The National tribune., 1899-09-14


to the town, bade the Colonel good-by, and
went to bid my son Charlie good-by before
left for the North. Imet Mrs. Avis on the
street, and she asked me if thought Capt.
Avis was safe, as he and all of the officials,
both military and civil, of the town had fled.
assured her, saying that she need have no
fear, as the Captain, doubtless, was in
some dark recess in the North Mountain, in
complete retirement. Shelaughed through
her tears. Avis and / were not friends, it
may be assumed, and I think I did very
well towards his wife, considering.
l called upon John Christian and two
widow ladies, one of whom was Mrs. Perrin
a good friend, and then went to the Ameri-
can Hotel to get supper, when, 10 and be-
hold, there was Col. Nadenboush, part
owner of the hotel and Colonel of the Con-
federate army, ready to receive me, and
showed me with much satisfaction a large
handful of real "greenbacks." He had kept
open house for Gen. Hunter and his
Yankees" and had much more success
than if he had fought Gen. Hunter, war
rant. l left in the morning, and paid Col.
Nadenboush SO meal in Confederate
money, or so cents in greenbacks, and was
gone.
AS for Jeff Davis, have but little to say
at this date; enough has already been said.
But if he had even led his troops against
Gen. Grant and died, steel in hand" at the
head of column, as did Richard the Third
| on BoSworth Field, or as Leonidas did at
the Pass cf Thermopyle, where there were
none left to carry the message of defeat, his
| name would have lived longer in the hearts
of his people; and he would have been more
nobly remembered, if he had fallen fighting
for what he thought was right.
| The following brief sketch was given me
of Mud Wall" jackson by Confederate
officer of the Valley Of Virginia. Mud
Wallis" real name was Thomas Jackson,
as was "Stonewall Jackson" and was a
lawyer somewhere about Wythville, Va,
and placed in command of rangers to guard
the road leading west from Staunton, also
10 watch the Yankees from the direction of
Pendleton County, VIVA, and Averells
command. 1t soon developed that "Mud
WalP' was averse to fighting, as also were
his men, and became famous for his UNIQUE
an1 fanciful reports (and it has been said
that he originated the funny expression, in
commencing his reports of battles: Hind
quarters in the saddle.'O
In his reports, he was always falling
back, but "contestings every inch of the
ground" and forcing the enemy back"
finally, upon their main, body, etc; and
once reported that he had a severe brush
with the Yankees, the enemy losing
dozen or so, but that they had carried off
their dead and wounded, which prevented
him giving the exact number of the enemy
killed.
When Gen. Averell made his raid to White |
Sulphur Springs. he is said to have reported |
how he met Averell's cavalry near Salem,
and fought him, foot to foot, until over
whelmed by superior numbers. Mud |
Wall" drew his rations regularly, and his |
money, too, when he could get it, and the |
Confederate Government finally, to use |
another classic expression, got onto his |
curves" and sent him to a fortified post |
where his command, mostly Union men or |
weak Secessionists, skipped out" and |
heard from some of them at New Creek |
Station in '64.
After the secession of Virginia an anus
ing lot OF curious people were developed in 7
Richmond, who afforded so much enter I
tainment that hasten to repay by giving 1
them a notice" These people We're those 1
who had been Union men, and also those
who had been nothing-neither fish, flesh,
or fowl. They secured small places with
the Confederate Government and heartily
approved of all Confederate acts; abused
the sound Union men, bowed low to officers,
sneezed when jeff Davis did, took a drink
when Judah Benjamin did, hugged and
kissed the Dispatch and Enquirer, etc. And
their conduct reminds me of story, as
7 ,innnlr WpplH haua caiH fnIInwC.. Inc
after the war a former slaye,owner met
"Uncle Silas," a former servant, and said to
him: Uncle Silas, how comes it that saw
you coming out of an Episcopal church last
when you are an old Baptist?
Uncle Silas replied thus: Il tells you how It
is, Old Marsa, [ wanted to obsa rye dey
akshuns." And did you observe them,
Silas?" "Oh, yes, Old. Marsa; [ riz and
drapped wild 'em ebery time, and kotch 'em
a gwyne an cummin'." Thus these neutral
and weakened Union people ''riz' and
"drappei" with the Confederates in the end,
at all events. [ feel that have penned
these "Recollections" with view to moder-
alton and prOpriety, and while [ have in
deavored to entertain and amlIse at times,
1 apprehend that 1 have given but little
cause for serious otfenSe to sensible persons,
North or South. [ confess that my bitter
ness would have been more apparent had 1
have written soon after the war.
"OLD JONES'S" BOARDING HOUSE.
Some three or four months previous to
my leaving Richmond in 1863, for the pur-
pose of making my way through the lines
to the North, took roems with friend on
Main street, and went to boarding. The
institution was skept bya most amusing old
maid, Miss M. Now, Miss M was
a charming lady, in her way, and was per-
haps near 45 years of age.
had two rooms with my friend-we will
call him George. said: George, where do
we get our grub toIeat?" why, bless
your soul, | shall take you at once to Miss
Ms. get my meals with her, and We
get on finely" Georgefwas a bachelor of 35
years, and was entirely invulnerable to the
charms of women, and regarded them all,
the unmarried ones, as afraudu-
lent deception and a snare. He was a
master mechanic, and made from $50 to S35 !
per day at his trade, by taking little con-
tracts, repairing sewing machines, etc, and :
he religiously exchangedit every Saturday ,
for gold at the brokers' nearby. George .
was Union man, and did not care to be
seen buying gold, so he sent boy who
worked with him, to transact the financial 7