The Washington herald., 1912-05-19

Roosevelts election
That's 80. cap'en.' he replied. and
t'would only I hear that Rosenfieid amt
q buyin' any just now.
When young John, aged eighteen, was
ready to leave home for the war, his
what happens. maintain the honor Of
the Bankhead family and cont get shot
In the back" The advance to the front
was made in wagons Y had my own
horse and vehicle the Senator related
"a large supply OF food. a big trunk
full of clothing and a negro servant
even though / was nothing but a pri-
yate. We crossed Tennessee and camped
for the winter in Southern Kentucky.
built a hut Of split logs and was very
comfortable for a soldier About the
18th Of January. 1852. took Isom. my
black boy, and went out In the country
after a personal load Of cabbages and
chickens. I got fifty fat ROSTERS and
hens and penned them up in the corner
OF my hut
Almost shot In the Back.
-Four days later my regiment marched
down a long decline into a considerable
force OF Yankees concealed behind earth
and fallen trees Then followed the
battle Of Mil Springs, or Fishing Creek,
as the Confederates call II. We got 4
voIley OF musket FIRE at close range.
Gen. Zollieoffer, our commander, was
killed. After $50 Of our men were on
the ground. We gave way. Coming right
to the point, we ran. I went back up
the decline faster than 1 had ever trav-
eled before. / heard two musket balls
pass my head and saw men stop, stag
ger and fall All at once recalled what
my grandfather had said. Here goes
the honor OF the Bankhead family I
repeated at every jump. Johns going
to be shot in the back But l wasn't
Somehow I escaped.
Late that night orders came for US
to move. We were 20 retreat. every
body said. Then thought of the chick
ems. / couldn't do much to revenge the
injury the Yankees had inflicted on US.
but 1 could at least turn the chickens
loose in the woods and make the
Yankees chase them, II they wanted a
little poultry TO season their fat pork.
the roof on the coop. / drove
away in my wagon. Thus ends the story
of my first battle and my first retail
ating blow at the North. Fishing Greek
doesn't figure large In history, but II was
a bloody conflict in my amateur opinion.
was wounded in the side at Shiloh.
Ny arm was broken at Chickamauga,
and was shot through the leg at Peach
Tree Creek. The wagon, the Saratoga
trunk, and Isom had long since van
ished. / had become a veteran and
captain.
Il found everything gone but the land.
on returning home at the close Of the
war. The negroes and mules had disap-
peared. Hard manual work was abso-
lutely necessary. went into the fields.
and there I remained, forty miles from
a railroad. until was foFty-fve years
old Now and then ] went to the Degis-
lature. but was a working farmer just
the same.
Rides AwRy on HIS Black Mare.
Il was married in 1866. during my first
term in the Alabama House OF Repre-
my wife had not lived in the country,
but she went TO the farm, and never
More than half the sue
cess that has blessed my life can be
Justly attributed to her." Senator Bank
head stopped his steady pacing up and
down and looked at me. His eyes, L
saw, were moist with love and emotion.
''She made me hustle" he continued
With a smile. II had the strength and
she supplied the energy. She is over
Il the hotel now and is the youngest
cooking woman you ever saw. The time
came, however, when / thought II was
ny duty to serve my country in Wash
ngton- ! had helped to make laws in
Alabama and had been warden Of the
But the organization-in
he South 1t is known as the courthouse
-ing-was opposed to me. I threw my
over a black mare and head
d for Sumter County. Men whom had
L., ha 7 los e-Ia a TO
ne when rode into Livingston, but they
aid my efforts would be in vain. Well
replied, I'm go out into the country
: piece and look around Il was a ter
IDLY hot day. Along toward noon
stopped in front of Matt. Parker's house.
he was a power in the community and
vas short and fat, Weighing rshould say,
lbout 800 pounds. I saw him sitting In
! rocking chair on the front porch fan
ling himself. with his straw hat I hol-
cred to him. as is the custom among
'armers, and he hollered back: Get
Town. he said, tie your horse, and
,ome in
Z" I am John H Bankhead, of Lamar
County told him, and am a candIdstef
or Congress-
Though I have never seen you be-
'ore,' Parker said, nor heard Of you,
,ither, Mr.. Bankhead, you can count on
ny help. am against the courthouse
ing. Don't worry about this precinct
rs yours.
How He Caught TIdmore.
After dinner, started toward the
text precinct and the farm Of Mr.. It'd
more. Tell him you are fighting the
ing and it viii be all right Parker
me as he said Eood-by. I hol-
cred and Mrs. Tidmore came to the
loor. Her husband. she said, was over
he hill blowing cotton. I found his
mule, but he was nowhere in sight. So
turned the mule between two rows
md plowed across the field. Then 1
flowed back. Tidmore had returned and |
vas sitting on the fence. I pretended |
lot to see him. No man in Alabama |
;ould do a better job at blowing than |
myself. ] was proud of the work 1 was |
.oing. fillmore, felt sure, would be |
Whoa ! yelled at the mule |
When 1 got to the end OF the rows. In
Iocently I looked up. Mr.. Tidmore,' 1 |
aid, letting on / was surprised, I am |
candidate for Congress, and
Well. by thunder he yelled, in the |
earty voice Of the country, I'm for you |
gin all Corners
And right there gathered in another
recinct. Then 1 Travelled on into the |
one Of Josephus Wallace, an old Com
ederate soldier, and of Col. w. B. Gear.
Federal ofiicer from Ohio, who had re-
NAMED m Alabama and taken a wife.
hey were bitter enemies, politically and
ersonally, though both were Democrats.
negotiated and conciliated and wore nv
mare out going back and forth, and on /
invention day Wallace, Gear, and my
elf rode to Livingston in the same
7agon. The natives were dumfounded