The National tribune., 1911-02-23
CAPTURED FOUR CoNFEDERATEs
COmrade Single-Handed Enters the
Enemy's Camp and Brings Them

Editor National Tribune: While we
were stationed at Point of Rocks, be-
tween the Appomattox and the James
Rivers, Aug. IS, 1864. 1 was on picket
duty and went out to see what | could
discover. At a creek between the lines
was an old mill that had been destroy
ed. A lot of blacksmith tools lay there,
anvil, wise, etc. l took up the wise to
take it back with me. when two Con-
federates stepped out and motioned for
me to come to them. / had no desire
to obey: so 1 walked backward and got
back with the wise to our lines Two
officers came along and asked for the
man who went oyer to the Confeder-
ates' line. l confessed / was the one.
They told me not to do it again. After
the officers left l told the boys that |
would go over the next day and capture
the picket post. On that Sunday night
we could hear some rebs on picket
singing hymns. l remember they sang
Jesus, lover of my Soul' and Just as
I am, without one plea" and my heart
melted toward them. The next day l
told Adams, Nelson. Tate and Holmes to
be little more vigilant for an hour
or two. as 1 was going over to trade
the Johnnies some bareback.
Nelson, a large Scotch-Irish lad, says:
wells, I-would not do it; but if you
do go. / will be ready to help you" 1
took with me the Philadelphia Inquirer
to trade for the Richmond Examiner.
When came to their picket post they
were surprised, but we soon got on good
terms. l traded coffee, bareback, sugar,
etc, for pocket knives, combs. etc; and
all was going along nicely when a
Lieutenant with sash and sword on as
officer of the Day came along and rec
Ognized me as Yank. He asked me
what business l had over there. L told
him 1 came over to trade. He said:
You are a spy, and I'm going to take
you to Richmond for trial"
1 took out my Philadelphia paper and
began to read the news and gradually
backing off to our lines and they were
so interested they seemed to be drawn
with me. I kept, reading and moving
backward, and after about half an hour
the Lieutenant said. 81 guess we will
go back now" / looked up and said:
Il guess not. You're my prisoners"
They We're thunderstruck and, turning
around. saw Nelson. Adams, Tate and
Holmes in a line about a rod in front
of them.
The Lieutenant. when he saw he was
caught, wanted me to go back and re-
port that they had given themselves up.
But 1 didn't do it, and they were sent
d u L
returned to my post. / told Nelson that
there was another man over there, and
that 1 intended to bring him over, too.
Nelson said: Don't do it, Wells" But
l had made up my mind, and told Nell
son to keep a sharp lookout. / APP
preached the rebel picket post again,
and as soon as the other reb saw me
he asked me what became of the others.
l did not answer until / got between
i'm of
against a tree. Then 1 said. as l drew
out my bayonet: your partners are
over with u.s." Pointing the bayonet
at his breast, I commanded him to be
quiet and get move on him; that he
was my prisoner. He started on a
for our lines.
After the last one was disposed of
and we had eaten our bareback and
coffee. 1 said: Il am going for the
guns those fellows left over there" All
Of my post rebelled against it, but i
started again with the promise from
them to keep a sharp lookout behind
me. Just as / came to the brook near
The picket line, / met an officer with
stars on his coat collar and an orderly
coming over here for, and where have
those men gomez" (pointing to the
yuns.)
said: st came over to trade some
coffee and bareback with the boys and
am just coming back to get my coffee
bag" He seemed excited. and told me
TO get an officer. 1, supposing that he
wished to trade something. began to
tumble in my side blouse pocket for
the Philadelphia paper. / guess he
thought was getting my revolver Att
any rate, he left hic in a hurry, with
his orderly after him. 1 hurriedly re-
crossed the brook to return, when /
heard Nelson and the rest talking in
an earnest manner with the Confeder-
ates. Then / saw that our retreat vas
cut off. That General had sent men to
capture me. On one side of the brook
was a ditch, and it was overgrOwn with
bushes. / hid until they
the search for me; then II
bolted for our lines.
Nelson was surprised. He said:
Wells, 1 thought you were agoner that
time" At evening. just as they were
about to relieve the pickets, a buriy
called across and said he
would shoot the man who took those
men prisoners. We told him that if he
did not get back soon we would fill him
full of holes. He got back out of sight
In a hurry.-S. F. Wells. Co. c, I'd Pa,
Art, Honesdale, Pa.