Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20
A PRIVATE'S EXPLOIT
HOW PHIL. FALL AND 'o"'
SAVED vICKsBuRG.
CAPTAIN CHAHDERLAYNE'S BOLD DASH
surrounded by "A Hundred f""Nee
CovnIrymcn He Charged Into Ihem
with Three Men ana was zap
tured.

Tho following collection of Confederate
"reminiscences is from the Houston POST
Perhaps there is no "old rebel better
ftnown in Texas than Captain Phil. Fah'
vof Houston. His title of captain Is an
afterthoueht. as II were a post-belium
attachment placed on him by General
Polly. on whose staff he mas done such
good and efficient work during the past
two years / mention this not 10 ais
psree the captain in the least lor nc
glories IN having been private ana al
r-ho know him IN those days which tried
mems souls will testify that there was
no nobier gentleman. no 'ruer soldier OF
mo more devoted follower of the Southern
Gross than this same Phil. Fan, aho
that had his reward been commensurate
with his merit there is no rank 10 whlch
ne mIght not lay claim. l don't IKE 10
tbiuk of Phil. as a captain. but 1 prefer
10 recall him as l knew him during the
war-as "a private-"one If the men -
and not very well dressed or oVercleah
one at that. He called himself u man
then. though he was only a. boy. Yes
terday | was looking over some ola war
pape1s and scrap-book i have, wnen
came across the following. when was
published several years ago, but whlch
Will bear reproduction. III IS the story
OF how FAN and companion operator
saved Vicksburg:
inst previous 10 the commencement of
the late civil war a rich planter, Dr.
Horace Tebbetts OF Pennsylvania Land
ing. La, seventy-five miles above Nlcks-
burg. had telegraph line built, running
from DeSoto, opposite Vicksburg, 10 Lake
Providence.
Ths line was built for DR.. Tehbettss own
Measure in order that while spending the
winter at his Pennsylvania plantation the
telegraph news. editorials, ana other IN
portant items contained in the Vicksburg
Herald might be wired him each morning:
This little line Unexpectedly proved Oh
immense service 10 the Confederacy.
Mr.. Lee S. Daniel, of General Brecken-
ridges field telegraph corps, was ordeleG
10 Pennsylvania 10 keep Watch, uay anu
night. for the purpose of notifying the
Nicksburg authorities of any movement
OF the enemy's fleet coming down 'le
river. as Memphis had fallen and an at
tempt on Vicksburg was daily eXpsc'eu'
Mr. Phil. H. Fan was detailed ana sent
across 10 DeSoto. The batteries had orders
10 respect his white flag by day and MS
red light by night, as 1t was sure deatn
10 be on the river near those batteries AT
night without proper signals.
one dark and stormy night, Fall, haNlns
fallen into a doze, awOke hearing Dahieis
. calling him as if life and death depehueu
on getting him. He opened his Key "nu
answered. when Daniels exclalmeu'
Great God, Phil, have been calling YOU
fifteen minutes. Eighty-two transports
loaded with Federal soldiers and twenty
odd eunbcats have passed and their lights
extend up the river as far as the eye can
,o,ch Hurry over the river and notify
General Smith"
"Tm off good-by," was Pills response.
The waves were high and the VIVA was
blowing hurricane. rendering IL ua'i
gerous 10 cross. but Fall Launched MS
frail craft, and after an awfully tenn
pestuous voyage reached the NieKsouie
side In safety.
There was a grand ball In profess,
Given by the citizens in honor oil Geheiai
fynl,h commanding. and other military
notabies.
FAN presented a woe begone appeal
ance as he elbowed his way through the
dazzling uniforms of officers ana eleganl
costumes Of ladies, and as ne naiteu II,
front OF the General, the crown surseu
around anticipating something uhusu1i'
General Smith scanned his mud-De,
spattered uniform and sterniy ueih""OS1
his business. ,,,,
handed him slip Of paper, upon whlch
he had gottAn down the situation
As he read IL the Generals race
blanched TO ssn ashy paleness. In loud
voice he advised the assembled multitude
that This baQ is ended. The enemy
will reach us tomorrow morning All
non-combatants must leave the city
Good night" ,
lie .grandly left the room, followed py
his officers. The wires TO Richmond were
kept red-hot, explaining the situation 10
President Davis and ordering reinforce
mcnts from Jackson and elsewh re-
The big fight at Chickasaw bayou two ,r
three DAYS afterwasd Resulted In the
Union troops being terribly whipped. ther
retreat 20 their boats and return up the
river. after which Nicksburg was no.
again molested for several months.
A Chicago lawyer, William Plum, wrote
a book containing two large volumea eN-
planning the achievements Of Federal ope-
rators and the value OF field telegraphy
during the war. He gives Fan and Daniel
the credit Of saving Nicksburg, as had II
not been for their prompt and faithful
discharge OF duty there. In all proba-