The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-30
A Night Ride in Dixie.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: | was an
Orderly Mt the headquarters of the Six
teenth Corps. at Memphis, Tenn, 1868.
On one of the coolest nights of that cold
Winter l was ordered to report to Maj,
Gen. Stephen a. Hurlbut. Having greeted
me kindly, the General said l must return
to my quarters and put oH more and
warmer clothing. When | again reported.
about midnight, he examined my pistol,
and said: Leave that here and take
mine" He then handed me a fine pearl
handled self-acting revolver. My instruc-
lions We're 10 proceed to the Memphis 4
Charleston Il. X. Station, where | would
find locomotive waiting for me. the ell
gineer having already received orders TO
take me to Collierville. where l was to de-
liver message to an officer who would
be waiting to receive it. Said the Gen
eral: You will have a cold and danger
Gus ride. Keep your eyes open. and If
you fall into the hands of the enemy, do
not fail to destroy the message"
When l arrived at the station. | found
the engineer ready. We made fast time
until we came to the disputed territory"
some miles out from Memphis. The night
being very dark. we could see nothing be-
yOnd the light thrown forward by the loco
motives headlight. Knowing that the
Confederates had been operating along
the railroad. the engineer ran slowly, espe
enemy had run dozen or more freight
ears off the track and down an embank-
ment. Said the engineer: I'VE must be
ready for anything that may happen. The
rebels will probably fire into us and at
tempt to derail the engine. 1t will not do
to be thrown from the track while run
ming at a high rate of speed We must
go slow" Presently we found more evil
dence of the enemy's enterprising opera
tiOnS-mOre wrecked cars. The Wintry
blast whistled through the cab. making
me SILVER. l may also have shivercd from
fear. The suspense was very trying. An
attacking enemy would be invisible, the
impenetrable darkness adding to the ter
rors of the ride. Soon after passing the
second bunch of deraied cars, the engineer
said we had come to the most dangerous
locality. If we should pass that point
without serious mishap, he thought our
adventure would be success. Suddenly
there came flashes of fire from the dark
woods that bordered the track. A num-
Der of bullets struck the cab. The engl-
neer told me to lie down in the tender, and
then he accelerated the speed of the en-
CINE. We were safe. Our locomotive being
a special the enemy were not looking
for us, and, therefore, were not fully pre-
pared to receive us. Without further ad-
venture we ran to our picket line, and
short distance beyond stopped at Collier
vile, Wnere L delivered my message, as
instructed. The engineer then turned to
me and said: Young man, l don't want
to so back over that road tonight. Ask
Gen. Hurlbut's permission to remain here
until daylight"
The request amazed me. "Ask Gen.
Hurlbut? How can l do that at this dis
lance! Easily enough. Telegraph to
him." had not thought of that; in fact,
l knew nothing about telegraphing. /
sent the dispatch, and while the operator
was still humping the keys 1 asked how
long time must elapse before reply
could be received. Turning to me, the
operator said: you are to return at
once" l was incredulous. "You certainly
have not heard from Gen. Hurlbut al
ready" Certainly; your orders are to
return at once. Did you expect to stand
around here for week, waiting to hear
from Memphisy' The engineer was much
troubled, but the order must be obeyed