The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-05

sixteen and became a soldier.
As Russo was only fourteen years
old at the outbreak of the war, his
parents made him stay at school, but
when he reached sixteen. just after
the battle OF Chickamauga, he went
into the Tennessee mountains to chal-
lenge the fortune OF war.
Captain Russo, sitting on his cot
at the tent city" said, as he fingered
the hilt of his sword:
Il was certainly a small lad: didn't
weigh a pound over a hundred. But
every time they called the roll 1 an
swered "Here!"
In the year after 50, until he was cap
tured in 81 Captain Russo saw hot skir-
mishing and much exciting service as a
courier. and when the fighting scouts
OF Forests army covered the retreat
OF General Hood. he found himself with
the rear guard, which had orders TO
charge to delay the swiftly moving
Federal army.
Captain Russo remembers the charge.
and when his command hit an Illinois
regiment OF mounted infantry. the en-
counter that followed was one of the
worst rear guard actions Of the cam
paign. and he had rode and fought far
into the Federal lines and behind two
regiments before he knew It, He dis
mounted and was walking back through
the thick underground when a rustling
caused him to look upright into the
bore Of Yankee rife. The soldier.
after looking at Captain Russo for about
ten minutes. said: You look tired"
81 am tired" said Captain Russo.
Well then. why in the devil don't
you sit down.
And l did, said Captain Russee,
right on the head OF another Fed
eral."
This was on Christmas Day, 1854,
and ! was held a prisoner in Camp
Chase until May 3, 1865.
That wasn't my only fight, though.
because l had two horses killed under
me at Memphis and one OF them was
hit by a cannon BALL" said the captain.
After the war. the fortune of his
family was gone and Captain Russo
worked to regain what the fate of war
had taken from his people. He owned
and published a country newspaper
and later was a carriage manufac-
turer. He now lives in retirement.
enjoying his last days on the pike
]
The troop OF which Captain Russo
is commander is in possession of one
Of the best tents in the encampment.
The men are a stalwart set, although
every one of them is over seventy
years of age.
The uniform they wear Is easily
distinguishable from the others. They
are smoke gray. with bright yellow
collars and cuffs, with the coat cut
even to the waist, and they wear
large black hats adorned with black
feathers.
At intervals the troop holds i'm
promptu song services, and II is a
well known fact that they can sing.
Miss Martha Handley has been
chosen by this troop as chief sponsor
for life.
She is a young woman Of Nashville
who gets money every year for the
train to carry the troops to the re
unions. Miss Handley's stan is com
posed Of Miss Molly II. Claiborne
Mrs. Jean Russell Smoot, Miss Annie
HandIey, Mrs. w. r. Perkins, Mrs. V.
| I. Jones. Mrs. w. A. Crutcher and
/ Mrs A. Ashworth.
The last roll OF the Forrest Scouts
bears the names OF l.. H. Russo. cap
tain; J. VI. Long, first sergeant: w. A.
/ Bailey. second sergeant; Woodford
| Craig. third sergeant: Ike A. Mitchell,
/ fourth sergeant: w. A. Crutcher, color
I bearer OF the war flag: +. NJ. T. Jones,
color bearer Of the United states flag:
u. W. Glynn, Sep Abbey, Dero Mills,
4 Tom Snead. ]. II. Weaver, DR.. ID. b.
Ruckner. p. B. Keith. and John T,
Saunders, secretary.