The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1903-02-20
SNATCHED FROM
THE JAWS OF DEATH.
How L. H. Russ Saved the Life of
Robert Galloway When Gen.
Forrest Had Ordered
Him to be Shot at
Sunrise.

Il COi udl 1OLu, Win puOtOkT8pus VI
Mr.. Galloway and his friend who
saved his life. 1t will prove inter.
esting reading to the BULLBKIN's
subscribers, many of whom remem-
Der the circumstances of the affair,
so graphically told below. Robert
Galloway resides in the 10th civil
district of Hardeman County, 10 o
man of stainless honor, and has the
respect and esteem of all who know
him. He is one of our best citizens
and most prosperous farmers.-ED.
There came to light at the recent
meeting of the Grand Chapter Of
Tennessee, Royal Arch Masons, one
of those many stories of the civil
war that go to make up the history
of our country. one that has just
that tinge of romance about it to
make it still more interesting. As
told by two of the participants it 10
as follows:
In December, 1862, William Gal.
loway, who was farmer ut Sauls-
bury, Tenn, had an alteration with
one Maj. Street who at that time
belonged to an independent gang of
bush hackers operating in West
Tennessee and Northern Mississippi
under the guise of Confederates, but
principally seeking to serve their
selfish ends. This wordy war was
about the sale of some cotton, and
Street killed Galloway without pro-
vocation. Street left the neighbor-
hood, and some time afterwards his
company became part of Gen. N.
B. Forests command.
Galloway had son named Robert
who swore that he would avenge his
fathers death-foul murder, he
called it-sending word far and wide
that he would kill Street on sight.
He was not quite II years of age,
but enlisted in Capt. Higgs' Inde-
pendent Scouts, and bided his time.
1t was over year before he ran
across the man he had sworn to kill.
On May 2, 1864, just after Forests
command, numbering about 900 all
told, had had a brush with over
1000 Federal troops near Bolivar.
Tenn, Higgs' Scouts camped with
Forests troops at Bolivar. and there
Robert Galloway met Maj. Street.
True to his word, he avenged his
fathers death, sending the slayer of
his parent to answer At the bar of
God.
Shooting Major of his command
was to Forrest an objectionable
crime, and young Galloway was
placed in charge of guard of ten
men with the cheering information
that as sure as the sun rose in the
morning he would be shot, and ad-
monished him to make his peace with
his God. The guards were instruct.
ed to "bind him fast and have him
forthcoming when called for, or
their lives should answer for bis es-
CAPE" Forrest also ordered that he
should be tied with a rope and two
men at time should stand guard
over him, one of whom should "hold
on to the rope" Accordingly, his
hands were tied, long rope Was
placed around his neck, which one
of the guards held in his hand.
The first two to have charge of
him were John w. Key, now q
prominent real estate agent in Wash
ington, D. c., and L. Fl. Russ, now
City Secretary and Treasurer of
Shelbyville, Tenn. Russ at that
time was only about 1e years old,
not much bigger than piece of
chalk-he isn't much larger now
and for that reason was called the
"Baby of Forests Escort" From
the first his sympathies were enlist
ed on the side of the prisoner. Get
ting into conversation with Gallo
way, he got the entire story of the
killing, talked it over with the other
guards, and won over the most of
them to the idea of letting him get
away. Russ staid awake the whole
night, and every two hours, when
the relief was changed, he asked, sis
he still there?" hoping that each
succeeding relief would give him a
chance to "skip."
Things ran along until Key and
Russ went on duty just before day.
They had been guarding the prison
er in the corner of rail fence, and
the two men began talking in way |
to give Galloway to understand that
be had better unite himself and seek |!
taller timber. THAT fellow 10 al
fool to stay here and be shot," said
Russ. elf he tries to get away /