Civil War Reminiscence
by Jessee G. Jones
Chapter 11 (written 1911-12, Knoxville, Texas)
He said to me "I want you to keep close in this room, don't come down about the store or out side of this yard, and patiently wait until I find an opportunity to go. This is critical work and must be managed exactly right or it will result bad to both of us. It may be one day and again one or two weeks." He dashed off down to the store and left me alone in my room with an abundant supply of books and papers. I comprehended the situation exactly and determined not to worry the Doctor with any questions. He came regular to his meals, always had a cheerful greeting for me but not a word otherewise. Two weeks had passed when he ate his dinner as usual and went back to the store, in ten or fifteen minutes he returned in great haste, “Your opportunity is at hand. In less that ten minutes a two-horse wagon will pass the gate, the horse next to the house is a baldfaced sorrel the other a dark brown, be ready when it comes, you must not speak to the man or stop him to get on, crawl up on the spring seat by the side of him. "Here Doctor Childers I want to pay you." "I don't want to hear any more of that, do as I tell you." And away he went to the store. The Doctor's good wife bade me good bye and with her I left a message of thanks for the Doctor.The wagon arrived I climbed upon the spring seat, the man who was driving did not even look toward me but kept his eyes straight forward. The Bugle and the drum with other army rackets nor the crowded street had any effect on our adamantine look. We werer about to cross a picket line when the guard stormed out the familiar words, "Halt, have you passes gentelmen?" I felt a tremor shake me from circumference to center for I was totally in the dark. My associate, in an unconcerned manner fumbled in his pockets and produced a strip of paper and handed it to the guard after careful examination the guard passed it back to him and said pass on gentlemen. We passed two other picket lines in the same manner and with the same results still we had not looked at each other or spoke a word.
After we had traveled 4 or 5 miles and was through all picket lines we met a scouting party they too called for our passes, after a careful examination they gave them back with the old familiar words, pass on gentlemen. We were then where it supposed we would not be bothered in showing passes. I was much relieved of anxiety if I was in the dark. So far everything had gone favorable and what need had I to know more.
My partner turned and looked at me and laughed.
"Oh! Reuben, Reuben how I am surprised a this strange meeting. Four weeks ago 100 miles North of here we parted company, with little or no expectation of ever seeing one another again, and here are still sailing around on Terra Firma with our life preservers on amidst our enemies and with authority to go where we please.
I do not comprehend how you have managed to be so clever, it seems that you have blended business with escape."
"I have had to resort to all sorts of intrigue for safety," said Reuben, "remember my instructor was an expert to whom I am indebted for success."
"What about the wagon and team?"
"They were community property at our old homestead or head-quarters."
"Have you been back there Reuben?"
"Certainly, to know whether you did escape or not, fragments of the disbanded crew were quickly consolidated by Reckless Jack for your release and those Yankee guards will never know how near death's door they stood.
The news of your successful escape spread from friend to friend as well as from foe to foe, the former rejoiceing in exultation, the other dismayed with chagrin over results. With much haste I withdrew from this frenzied mob, with the outfit you see, to beat my way South peddling on chickens eggs and butter, visiting all at the Yankee camps, who seemed to sympathize with me as I was a cripple in my legs and walked with a crutch."
"I see Reuben traffic was good, for you have even traded your old red head for a black one.
Ah! indeed Reuben I see there are more ways to kill a cat than by choking it to death on butter. I am so thankful that our hardships have not been altogather in vain, we have much to regret but more to be thankful for. This four month’s effort to free ourselves from Fort Donalson is about accomplished; the end is almost in sight.” We were on the South line of Tennessee and Alabama and Mississippi is just before us. Our friends and loved ones there stood ready with open arms to greet us.
Fifteen miles West of Laurenceburgh Tennesse was the most painful ordeal of all, we had to part, Reuben going to North Miss. and I to North Ala. Let the curtain drop, my last view of Reuben Tucker of Guntown Miss. was a thing of the past. I stood erect and as rigid as an Egyptian statue, confused and unable to see my way clear for a few minutes.
I knew that both armies scouted the country intervening between me and Rogersvill Ala. my nearest haven of refuge.
I also knew that I was more likely than not to meet up with the dreaded Yankees. After weighing the matter carefully I decided to venture and trust to Gumpy luck. With a spontaneous flow of new courage I entered the home stretch race determined and resolute to win or lose all. I gained the victory and thereby avoided 18 months prisoner life at Camp Douglas Chicago.
After three or four days rest I reentered the Confederate service with the 7th Ala. Cavalry.
I received a bad wound at Murfesboro but was not discharged till the 15th of May 1865 at Donville Ala.
The war closed the country wassss ruined and devastation met the gaze of starved naked and pennyless soldiers.
I sought out new fields in Tex. where the armies had not made its blight and others in like manner helped swell the tremendous influx to Texas.
People rushing here from every quarter of the globe subjected one to incidents strange and peculiar you would never know who you was talking before. Fifteen years after the war I met that prince of good fellows, Dr. Aca Childers, who so kindly befriended me at Clifton Tenn. He kept me hid in his house for two weeks though the town and country was full of Yankees, he was a leading business man and redily got the good will and confidence of either friend or foe. I received papers from him which carried me safely through the Yankee lines anywhere.
Again, there is another incident I wish to make known to my readers, 25 years after the war while I was traveling around over Texas in a two horse wagon one evening chanced to stop and camp a little early, convience being unusually good, it was a lonely place, no house in sight, wood and water were plentiful.
I had just started my fire when a man in a two horse wagon drove up and said that I had an execellent place to camp, and he would like to camp with me if I had no objections.
"All right sir I am thankful to have your company." We soon adjusted matters and arranged our supper together, and in the most chummy manner engaged in laughing and talking as well as eating. When bedtime came he asked if I thought it would rain, adding he was subject to rheumatism and had to avoid getting wet, and had no wagon sheet. "Very well you may bunk with me if you don't mind being a little crowded."
"Many thanks for your proposition as I see you have a good sheet." We were soon wedged togather in my wagon, he said that he was not sleepy a bit, and the way his tongue rattled off incidents of daring was convincing. So much gass soon got old with me, and his most wonderful deeds ceased to provoke more than a groan or a yawn, he said, "look here partner I see you have a stiff arm, what caused it?" "A Yankee bullet at Murfresboro."
"Where did you get crippled so in your hips?"
"Near Fort Donalson, by a bushwhacker. You bet I fixed him." "And did you kill him?"
"I did, and I'm proud of it."
"And arn't you afraid of haunts?"
"No. There is no such thing."
"In the name of all that is good that bushwhacker spirit is hovering around you to-night; it was the self-same spirit you fired on at the corner of the house and the self-same spirit to protect the dying soldier."
Recognition was instentaneous with us both and I would have been first to split the wind had I lost my opportunity for an even star-.
Here I will drop the pen.
Source:
Cheryl's Family Index | email to Cheryl Grubb
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