The National tribune., 1900-10-11

stones directly in front Of my residence,
on the corner of Main and 18th streets.
Walking out among them / was called by
name by soldier lying on the sidewalk,
and, on approaching, discovered he was
an old friend and schooimate of boyhood
days from Nansemond Co, Va. He was
Henry Capps, Sd Va. Inf, Longstreet's
Division. He acquired the boyhood nick
name Of Crockett" because of his skill
as hunter in and about the Great Dis
NAL Swamp. Crockett begged me, for
the sake of our boyhood friendship, to
take him to my home, saying that he
was In a very bad condition, and had q
horror of going to a Confederate hospital.
! could not resist this touching appeal,
and, out Of pure charity, carried him,
with the aid of some neighbors, into my
house, but few yards away. | sum
moned DR.. Edward Warren, my family
physician, who examined him and pre-
scribed treatment, and informed me later
that it was barely possible for him to re-
cover, as he had q serious affection of the
spine and muscular rheumatism. He
could not stand up then, having exhausted
his last strength in walking into Rich
mond. He had every attention possible,
and soon improved, when he told me- as
an old friend, how he came to be in the
Confederate army, the condition of affairs
in Nansemond, the County of my birth.
Crockett and his brother Frank owned a
beautiful farm in the upper part of the
County, some seven or eight miles from
Suffolk, and near the farm and country
store of Mr.. James Hargrove, who was
Crockett's uncle.
Crockett said that he was opposed to
secession, and after the State seeded he
went to Suffolk 20 hear the news, and
there found, in front of the Washington
Hotel, large assembly of people, young
and old, listening to a speech being de-
livered by Magistrate of the County,
who was telling the young men, in fran
tic tones, that their homes were about 10
be invaded by the hated Yankees, who
would rob them, first, OF their negroes,
then their lands, and steal the clothing
from the very backs of their wives and
children; and, further, that they would be
subjugated and would be in a more de
graded position than the slave negroes
about them.
The young men were piled with liquor
The Magistrate, with great emotion
asked the young men to come up, il they
wanted to preserve their honor, the honor
of their State, their wives and children
and enlist promptly in the army of the
Confederacy, an enrolling officer being
present. The speaker concluded by say
Ing: my young friends, 60 on to the
field Of glory, and If / am needed, though
a Magistrate, l will be with you in tn,
fray, and IL l can get nothing better
will come with a pitcifork or grubbing
hoe, and IL they cannot be had l vii
come to you, nay, crawl to you, anC
bring a cornstalk, if nothing better car
be had" Great applause.)
"Greatest speech / ever heard in M
natural born life," exclaimed a farmer
who owned many negroes.
"Noblest sentiments / ever hearn,
ial 70 hn ,tp
woods, near the crossroads.
"Gasbag and spitzboo," cried out
small German shoemaker from Chucka
tuck Village.
Cries of 'Put him out" "Send him bac]
to Chuckatuck to mend shoes and drinl
lager and eat pretzels," followed this ex
preston Of opinion by the German shoe
maker.
Then Crockett, with a number of othe
young men, signed a paper, lust to en-
roll your names" as the officer explained
Many did not know, even, that they wer
signing enlistment papers. Whisky an
apple brandy had done their work. Blu
why continue the matter further.
Crockett had been home on sick-leav
several times during his service. He 500
left my house and reported at the hospita
nearby, fairly well. Crockett had declare
to me before he left my house, on his wor
and honor, that he would never serve
the Confederate army again, and he neve
did. He was sent to Petersburg to joi
his regiment, whence he escaped, an
reached his home, few miles from Su
folk, and did not find much difficulty
remaining In safety, as the Federal force
occupied Suffolk soon after his arriya
Once or twice his house was visited b
Confederates in search of him, but Crocl
ett was never Eat home In dangerou
times be visited his favorite haunts i