Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1910-02-18
OMAHA, NEB., Jan. s, 1910.
Major Jno. w. Broughton,
Iormau Misc.


Lorman, Miss:
DEAR FRIEND AND CoNRADE-As you
mentioned in your last letter that the
Fayette Chronicle would soon publish an
account OF the capture of "a federal naval
captain and sailor iii the Presbyterian
church in Rodney, during the war be-
tween the States, | thought, a. | was in
the church that day, and had the expert
ence of having both federal and confed-
crate officer level their pistols OIL Inc
within two or three minutes time, that
perhaps Ey experience might also be in
teresting to the readers of the Chronicle
Az preface, will say the captain OF
the federal gunboat was a very socisble
man and frequently came ashore and
talked in friendly way with the citi-
zens, and had attended church few
times previous to the day Of his capture.
The citizens OF Rodney did not know OF
there being any armed confederate sol
diers in that vicinity at that time; there
were though several paroled confederate
soldiers in the town, it being their home,
they having been captured and paroled,
some at Vicksburg, others at Port Hud-
son, when those places surrendered to tie
fcderals.
Well do / remember that exciting day.
1t was beautiful sunshiny Sabbath morn
ing. The church was crowded So much
that bench had been brought from tine
negro gallery and was occupied by sailors
who conld not find seats in pews. The
federal captain was seated Immediately
in front of me. The pew he was sitting
in was entirely taken up by himself and
sailors. A federal officer who had ac-
companied a lady of the town to church
was seated on the opposite side of the
church from the captain. He was the
only one of the party that was armed,
he having navy revolver. Soon after
the services commenced, we were startled
by noises on the outside of the church,
such as running of horses in the street
and rafting noise which we afterwards
found out was caused by the confederate
cavalry mems spurs rafting on the brick
walk in front of the church. We could
not imagine the cause of the noises, bu,
everybody seemed to have premonition
of something dreadful going to happen.
Before we had time to take in the sit
uation, a confederate officer ran in the
church from the left entrance. He had
a revolver in each hand, and with them
pointed toward the federals, said, in q
loud tone, with all oath, Surrender,
you are my prisoners. The federal cap.
tain quickly arose to standing position
with uplifted hands, facing the confed.
crate, said, "We surrender, for Gods
sake don't fire among the women and
children" At that instant the federal
officer from the opposite side of tho
church fred at the confederate, who inn
mediately fired at the federal and then
such excitement and confusion | never
witnessed before or since. Women and
children were screaming, men, women
and children were rushing in every di.
rection endeavoring to get ont of the
church, some jumping out of windows,
others rushing out Of the doors. Pack
in the choir looked to Inc to be the safest
place, and in my excitement l climbed
over the top Of the pews TO get there.
found few Of the citizens OF the town
in the choir; the only ones can rsmem-