The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-28


that he was serving upon tho STAFF OF
General stephenson. with the rank OF
captain. General Stephenson was next
In command To General P"nbcrton at
Tic siege OF NickHburE. one morning.
after the Investment OF Nicksbur2 by
the Federal army, General Stephenson
was at General rcmbcrtons hcInuuaT
tere. General Pcmhcrton asKcd Gen
cral Stephenson If hc knew OF Ii man
who could go through the Federal lines
and carry It verbal dispatch To General
Joseph r.. Johnston General stephen
son replied that Ne know Il man VINO
could do 1t. II anybody could. There
upon General Pcmbcrtcu asked Cen
era; Stephenson 20 send nim TO min.
When General Stephenson returned. ne
ordered Captain Wise To report to Cen
eral pcmberton's headquarters for
duty. which he did
General Peintcrton said TO him. Il
desire YOU, Captain Wise. to make
$our way through the Federal lines
TO General Joseph. l.. Johnston and sa%
60 MIN that IL 1 am not relieved in :.
short ;irnc, I shall be compelled to
surrender this army and this city.
leaving to Captain Wlse To devise the
best method OF getting through the
lines
After studying tho problem. Cap
tam Wise decided that the only pos
sihic way TO get through the Federal
Hlvcr through tho .'eucral fleet lie
mad boat made to 1T hts person, When
iNing on his back. so That no could
pui MS hands overheard and steer It.
nc succeeded In. going through the
Federal fleet at night. lilo landed
higher up the river than he had in.
tended, that when he reached IN,
shoro he was between the Federal
piekets and the Confederate picIict..
VINO were watching In rear OF the
FEDERAL army. Struggling through tra
a"hnp. he was halted by a Confed-
crate picket, and was Carried to tho
headquarters OF tho colonel command
ing the Confederate cavalry regimen,
which was on picket The colonel
asked Captain Wise who he was lie
told him. lie asked him where ne was
going. and nc told him he was on his
way 10 General Johnstcn's headuuar.
ters, bearing verbal dispatch Of great
moment Tho colonel asked him what
that dispatch was Captain Wise re-
fused to tall him. because ne was Or
dcrcd 10 tell II only to General John,
ston. The>confcdarate colonel accused
him OF being spy, organized drum
head court martial which convicted
Captain Wise OF being a spy and or
dered him TO be shot at sunrise tho
next morning. 6N'hercupon Captain
Wise told the csfbncl that he laid on
him the responsibility OF General John
tton not receilshg the dispatch. that
his lilo was comparatively small
matter. but if General Johnston did
not get the dispatch which he was
hearing tho death wound might be in
flicted upon the Confedcracy He then
proposed Ia the colonel that ms he
Wise) vas In tho coloners power. 10
send him under guard TO General John
Hion's headquarters, and IL he did not
turn out 10 be the man that he had
told MIN he was that he would he xtlll
in his mower. and then hn could have
MIN shot. After a little consldarn-
ton Tho colonel agreed to the promo
sit!oIi. and seat him to General John
stons headquarters. who, OF course.
ordered his rGease
He then delivered General pember-
tons message TO General Joseph T.
Johnston. General Johnston replied:
Captain. you will make your way
back To Nicksburg and say to General
Pemberton that he allowed himself 10
be cooped up In VicksburG, In posi-
tive disobedienc. of my orders; that
mad explained TO him that IL was bet
ter TO save his army and lose Vicks-
burg than II was TO lose Nicksburg and
his army; that l have neither the men
nor the-saeans TO relisve him. Gnd that
] do nos propose TO sacrifice my army.
which may be tho last hope OF the Con-
federacy In the West, in trying TO save
the wreck or his army"
captain MISC then ask I'd General
Johnston how he was TO get back TO
N'cEsbnrg: that he had noateG down
INC Mississippi, and he could not float
up. General Johnston said to him: ~
do not know how YOU can yet back
but you will have to try
Captain Wise then asked the gem
eral II he could give him n horse, which
the general did, and he started toward
VicksburS.
he saw light. When he got to il he
FOUND that II was a ncgro's cabin. He
called. and an old negro came out.
Captain Wise determined II trust the
negro. He told him that he was Con-
federate officer. trying to get into
Nifksburg, but that he was sorely in
need OF food for himself and his horse.
Tho negro told him 10 get down and
he would feed him and his horse.
Captain Wise went into the cabin, and
tho negro was preparing some food for
him. lie turned to Captain Wise and
said; Boss, whar is you fromc"
Captain Wee replied: II am from
Virginia, old man."
The negro said; "Lor'. boss, ! am
from Virginia, and thought you was
from Virginia soon as ! hear you talk"
After going on with his cooking op-
erations for some time. the old man
said; WHY. boss. what part Of yir-
sinia Is you from?"
Captain Wise told him he camo from
Acconac county.
The Did man stopped his culinary OPP
erations and said: 'Lor'. boss, / come
from Accomac. too He said: DOCS
you know Marso Tully Wiser
The captain said: why, my man, he
Is my father"
The negro said: "Lor' bless you. boss,
1 done lay with Marse Tully Wise
when sim and me was ohiiIuns," and.
turning around. said: rs You little
George"
The captain told him III, was little
George.
And the old darleey thereupon anid;
"Lor, 1.or', Ior''. I do anything for you
in tho xpn,IAtp'