The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-09-27

bald hill within easy range Of the car
bines Of Sheridan's men, but not a shot
was fired at them, and not so much as
squad was sent out to demand their
surrender.
Night was now near at hand, and
Guilford Duncan turned to his men and
said:
1.-THE war is practically over, sup
pose, but for one intend to stick to
the game as long as it lasts. General
Lee will surrender his army tonight or
tomorrow morning, but General John
ston still has an army in the field in
North Carolina. 1t is barely possible
that we may get to him. 1t is my pur-
pose to try. How many of you want to
60 with me?" .
The response was instantaneous and
unanimous.
"We'll all stick by you, captain, till
the COWS come home,''' they cried.
| Every WE'LL" he answered. 1--WE
must march to James river tonight and
cross it. We must make our way into
the mountains and through Lynchburg,
|
| try, anyhow"
| All night long they marched They
secured some coarse foodstuffs at a
mill which they passed on their way
up into the mountains. There for
week they struggled to make their way
| southwark, fighting now and then, not
with Federal troops, for there were
none there, but with marauders. These
were the offscourings of both armies
and of the negro population of that
region. They made themselves the
| pests of Virginia at that time: Their
| little bands consisted Of deserters from
both armies, dissolute negroes and all
other kinds of "lewd fellows of the
baser Sort They raided plantations;
they stole horses; they terrorized wom-
en-; they were thorn in the flesh of
General Grants officers who were
placed in strategic positions to prevent
the possible occurrence of a guerrilla
warfare and who therefore could not
scatter their forces for the policing of
land left desolate and absolutely
lawless.
| During the sOjOurn in the mountains,
In his effort to push his way through
to Johnston, Guilford Duncan came
upon plantation where only women
were living in the mansion house. \
company of marauders had taken pos
session of the plantation, occupying it's
negro cabins and terrorizing the popu-
lation of the place. When Duncan
rode up with his seven armed men he
instantly took command and assumed
the role Of protector. First of all he
posted his men as sentries for the pro-
lection of the plantation homestead.
Next he sent out scouts, including a
number of trusty negroes who belong
ed upon the plantation, to find out
where the marauders were located, and
what their numbers were, and what
purpose they might seem bent upon
From the reports of these scouts he
learned that the marauders exceeded
him in force by three to one or more,
but that fact in no way appalled, him.
During a long experience in war he
had learned we'll the lesson that num-
bers count for less than morale and
that with skill and resoluteness a small
force may easily overcome and destroy
larger one. r
Duncan sent at once for the best
negroes on the plantation-the negroes
who had proved themselves loyal in
their affection for their mistresses
throughout the war. Having assem-
bled these, he inquired of the women
what arms and ammunition they had
There were the usual number of shot
guns belonging to a plantation and
considerable supply of powder and
buckshot. Duncan assembled the ne
groes in the great hall Of the planta-
ton house and said to them: y
Il have seven men here, all armed
and all fighters. I have arms enough
for you boys if you are willing to join
me in the defense Of the ladies on this
plantation against about the worst set
Of scoundrels that ever lived on EARTH
Johnny, the head dining room serv-
ant, speaking for all the rest, replied:
I'm co'se we is. Jest you lead US,
mahstah, and you'll see how we'll do
de Wu'k.' =
The marauders had established them
selves in four or five of the negro
quarters on the plantation, and in
certain sense they were strongly forti-
fed. That is to say, they were housed
in cabins built Of logs too thick for
any bullet to penetrate them. Four of
these cabins were so placed that a fire
from the door and the windows of
either of them would completely CON-
mand the entrance of each of the 9TH
ers. But to offset that, and to offset
also the superiority of numbers which
the marauders enjoyed, Guilford Dun,
can decided upon an attack by night.
He knew he was outnumbered by two
or three to one, even if he counted the
willing but unframed negroes whom be
had enlisted in his service. But he did
not despair of success. It was his pur-
pose to dislodge the marauders in a
night attack, when he knew that they
could not see to shoot with effect, He
knew also that The is thrice armed