The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-10-06
BENTON. LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER g. 1885,

back, and at midnight reached the
head Of the wagon train. At spot
where the road narrowed and was
badly cut up q halt was made to
fill up mud hole before crossing, the
captain began storming at the drivers
and ordered them forward. The resul:
was an upset which completely
blocked the road, and instead Of seek
ing to clear it the fugitivcs abandoned
everything and pushed ahead on foot.
The advancing confederates had moth
ing to do but take possession as fast
as they came up. They captured 200
wagons, all the ambulances, two bat
teries, the headquarters baggage, all
the spare ammunition and several
thousand horses and mules. In addi-
ton they captured over 1000 pris-
oners, and the number of muskets Sc
cured was over 1000. Most of this good
luck was brought about by the ef-
forts of one single person, and il
strong proof that queer things hap
pen in war. The retreat was over a
road 70 miles long, and it may be men
toned that among the first to arrive
at Memphis were three brigader gem
erals aud seven colcnels, to say moth
ing of dozens of minor officers. At Rip
ley 20 federals, all of whom had lost
their guns, surrendered to two armed
confederates and were marched to the
rear.
Hunting for a Dead Man,
Early in IL
of the Twelfth regulars, who had been
on duty at Murfreesboro, Tenn, was
ordered to report to Nashville, and
while making his way tc the latter
point was captured, with two other
officers, by guerrillas. AS a first pro.
ceeding they were robbed of all their
personal effects and then stood up to
be shot at. AS volley was about to
be fired the guerrilla leader changed
his mind, and for two or three days the
prisoners were retained in camp AMI
we'll used. Then they set out under a
small guard to go to Gen. Forrest. Aft
er plotding along for few miles the
party turned aside into ravine, and
when out of sight of the road the cor.
poral of the guard turned and said to
Fitch:
Its too much trouble to 60 on, and
we are going to finish you here!"
With that he shot the officer
through the head, and the other two
were fired upon at the same time
Fitch fell to the earth apparently
dead. but after time recovered ana
crawled to the nearest house. He was
taken in and cared for, but after
few hours the guerril!as heard shat he
was alive and returned to finish him
They would have shot him as he lay in
bed, but the woman of the house pro
tested:
Don't you see that he is breathing
his last? lie can't live over an hour,
and it is no use to waste more bul.
let's"
AS soon as the guerrillas retired two
men carried the officer to another
house mile away. When the fellows
returned for the second time they
were told that the man had walked off.
They knew he was at deaths door, and
had walked. A hunt was entered upon,
however, and kept up for week, but
the federal was passed from house to
house or hidden in sheds and thckets.
and they did not find him. The ball
passed clear through his head, but,
lneerly enough, he was almost as good
is new at the end of six weeks. Seven
different families gave him shelter,
hough each and every Que OF them
was confederate. On one occasion the
fugitive was carried out and hidden in
IN empty rain barre! at the corner of
he house, and. though it was daylight,
md the guerriilas were searching
around for two hours, they did not
ind him.