The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-12-01
TRAGIC ADVENTURES AROUND =
RALEIGH TOLD BY VETERAN
leSas man Describes Thrilling Experiences UNDERGONE
" Mnne ne ana His Companion, Lost From Division
Try to Get Through Enemy's Lines.

va NoShHlilo, 1enn., the or
gan OF the various Confederate as
sociations Of the South, contained a
striking article written by w.
j Russell, Of Mexia, Texas. Mr.. Russell
was attached to Young's Brigade of
tButler's Division of Cavalry and. with
an cOmpanlnO, had in the vicinity af
F4faleigh some exceedingly stirring
adventures. he and his friends having
got detached from the rest Of the
troops and finding it a difficult mat
ger to reach a place of safety owing
to the fact that the country around
Raleigh was full of Union troops.
In the article there is probably
much history that had not previously
been written together with tributes
70 people who may be recalled by
some Of the older citizens of the ESQ
ton. The article follows:
Following j. E. B. Stuart, Wade
Hampton, n General Butler, of
South Carolina, through all the cam
:paigns Of the Virginia army until
about February, 1865. Buffers Divi-
sion Of Cavalry was ordered to join
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's army in
South Carolina From Columbia we
were fighting with Sherman's ad-
vance guard daily into North Carolina.
Soon after the battle of Benton Vile,
some twelve or fifteen miles from
Raleigh, fought on the 18th Of April.
NV
Colonel King, was halted on the edge
of a large farm. A detachment Of
dlSmOunted men was ordered to build
breastwOrks Of rails. Sherman's ad-
vance guard soon made its appearance
across the held at the farmhouse.
After considerable SkirmiShing, Sher-
man had to bring up a heavy force to
dislodSe us. What kept our line of
skirmisherS from being captured was
a mounted regiment held in reserve
that charged right into their lines
with drawn sabers. Seeing this, we
made a run for the skirt of woods in
our rear. Just as we entered the
bushes a squad Of mounted men
charged into our line, cutting Dave
walton and me off from the rest Of
the skirmishers; but we made good
our escape into the woods. Dave
aviation and l were members of Com
pany 3, Jeff Davis Legion. The
members Of the company who reach
ed their horses reported me wounde
and that Walton remained to care
for me, as that was his special duty
we never reached our regiment again
and his report was carried by ar
older brother of WaltOn's to oul
parents in Mississippi.
Race With Yankee Cavalrymen.
Travelling through the woods severa
hundred yards, we came upon q Lao
with his fathers horses hid in {
.thicket back Of their farm. We tool
two of his best horses, one saddle
bride, and rope halter, and gallOpet
across the farm to the house to ge
another saddle and briddle. In rid
ing out the front gate we saw four O.
Ahve cavalry1nen near, n 8 race thel
s3began down one hill n up the next
and as they were gaining on us. w
dashed into the woods, and there on
~pursuers left US We soon came int
a public road leading in the direction
Of Raleigh. Turning in the oppOsit
direction for a short distance, we SAY
two Yankees mounted in front Of
farmhouse. We decided to max
Them prisoners; SO ! galloped up
the man outside the gate and Wal
fpn went to the n in the yard an
demanded their surrender. Befor
having time to disarm them, a mount
ed nan in white shirt sleeves stand
Ing at the edge of a high verands
with several ladies near him, drew nj
{ pistol and commenced firing at M
Seeing that he could not shoot with
out endangering the ladies, Walto
fold me to shoot my prisoner; but tn
man begged for his life, ard | spare
him. The other prisoner. taalns 1 =,
missed him, and in an instant tn
steady hand that held an army si'
shooter sent a ball crashing throug
his enemy's brain. The report OF IN
white shirt mans pistol was the mr.
known Of him; the last seen of him +
waS leaving a blue streak across tf
farm.
Arrive at Raleigh.
We left this scene with our prisont
and went on to Raleigh. arriving the1
hear midnight. Johnston ne
evacuated the city, retreating nortl
ward, leaving q provost marshal ar
guard, to whom we turned over OF
prisoner. We then as
whether to continue the hunt for OF
command. Being tired and sleepy, Y
decided to rest.
Next morning we were aroused
the explosion of the ordinance sul
plies in the city. Looking across {
half mile or SO away we peneld
Animal: so we conceived the idea
dnoz oo.1p4rx- caI1heaSt of the CITY