The National tribune., 1904-06-16
A NOTED SCOUT.
Some Memories OF James Card. the Eest
Scout in the Army of the Cumberland.

joined the command: Thomas and Charles.
or as they were familiarly known, Jim,
Tom and Charlie. They came from up in
the mountains of East Tennessee; intensely
loyal to the Union. typical mountaineers.
except that they We're small in stature, but
of wonderful physical endurance.
They not only kept Gen. Sheridan posted
in all movements of the Confederate army
opposed 10 us. but they guided many par
ties of Union men and their families
through the mountains from East Ten
nesSee to our camps. then near Murfrees-
boro. and this was where my duty came in,
to meet these parties at some point IN the
hills and guide them safely through the
outlying Confedera te lines to within our
lines, often very difficult and hazardous
duty.
James Card had been gone some days
from camp. when he quietly stepped in one
morning, going directly to the Generals
tent. Soon | had my orders, and with the
three Cards and % picked men. all on foot
we left the camp. each man armed with
Colts rifle and full haversacks of hard
bread, meat and coffee. Following the main
road for few miles, then by road that
led into the woods, noon found us ID miles
out, and not an enemy i'll sight. We made
coffee. rested couple of hours. and with
James Card leading and Tom Card clos
ing the rear We followed paths and lndlS-
tinct trails all the afternoon. Then it
rained. the fOgs came down: night came on
i'm silent gloom: falling over logs. tripping
on tangled vines. tumbiing into creeks and
puddles of water. With half-suppressed
curses escaping the men, Card having no
mercy upon us. led on and on until the
romance of the affair had vanished. Final
ly he said we might lie down and sleep; no
fires to dispell the gloom not even lighted
pipe. What misery was ours. But day
light came at last, and again we took the
trail. Soon we came upon the camp OF the
refugees in the woods. about I'D men, few
old women and one girl, almost young
lady. men of all kinds. farmers doctors,
lawyers and merchants. each one with lit
tie more than homemade blanket or bed
quilt for shelter. They had come from dis
tant mountains and valleys on their way
to Il locality free from wars terrOrs. There
was not bit of food in the camp, and
there had not been of any kind. except
little corn on the ear, since Jim Card had
left them there SO hours before. So we
made haste to build fires and cook our meat
and coffee. And while they were eating
had chance to look over the oldest mix
ture of men it has ever been my fortune
to meet. The long and the short, the fat
and the lean. the funny man with the
smile and story and the solemn fellow who
had lost none OF the dignity that comprised
his stock in trade. in pulpit or bar.
James Card introduced me the COM
mander of the expedition. and then followed
with a personal introduction to a fine
appearng man. his wife and daughter. the
young lady tEat had attracted my atten-
ton. They had lived in Lookout Valley.
in northwest Georgia, and he had left to
avoid conscription into the Confederate
service.
had at that time young contraband
for cook. a master hand AT brOiling bacon
and making coffee. and while he was max
ing breakfast. the man. his wife and daugh-
ter joined me in a visit TO the creek, where
we all washed and combed all using my
pocket comb and bit of soap and my not
overly fresh towel. Then we sat down on
the grass and ate the tempting food placed
before us. We had dishes for only two. the
cook and myself. bat we made one tin plate
do for all There were two tin cups, two
spoons. two knives and forks. so while the
father and mother drank their coffee from
one cup. the young lady and / used the
other Jointly. much to her merriment.
Well, in that brief half hour | completely
lost my heart. How could 1 help it?-she
was so pretty. such beautiful hair, such
bright blue eyes, such pink cheeks and rosy
lips. and she had such a bright way. and
she was so hungry that my stock of hard
tack rapidly vanished between the finest set
of teeth l had discovered in the South.
Tom Card came along and lay down upon
the grassy bank to watch the young lady.
were warm friends. | did not concede him
any rights or favors with Miss Kate.
They were old time neighbors in the
years before the war: but somehow until
just now | thought he had never noticed
those beautiful arms with dress sleeves
rolled up to the shoulders and that long.
wavy brown hair that hung in tangled
mass far below her waist. Now, much to
my annoyance. he could not keep his eyes
away from it
D-
army. and for 20 miles the country was full
of scouting parties of the enemy. whom we
must either eyade or fight 1t was his bus
iress to lead and my business to fight. Be
tween us we must get all these people safe
Is to the army or die TRYING il. 4 long
tramp even for trained and tried soldiers
not 10 think of the men and women with
us. old and young
We started out in single file. Jim Card
leading with 20 of the men. In the rear
were 20 men under my best Sergeant and
Tom Card and the other men with Charlie
Card Were scattered along with the refu.
gees to Assist them over the bad places
After Willie we came 10 Il creek. and the
column closed up while We were trying to
find place TO cross over dryshod. Nc
place being. found. the men started to wade
and the wcmen were lifted up between the
men and carried over. | saw Tom Care
approached Miss Kate. who happened To b.
standing near me. and | didn't wait ar
mstdHt Dbt JUST shipped my arm ar0unf
that girls waist. lifted her up and carrie,
her over. Every one Of those soldier boys
caught onto the situation even before die
myself. and they gave Tom Card the laugh
We were all young fellows then but | wa.
full head taller than either of the Cards
We were in a dangerous country, mad
many long detours 10 keep i'm the sIelte
of the woods and away from roads an,
farm houses. and at noon had made but II
miles and the people were worn ont. Bu
Tom hung around until he got chance 4
quietly call my attention to young fel
low wearing q coOn-skin cap with an extr
long tail hanging down between his should
long. lank. red-headed round -shoul
dered shamblng fellow from up the GOV
somewhere Tom said. Captain. look a
that cracker. then cuss and holler; for tha
cusS is going to marry that girl you are s
stuck on. More than regiment of likel
chaps have tried to win her. but they hay
all laid down; don't that beat amaz
in! That fellow has his eye on you al
the time: watch out for him.
l said Tom, you are surely crazy; tina
girl Is a queen. and that coon-skin chap
galoot from nowhere
'Sure enough she is queen" said Tom
THE finest piece of property in the Cumbel
lands. but just the same she don't sens