Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-04-10
Civil War Stories
~~~~~~~~o

youngest only 10 years old. A load of
wheat was hidden under the floor Of
their uncle's barn, about twelve miles
northeast from Richmond, and the
boys volunteered to go and get 1t. 1t
was In August, 1859. They started
with a wagon and two good mules, ap-
preached the farm from the southwest,
and made a detour over bitches and
through fences because they did not
dare to go by the regular road. The
Federals were encamped about two
miles east.
We reached the barn without having
been seen, and driving into a shed at
tached to the building, succeeded in
loading the grain, and secured the
sacks by crossing ropes tightly wi
the top, to the high sides of the wagon.
To reach Richmond road we had to
drive within sight of the Yankee camp.
At this point the road tuned at right
angles toward the south. We had put
ropes round the axles next the shoul-
der, so as to stop the chuck Of the
wheels, and so reached this turn with
out being seen, but had Travelled only
a short distance on the old station
road when we found that we had been
discovered, and could see a party Of
horsemen coming after us at a rapid
pace.
My cousin, who was an expert driver,
although so young, told me to hold on
tight while he mounted the near mule,
and then commenced the race OF our
lives.
For some distance the road was corr
duroy, Inc at the rate we were going,
movements and tightest grip that I
could stay on the sacks. Our pursu-
ers were gaining on us. AT first they
fired only n few shots, but o a
shower Of bullets punctured the sacks
all round me, and sent the wheat flying
into my face. My ont and hat We're
struck several times.
1t seemed that a few moments would
surely settle the matter. i shall never
forget the yells of those Yankees, ac-
%companied by the incessant thup! thup +!
Of the bullets as they came faster and
faster; but strange to say, not a bullet
touched us or the horses.
At a sharp turn in the road, a blind
road led off into the woods, and as we
were driving on the side Of the road in
the grass, Paul tool this chance, and
dashed into this road, where the high
bush ~huckleberry grew rank and thick.
We were now out Of range Of the Fed
eral guns, but we did not slacken our
pace. Grazing a tree here and missing
a stump there, we dashed over logs,
through hollows and up hill until we
were sure that u pursuers had kept
to the main road.
We were congratulating ourselves
when "Halt!" brought us to a stop,
and a soldier, with gun ready, demand
ed, who comes hereY
I answered, "A friend" Then came
the order, Advance and give the coun-
tesignI" IS
1t was now dusk, and we could see
the blue %overcoat, and thought that
this vas a Federal picket but as we
came nearer, I saw gray trousers, SO ]
told my cousin to risk the words with
which we had been furnished for the
aight-"R. =. Lee"
you can pass" the sentry said.
Just a short time before this we had
heard a discharge OF arms il the direc.
ton of the road that we had left, but
we were surprised to see a dozen OF
more Yankees lined up as prisoners
when we reached headquarters. One
Of them swore Justify at us for the traI
which we had run them into. We were
glad indeed to rest by the camp fire In.
side OF our lines, and the next day
about 10 o'clock arrived in Richmond
with a loss Of comparatively little Oh
the wheat.
Old Richmond never looked more
beautiful, nor could there have beer
two more thankful boys. We enjoyed
the fruits OF our trip, too, for we had
a change to wheat bread, which was
a treat, after months Of nothing but
corn bread.
Made Raid ON Soup.
Some Of the incidents OF a war play
now running in New York suggested to
a civilian Of the present generation
that the playwright Of to-day takes q
while lot Of license. A veteran with
an empty sleeve took issue with him.
The incidents you mention" he said
to the young man, may not have oc-
Cured as here presented. But the
struggle had it's comedy situations. II
was not all grim, and it was a good
thing 1t wasn't.
There wasn't much time In the clos.
ing days Of the war for farcical Incl
dents, but while the masters OF the
great trouble were formulating plans
Falstafs were plentiful in remote
places. One Of these whom 1 knew had
got up to the title of major. He was
q German.
"His battalion consisted of the raw
est lot of recruits that were ever hud.
died under one command. The aggre-
cation was mounted. It was assigned
to duty at a post in close proximity tt
a settlement of bushwhackers.
"These were 0 the bushwhacker.
Of later days. They were for the mos
part young men who were banded to
gether awaiting an opportunity of get
ting to the front. Pending that soldier
ing with them was A frolic.
s'The big German major took his par
with all the seriousness of a division
commander on the eve of a battle. Once
a week, sometimes oftener, the major
cap% b,,rry o,5orc for &ro roor,,itc r.