The National tribune., 1904-09-01

his own Importance as a factor in put
ting down the rebellion, and is trying to
build himself up by tearing someone else
down.
GETTING IN HAY.
Shortly after the attempt and failure
OF the enemy to capture our supply train
the rebels broke up their camp at Fort
Davis, across the Arkansas, and fell ba elk
southwark on the Texas road to a creek
| called Honey Springs, about % miles
south OF Fort Gibson.
Capt. Thomas, our Quartermaster, hav-
ing let contract for cutting hay for the
post and the retiring of the enemy max
| ing it comparatively safe to do So / moved
my train out to the prairie north of Fort
Gibson, which was to be our hay field.
and established my camp at an ADAM
| the bank of Grand River, about seven
miles from the Fort and adjacent to the
hay makers camp, directly east of the
place where the rebels had recently at
| tackled our train. l made hay frames for
| my wagons out of poles from the timber
and set the teams to hauling the hay into
| the Fort and stacking it, as fast as it was
cut and cured. The military road, where
the supply train had been attacked by the
rebels, was two or three miles west of the
| Mosely place, and between the road and
| my camp lay our hay ground.
While engaged in hauling hay we got
word that another large supply train from
Fort Scott was coming to US. AS it was
desirable to keep these large outfits from
camping and feeding up the grass on our
hay field. procured written order from
| Col. Phillips to the commanding officer of
| the escort of the approaching train, direct
| ing him to turn off on the road that leads
| to the bank of the Verdigris at the falls
| (the same road that the former train was
frnt IInu rI,nr, <t,o,h
| outfit near the falls, so as to keep them
off our hay ground.
The written order was placed in an en-
| velOpe. after being read to me- and adj
dressed, Capt Conkey, Sd Wis. Cav,
Commanding Supply Train," and given to
me to carry out to the train.
| took the message with me to my camp
| that night, near the hay field, and next
morning rode across the prairie in time
| TO meet the head of the train at the point
| for turning them off; but when l came to
feel in my pocket for Col. Phillips's letter
to hand to Capt. Conkey / had lost it,
AS l was familiar with the contents of
the document, however, told the Captain
what its purport was, and as this was
the place to turn off, requested him to
have the train take the right hand road
| and camp near the falls of the Verdigris
in compliance with Col. Phillips's wishes
This seemed satisfactory to COnkey, and
he turned the lead of the train into the
| new road as desired and proceeded on
| while / waited on the roadside, as the
teams passed, to look up some old ac-
quaintances among the Wagon Masters
and transfers.
l found my old friend Jeff Anthony
was Brigade Wagon Boss of the whole
outfit. and as he came along shortly after
! | parted with Conkey he stopped to shake
hands and talk with me. l told him
had turned his outfit off on the road to
| the falls, and mentioned the circumstance
| OF my cutting across the prairie from my
camp Oh Grand River and losing the let
ter.
jeff was always fond of a joke, and
now he thought he saw chance to have
| some fun at my expense, so pretending to
be in hurry to get to the head of the
train he left me and gallOped up till he
| overlook Capt. conkey, at the head of his
advance guard. In that brief time Jeff
/ had planned to have me arrested as q rebel
spy.
Shakspere. 1 believe It is, who saws,
''Triftes light as air are, to the suspicious,
combinations strong as proofs of Holy
Writ"
| Approaching Conkey. jeff called out,
Hello, Captain! You're taking the
wrong road!'
NO" Conkey explained "This is the
right road to the Verdigris Falls, and Col.
Phillips sent messenger opt to direct us
| to camp there" And went on to tell Jeff
about my having had written order
from Phillips, but had lost it. and hap
pening to know the contents of the letter,
had told him of the Coionel's wishes that
| the train should camp near the falls; all
of which Jeff listened to very seriously,
and when COnkey was through he said
in apparent deep concern.
What? Was it that bushwhac king-
looking fellow dressed in buckskins and
riding mule who brought you the mes
sage?'
yes" answered the Captain. do you
know him."