The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-04-19
CONFEDERATE VET.
.ERAN Tells OF WAR
Especial Correspondennce.)
Spokane, WASH, April Is

opOhduc, Wdbn.t EpiI lcs
"Robert Alexander 1.-TWO years il
Denison university, Granville, o.; A
B. and A. M, Brown, 1s49; LIB.
Yale, 1851"
The foregoing, inscribed on the reg
lister in the rooms of the University
club of Spokane, are Mr.. Robert g
claims to membership in that organi.
~zation. He is one Of the six survivors
of a class of so, called the I" '49ers of
Brown OF whom another member ia
James B. Angel, president of the
University of Michigan.
MIR. Robert, who came from Texas
to Spokane four years ago to engage in
truck farming and poultry culture, is
a native of Georgia, or French Hugue
not extraction, and served as adiutant
under General Stonewall Jackson from
1851 to 1854. He was wounded at
Charlottesville.
Though 81 years Of age Mr.. Robert
is in excellent health and works daily
in his garden at 1924 East Harrison
avenue His home is typical of the
old southland and its owner is as hos
pltaOiC dH WcIe Ills l~OTGD6dTB. IlG
speaks slowly and unsteady, with that
wonderful liquid southern enunciation
which is a delight to those privileged
to hear his stories of the old college
days and the trying times during the
war.
college life in the early '4Os was
interesting Mr.. Robert said after he
and Madam Robert had welcomed the
interviewer. "We did not travel
around playing baseball in those days.
We stayed at home and worked. OF
course, we played ball some, too, but
it was among ourselves. We had sport
those days, but we did not make a
business of it.
1.-THE boys went to college to be
educated and not to become star
athletes and it was exceptional for the
yearly expenses to exceed $500. There
were f~raternities, but they did not
hold the important place in under
graduate days they do at present.
81 was invited to become q mem
Der of the 'Pis-Pps,' as we called them,
but ] said to Jim Baily, who asked
me to join: sJim,' tell me true, IL
you were out of the society, would You
go in againf' And he replied: Rob
ert. | am say that / would That
decided me, and 1 never joined a Sc
cret society to this day.
Some of Mr.. Robert Is "reminiscences
of the early SOS throw light on the
events during the war. His
recollection of the battle of Shenan-
doah is an example. Sshool histories
tell of Sheridan s ride from Winches-
ter. but they do not mention the fact,
the veteran said, that if the general
had not been away from home he
would have been in a southern prison
the next day. 1t was Mr.. Roberts
company which was delegated to sur
prise Little PHIL and carry him
away the night before the battle.
emo eanteen and not a word above
a whisper were the orders as they
over the mountain and filed
the valley" said Mr.. Robert in
the story. "Not even the
southern piekets heard the departure.
The brushing of the branches, the oc-
sound of a horses hoof
against a stone alone disturb
ed the midnight stiffness.
"There stood the generals head
quarters, with only a sentry between
our men and one Of the greatest lead
ers of the Union side. In three min
the house was surrounded. No one
could escape it alive. The signal was
the sentry surrendered without