Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-17


the woman with whom | had break
tasted on my way down had reported
my presence to n Confederate cavalry
force in the vicinity and they had been
looking for me.
The girl learned that there were
scattered forces in my way on the
watch for me. so decided to make n
detour southwark and work my way
back over the Cumberland plateau.
parted from my love on an eminence
near her home where she could see
me for long distance. I cheered her
by telling her that the Yankees would
be down there soon in force and l
would surely see her again.
About a mile south of my starting
point I came TO n river. ! crossed IL
by ford and had ridden another mile
when I struck n crossroad by which
! intended to proceed eastward and
then northward. had just turned
when heard a voice behind me
calling on me to throw up my hands.
I did so at once and three Confederate
cavalrymen in charge OF a corporal
took me in.
After questioning me they decided
that l was the man they were look
ing for and started with me for the
camp OF the force to which they he
longed.
The road struck the river at the ford
and we started in to cross 1t single
file. Two of my captors preceded and
two followed me. There was ledge
just below the ford which my girl
had cautioned me against. calling my
attention TO the fact that the running
water would deceive me as to the
direction | needed to take. She told
me that If didn't keep we'll upstream
l would so over the ledge into deep
water.
II soon saw that the first man in
line the corporal. was heading too far
downstream. When he reached the
middle of the river he went over the
ledge and I saw him no more. The
next man was frightened. but headed
his horse farther upstream. / wished
I could go over the ledge and be
drowned. to save myself from a hang
ing. was turning my horse in that
direction when the man next in my
rear. who had come up beside me,
seized my bride rein.
when / was looking him In the face
I saw a round hole appear in his fore
head. He fell from his horse and was
swept away with the current. He had
been shot. but who had shot him was
a mystery. l glanced to the opposite
bank and saw little cloud of smoke.
but no one who had fired a shot
Two of the four men were now
The man behind me was
a brave fellow. He spurred forward
and. dra wing his revolver, ordered me
to proceed. But we hadn't gone six
yards before l heard crack, and Mt
the same time my man fell from his
saddle. Where be was hit / did not
know. but IL he wasn't killed he was
doubtless drowned.
Turning my head. / saw the fourth
man urging his horse as fast as he
could through the rapid current toward
the southern shore. He had evidently
had enough of trying to run me into
amp and was trying to save himself
rom the invisible marksman.
II was now free as a bird. and IL
iidn't take long for me TO gather my
aculties sufficiently to understa nd that
ome one had saved me from my cap
ors, though l was not quite sure but
hat would be the next victim. How
yer, | lost no time In pushing forward
o the northern side OF the river. and
ny horse carried ne up the steep as
ent on to the bank There / looked
bout me and al the base of tree saw
girl lying on the ground. with a rife
eside her | spurred toward her, dis
lounted and recognized the girl / bad
1T not an hour before.
She was in dead faint but pick
j her up and kissed her back to CON
,iOusness.
she had seen me captured and my
iptors start for the river. Her mill
Try eye had taken in the situation at
ace. Running home. she had got
fie. and returning lay I'm concealment
18th view to attacking the enemy
lille crossing the stream. Seeing the
ader heading too far down. she had
aited till he fell over the ledge; then
king advantage or the confusion, sho
Id opened fire.
There are many instances In history
here generals have seized upon just
oh n moment 70 rOnt an enemy. but
Is Is the only affair OF the kind that
me under my own personal observa-
IN. Besides. IL saved my life.
II got the girl back to her house and
en- pushed my horse to his utmost
place as many miles as possible be
cen me and that region. Fortunate.
eluded those on the watch for me
d got my information in to the gen
A. He commended me highly fol-
work and recommended me TO tho
vernon OF my state for a commits
n
What became OF the girl?" asked
e OF the listeners.
Our force advanced as soon as got
camp. and ] saw her again frequent.
After the war I went down there
married. nor"
II = A