While in Middle Tennessee I met with my old time friend and neighbor, J. N. Galbraith, who had been released from a northern prison, having suffered much and lost the use of one eye. I had sufficiently recovered from the wound to travel with the aid of a stick. We decided to try our luck in crossing the Tennessee river and trying to see home-folks again. We succeeded in evading the federals, arriving at home and spent a brief time very happily. In a couple of days it was discovered that we were at home and reported to the authorities who gave us a hot chase and came near capturing both of us. On arriving at the Tennessee river on our return to protection, we found no means of crossing, but we turned into a deep gulch covered with a thick underbrush and tied our horses, disrobing ourselves of clothing except a couple of undergarments, and procuring a couple of logs, making them fast together with grape vines, we pushed into the river and used our best exertions to make the opposite shore before some federal gunboat should overhaul our frail craft and take us to prison. 'All went well until we came half across the river; the grape vines came untied; the logs rolled apart and we were into the river. Both of us being good swimmers we went on pretty well. On nearing the bank I asked my friend how he was doing; he answered pretty well, only one leg was cramped and sticking straight down. However, we went ashore, rested a little, held a council of war and decided to move on to a farm house which we did. Placing ourselves behind a fence with our heads just over the top rail, we called. A lady came to the call. Making known to her our situation she soon found us friends. With a skiff we soon succeeded in crossing our horses and getting on the remainder of our clothing which we very much needed. That night we spent under the friendly boughs of a spreading oak.

On my return to West Tennessee for the purpose of raising a company of volunteers, we had many difficulties. We had no arms except occasionally a flint-lock shotgun that we could pick up. We went along, enrolled whom we could and let them remain at home. This enrollment was secretly carried on until such a time as we could get men enough to organize a company, which we finally succeeded in doing. Our company when organized consisted of about sixty men. So on a summer day of 1863, at a good spring in a deep hollow, on the farm of J. T. Maness, the organization was perfected. I was elected Captain of this company also, M.L. Cherry, first lieutenant, William Record and Robert Long, second lieutenants. We had now men enough to start South but no arms or ammunition. We however concluded to try a raid down towards Adamsville, where we were sure there were federal soldiers of the “home- made sort,” as we termed them. (That is persons who, living in this country, had joined the federal army.) Capt. James Stinnett, who had a small company, and I, with what armed men I had, went down and sure enough we came on a good sized company of them. A fight immediately occurred in which we were successful by putting them to flight, capturing a few of them and getting one of our men wounded. Getting a few guns we returned somewhat encouraged, bivouaced in the woods a few days and concluded to raid a portion of the country known as Hooker's Bend, where was congregated a lot of thieves claiming to be, and were, federal soldiers, who would make frequent incursions into our part of the country and carry off whatever they could get their hands on. Here we found a formidable company, but who seemed not disposed to fight much. So after maneuvering most all day, three of our boys being hungry rode up to a house, asked to get some bread and were closed in upon and captured by the federals and carried to their camps for the night. Following closely after them we remained until daylight and made a rush for them. One of the prisoners, a Mr. Benson, just as day began to break seeing the guard turn his head away, gave him a blow with his fist, that sent the fellow whirling to the ground and made his escape. Meeting him he told us where they had camped; so we charged upon them and as usual they fled. We recaptured our soldiers, picked up several horses and a few guns, captured a few prisoners and ran the crowd into the bottom, returning again to our places of hiding, not knowing what hour a heavy column of federals might come upon us.

During these days, Col. Faulkner of a Kentucky batallion of Confederates passed through the country whose advance guard were dressed in federal uniform in order to protect themselves and evade the federal columns, should they meet them. Calling at the house of a unionist they inquired of him if there were any rebels in the country; he said there were and proceeded to give names, writing them down for the officers, noting as he wrote what should be done to this one and to that one. When he came to the name of my father, he said burn him out, that he had a son in there who was a bad guerrilla, referring to me. When he had finished his memorandum, the officer told him to get over the fence and move along that these were Confederates he was talking to. The mortification and downright fear depicted in his face was awful to behold. They put him under guard, foraged on him taking bacon, hams, chickens, etc., and he furnished a bountiful supply. During the night the officer sent for me and, when I arrived, had the man brought into my presence and rehearsed in my presence what the old sinner desired done with his southern neighbors. I saw that those men intended to kill him; they told him they would. Having known the old rascal for years, I begged for his life and offered to go security for his good behavior during the war. He promised to leave the country and not to meddle again in such manner, which he did and kept his word faithfully with me. And after peace was made he made a warm personal friend of mine. At his death I was one of the pall- bearers and helped to place his remains in their last resting place. Peace to his ashes!

Our desire now was to get out through the federal lines to Mississippi, where we could get arms. There being six other pieces of companies in the country, we got together and organized by electing D. T. Spain, Colonel; James Franklin, Major, and had altogether, perhaps, three hundred men, mostly unarmed and in constant danger of being captured, frequently having to disband and seek safest in the woods. At this time General N. B. Forrest forced his way through the federal lines and came to Jackson, Tenn. We immediately reported for duty to General Forrest and went South into Northern Mississippi. A great many men of our number had once belonged to the Southern army who, at the time of the evacuation of Corinth, Miss., after the battle of Shiloh, were at home and who remained there until this time. Here a new trouble arose; a report was circulated to the effect that these men would be returned to their old commands in infantry service and their horses used to mount new men. This caused a regular stampede; men left in dozens until within a short time there were only 150 men present out of the 300 taken out; this necessitated a reorganization. I was absent at the time, but the whole batallion was thrown into one company and I retained as captain of it. I was surprised on my return and of course felt grateful for the honor. We were then attached to a regiment, 21st Tenn. Cavalry, under Col. A. ST. Wilson who by the way was a brave and chivalrous man. Our first introduction to the federals now was a skirmish in the night-time which was pretty exciting, but no damage either way. A couple of days later we met a federal force at Okolona, Miss., who fought us hard but we whipped them and drove them into Memphis, capturing and killing many of them and getting arms and ammunition of war enough to arm our command; also a lot of blankets which we very much needed; many of us not having even one blanket nor an overcoat. Returning to Okolona we rested a few days. The winter being very severe it was with difficulty that we kept from frost-bites which some did not. Getting the command in as good shape as possible, we moved to Jackson, Tenn., capturing Trenton, Tenn., and other places, fighting at Johnsonville on the Tennessee river, Paducah and Fort Pillow on the Mississippi river, which was a garrison of negro troops commanded by white men. After much parleying and urging a surrender to us they refused; we stormed the works and when the fight was over and the smoke cleared, there was not many of them left. We carried off the artillery and what prisoners we had taken. Just here I will state that, while the flag of truce was up, Captain James Stinnett and I with some picked men crawled up close under the guns to be ready in case they refused to surrender, to prevent them from discharging their cannon into our ranks which we successfully did. The little town was then by some mishap or other burned. This being in April, 1864, we had not tents or other shelter. During all these winters when it rained we protected ourselves as best we could with oilcloths captured from the federals; our head we pillowed on our saddles when we had time for a nap; our rations were poor; musty corn meal, and bacon and beef when we could get it. Of this we did not complain. It was the best the Confederacy could do for us. Our currency was so much depreciated as to be almost worthless. To give an idea of its purchasing power, I owned a good horse which would, in ordinary times, be worth a hundred dollars, which horse was valued into the service at eighteen hundred dollars. Tobacco was worth five dollars for a single plug and, if fine, about twenty dollars; a large watermelon would bring from five to ten dollars. I saw sixty dollars paid for one quart of whiskey. Of this currency we did not have very much; we were not paid regularly. I remember that at the time of the surrender the government owed me about twenty-seven hundred dollars. The wages paid an officer of my rank was one hundred and thirty dollars per month; hence you will observe that I had not been paid in quite a while. Of this we made no complaint, as one was about as well off without it as with it. The success of the cause was our leading thought and, for the accomplishment of this end, we were willing to undergo anything that might befall us.

Returning from this digression to the thread of my theme, we left Fort Pillow, denuded of me and guns, and West Tennessee with not a federal command in it outside of the city of Memphis. Turning again Southward we crossed the Tennessee river at Florence, Ala., crossing the men in skiffs and on flat boats, and swimming the horses; no wagons except those for carrying ammunition and a few ambulances were allowed. Encountering the federals on the east bank of the river, driving on toward Nashville, we hurried them along, stopping at Pulaski, Tenn., taking a few block-houses. This being now well up into the month of May. We passed on to Athens, Tenn., where we forced a surrender of about 2,500 men who were well fortified. General Forrest did this bold strategy very much to our delight; to storm a breastwork across a broad deep ditch and it protected with an abattis made secure with telegraph wire, was no light job. But they knew we had stormed the works at Fort Pillow a few weeks before and had confidence in us to believe that we would do the sanae for them. Passing on we came to a negro corral where were quarters of a large number of negroes and horses belonging to the federal government; all were protected by a block-house and federal garrison. This we captured - horses, negroes and all, but they were retaken that same evening by the federals, over which we had a skirmish; there being only a few men left as a guard they were not able to cope with the federal forces. Passing on from here we were ordered back west of the Tennessee river to meet a raid of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, commanded by Major-General Sturgess of the federal army. The brigade, Bell's, to which we were attached marched seventy-five miles during the day and night before we encountered them. Striking them at Brice's Cross Roads, Miss., on June 10th, 1861, tired, hungry, and sleepy as we were, we dismounted and made immediate preparations for the assault. Our enemies outnumbering us almost, if not quite, three to one, we knew we had hard work to do. When our brigade arrived, General Forrest met us and had something to say to each man as he passed along the line - some word of encouragement. We could all see with what intense feeling and anxiety he regarded the issue. This made the men more determined. We moved to the assault through a deep underbrush in which the enemy was concealed. The onslaught was terrific and repelled with equal vigor; for hours it seemed as though we were on a scale which rose and fell with about equal regularity as each side charged and countercharged, until finally we broke the center of the federal line and, doubling it back, put them to riot. We followed them until midnight and for nearly two days afterward, killing and wounding many of them, taking many prisoners. In this engagement many of our best men were lost, many killed and many more wounded. After this and our return, we went into camp for a much needed rest for both men and horses, which lasted only about two weeks, until another raid was started out from Memphis under the command of General A. J. Smith of the federal army, a brave and skilful officer, with a more powerful army than that brought out by Gen. Sturgess. About July 10th, 1864, we met at Harrisburg, Miss., and in a charge on the evening before the main battle, our brigade was considerably damaged and forced to retire; many of our men shed tears, this being the first repulse we had met with. During the night the Federals fortified a strong position and on the morning we assaulted them and after two hours were compelled to withdraw from the field and accomplish by strategy what we could not do by main force. Our company on that morning consisted of sixty-two men leaving out the horse holders which were every fourth man. (Remember we fought on foot) and when the fight as over thirty-two were either killed or wounded. A sad day indeed for us, but we had to fight whatever we came to. To drive General Forrest out of Mississippi was, it seemed, the determination of the federal government and not to be driven much we were equally determined. On the next day we, by a flank movement, brought them out of their stronghold and succeeded in driving them from the state after some days of skirmishing. On the third day of this battle the federals, had gotten into a skirt of timber beyond an open field in which were long rows of pens of corn, cotton gins, fencing, etc. All of which they had set on fire. The sun being very hot, the heat and smoke from this burning property was too much for me. I was suddenly overcome by heat and had to be carried from the field. From the effects of which I have never recovered nor never will. On the next day I was able to sit on my horse, but weak and feeble. At this time the Confederacy was waning fast. Of the six hundred thousand men of all arms, who had enlisted into the service of the Confederacy, at least half; or more than half of them had been killed, wounded, died, or discharged on account of sickness, or deserted. I am sorry to say we had some of this latter class. There could not have been, I do not think, more than 250 to 275 thousand left and they were guarding a line of defense extending from the Atlantic to the Indian Territory on the west. Of the two million eight hundred thousand enlisted in the federal army, we could not have, I think, disposed of more than eight hundred thousand of them; pretty good if we had done this much. Now against the two hundred seventy-five thousand Confederates, there was an army of two million men of the federal army to hurl against that thin line of Confederates. But each day we presented as solid front as possible and fought as gallantly and as faithfully as in the earlier days and possibly more so. Another short rest, shoeing horses and getting ready for another raid, we were notified of a force moving out from Memphis again; this time by the way of Pontotoc, Miss., commanded by the same federal, Gen. A. J. Smith, with a still more formidable force than before. This was now August: the weather, distressingly hot; horses and men jaded, but there was no chance for a rest. We moved out in the direction of the invading force and met them near Pontotoc, Miss., began skirmishing with them, prepared for an engagement, but finding the federal force had infantry enough to cover our front and us in single line and as much cavalry as we had we were utterly unable to force them back. As we would engage them in front their cavalry would swing around to our rear and force us to fall back. Thus we went for several days until finally General Forrest resorted to one of his masterly strategic movements. The order was passed through camp for volunteers to go on a heavy detached service and none but good horses allowed to go. So when we were ready, our command was very formidable; neither did we know where we were to go, but the fact was soon developed that we were destined for Memphis. Filing out around the federal army, leaving General Chalmers in command of the forces left in front of the enemy, we went on quietly until we came to Cold Water river, a considerable stream on which we had to lay a pontoon bridge; this we soon did, General Forrest assisting in the work with his own hands. Crossing quietly and night soon coming on, we proceeded on our way and just before day a shot from Captain Bill Forrest's pistol notified us that the federal outpost had been encountered; one guard being killed and the remainder captured. At this signal we made a charge for the city, at the outskirts of which we ran upon a division of federals who had just arrived and gone into camp the previous night. These we run over and through, who in their night-clothes looked like ghosts but to them we paid no attention save to give them a passing shot. each part of our command having been previously assigned to different parts of the city and ordered not to pay any attention to firing either on the right or left. Our part of the command having been ordered to the Gayoso Hotel in which were guarded Gen. Washburn and his staff to effect their capture was our mission. A dense fog overhung the city, making it impossible to distinguish a gray from a blue uniform, which was possibly an advantage to us. On arriving at the hotel we found it strongly guarded and one of the great difficulties now was to find something with which we could batter down the doors. We however succeeded, after some minutes, in getting in but during this time a continual firing was going on upon us from housetops, cellars, etc. Gen. Washburn succeeded in making his way out through some private passage and getting away. However we captured most of his staff officers and also the General's uniform, watch, etc. Not having time for the officers to dress, we had to march them out in their night clothes and barefooted. Of course this was not very elegant, but the weather being warm it did not seem to be injurious to their health. Inside the building there were many hand-to-hand combats, men fighting like demons. This melee lasted, perhaps, an hour and a half. During this time the guards whom we had run over on the outskirts of the town in the early part of the action, had formed in our rear and as they thought effectually closed every avenue of escape for us. This necessitated a charge which we successfully did, fighting pretty hard at times and losing some good men and capturing some prisoners. Darkness still hung over the earth and discerning a line of battle moving into us and being near, Col. Forrest requested me to find out which they were. I rode hastily up to them and asked in a low commanding voice what command. The answer came loudly and distinctly: “Ohio boys.” Said I, “All right, ” turned and galloped away. This just saved us, as there was a command in front of us then. skirmishing with us; so we turned to the right and galloped out, getting out with the prisoners. General Forrest moved out a couple of miles and formed a line of battle. He sent in a flag of truce and also Gen. Washburn's uniform and asked that the clothing of the captured officers and some provisions be sent them; also proposed an exchange of prisoners. To this Gen. Washburn demurred saving that he would capture Forrest and his whole command before night. General Forrest replied that he would return by way of the Hernando road, the way he had come in, which he did; but Washburn considered this bold assertion a mere ruse, concluding that his enemy had designs on the Memphis and Charleston railroad which was in the hands of the federals from Memphis to near Corinth and accordingly put his forces on that road to protect it from the expected raid. So we proceeded as we came on the same road back to Panola, Miss. This raid into Memphis had the effect of again ridding North Mississippi of a federal army. That which we could not do by fighting, we did by bold strategy.

I will stop to relate that during the war many federal soldiers took wives of the negro women where they were quartered; among our prisoners on this raid was a real fat Dutchman who had a negro wife, whom he carried along with him. The weather being very warm; water, scarce; both captors and captured became very thirsty. On coming to a bold running stream of clear water, our Dutchman rushed in and fell down to drink. A mule (on which some of our soldiers were mounted) standing in the water happened to notice the Dutchman lying behind him, raised one foot and kicked him in the head killing him instantly, at which the negro lamented very much but the procession moved on.

Getting to Mississippi again, we were much worn down - men and horses too. We were compelled to have at least a month's rest after getting in for both man and beast. After getting in as good condition as possible and fully satisfying the federals that we were not going to give up our territory, we moved into Middle Tennessee again and, having a long line to guard, we were continually on the march skirmishing and fighting. Again in Tennessee we encountered federals on every side. Moving on to Pulaski we drove in the pickets and captured the garrison; then to Sulphur Trestle where we had a pretty hard fight, destroying the trestling which was a long one; thence around Columbia, Tenn., burning a bridge and destroying railroad track; at another place we captured a considerable fort and several prisoners; at this point an old Dutchman who was a member of the garrison had dug him quite a hole, reaching in under a steep bluff. After the surrender of the garrison, every effort was made to get this fellow out of his hiding place to no effect; said he had no business out “dare.” Being no way to get him except to dig him out, we moved off and had not the time to give to the capture of one man. We next moved in the direction of Lawrenceburg where we had a pretty stiff fight; next in the direction of Franklin, Tenn., where we took part in that memorable battle; after this we were sent to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to assist in the capture of that place. After a hard struggle we failed to capture the works. Here I was severely wounded in the left foot, the ball passing through the instep, from which I have never recovered. I was carried to the field hospital for the purpose of amputating the limb, but after a consultation H was deferred. I was then carried back to Franklin, Tenn., where I remained until Hood's defeat in front of Nashville.

Here I will digress to say that the company was commanded by Lieutenant M.L. Cherry until the army again arrived in Mississippi. Here another reorganization was necessary, made so by the fearful depletion of our ranks. I was again chosen Captain of the company which now took what was left of about three companies to make one. Mr. Frank Bell of Purdy, Tenn., the former adjutant of the regiment, first lieutenant; Mr. W. B. Malone of McNairy county, second lieutenant. I was never with the company again; this being the last of December, 1864, and the surrender occuring in May 1865. I was unable to walk even at the time of the surrender. (Here I want to say that two nobler, braver, officers never lived than Frank Bell and W. B. Malone.)

Leaving Franklin just ahead of the retreating army in a one-horse wagon with one mule to draw it, Mr. James Record, a member of our company, who had been with me all the while nursing me, drove the mule; I lay on my back with the shoe off the well foot and it placed against the front end of the wagon to hold the wounded foot from jolting against the wagon; the weather being very cold and only one blanket each, we moved out, cold of course; my right foot was soon severely frost-bitten; so much so, that the skin and toe-nails all came off together. In crossing one of those rapid running streams in Lawrence county, Tenn., had to keep a certain track for on either side the water was very deep. Crossing one of these streams the water came up over me. Of course I had my head up above the water; but, on nearing the bank and the current being very strong, our wagon swerved downstream (a few feet perhaps) where the water was very deep. Just before reaching the bank, it seemed that the mule would give way entirely and so stood holding with all his might; with all the encouragement that could be given him, he finally male a supreme effort, got to the bank and out of the water, very much to our delight; for as to me I thought a watery grave was my doom. Continuing our journey my clothes froze on me and I was in quite a bad plight. Calling at a farm house late in the evening we were taken in, warmed and fed. We continued our journey the next day with about the same luck as the previous day, except the wetting. Just here I want to state that lieutenant I. J. Galbraith who had a large mule came to us and put it to the wagon in place of ours, which was about worn out. He rode my horse which was being led behind the wagon; the kindness of this gentleman we much appreciated; it enabled us to go on our journey; he also stayed with us until the end. On the fourth day we arrived at Carrollsville, on the Tennessee river. By this time I was very much worn out but had no chance for a much needed rest and the treatment which I so much needed. Behind us thundered the cannon and shouts of a victorious army; in our front yawned the turbid waters of the Tennessee river upon whose bosom and sometimes, in distinct hearing, floated a portion of the United States navy. To cross we were compelled. Casting about we found a man with a dugout just large enough for me to be laid in and for the oarsman to sit on the other end. The frail craft sinking up to within about four inches of the top. We moved on gently, though the river was level with its banks; the low coarse whistle of a federal gunboat being uncomfortably near; we crossed all right and friends carried me up the bank and to Mr. Frank Hassell's who lived near the river. At this point before crossing, we had to abandon our wagon; the federals having destroyed every kind of craft on the river to prevent people from crossing, there was nothing left but to swim the stock to the west bank. At Mr. Hassell's we were kindly treated that night. Early the nest morning we saw approaching the residence from the direction of the river, a body of men some of whom were wearing blue overcoats. A heavy fog hung over the land as a pall of darkness, making it impossible to distinguish friends from foes. The men who had been with me the evening before and night, feeling themselves unable to cope with the (as we thought) advancing foe, retired. I arose from the bed and holding to a chair managed to get to the gallery in front of the house, and laying my wounded foot on the railing and clasping my left arm around a post, all this time clad in my night-clothes I was watching the approach of the body of men. I thought that death or a prison awaited me and not knowing which, but, if any difference, preferring the former, either of which was most appalling. I had noticed moving about the house, during my stay there over night and that morning, a rather beautiful young lady of medium height, delicate build, dark brown eyes, long flowing tresses of silken black hair, but had not once thought of the real deep, fiery southern blood that coursed her delicate veins until she came suddenly up to where I was holding to the post. She handed me my pistols which had been left in the room and said to me, “Sir, those are federals. Sell your life as dearly as possible. They will burn this house and premises, but that is all right. Kill as many Of them as possible.” Saying this she moved inside the door to await results. Being determined never to go to a federal prison and being much encouraged by the words of the young lady, I stood as erect as possible for one in my condition and determined to fire on them with deadly aim. as soon as they came to the fence, which was within about ten feet of where I was standing. When they arrived at the fence to my great surprise and gratification, they were Confederates, many of whom I knew. We had a good handshake all around and were happy. They remarked that from the color of my dress they would have supposed I was for peace.

The name of this young lady I do not now remember, but learned that she is in Paducah, Ky., engaged in the millinery business, doing well and loved and respected. God grant her a long and happy life and an eternity of bliss.

Collecting our little band, taking leave of this kind and hospitable family, Mr. Hassell lending a buggy to assist in getting me home, we started on our journey again, the distance to Center Point, the home of my father, being about thirty miles. Putting my wounded foot upon the seat of the buggy by the side of the driver and laying my head and shoulders in the foot of the buggy, a peculiar position for a buggy ride, but it was the best and only way I could go. This position and the condition in which my foot had gotten by this time, made the travel very painful to me. I surely thought that I would not survive the day; a rough and rocky road added to my tortures. Arriving at my father's house about dark, I was carried in, given some nourishment and placed on a feather bed, a luxury I had not enjoyed for quite a while. The wound being very painful, I slept but little, but the fact of being at home, gave me much cheer. The wound grew worse all the while, so much so, that fears were entertained of lockjaw. I remained at father's one week only. When it was known among the Unionists that I was at home wounded, that part of the country being largely on the side of the federal authorities, it was dangerous to be seen in many places. I was doomed, so the enemy thought, to capture and possibly death. Suspecting their intentions, a good Southern lady took a piece of cloth, made with her own hands, and went out among the loyal citizens, as they termed themselves; the cloth was suitable for men's wear and offered it for sale; stopping at every house and chatting along with the Union ladies, she soon found the plans they had laid for my capture or death; of course the cloth was not sold nor was it intended to be; it only furnished an excuse for the calls, but I was fully notified of the fact that I was to be dispatched. A brother who was at home had an os wagon backed up to the door of the room and I was duly placed in it and driven, jolting along a distance of four miles, to the home of an aunt of mine who cared for me, giving me all the attention possible. This was Aunt Nancy A. Carroll, whose small baby girl would bring such things to me as she thought I would like to eat and also slip them to me. The physician allowed me only a certain amount which we did not think enough. Here I improved some. In about one week, however, I was again informed that it would be dangerous for me to remain longer. It seemed as if the loyal unionists thirsted for my little remaining blood. So I again sought the ox wagon and this time went to Mr. Jessie Rhodes', a good Southern man and very kind, whose wife was equally kind. Here I was laid behind the door in a room where no one saw me except they came into the room, which they seldom did.

I remained here until the 17th day of the following April. On that day I crawled out into the yard and saw for the first time in four months the beauties of nature. The leaves were green, as were every living thing; wheat, up pretty tall, lambs, frisking about; farmers, at work; all nature wore a smile. I remember that I had only seen through the crack of the door so safely was I hidden. This effort of crawling out, though, damaged me and it was three weeks before I could be out again. But during this last confinement, though I improved rapidly and was able to read, which helped me to while away the time, the wound recuperating all the time. Again getting out I thought by laying my wounded foot on the horse's neck I could ride to father's, a distance of about seven miles, which I did get ting along pretty well.

Arriving home, my sisters put my horse away. Stepmother and all the family came out and seated. We were engaged in a good old-fashioned family circle conversation, for neither thay nor I expected, when I was taken away from t here the previous winter, that I would ever be home again. In the midst of this pleasant reunion what should I see but a company of bluecoats, about forty in number, near the house and approaching rapidly. Escape was impossible even if I had been well; a bold front was my only chance and that a very poor one. I thought, when I learned that it was a troop of the famous 6th Tenn. Cavalry, U.S.A., Col. Hurst's, noted for their chivalry in killing prisoners, robbing houses, wardrobes, etc., a terror in fact t o old men, helpless women and innocent children who happened to be a Southern turn of mind. I took up my crutches, hopped out to the gate, put my crippled foot on the fence, addressed them as gentlemen, invited them to alight which they declined to do. Ju st here the strategy on my part began. My belief has ever been that they intended to kill me as their custom usually was on such occasions. Inquiring my name and rank, and being told, they began to question me upon a great many things, my wounds, my horse , and many other things; I answered to the best advantage. Finally of them, a large stout man wearing a pair of green spectacles, rode up near where I was standing with a pistol in hand. I believed my time had come. Just at his moment one of the crowd spo ke up and said: “That man is telling the truth,” referring to me. After a consultation with each other they turned to me and said they wanted my horse. To this I replied I had no horse, having lost him when I was wounded; my horse that moment was in the stable. They then proposed to take me to prison. To this I, of course, consented, telling them as I had nothing and could not ride they would have to haul me. They then inquired the way to several different homes of Southern families which I proceeded to give them, though in a very circuitous route, telling them as I could not get away I would be there on their return to which they assented and rode away. One may imagine, but not realize, how supremely happy I was at this. My great fears were that they would look about the barn and see that my statements were false but they did not. I watched the receding column with breathless anxiety, as it slowly passed out of sight. Then my sister, in meek silence, led my horse, briddled and saddled, to the door and assisted me to mount, my crutches on one arm my wounded foot hanging straight down. Turning my horse towards the gate he leaped the fence; I felt that I was again for a time at least a free man. Going in the direction of a friend's house for whom they had inquired and knowing that, to get there first, I must go through the woods and ride rapidly, I pushed on and succeeded in warning the people to put their stock and themselves out of the way. This accomplished, I started in the direction of home and on going by to warn another Southern family of the raid that was upon them, I rode into this same crowd plundering the house of a Southern man; their horses tied along the yard fence; coming on to them in the manner in which I did it was almost impossible to go back. So I rode along by the fence, the men in the house looking at me but for some cause they hesitated and did not fire upon me. Trusting to my good horse, Texas, dangerous as it was I passed them; my beautiful gray horse whose action was good and of whose speed I had no doubt, I gave the word to go and he went by in such speed that in a moment of time I had passed and turned down the hill out of their sight and out of range of their shots. I continued my ride deep into the bottom. The wound in my foot by this time bled quite freely and it was considerably swollen by swinging down so long. When I was fully safe, I dismounted and remained two days before I was again able to move.