10 do, and l rode OS to our
command
All this was done so quickly and cOolly
that the citizens were not alarmed. and
we even captured some of Wharton S men
who were sleeping in town at various
houses, while the amount OF stores which
fell into our hands was immense.
The landlord had taken me at my word.
had been prepared for the Rangers. who,
alas for my vcracity, turned out to be real
bluc-cOatcd Yankees. However. we de-
voured our meal with as much relish and
as great an amount OF enjoyment as IL we
had come from the banks of the Rio
Grande, and ridden all the way to Russell
vile in day. To tell the truth. we were
feahully hungry, and did as hungry men
do.
SUMMARY ACTION
Circumstances were such that the troops
were soon recalled from the town, ana
they evacuated it while l was down on
the Tennessee line, whittier | had been
sent on another scout by the Major:
When returned l found myself alone and
81 miles from our lines. On passing
through discovered that the people had
commenced to carry off the public stores,
and at once ordered them to stop, telling
them if they did not l would bring COM
pany of men and lay the town in ashes, |
and my threat had the desired effect. At
the depot found another gang rolling out |
the -four ard hauling it off in wagons, |
and gave them the same warning, but |
they did not yield so readily. They asked
me If ! possessed the authority to make |
the order, and il | was a commissioned |
oEiccr, etc This fretted me little, and
drawing my pistol rode III aNoag tbem
a.ad made taem roll every barrel back into
the depot again, and then shutting and
barring the doors l told them would kill
the next man found near the place.
While / was down at Allensville met a
two horse carriage, in which were four
old men aaa one young man, who seemed
to be abaut IS years of age. Entering into
with them ! soon discover
ed that tnc old men were Union men, and
that ta.y had got stuck on some Confed-
C ate money, and that they were going to
Nashville to dispose of it for Kentucky
State nstes; but the young man, as If try
in. to draw nv sentiments from me, cx
pressed himself in the bitterest terms as
u rebel While the conversation was GO
ing on one of the old gentlemen pro-
duced eask OF whisky, and passed it
fist to the other three and then to me,
ask ng at the same time if ] ever drank.
told taea that | seldom d -ank anything
st onger taan brandy, and lad hold. -
Raising the flask, said, Gentlemen, let
Us d ink to the Constitution and the
Union,' waen the old men shouted "Hur-
-ah for the Constitution and the Union.
The youn. man. however, put his head
nut and fairly yelled "No, sir; I'm rebel. |
won't drink any such sentiments; ! will |
lie fist" Ny first impulse was to thrust |
nv pistol in his face and blow his brains
,ut but he was unarmed. and would not
shoot a defenSeleSs man
was alone. and could not be bothered
with prisoners. but ~as fully determined