The Columbus journal., 1904-03-16
The Fortune OF War.


ers In New York q Georgian maze
the statement that the Democrat'c
party furnished most Of the materlai
in leadership which had saved the
Union. He named Frank p. Blair,
Gen. Thomas. Farrae1t and others.
He declared that it was q Southern
Democrat, Samuel Phillips Lee. who.
by keeping open the Cumberland
River by which reinfOrcements ana
supplies were sent to the FederaIs.
assisted in the overthrow and defeat
of Hoods army OF COnfederstes. For
that act, said the speaker. Congress
gave Lee q vote Of thanks.
Well" replied another Southerner.
"ou the other hand. Yankee school
teacher whom I knew furnished the
South with some pretty good night
ing material In the first years Of the
Civil War. His name was e. T.
Byrne."
He Was the graduate Of State
military school. aud WAS always fOnd
Of showing the pupils what he knew
lie organized a military company Of
the older classes and used to drill
the boys at recess and after school.
ON the playground.
We used brOOmhandles, laths and
sticks for guns. After We had re-
ceiyed our first lessons in falling in.
and lining up. and counting on. and
other rudimentary tactics. Byrne used
to take us out and make us jump
gullies, climb fences, charge hogs that
were running at large, and do lot
Of other things which he told us sol
diers had to do"
At one time he divided the COM
pany and got up sham fight. One
hoy got his leg broke. another sprain-
ed an ankle and several had fist fights
to settle old grudges.
The parents interfered and Byrne
was instructed to train the minds OF
his pupils and let their legs alone.
But the bOys liked Byrne's military
idea, and he used to take us out in
the woods near by aud 60 through
his evOlutiOns.
Just then the Civil War broke in
upon the country and the schools and
churches in the town quit business.
"Byrne's opportunity came and he
enlisted on the Union side. He got
to be q Captain and did some act of
bravery at Wilson's Creek. where
Gen. Lyon vas killed. He was on
Gen. Franz Sigel's staff at one time.
But nearly every boy he had drill
ed enlisted in Coon ThOrntOn's ia
nous rebel artillery company and
some of them became noted fighters
in the Southern army. In q dash that
was made In the Southwest Byrne
was captured by some of the boys he
had drilled on the old playground.
1t was not known, of course. at the
time of the capture. but afterwards
the boys went to old Pap Price and
told him the story, and Price sent
Byrne back to his command under
escort. no exchange being required.
Pap Price said to Byrne at the time:
Captain. IL there are any more of
your boys whom you drilled. who
haven't enlisted. I wish you would
send them through the lines. You
have saved us . good deal o. trouble
with those We have
Il was one Of the guard that es-
cOrted Byrne hack to his line. and
on our way out some of the escort
robbed . hen rOOst and We gave our
old teacher . dinner. He was q
good natured. clever Yankee. and he
he knew We didn't buy the chickens.
When the feed was over he said:
Boys I taught you how to fight.
but Pap Price taught You how to rob
q hen rOOst'
THAT was one Of the very first
stories OF the war. but so far as
know it has never been told before.
I never knew what became of Byrne.
! wish l did"