Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1919-09-04
JOHN suRRAr

10 was in March, 1865, when the
writer vas q small boy, who had not
long been allowed 10 handle a gun. II
was misting rain on this a. m, but ]
took my gun and went on the shores of
''Indiantown" 10 look for wild ducks.
| found no ducks, but passing through
n piece of marsh when returning homo
| saw a rcd-winged black bird perched
on the top of a stalk Of grass. ! level
ed nv gun at him and fired. ] do not
recollect whether I killed the bird, bnt
Just under where the bird was, the
grass parted and tall, stalwart man
made his appearance. He was dressed
In the uniform of a Confederate cap
tain. He seemed in every way n true
mani handsome, fine-looking and very
courteous. He seemed not at all I'M
nerved by the close proximity of the
load ] had just fired at the bird. He
addressed me thus: My little man,
do you live near here?'' / replied.
Yes; not very far. Twill
show you where live" He then
said, fare your people Johnny RebsI'
said, Eyes, sir!' Then he replied.
Would you mind going TO my camp.
which Is not far from here, so that
could send some one with you to- get
Us something To eatI We have been
without food for a day and night" II
took some nerve on my part To 20 with
a strange man, but as q boy, i was
very enthusiastic over the Southern
cause, hence I cheerfally went with
him. He led me about a half mile to a
place covered thick with young pines.
You had to almost crawl to get to the
camp. When we reached the camp
there was only one man 10 be seen.
He was stretched out on the ground
with a gun coat for his bed. | would
say he was youth of about 10 or %
years. He was tall and thin and
rather pale He looked as II unused
to his present mode of life. He imme-
diately got up and vas ready TO be
commanded. This young man was
John SuTrat. The captain addressed
him thus: John, have those other
men returnedl" He answered mol"
WELL" said the captain, 81 have
found little man who is going to
show Us where we can get something
To eat and you will have to go with
him. l would go, but would not like
to be caught by the Union soldiers in
the house of private citizen with this
uniform on. IL might be the means of
getting them into trouble. You wear
ing citizens clothes, there would be
no cause fer suspicion. This Is a sure
opportunity of getting something TO
eat, and we cannot afford to let Il go.
Those men We sent out this a. IN. still
have not returned and | must say I
have but little confidence in them for /!
finding food for US"
John very cheerfully started out /
with me tn look for what they so sore !
Is needed. In a short while we reach
I'D my mothers house. When we ar
rived there we're several horses saddled /
and tied at different places. John re-
marked, what does this mean9'
OH" says /. lit is only my Oldest
brother, who went hunting foxes with
some of his friends and they have but J
just returned for breakfast. so you see
We are Just in time" / then took him
in the house, left him In the sitting
room while | went to give my mother
information of my mornings exper-
fence. She was nc breakfast One of
the gentlemen present exclaimed: /
Mrs. H., / would not let that man /
have ANYTHING To eat unless you can
be- assured who he Is, for he may be q
spy. There are numbers of such /
around" My eldest brother left the
table and went TO investigate. He
N0thC0 oDcA0 oA kA1c- neATQ Nun tN- /
claim: why, hello, John. where did /
you spring frong" He had met Mr..
john Surrat at his mothers inn, a |
stopping place for travellers when on |
their way by stage to Washington, ID. /
&. Mr.. j. Surrat ~as at once brought /
out 20 tho dining room TO join the rest /
in eating breakfast. One of my sisters |
at once went out to prepare food to |
send TO the hasf-starved ones left at |
the camp.
After breakfast was over Mr.. J. ]
Surrat, my younger brother and my
self set out for the camp. When we |
arrived the other two men, who had |
been on a similar errand Hunting /
food had returned and stated they |
went to q house (which am sure was |
Indiantognl aad that two large dogs |
attacked and drove them away, conSe-
quently they had returned without /
food. All then Joined in eating the
provisions Mr.. Surrat had procured. /
and when through they carefully col /
lected all. even the scraps. saving.
I'VE luay need these later We two /
boys then took the empty vessels and
returned home. Ia was a great pleas
ure TO my mother and family TO have
this opportunity of extending some 1
hospitality 20 our Southern soldiers.
still they felt greatly relieved when ne !,
returned, without having come in con-
tact with any Union soldiers. Thel
next =. m. my mother had another
lunch prepared and we two boys took
same 10 the camp. We found all of j.