The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-24
General Thomas 5. Woodward De- scribes His Rescue of Mrs. Stuart Who Had Been Captured by the Indians When They Took and Destroyed a Mobile Boat.

In his plain and unostentatious way General Thomas tS. Woodward de- scribes in this installment of his Rem iniscences the rescue from the Indians of a white woman who had been cap- tive among >e the hostiles for many weary months. In the story there is material for great romance. but the old Indian fighter tells 1t simply and plainly. but in a way that all may Thoroughly know t, without embei- iishment and without exaggeration.
 He makes, too. a part of this letter the splendid story of the pioneer wo- man who on the Qconee River with stood band of Indians after her hus- band had beer. killed and she had been shot through The shoulder. And with the assistance of a small boy she suc- ceeded in driving back the Indians until they could make their escape.
 Incidents of similar nature in the New England States have been draft ed into song and story. They are made a part of the education of the youth. but in the South there is a la mentabie indifference to the riches of our pioneer history. It is to be re- gretted that some Southern writer has not already taken these two splen- did and romantic incidents and weav- Su Lnoiu IutO an aTblCie LOT lHc scIiOot books of the children of Georgia and Alabama. But 1t has never been done.
 Both incidents are authentic. Gen. eral Woodward writes of his own nowiedge.-Editoriai Note.
 Mir. BanIxs's Letter.
 Columbus (Ga.) Sun.
 Eds. sun:--In the Spring of 1913, the writer was in General Jackson's army in Florida, consisting of near 1000 men, Including regulars commanded by General Gaines; Georgia militia, commanded by General Glascock; the Tennessee horseneen and friendly In- dians, under General Mackintosh. Ma Jor Thomas Woodward and Captain Isaac Brown had a kind of joint com-- mand with Macintosh over the In. dians.
 While marching on between St. Marks and Sewanee Town, distance about one hundred miles. the 18th day of April we discovered fresh signs of the Indians. General Mackintosh. with his command of Creek Indians, pursued them. The main army as was our habit, lay down in the grass to rest. and await Mackintosh's return. Very soon Maehintosh overlook them, and the battle commenced in hearing of us, probably mile on. We could hear the firing of the guns which com tinued some time.
 We'll, remember an express borne from Mackintosh an Indian on foot crying out at the top of his voice, "captain Jacksonl Captain Jacksonlt As he passed us. we pointed to Old Hickory, who soon despatched a com- pany of Tennessee mounted men to aid Mackintoshg The battle was finished ere they reached him. Mackintosh and Woodward soon returned to our camp with their prisoners, consisting of wo- nien and women, and, to our surprise white woman. This woman Is still living in or about Fort Gaines. She was then Mrs. Stuart, and afterwards married John Dill of Fort Gaines. who died few years since.
 For the particulars of her capture by Mackintosh and Woodward. I refer yor to the enclosed letter, which have just received from General Woodward, which, if you think of sufficient inter- est. please copy in full, or make such extracts as you choose. Since receiv- ing the letter from General Woodward, I have hunted up my diary kept dur ing that campaign and have made the above extracts.
 For His Armt COmrade.
 Wheeling. Winn Parish. La.
 June 10th. 1858. Col. John Banks:
 Dear Sir-Your letter of the 27th ul- timo Is as welcome as 1t was unex- pected. Anything from those I knew In early life is consoling to my feel ings in my present lonely situation, particularly when 1t contains such kindly expressed feelings for my well fare and my happiness hereafter In your F. s. you say l may have for gotten you. Your name Is a familiar on" to me, and 1t is possible may not know to which one of that name I am but 1t would be treating un- kindly one of the best memories man ever had to doubt it. If you are the John Banks I think you are, you were born In Georgia in the same county was,> Ebert.
 In 1918 there were two companies from Ebert County ,one commanded by Captain Mann and the other by | Captain Ashley. You were a Lieuten- ant in one of them.
 l. remember the trip to Fort Early | hat you speak of, as I do most of | what occurred in the Florida expedi- | ion. That was a little over forty | years ago. The names that you men, l ion in your letter are as familiar as 1our own. The two women whose name you mention, if the incidents of their lives were as well known to some as they | Ire to myself, would furnish material or an interesting book. Mrs. Stuart, low Mrs. Din, you saw when Captain Brown and myself carried her to your amp; you know something Of her his- ory, at least you know something of k Ter being captive among the hostile lt indians. And as have noth ing to do li oday, and as you live in Columbus |, mong my old friends and some of my and perhaps some of them you'd be willing to hear that am liv-