Year: 1863

other goods were conveyed to the enemy.


went over with twenty-five men and routeo
I two hundred and fifty. | divided my mer
and had them approach from different drec
| tions. made them all officers and up we


went, every man of Us shouting out orders as
though each lad regiment at his back
[ The rebels were frightened. They ran in all
directions, but we killed several of them One
of my men was badly wounded, and | was


wounded also. | tackled one fellow with q
sabre. He fought savagely, but killed him
after he had given me thrust over the eye
that might have finished me. We took sew
eDteen prisoners Of course we could not,
with our small force, hold the town, so we set
fire to the rebel stores and destroyed them.
was captured back of Padurah-Lieuten-
ant Robb aud | and were placed under
guard, all night. There were thirteen guards
men in all but ten of them went to party,
and got drunk. The others got some whiskey
too Robb and | concluded to rebel. We
managed to seize their reyovers. Robb tap
ped one, that came at US first, over the head
and stunned him, and before the others could
come to bis assistance we shot them. Then
we made of. We went by Fort Donelson,
clear across the country, and told Zollicoffer
that were spies and had dispatches for Brecki
inridge. We had forged dispatches for the
purpose, and thus passed. AS we had just
come from the rebels, we knew enough to de.
ceVe the old fellow, who treated US with
great kindness, gave Us passes through his
Lines, and good horses, and in four hours we
were inside our lines.


Il Platt City | made a speech to the reb
rebels in favor of JEFF. Davis, which was very
successful but in the afternoon a man in
town recognized me, and had me seized. They
put me under guard in house ), but the
same night got out got on horse which fell
in ny way, aud rode out till ran in the dark
against the two rebel videttes They STOP
ped me | explained to them that | was hur-
r,jng on to bring up some recruits who were
wanted bat the men were obstinate, and
would not let me 60 without a pass. So /
proposed to go with him to headquarters, and
would get him my pass He consented We
walked oar horses in along the road. My
case was desperate if they caught me they
would hang me talked to the man in the
dark till we were some distance in, then sud-
denly pulled out my knife and with one stab
sew him | waited awhile, then road hack
to where the other vidette remained and hand
ed him 8 piece of an old letter, sayine "there's
The PISS. He must 60 to the smou ring
fre in the wood near by to examine it, and as
he dirso knocked him over, and rode off.


! rode into jeff Thonpsou's camp half
naked, as q crazy man, shouting and whoop
ing SO that the whole camp was aroused. No
better way to get in occurred to me just then
Gen. Thompson is much of a gentleman. He
caused a surgeon to examine me, who reported
that | had lost my senses from blow on the
temple, the mark Of which was still fresh. He
said | was quite harmless, and the General
proposed to send me into the Yankee lines
because they could take care of a poor fellow
better then be. | lay down under wagon,
near the Generals tent, when it came dark,
and listened to hear what | could hear
About midnight messenger rode 10, on
fine horse, and tied it near me. When he got
into the tent, and no one was locking, gol
on the horse, and having the best road in
mind, rode out as fast as | could drive, the
pickets firing at me, but without effect and
got safely to make my report.


/ went into Fort Henry two days before
the attack on it, and brought General Grant
an accurate account of the position and nun
Der of the forces and defence. Also, | went
into Fort Donelson, while our troops lay at
Fort Henry. | went there in Confederate un-
form, and have General Netherlands let
ter to show that brought him information
which proved to be accurate. On my way
out cavalry force passed me, while | lay by
the roadside and its commander told one of
his men to leave behind fine flag which he
feared would be torn on the way. That flag
was struck into the road, that returning reb-
ell might carry it in. But | got it, wrapped it
around my body, aud rode into Fort Henry
with it.