Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-12-16
* -
His Previous Obligation.

and interesting. Each soldier lived ard
acted q part in tales of humaa interest,
only meager fraction OF whieh have
been told in public print.
Captain AARON Baldwin. of the Sixth
Ohio Battery. narrated an experience
which seems 70 be one of the most re-
markable and interesting of all Of the
stories of the times that tried men 5
souls. The scene was in East Tennes-
see during prolonged and exciting
campaign, when brave American SOL
disrs were fighting brave American sol
diers and endeavorirg by night and by
day to win victories in al awful war
which ought not to have occurred.
One autumn Afternoon Captain Bald
win went out alone into the tall timber
to recconnoiter. He went farther than
he realized until he was surprised bv
the appearance a squad of confeder-
ate skirmishers approaching him. In
stantly he dropped down into the deep
grass, behind q large tree stump. He
was so securely hidden that the enemies
passed on either side Of him and appar.
emily did not see him.
After they had proceeded quite dis
lance he half arose and looked after
them. They were slowly circling around.
and he changed hiI position again and
again in order TO keep the stump be-
tween him and the skirmishers. When
they finally disappeared, he found that
he had lost his bearings, and did not
know which way to go, in order to re-
turn to his command. While crawling
around he came to the edge of 8 little
bluff and saw directly beneath him in
the valley mill and foundry. He
slowly crawled down the hill and enter
ed the mill. As he entered the door be
was met by the proprietor. tall, broad
shouldered typical Tennessee mountain
eer, who leveled a rifle at the CAPTAIN
and told him to throw up his hands; and
then, still sighting along the barrel of
the rifle, said:
What is your business here? If you
have any soldiers with you, order them
back, or you are dead man. A"
i am all alone" replied Captain
Baldwin. Il have lost my way and am
anxious to get back to the Union lines.
can face death in battle but don't
want to be taken prisoner and kept in q
prison pen. Moreover, if I do not re-
turn TO my command, I will be reported
dead or missing, and that will PROSTATE
my wife, kill my mother and send nv
father also to his grave. We are both
Americans, and you are not in either
army; won't you please show me the
way back to my command?"
Impossible just now" was the re-
ply as the rifle was lowered. 81 will
have to hide you until midnight. They
are looking for you or some one like
you. Come over to the foundry"
He conducted Captain Baldwin to the
foundry, of which he was also the pro-
prietor, and there ne hid him under
piles OF wooden mouldings; and then he
left him. About seven or eight O'Clock
that night the foundry was entered bv
squad of confederate soldiers. He
heard them talking and learned that
they were looking for him He learned
that they had seen him in the afternoon.
but did not capture him for fear of ere
ating an alarm. They did not want to
shoot him, nor have him shoot at them
just then; but they intended 70 capture
him later, after they had reported the
result Of their accommodating; and then
they had lost him and traced him to the
mill. They went away, however, with
out discovering him.
About one o'clock in the morning the
proprietor came and took him out of his
PRISON, led him over the uneven country
for couple Of hours and then told him
that the Union lines were about half a
mile distant. Then, pointing the direc-
ton, he said:
You said that we are both Ameri-
cans and that is true. But we are enc
mics, for am q confederate scout r
am risking my life for you"
Il cannot thank you enough for this. 81
said Captain Baldwin, and l cannot IN
derstand why you have done this for
me, perfect stranger and an enemy. 1"
Ny obligation. under my oath to de-
fend the confederate government. -
said tbs scout, SHOULD have led me to
shoot you down when you entered the
mill. But took solemn oath and as
sumed obligations before / took the
confederate oath. l am doing this for
you in order TO fulfill my previous obi
CATION. When you entered the mill and
leveled my rifle at you, as you threw
up your hands saw Masonic pin fast
ened onto the collar of your vest. You
owe your life to the fact that you are
Mason; for also am Mason"
They clasped hands under the star
light; the Yankee Captain and the Con-
federate Scout.
This Will Interest Mothers. !