The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-12-25
How a Mankato Man Effected Capture
Of a Dangerous Guerrilla
Reward for His Apprehension, But It
Never Was Paid.
Experience of Alfred A. Dickson As a
Soldier in Union Army.
He Passed Through Many Battles and
Never Was Wounded.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
Capturing a rebel guerrilla that hat
long been terror to struggling parties
of the Union soldiers encamped at Mem
phis, Tenn, during the progress of the
campaigns of the Civil War in that state
is the unique honor that belongs to one
of Mankatos old citizens, Alfred A
Dickson. Mr.. Dickson while serving
with the Thirty-second Wisconsin In
fantry at Memphis of course heard ne
end of talk about the sly confederate
who rambling through the woods ad
jacent to the city, would shoot down
any isolated Union soldier on whom he
could steal unawares. So much dread
of being thus cut off with a chance fol-
ones life that the Union soldiers hated
to 90 out on errands among the haunts
of the bold rebel. Finally the Union mill
tary authorities offered reward of $40,
900 to anyone who would bring this
guerrilla, who was called by the name Of
Richmond, dead or alive into the Unior
camp.
Mr.. Dickson had long noticed certain
individual dressed in plain citizens
clothes, going in and out through the
Union lines, with written pass, passing
every few days out into the woods
from the city and then returning. This
man claimed to be Union man and
seemed to have the confidence of all the
guards. Mr.. Dickson watched this fel
fow's movements for come time, and sc
peculiar did the actions of the profess
ed Union man appear that Mr.. Dickson
thought it well worth while to do lit
tie detective work and see whether the
man might not be the very Guerilla
Richmond, who was proving himself suct
nuisance to the Union army.
Mr.. Dickson told the colonel of his
suspicious and obtained permission t.
sift the matter and see what could be
in it. The soldier detective first fount
out where the suspect ate his meals ane
roomed in the city. He then went tc
the landlady and told her that she must
admit him also into the house, nor must
she show any wonder at what he die
or object to his actions. If she did he
would have all her property confiscatet
as being that of Confederate sym
pathizer.
Mr.. Dickson thus obtained access tt
the building where the supposed guer
rilla boarded a,,;l roomed, and finally sue
ceeded in getting a room next to his
and separated from it only by thin
board partition. Through this partition
he cut small hole. Not long after
wards he succeeded in this way of over
hearing conversation that the suspect
had with another man, it being agreed
between the two to meet at a specified
spot in the woods at certain time. Nov
was Mr.. Dickson's chance. Armed IL
the teeth he went out to the spot o.
rendezvous and concealing himself un-
til the two should do as they had plan
ned. AS soon as they were well Within
range he pointed both of his revolvers a
them and commended them to surren
der, The suspect yielded but his com
panion escaped Mr.. Dickson now march
ed his prisoner to the city in triumph
The suspect was tried by court mar
tial on the charge of being spy and hi
identity as the real Guerrilla Richmon
was proven by certain scars on his bod
by which he was identified by some oil
aoquaintances of Me- --spnis,
! IL rss while this trial was in pros
lFesa thai Mr.. Dickson's regiment wi
limoved to vicksburg, so the captor d
mot have the experience of Witnessing tt
. conviction and punishment of the trai
or ard spy.
Not until the war was over did N
Dickson take time to make any clai
3 to the reward of $4,000 that had be-
e offered for Richmond. Then he emplo
ed a lawyer to look after it, but t
claim was tuf1ed down, the applica
. being informed that those who offer
L the reward in the first place had no a
: thority TO do So
n Mr.. Dickson, though not well off in t
I worlds goods, does not have any i'd
of applying for the $4,000 now or
+ part of it. He thinks it folly to wa
70 time in following such will-o'-whisp.
~ Mr.. Dickson now sixty-two years
u ever since his wife died has been
H. sole occupant of his isolated cottage
23S Hubbell avenue. Here ne does all
homework and cooking even churning
own butter. Perhaps he feels lon
sometimes, yet he is always cheerful,
II, spite of the fact that he is afflicted W
OF chronic sciatic rheumatism, besides h
Ii ing his right leg rather crippled from
effects from an accident he had wit
in, mare five years ago. He is always G
~, to receive company, and indeed he is
excellent entertainer. One never tires