The National tribune., 1901-06-20

sweet-potato patch near the house.
should Judge there were about one anC
a-half, or perhaps two acres in the field
and as it was September, they were il
prime condition.
Ten minutes after arms were stacked
nearly every potato-hill in that field haC
soldier over 1t, digging for dear life.
At this stage of the proceedings an ole
man, the owner of the pOtato-patch, raI
to where Gen. Turchin sat on his horse
and in an excited manner said: General
your men are digging up all of my
potatoes"
is that so?" said the General well
/ will see about that and putting spurs
TO his horse, he was soon in the center
of the field, where the boys were at work
Gen. Turchin could appreciate Il joke as
wellaS any of the boys, and understood the
situation. Two men from his head
quarters were within a few feet of him
when he stopped, each with half 4 dog,
tent spread on the ground, upon which
was about Il bushel of nice, large potatoes
The General raising in his stirrups, gave
yell. which caused operations to be sus-
pended for an instant, and then said
Boys, if you are not out of this potato
patch in one hour, l will arrest every one
Of YOU"
He then rode slowly to where his tent
was beng pitched, dismounted, and pa
tiently-and no doubt with gratifying
thoughts of the nice baked sweet potatoes
he would have for Supper-waited for the
men TO put his headquarters in order for
the night.
The owner was not slow to see that in
much less time than the General had
given the boys to leave the patch, 10
times as many potatoes could be dug by
tins number of men already in the field,
and running to the house he procured a
large basket and hoe, returned to the
field, and went to digging potatoes with
q sprightliness which showed he was no
nOvlce at the business.
Wells, of course, was one of the har-
yesterS of the potato crop. and while sky
larking around, found where there was a
peanut-Or ''goober," as they were called
by the natives-house in the rear of the
dwelling.
A PRISONER IN A GoOBER-HoUsE.
He came to me as soon as it was dark,
10 go with him to get some peanuts, tell
Ing me he had seen the house, and be-
lieved there were some of last years nuts
In 1t. The recent circus with the COW was
Still fresh in my mind, and | refused to
accompany him. He urged, however and
finally l told him l would go, hoping at
the time that something would turn UP to
give me a chance TO pay him back for the
mean trick he played on Inc.
As soon as it was thought safe we
quietly slipped out of camp, and following
the lead OF Wells, we were soon in rear
of the house, where the peanut bin stood.
The peanut houses are generally built on
posts, about three feet from the ground,
in order, | suppose, to prevent the rats
from destroying the COOLERS. The house
was small one, not more than two feet
by SIX or eight, and about four feet high
This one had a door at the end arranged
to slide UP, and just about large enough
to admit of small man or boy crawling
through.
Wells soon found the door, and raising
1t explored the interior as far as his arm
would reach, but found no goObers |
suggested that If any were there, they
would be in the back part of the house,
and that he had better crawl in He
noted the size of the door, and being salts
he'd that with my aid he could squeeze his
body through the small opening, he dis
appeared inside. just as his legs were
drawn IN, L heard some one come out of
the house and walk in our direction. The
- man stopped before he reached my posi-
tion, and stood listening.
Presently a woman within the house
called to him, What is the matter.
JohnE' and the answer was, Il thought
L heard some one prowling about, and
came out to see"
L fiattened myself out against the side
of the goOber-bin, keeping as still as
death, and hoping that he would soon re.
turn to the house.
Just about this time the door, which
had been left up when Wells crawled in
side, came down with a crash, making
Wells prisoner. / instantly dropped to
the ground and crawled under the house,
and was just in time to escape being seen
by the old man, who ran to the spot as
soon as he heard the noise. He raised
the door and looked inside, and Wells,
Sri-f enid i, !
voice, There is nothing in here; hold the
door up; L am coming out"
No you don't" said stern, bass voice;
you'll stay right where you are, you
thieying Yankee and as he said this he
banged the door down and yelled for
Mandy to bring light. l heard him say
10 Mandy, as she stepped out Of the house
with a lighted candle in her hand, that
he had captured Yankee in the goober-
house, and that there was another one
around here somewhere | did not wait
TO hear anything more and as the house
was between me and the old man, |
crawled about 20 feet to an old fence,
then arose to my feet, jumped the fence,
and started for camp with all the speed
my legs would allow.
| felt sure no serious harm would come
to Wells, as the old man would not dare
do more than keep him a prisoner over
night, shut up in the little peanut house
ms IS Just what was done. Wells was
kept a close prisoner until morning, when
the old man sent word to Gen. Turchin
that he had captured one of his men the
night before, and To send some one to get
him. 1t was not long before Wells was
marched into camp between u file of sol
diers and Corporal, just about the most
crestfalen looking chap one would wish to
see. He was 10 days under guard, march
ing in rear Of the regiment, and working
around headquarters every evening after
we had bivouacked for the night
Wells informed me that he tried all
manner OF plans to induce the old man to
let him out, but it was no 20. lie kept
telling him that he expected some Con
federate soldiers there a0y minute, and
would turn him over TO them, knowing
that they would shoot him at once. For
tunately for Wells, the rebel soldiers did
not materialize, and he was saved for that
time. There came 4 time, however, where
Wells luck was against him, and he was
gobblcd up by the Johnnies, and made 10
march some 800 miles through the enemys
country before he again was permitted TO
see the Stars and Stripes.
WELLS FoRAGEs ALONE.
Soon after Sherman's army crossed the
Savannah River into the CarOlnas, Wells
went ON a foraging expedition all by him
self. He started out Of camp one morn
ing just before the bugle sounded the as
semBly to put the troops in motion for
the day, striking out ahead of the column
taking the road upon which the troops
would march that day, following it some
thrap nr fnur miles then leaving II at