The National tribune., 1901-06-20
.ame from their quarters to see what had

|
came from their quarters to see what had
| happened.
Two men were killed and one badly
wounded by the explosion.
The mound had been thrown up to de
coy some of ''Sherman's bummers" into
| an investigation and to their death by
| exploding tie ingeniOusly- reconstructed
! torpedo which was hidden beneath the
surface of the innocent-looking mound.
The two unfortunate men killed were
buried by their companions, who, after
| destroying every building on the planta-
| ton except the negro-quarte-s, placed the
| wounded man on horse and carried him
to his command.
Wells continued on his tramp alone
searching each plantation he came to, but
avoiding all suspiciOus-looking freshly
made mounds; meeting with varied sue
cess, until late in the afternoon, when he
reached a plantation which had not yet
| been visited by any of the .'bummers, -
| and IN consequence forage of all kinds
was plentiful. The first to attract his
attention was n smokehouse well filled
with newly-smoked hams and bacon hang
ing from poles, and only waiting the ar
rival of the "bummers" to be taken down.
Corn meal fresh from the mill stood in
bags ready to be ''toted'' away. While
other articles not necessary to a soldiers
| comfort, but which would prove useful
when in camp, were not overlooked by our
forager.
Having surveyed the field, Wells felt
very bad over the thought that he could
carry but a small part Of what he found
to camp, and as he had never been known
to leave anything behind, his conscience
troubled him lest the boys would think
him remiss in his duty, not only to them
| but to his own reputation as a forager
| With this feeling urging him on, he went
TO the barn to see if he could rig up
| some sort Of conveyance to transport his
plunder to camp. He had already learned
| from young darky that there were no
horses or mules to be had, as .'dey dun
| been carried away by Pete" he said.
Where did Pete take them," asked Wells.
Dun o." replied the darky, rolling his
eyes in a significant manner; "he jes car
ried dem away and did not come back
any mo-"
Seeing an ox-yoke standing against the
barn, he asked the darky if they had
oxen.
Yes, sab; we's got par in the woods
yonder."
Look here, Sam"
MY name is Bob, if you please, sah."
well, Bob, you light right out and fetch
in the oxen and hitch them to the cart,
and be quick about it, or | might use
this on YOU" showing Bob his musket
The hint was sufficient to start the boy
ON run after the cattle, and by the time
he got back with them, Wells had picked
| up some boards and arranged them on
u cart made from the hind wheels of a
wagon, so as to hold the stuff he intended
| to take away with him.
| The cattle were soon yoked to the cart,
| which was then taken into the yard and
loaded up with hams, bacon, potatoes, corn
meal and a collection Of other plunder.
| When he could get no more on the two
wheeled concern Wells climbed on top
and cracking his whip ordered the gate
opened and drove out into the road.
BY the time he was well on his way,
| the shades of evening had settled down,
admonishing him that he must increase
| the speed of his team, if he wished to
reach his command before dark.
With whip and song, he urged on his
lazy oxen, until they actually broke into
a trot. Just before reaching the forks of
the road he was oyertaken by squad of
cavalry, and as they came up they divided
| part going on either side of the cart and
riding by its side. The men rad on heavy
cavalry overcoats, completely hiding their
uniform and protecting them from the
night air. They proved jolly set, joking
Wells on his success as a forager and his
ability as an OK driver, asking him if that
had not been his business before the war
Wells became very friendly, told them
where he expected to find the troops
bivouacked for the night; about the ex.
plosion of the torpedo and killing OF the
men, and, in fact, about everything he
knew, and it must be confessed a great
deal that he didn't know.
WELLS A PRISONER.
Wells and his escorts had reached the
forks of the road, and he was about to
'"haw" his oxen down the left when two