The National tribune., 1898-10-20

then facing me they commanded me to
halt" Knowing. that death was my
portion if captured in that disguise, in
stantly spurred my animal forward at a
charge straight upon them. When within
about two jumps of them l fred on the
right-hand man. when he gave an ex
clamation Cf pain and let his gun fall,
and the next jump my horse struck him
full in the breast with his knees and
knocked him high in the air, and as he
fell to the ground cleared his body with a
bound.
The left-hand man fired as passed, and
| so close were we to each other that the,
powder from his gun stung my face like
| fine shot. Seeing more men in the cedars
| on the right, / threw myself down, Conan
che fashion, with my head by my horses
| breast but not second too soon, for
| they sent dozen balls whistEng after
me.
Driving the spurs into my horse, l
| urged him to his utmost for about three
miles, when then checked up to see if
was pursued; but heard no more of the
rebels that night, and pursued my way
unmOlested to camp, where arrived Just
as the General was eating his breakfast.
do not know who it was that was firing
on me, unless had blundercd inside of
the rebel pickets in the dark The Cen
eral was very glad that l escaped SO well,
and praised me to all the officers for ven
turing SO far. -
l soon had additional cause to feel
proud, for my party of scouts were the
first Yankees into Shelbyville, where we
captured bank and put it under charge
of guard until relieved by the authoIi-
ties. This was the only institution in
Tennessee which could redeem it's notes,
and afterward learned that it did redeem
it's entire circulation in United States
currency.
The rebels soon got over their scare
and began to trouble us again. l secuted
q
ham, of the 1st La. Cav, but accomplish
ed nothing more worthy of narration, ex-
cept that had few single-handed COM
bats with members of Morgan's command.
On April 8 was sent by Gen. Mitchell
down to Decatur to get information as to
the state of the country, and to destroy
the railroad bridge at that point if pos
sible. l set out for Shelbyville, mounted
on Old Punch, my pet horse, properly
armed and fully equipped with turpentine
"Old Starry" (our pet name for Gen.
MitcheD "blowed me up" that morning
for being slow, which was the only time
he was ever out of humor with me. He
and l told him l was trying him to see if
he was suitable for the trip, and that he
was not to be trusted, and would, con-
sequently, have to ride Old Punch.
FINE sTEED.
Near to the town of Fayetteville, in
Lincoln Co, Ky, night overlook me, and l
left the road a short distance and slept in
the woods. This was on Saturday night,
and on Sunday morning l rode into town.
The citizens were aStOnlShed to see a
single man dressed in full Yankee cos
jacket, blue blouse and blue
armed with the well-knOwn
Yankee accoutermentS, venture among
them They gathered about me in a
great crowd, and seemed to regard it as
the freak of madman; but on approach |
ing me at the hotel they found me entirely |
rational, cool, and of decent department, |
and they at once changed their minds, |
and took me for one of their own men in |
disguise. |
Seeing that it was my best plan to en-
this belief, l ordered my break |
fast, went to the stable to see my horse |
fed, and then returned to my room at the |
hotel There were about 600 men gather |
ed on the sidewalk to ascertain what the |
strange arrival meant, and to hear the !
news, and they were watching me with |
eager interest
| felt that l was playing a ldelicate
game, with my neck in a halter. Ii they
had only known my true character they
would but too gladly have hanged me to
the nearest tree. They asked me my
name, which / told them; next my rcgi-
ment, and with staggering air ] said:
THE 4th Ohio Cav
What is your Colonei's manner? said one.
Col John Kennett, | answered slowly
and with dubious look.