Jessee Jones Chapter 5

"If agreeable all round I think it is best to have a general meeting and have a thorough understanding with one another. We called for one volunteer to arrange the meeting. At nine in the morning at the reserve's headquarters." The meeting was called to order the following declarations of principles were adopted: "To mutually aid each other in the defense of personal liberty and to avoid aggressive warfare, and when the first opportunity presented itself with safety go across into Southern lines and we hereby refute the charge laid at our door of being bushwhackers and stigma was for prejudice, to fire the mind with odium and to render our cause more dispisable with everybody. The troopers now proceeded to elect two men for captains one for each squad of soldiers wits head quarters two miles apart. I was honored with one of the positions, and a man known as Restless Jack the other very few of these men knew one another and all had nick names. When we had any fighting on hand both camps were quickly consolidated. "Fellow comrades that which is of great improtance has not yet received much attention, Guns ammunition a few horses and a supply of food are all necessaries that we must have. We would like to hear from Restless Jack." "We have a surplus of all and can divide up with you boys. Our income may be depended on and will be requisite. We will now separate the camp and disband, "Reuben how are you standing the many ups and downs." "Very well, I guess, as I am stouter than when we started and feel much better" "I am indeed glad to hear it, and hope you will be at yourself in a few days preparation must commence at once to mount those without horses and equip those without guns we must be active in our work and thoroughly posted as to the movements of our enemies. I can find out a great deal of news over near the Fort by risking being caught. I am tempted to run the risk for the benefit to be derived. If no ill luck befalls me I will be gone about one day and two nights. The six Yankees who scooped down on us are not likely to renew their attack very soon, besides it does seem natural to think they would be content and let us alone as long as we behaved and disturbed nobody. Such however is not seriously expected and we must be prepared to meet any immergency. We must have a better souce of obtaining information than we now have and complete the many deatails incident to the battle field. I will have to make my trip on foot on account of the River to cross and recross. No Reuben I can do better alone and be safer in many ways. I want you boys to feel easy and be contented, this work must be done and I will do my best." That evening at twilight we were in a few steps of our friends house who had befriended us before. Our greetings congenial and sympathetic. As he had not seen nor heard of me he had supposed the fight in the thicket with the six Yankees had something to do in the change of affairs. In the briefest time possible I spun off to him a full account of the troubles of that day, in like manner he told all he knew about the Yankees movements he said they were determined to capture me and would put such a force in the field that no half dozen men could resist, he cautioned me to be on the lookout and asked me if there were favors wanted that night. I told him that I really needed a friend at the river as I was bound to cross it somewhere between ferries as the Yankees had controll of them. He said that it might be possible for him to aid me in crossing about midnight. As he had a brother living on its bank who owned a private skiff and was a Confederate to the core. Under the shadows of night we found my friend’s brother and was speedily set across and was promised a recrossing the next night at the same hour my prime motive for this trip was to make my final visit to see the Yankee Colonel before I undertook my chances through the Yankee lines and home gards on my way South. At the break of day I had gone through a diligent search for any evidence of any one else being there except the Col. and my conclusions were that the cost was clear. The good wife of the house was making her kitchen fire roar preparing her morning’s meal when I appeared and kindly asked her if the Col. was at home and all others were absent. She replied he was, but yet in bed and no others were around as she knew. The Col hearing voices stormed out who is that and recieved the answer, "It is me," "Who is me?" "Y. Y. General Gumpy." I heard his feet strike the floor at once, "the bigest rascal and scoundrel that God ever let live present company you know is allways accepted Col" "What kind of news do you have now that you are here so early this morning." "I have a variety which is adapted to most any occasion. Your Judgment on them is what I seek and is why I am here so earley." As we sat at the table I remarked that I had in time passed eaten many good meals with them but some how I felt this was my last. I had plans formed and wanted the Col. to know them and receive this unbiased Judgement on them. I then bid the family goodbye and took the Col. out a short distance where in safety to us both we could talk.

Jones, Jesse. "Civil War Reminiscence", The Southwestern Journal of Knoxville Co., Texas 1911-1912. transcribed by Marlene Grubb as was printed (including typos)
microfilm record in the Archives of the University of Texas, Austin, TX