St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-09-10

on he might have issued third order
but even had it announced instant
death as the penalty of cumming he
could not have abolished it.
| Caught In the Spring-House.
A portion Of Clusters command was
scouting towards Berryville one day
before the battle of Winchester when it
came upon queer state of affairs at a
farmhouse. Two hours previously a
gang of seven "bummers" had come
| along and started in TO loot the house.
The farmer was a confederate soldier,
who was home on furlough to be nursed
/ for wound in the thigh. He was not
able to leave his bed. but his wife hand
ed him his musket, and he shot one Of
the men dead and drove the rest out
They did not go away, however, being
determined to kill linn and burn the
house in revenge. He had his bed
drawn to the door, end being propped
up he kept them away from the rear of
the house, while MS wife, who was
armed with an old revolver, fired often
enough to prevent any approach to the
front. There was spring house of
solid build few reds from the back
door, and the "bummers" entered it
to regale themselves before closing in
onthe house. The door opened inwards,
and while they were playing havoc
with the milk pans the woman ap-
preached and pulled the door to and
thrust a stick through the handle. The
structure was too solid to be beaten
down, and as there was but one win
dow, the men tried 10 make their es-
cape that way. Propped up in his bed,
with his wound paining him at every
movement, the confederate fired at ev-
cry head thrust out, and his bullets
flew SO close that all attempts were
soon abandoned. We found him with
his musket in his grasp and dead
man on the floor, and we also found the
soldiers huddled together in the spring
house. The confederate could have
been carried of a prisoner of war, but |
he was not disturbed. On the contrary,
while a hundred blue coats were di- |
viding their rations with the wife, the |
officers were making cash donations |
to the husband. As for the "bummers,"
they were turned over to the rank and |
file to be kicked. and they got dose
to be remembered all their days. Gus
ter rather favored man who set out
for adventure between the lines. but
he had no mercy on hooters and rob-
berx.
The GettysbarE Campaign.
As the confederates were fighting
mostly ut home there were few "bum-
ners" in comparison. There were guer-
rilla bands who robbed friend and foe
like, but individual soldiers were not
yiven to it. The golden opportunity
anne when Lee invaded Pennsylvania.
Before crossing the Potomac he issued
he strictest orders against footing. but
hey were Observed only in Maryland.
When the YANKEE state was once ,
cached thousands of men went to for
ging on their own account. They
we're ahead of the army-behind it,
n both TANKS. They foraged on horse ,
'ack. on foot and in wagons. For Is &
niles on either si6e of the highways
hey did not miss farmhouse. The q
rst callers gobbled the horses. The n
ext wanted provisions. The next q
,oted the houses. Men on foot bore
way looking-glasses. trunks, bedding.
rockery. tinware-anything they
ould carry. Those on horseback had
reat bundles in front and behind 8
hem. In q train Of % confederate
agons captured on the retreat was ,
'und almost every article in use by y
vilized people. The .'bummers" had
ken plow points. drag teeth. old har-
Isl collars. rusty spikes, cracked jugs,
.gs of vinegar, handleless axes, and b
zen the "old oafen buckets" from the
els. There were crowbars and iron