The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1905-1908, 1908-04-15
The Adventure of a Brave Girl.

My father, Mr.. j. J. Reynolds, lived
on the road from Burnesville ION the
Memphis and Charleston Railroad) TO
he Red Sulphur Springs, Hardin coun-
~, Tennessee. Being ON the territory
between the contending forces, we
were constantly visited by scouting
parties from both sides. All that was
not given to the Confederates was gen
orally taken by the Federals l re-
member they (the Yankees) took
eleven horses and mules from my IA
theirs lot one night and left in their
stead an old blind horse, a gray one.
Looking back through all these years,
lit seems strange that so much merri-
ment could have been made over the
"old blind horse" some of the ne
groes, still faithful at home, surprising
he must have been the veritable "old
gray horse that the Yankees had
caught tearing out of the wilderness
was soon on his back without a sad
die. to see If l could ride a blind
horse" my dear little claybank pony,
Philadelphia having been taken off by
the United States, troops Aunt Eas-
sss,' our }I0el ~ assy cook and gen
ersl protector, who had been my "a
theirs muse (wnen he was a baby,
was on hand to teach me to give the
bride a little quick jerk" u make the
*blind horse step over things
About this time-December, 1864, l
think-it was very cold, showing. One
of our neighbors, Mrs. Hubbard, living
two miles away. came up and told my
mother that a man just across the Ten.
nesse river had shoes to sell for Con
federate money. Every one at home
needed shoes. All the negroes left on
the place and all the family needed
shoes. An opportunity like this was
rare. Something must be done quickly
Ny father was with Gen. Roddy, and
my brother was in the Virginia army
My mother could not go. A negro could
not be trusted to return. So | asked
mother to let me go with our neigh
Dor and ride the blind horse, assuring
her that | would do my best to get the
shoes and also to make the horse steI
safely over the logs across the road
for there were many logs, as the roads
| had been $50 long unkept-no one tC
work and keep them in order. l re
member that | was well wrapped up,
with wool stockings over my shoes and
warm h0me-knit gloves. | was perch
ed up on the horse with a sack to hold
the shoes and plenty of Confederate
money. remember that | felt a little
shaky," for fear the horse would fal
down. but before me constantly wa.
the vision Of all the family and thC
negroes with good shoes on, and the
weather was cold My little sister
Winnie, IS beautiful and sweet as tn;
sun ever shone On. called out from thG
family cHowd al the front gate assem-
bled to - me off and wish me gloC
luck. "Bi me tum toos. The horse
did not and we did not freeze. bu
came 70 3river in safety. The diff
lculties "a oo.d, sleet and blind
horse W 9thing compared to th'
difficalti at confronted us here
They sa e liver was up, about /
half mil nile wide, no skiff, the
wind BIZ dg and the water covered
with VIII caps. | had never crossed
the rive never been in a skiff Some
soldiersF Confederates, were crossing
swimming their horses by the side o
the boat. a canoe OF skif. l remember
hearing them say Capt Mitchell wai
one of them, and l also remember the
great blowing noise the horses made
in the cold water. After the soldiers
were over and )uS of sight, and n:
boat. J was almost in despair How
ever. soon a boy with a boat was dis
covered on the opposite shore. Aftel
much difficolty and many efforts, call
ing to him. he heard and brought tht
boat over. II I was a portrait painter
| could paint him-that boy-today, Sc
wei do J remember how he looked
With his black. grimy hands and fac,
SIN 7ked over a aine fire that cold day
He had good, honest eyes and a smil
Ing mouth that showed faith in him
self, and you felt you could trust him
The women that went with said, 1--WE
cannot trust ourselves with that boy
ana that boar on that rough. rush
Ing river" The boy only looked a
them and smiled. / asked him. Are
ycu used to the river and boats?" He
replied 1--WE been raised on EN-
IRE you scared to eross?s 1 asked
ITO" Can you take me over?" He