The National tribune., 1902-10-02

cluded he grasped my hand and shook it
vigorously. Then in n very excited man.
ner he exclaimed. Thank God that you
all have escaped with you lives. New
SONS men a'e the wo'st, most desperate
and reckless set of rebels who eve infest-
ed West Tennessee. Had you-all camped
in that BAN at Denma'k last night, you-all
would have been murdered by the outlaws
| who belong to Newsoms Brigade. 1t
would have been impossible TO the bette
class of Nwsoms solids (whO are in the
minority to have protected yOu-all from
murderous attack by those disorganized
da'e devils, whom We all fea'. To know
that they a'e going to evacuate Jackson
and surrende' is glorious news for the loyal
people of West Tennessee. May they
nevs' retu'n.'
| Having thus expressed his patriotic
feelings, he modulated his voice. and with
smile on his still animated face. kindly
| invited us to breakfast, which was await
| ing us.
After having partaken of substantial
meal, much better than we were accns-
toned to, each shook hands with our loyal
host, thanked him for his hospitality, and
babe him good-by.
On mounting our horses to resume our
march to camp we observed. two miles
off. on the main road. which we had aban-
dOned the night before, Il great cloud Of
a better view we rode to the top of high
hill near by. From its summit We be-
held the moving column of what remained
of Gen. Newsom's Brigade of Confederate
troops. DisOrGanized, undisciplned and
in depleted detachments they slowly
marched toward their destination.
As they passed from view | could not
repress u profound feeling Of charity for
the misguided. disloyal, yet brave men
who were now marching for the last time
as body of Confederate soldiers. l
never saw them afterward.
Countermarching to the valley below,
we passed over an old, partially aban-
doned, crcuitOus road, in a nOrthwesterly
direction, four miles, to n point where it
intersected a main Travelled road bearing
due west. On this road for II miles We
rode, and at II o'clock a. m. passed
| through our picket lines and rode into
Brownsville, marching directly to head
quarters, i'll front of which l formed my
brave boys in line, congratulated them, and
gave the order to break ranks. This COM
mand they promptly and gladly obeyed
amidst the welcoming cheers of their as
| sembled comrades. DismOunting, l enter
ed headquarters and reported to Maj.
Davis.
First, informed him of Gen. Newsom's
decision to come in," and of having seen
his command marching en- route to Mem
| phis. l then concluded with a detailed
account of every important incident that
occurred during the entire trip, not neg
lecting to warmly praise the conduct of
Lieut.. John Davis and the men under me
| for their soldierly conduct under the most
| trying and dangerous circumstances.
On the conclusion of my verbal report l
felt greatly pleased by the appreciation
and congratulatory manner with which 1t
was approved by my commanding officer
l had carried out my instructions and
performed my duty to the best of my abil-
ity, and it was very gratifying to know
that the dispatches intrusted to my care
which had zealously guarded and person.
ally delivered to the Confederate Gen:
Newsom at Jackson, Tenn, had resulted
in the surrender, at Memphis. Tenn, OF
the last organized body of Confederate
troops in arms against the Government.
All honor to the brave boys who ac-
companied me, and enabled me to success
fully conduct within the rebel lines the
last flag of truce borne by Union forces
during the war of the rebellion.