Year: 1879

Il
, and he played his part lively.


One led while the other drove;


but the donkey varied the exer-
cises by starting off on fast time


or by making a full stop. Al


though the contrariness of their


animal seemed at first to discour-


age the new plan, yet it soon be-
Igan to work like a charm. 1t


was his highest ambition to


strike terror in every quadruped


he saw. So great was his sue


cess in this, that all animals he


encountered would retreat from


him with all the agony a pros


peet of instant death could crowd


into them. When a squad of


Federals came in sight he would


cut extra capers, by which he


not only frightened the horses


but also the horsemen. They in


variably gave them the entire


road, taking pains to gallop "a


round them. Some would halloo


as they passed, 'Where did you


get your jack?" ''Where are you


going with your donkey?" To


which the young men replied


"Taking him over to the other
plantation" If a soldier rode
700 close or began to ask too


many questions the donkey would


make a shoot at his horse with


his organs ofhearing folded back


on his neck roaring all the time


with a volley of brays. The


brothers would set themselves
against him and say, ''Be care
full, gentlemen, don't come too
close for we can't hold him." 1t


was laughable, no doubt, to see
that donkey put twenty-five or
thirty horseman to flight. They
failed to see a single soldier who
wanted him, they always let him
pass. When they happened to
meet him in a lane they were
kind enough to let him pass thro'
before they entered it. Such
was the respect shown to the
young men on account of their
passport. The donkey was use
ful in another way; when they
came to a mud hole or creek they
both mounted him and rode over.
If there was a fence in the vicin-
ity he was sure to hitch their
legs on it; when crossing a creek
he had a peculiar fondness for
lying down in the water with
them, thus affording them the
exquisite pleasure of wading out.


1t was on Saturday night that
they arrived at Mr.. SCOTS, in
Maury county, five or six miles
south Of Columbia. The Scott
and Stewart families were we'll
acquainted and they felt almost
as if they were at a neighbor's.
Mr.. Scott was q member of the
Reformed Presbyterian church,
an elder in Hopewell congrega-
ton, then under the pastoral
care of Rev. John ii. Bryson.
Having declined going to church
for fear of being detected, they
resumed their journey, passing
Hopewell church just as the wor-
shippers began to assemble. In
passing through a lane near by
they met a number of men and
women on horseback going to
church. The donkey was no re-
spector of persons or days, he
began in his usual way and it
was with considerable difficulty
that they confined him in fence
corner until they passed. That
evening they led and drove their
musical instrument through
Lewisburg, Marshall county, as
the bells were tolling for vesper
service. Two hours later they
were received gladly but unex-
pectedly by their uncle, James
Z. Neil, ESD, who lives five
niles southeast of Lewisburg.
There they found their brother
Henry, who was with them at
Bowling Green, but severe i'll
ness caused him to be sent to the
hospital at Nashville. A num-
Der of Nashville ladies succeed
ID in getting him TO a private
house, after which he was sent
lome, where he remained up to
his time.


They were eager to get home;
10 eager that they were on the
'oad early next morning. They
lad exchanged their passport
or two spirited saddle horses,
md were making good time.
Being acquainted with the eoun-
-ry, they selected by-roads to a.
1oid disturbance. When they
,ame within few miles Of home,
Henry went another way in or
Ter that those who knew them
night not suspicion who they
we're, and that they might more
completely surprise their friends
# home. Gas we ran our hor-