The National tribune., 1903-09-03
DOWN IN ALABAMA.
Capture of notwithstanding an Amazon.
Ian BushWhacker Into Exile.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In
previous story promised a seQuel-"How
we broke up the nest of bushwhackers,
sent the old hen over the river, and took
the chickens to camp
Starting from Murfreesboro, Tenn.
April /, 1862, my regiment and others
made forced march to Huntsville, Ala,
where we captured II locomotives and
many cars. Four companies of the 10th
Wis and four each of the I'd. 21st, and
33d Ohio, We're then put aboard train OF
hog and cattle cars, our destination being
Bridgeport, our object the burning of the
bridge at that point across the Tennessee
River. However, for some reason, we
went no further than four miles beyond
Stevenson, where We burned the bridge
across Mud Greek.
At Woodville, some % miles from
Huntsville, one of the Ohio boys went to
a house to procure some meat. The pro-
prietor, apparently hospitable, very
suavely invited him into the smokehouse.
No sooner had they entered than the
mother of the "hospitable Southerner
locked the door. Then there began bat
tie royal. The big rebel snatched the boy $
bayonet, with which he attempted to kill
him. The boy fought valantly, how
ever. meanwhile Justify crying Muir
der" Two comrades, Geo. Alverson and
Charles Watson, happening to be in the
| house, heard the cry, ran out the back
door, and readily located the combat in the
smoke house. Finding the door locked,
there being no key in sight, Watson pro-
cured primitive battering ram, with
which lie demolished the door, thereby lib
Grating the prisoner and capturing George
| billiard, the ferocious chief of Il notorious
band of bushwhackers. He was placed
under guard but escaped by jumping from
a moving train.
After this episode billiard and his band
continued their murderous depreda tions
around Woodville. avoiding, however, Il
conflict with Co. X, 10th Wis, as they had
not forgotten the stand made by Joe
| Hitchcock, mentioned in my previous
| story.
On more than one occasion detachments
of the Sd Ohio Cav, that had been rowing
around ostensibly looking for bushwhack-
ers, came dashing INFO camp, declaring
that they had been fired upon by a seques-
tered foe. As they came in without the
loss of n man." we were disposed to re-
gard their reports as sensational and un-
reliable. One afternoon, however, n de-
tachment returned, told the usual story,
and by way of confirmation, called atten-
| ton to the fact that their Sergeant WAS
absent and unaccOunted for, unless, in
deed he had been killed or captured by the
| bushwhackers. The detachment, accom-
panied by a part of my company, was sent
in quest of the missing Sergeant, and
found his dead and mutilated body lying
! in the road near n certain widows house,
| from the rear of which we ascertaned the
Sergeant had been shot. We had been
| liberal patrons of that woman, buying
her surplus butter and eggs.
Having fully confirmed our suspicion
that the widows house was a rendezvous
of the bushwhackers, about % of Co. X
went to her home early on the next morn
ing, captured 81 all her chickens and
other chattcls that appealed to their fancy,
and then set fire to her house and other
| buildings. The widow herself was sent in
exile beyond the Tennessee River. and sol
EMMY warned that should she return dur
ing our occupancy of Woodville and en-
virOns she would surely be hanged.
We remained at WoOdville until Sep
TENDER, enjoying a good time. The ANA
zOnian bushwhacker never returned, nor
were we again fired upon by lurking foes.
The COmmissariat was extremely gener-
ous while we were guardians at WOodville,
our daily fare being sumptuous-fresh
pork, beef, and mutton, peaches, apples,
and blackbeIries. On the march to Louis
vile, however, we did not fare so well;
but that is another story-H. Il. HUGH
failing, Co. *, 10th Wis, Hastings,
Neb