The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1919-11-27
GHOST AT POST !.
Two Connon-Sense Soldiers
Tackled 1t With Aston
ishing Results.

Vi LIE HaLlOual AElUuHes puUilcheu
in Washington. D. c., April Is,
1897, containing the following won
derful Ghost Story" which he de-
sired us to publish, Mr.. Powell
was a member of the command
then stationed at Eastport and
assisted in burying the remains oil
the unknown rebel soldier" AS
the incident occurred in our county,
near Iuka, it will doubtless be read
with more interest than ghost stories
usual are.J
Editor National Tribune: Our
division was stationed at Eastport,
Miss, in February, 1865. The pick
et-line extended from the bluff on
the Tennessee River to, westward oil
the town, to the Bluff on Bear Creek.
South. Post l was on the Tennes-
see, where pudding stone projected
over the bluff. the upper surface Of
which was a nice dry place for the
guard to sit or stand. About 80
steps south of this stone was a
white oak, standing almost in the
beat of the sentinel, the ground de-
scending abruptly from the tree to
ravine on the south. A person
standing or sitting on the rock, un-
less it was a verv dark or rainy
night, could see any object that
might pass on the ridge between
him and the tree.
1t is nothing uncommon when a
command is first encamped in a
strange region for there to be more
or less firing for the first few nights,
for the reason that everything is
strange, and strange objects deceive
the eyes of the guards.
The first fine night after we were
encamped at Eastport quite a num-
Der of shots were fired but finally
firing ceased along the line, except
at Post No. /, where a supposed
bushwhacker drew the fire of the
sentinels.
John Ward, of Co. + of our regi-
ment (the 9th Ill., was No. / OF
the third relief, and on duty from
| to 3 O'Clock of the morning of
Feb. 26. The bushwhacker appear
ed about 2 o'clock. Our Colonel
and Maj. Gen. Edward Hatch and
Brig Gen. Datus 4. Coon came
across the parade ground next morn
ing inquiring for Ward. The Colo
mel said: John, the Generals have
come to learn what you saw last
night at Post No. l."
Gen. Hatch said: Yes, John,
there seems to be some mystery
about that locality, and we want
yon to tell us what your experience
was last night"
Johns story excited the greatest
interest. He had seen the supposed
bushwhacker and fired once point
blank at him at short range to no
effect, John was crack shot.
Why did you not continue firing
at him ?" asked Gen. Hatch. Said
John; i would not have fired an
other shot at him for the world.
He can neither feel, see. nor hear"
Robert Bradley, of Co. C, 9th III.
Cav, was sent for at the Colonel's
lquarters. In a short time a ser.
geant took Henry Aldridge, Co. e,
to one side and said: The Colo
mel wants YOU" When he went to
Headquarters the Colonel said 10
him:
Gen. Hatch has directed Sers't
Bradley to investigate the cause of
the shooting at Post No. /, and that
tSergeant has chosen you to assist
him. Will you do it?
Yes" said Aldridge, Il will"
Gen. Hatch then handed Bradley
piece of paper and said: Here
is an order to the officer of the da V
directing him to give Post No. l
into your charge and you can go
there during the day and make such
arrangements. as you think best"
That afternoon six men went to
the post and examined everything
in that locality. and concluded to
stand at the foot of the white oak
tree when they went on duty. From
there they could see everything of a
clear moonlight night within 100
yards, except over the, bluff on the.
north