The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27

back 81 those large sugar plantations.
started on my journey for the front and
made my way through one OF the large
sugar farms TO the back yard OF the old
gentleman who owned the farm. He had
two daughters, who begged me to get down
and take dinner. The old gentleman also
insisted. ! already had my own consent,
aud accepted their hospitality. The old
man wanted to have my horse stripped and
| fed. declined, but took my bride of and
hung It on the horn of the saddle. ! left
my gun In the scabbard and left my horse
to Craze in the back yard on the Bermuda.
We went In the back way, and as | went
In the back door | uubuckled my belt.
and on II was q brace OF Colts pistols.
laid them down on the left OF the door as
| went In. This made my pistols come
right handed In case ] had 40 grab them
on the run. | was very uneasy, and sat
down by the front door and kept trying
to take my eyes off those girls to look
for the Yankees. but somehow must have
been mesmerized. | swear | don't believe
could have seen Yankee. At any rate
dinner was announced BY us time my
horse had grazed around In the front yard.
| Insisted on taking him in the back yard
but to no avail One OF the young ladies
said she would place negro boy out on
the front porch to keep lookout while
VIC were at dinner.
was very near through eating when all
at once the negro came running through
the house was up and at the door with
my hand on my belt, when he said:
"oh. Lordy, Miss Laura, den Yankeys
are all in de frunt yard and don katch cat
mans boss"
Both girls caught me by the arm, beg
cling me not to run for Gods sake: to
hide the Yankees would XIII me IL ran.
But | knew the consequences IL they cap
tured me and made the break both girls
right behind me. The Yankees could not
shoot me on account OF the girls When
| reached the back yard fence l came
against 1t with full force and knocked off
two pickets and went into THAI sugar
cane field on $40 gait. heard the J an
KEGS tearing down the yard fence and !
knew they Were coming. concluded
to change my course and ran across the
rows. did not go far before fell head
long in a ditch that had blood weeds as
high as mans head on horse. ! caught
my breath and listened ! imagined the
whole of Banks army was in that cane
field. They made more noise than
bunch of stampeded beeves with NIFTY cow
boys on stormy night | wasn't long
In making up my mind what to do
commenced crawling down toward the
public road down this ditch. right where
knew the Yankees would least expect
me to CO. Where this ditch crossed the
road there was a bridge. Ny object was
to get under this bridge and wait for
night and crawl out and make my way to
camp
Just before sunset after | had reached
the bridge, here they came. You can not
Imagine what feelings ! had. knew my
horse would cross this bridge and have
Yankee on his back and in my saddle. God
forgive me for the sins | committed while
under that bridge. loved my horse. He
was beauty. Everybody admired him.
But was as helpless as child under the
bridge, as far MS power was concerned, TO
contend or attempt such against 100 big
tat Yankees,
At last night came and | crawled out
Just as the sun went down. got In the
cane and sat down and shed a few tears
over the loss Of my horse at last
struck out with vengeance In store.
came to the turning row that led to the
road that went by the sugar house. Just
before got TO the sugar house heard
horse coming UP the turning road. VI
came TO a gate and my first thought was
to squat down until the man opened the
gate: and Just as his horse head came
through, to grab the horse by the bride
and see who he was, | could hear my
heart beating like a bass drum, AT last
he came, reached over my head and opened
the gate. He started to ride through but
caught his horse by the chuck of the
bride and showed him back, and told the
gentleman to drop his saber and dis
mount, He was Yankee lieutenant He
had pair of holster pistols on his fine
Mcclellan saddle. When he dropped his
sword | made him step off so could stoop
to pick 1t up. and, bucklng II on, mounted
and started for camp with Yankee lieu
tenant, two good holsters fine horse
and saddle ard a beautiful sword, Respect
fully, I. M. Turner
L