The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-03
THE s-HARPsHOOTERS' DUEL.

In 1850, soon after bought his discharge ana
became a citizen of the United States At
the outbreak of the civil war he enlisted in
the Union army in the same company with
his son, and served to the close.
His mature judgment and unerring
craftsmanship brought him under the no.
tice Of his colonel. who asked him TO vol
unteer for sharpshooting duty. on &C
count OF the extreme danger attendant
upon this class of work, men were not or
dered 10 perform il, but volunteers were
called for. Masterman promptly offered his
services and became a Union sharpshooter.
The peculiar nature Of the case makes 1t
necessary that a sharpshooter be under less
physical restraint than probably any other
man in the army, with the exception OF the
spy. While on duty his life is in constant
danger, and its preservation depends en-
tirely upon his own discretion. His time
is by no means occupied in picking off i'm
portant officers from among tie enemy. but
more often in duels with sharpshooters on
the other side, who are his equal in cunning
and skill.
1t was while the war was raging along
tho southern boundary of Tennessee that
the wing Of the army in which Masterman
belonged was sorely beset by the enemys
sharpshooters. Most of these Confederate
rihemeD were we'll known by the Union sol
diers. There was some popularity in mode
or operation or sound of the gun which dis
tinguished one from the other, and as time
went along giimpses OF them Were caught.
so that even the rank and file OF the red
eral soldiers had a good idea OF what these
dangerous men were like.
One of them was dubbed "Suredeath,'
and there was good reason for giving him
the name. He was the prince OF Confeder-
ate SharpShooterS AT any hour OF TIE DAY
the clear crack of his rifle might sound.
and the men always looked 10 see who the
victim was, fer there was always one
either killed outright or m~ortally wounded:
When the battle was on he fired mis- fatal
shots at none but officers, but between
whites a common "doughboy' made him a
good target. The Yankees soon had so hish
an opinion Of this mans ability That when
any important officer fell the loss was
forthwith charged to "Suredeath.'
One evening the colonel sent an orderly
TO the company quarters with instructions
for Masterman to report at once at his
tent.
'Sureceath' must be stopped Not a day
passes but he gets some of our men. The
next thing he'll DO will be to Kill the gen.
eral himself. Now, I'm going to depend
upon you-do you Observation-Disclosures you, to
silence that murderOus gun of his
Masterhan vent bncA TO his quarters
acquainted with the habits Of the Con-
feGerate, for he had tried TO bag hin be-
fore this time He made IN his mind that
the following day would see the end OF
either "SureGeath" or himself. He told his
son. who slept near. of his orders from the
colonel ard his determination. He gave
the young man a few trinkets 10 take home
as keepsakes in case he did not return,
crept under his shelter tent and slept like
a log.
lie awoke in the early morning before
either the soldiers in blue or gray were
astlr. He prepared his breakfast of bacon
and black coffee. After eating he put some
| hQlnfaRk in his hD AarGn0k GllAH his a
teen from a nearby spring. slUng his rifle
over his shoulder and set out through the
wet grass in the direction of the hostile
army.
About Q o'clock the mists had rolled up
the hills and the sun was shining brightly.
Lying hidden behind a fallen tree entirely
screened by a clump Of bushes Masterman
Caught "a Hitting glimpse of his enemy
creeping along the ground. but no shot
offered itself. "Suredeath' was safely sta
toned in a tree before the Union man again
found out where he was. The familiar
sound of his gun and the smoke floating
away from the tree then disclosed his
whereabouts. Masterman watched closely.
After q time he SAW the muZZle of Sure
Deaths" rifle protruding just beyond the
leaves. The 1Ian was again taking aim at
some Union soldier. The blue-coated vet
eran lying behind the log aimed his gun
at a point where he thought 'Suredeath's'
body was and fired. instantly shifting his
position away from the smoke made by the
discharge. 1t was probably a surprise TO
the Confederate, aIthcns h nothing on his
part betrayed the fact. His rifle muzzle
disappeared among the leaves.
The presence of each was known to the
other. and the sharpshooting duel began.
Masterrnan had a slight advantage. for
after a shot ne could change his posi-
ton slightly. while his opponent vas forced
to stay upon the Same limb behind the
same part OF the tree trunk and could not
descend. Each employed the usual tactics
Of drawing the others IRE by holding his
hat as If the owner was peeping out and OF
letting an empty coat sleeve peep Innocent
~ from cover.
Nh 10, ~~@as,l LII. IT..
ne had no ordinary sharpshooter opposed 10
him. Sometimes 4 half hour would go by
with no perceptibIe movement on the part
OF either. At one time an hour passed in
absolute quiet. When that silence was
broken, however. it was by "Suredeath''
pulling the trigger, an1 the bullet made a
q tagged hole through the stock of his rifle.
The duel lasted four hours before Master
man finally sent his lucky shot, and saw
the other man tumble from the tree.
At this sight. all Masterman's hatred
vanished. 1t was no longer the numbering
rebel sharpshooter. but Il dead or wounded
man. If the latter. humanity called upon
him 10 DO something. He made his way "a
the base Of the tree. He went cautiously.
there might be other sbarpshOOters watch
ing. His first view Of the Confederate told
through the body. The unfortunate soidie,
was lying on his side. and when Masterman
came up was searching for an inside
What is it. Johnny; what do you want?'
asked Masterman. kindly. kneeling beside
him.
I'm there-letter-my little girl" was I'll,
almost inaudible reply.
Masterman put his hand inside the man,
blouse ana brought forth a letter. The en-
velOpe was red with blood.
rs this il. Johnny" he asked.
The Confederate nodded
us this from YOUR little girl, Johnnv?"
Again a nod. The Union man. with tear.
in his eyes. drew the letter from it's stained
covering. A curl of brown hair fell to tn,
ground. The dying father tried To speak
hut only gurgled instead. and died befor.
lip.
Chattanooga had been fought. Sherman
had backed Johnston into Atlanta. defeate,
him, and was IN control of Georgia. 9Th,
workshop. rranary and arsenal Of the Con
feGeracy." The march 10 the sea was on.
y small division of the great army tina
was devastating Georgia camped for a few
this body of men. Sharpshooters were no
so much needed during that memorable
trip of fifty miles in latitude. coo 10 III,
main" and he had been relieved of she
ciaI duty. The name Of the village near
by reminded him sof a blood-stained Ietter
which he carried in his haversack. Inspect
ing ii. he found he was near the very post
Office from which IL had been mailed.
White persons avoided the Union army
but negroes were plentiful. land from then
Masterman learned that a family named
Brewer was living on q farm close by. ars
hired a black TO take a message there fol
him.
The next day an old man. dressed II
homespun, came TO the Yankee camn ans
was easily found. Masterrnan discovered
the visitor was the father of the Con fador