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IO
TH® ©UrsnsrY SOUTT'ET.
THE gray and the blue
TO SOUTHER If MESf If OMK*
To the generation of people who
have sprung to maturity in the South
3ince the war, we put this question :
Are you indifferent toward, or forget
ful of,the Confederate soldier? Search
took hearts and answer: The mis
sion of this page is to emphasize the im
portance of keeping alive in the South
ern breast the emotions of sympathy
and gratitude due to the ‘‘Veterans of
the Sou;h.’ ; Is there a true Southern
man, woman, or child, who will not
zealously aid thi3 cause by increasing
the circulation of The Sunny Sout^?
Tois page is designed in addition, as a
lepoftitory of detached historical inci
dents of the war between the States,
ir is a standing, and one of the most
O ghly valued departments of The
Hunky South. Historians cannot
apart* space or time to record the min-
uri* of marches, battles and sieges.
They must be gathered and preserved
«r» a fragmentary manner by the scat
tered survivors of the strife, or be iost
to posterity forever. Therefore to all
men and women who from experience.: ^
or recital of veterans, know of inter
esting happenings of the war,a cordial
invitation—yea more—an earnest so
licitation is extended to contribute tc
The Gray and Tbs Blue, Ex-Federai
veterans are included within the pur
view of this paragraph, and good short
poems are desirable as well as prose
sketches. Ed, Bunny South,
Readers of this page will be much
gratified^ we know, to learn that S. Q.
Hale, of TU'kegee, Ala., the author of
“Old Jude,” has promised to send us
his picture for publication.
Many Thanks.
Many thanks to the veterans for
their appreciateve letters. Let them
be assured that their praises and God
speeds are stimulating us to renewed
efforts in their behalf.
A Tragedy of War.
On the New Orleans & Northeastern
Railroad, sixty miles southwast from
Meridian, Miss , is the thriving little
town of Ellisville. It is the trading
point for quite a large scope of farm
ing and timber country, and presents
a strong contrast to the sleepy aspect
of “ Old Ellisville ” thirty years ago,
now a deserted village a mile southeast
of the depot.
Near by flows the limpid Tallahala,
christened by that dusky red race,
whose
“names are on our waters
And we may not wash them out.”
Twelve miles westward on the “dirt
road,” we come to Leaf River—beauti
ful Leaf, sweeping between its white
banks of sand, fringed by the cypress
and the willow. The country border
ing on these two streams during the
civil war afforded hiding places for the
famous “Newt. Knigh„ and his gang”
—deserters from the Confederate army,
who organized themselves into a band
of desperadoes, prepared not only to
resist capture, but to rob, to ravage,
and injure all who supported the war.
We pass no judgment on these men for
refusing to tight for the Confederacy.
They may have had provocation. Some
were from principle opposed tothe war.
Some had been hardly treated by men
who wore the confederate uniform
only to disgrace it. Not till we shall
see as we are seen can we judge our
fellow-man. But tor their later acts—
for gray-haired citizens foully mur
dered, for homes and property de
stroyed and soldiers’ helpless families
oppressed, we find no excuse. These
deeds make a chapter in history for
which we can but blush. Howbeit,
these outlaws claimed to be in the
service of the United States, and have,
since the war, applied for pensions
from the government!
Numerous detachments were sent
from the army to capture Knight and
his followers; but these, especially the
cavalry troops, had little chance
against men hidden in their native
hills, swamps and ravines, with friend
ever on the watch to signal approach
ing danger. In the winter of 1863-’4,
a pare of the Twenty-sixth Mississippi
Regiment, under Lieut. Henson, was
stationed first at Ellisville, afterward
at Williamsburg, twenty-four miles
westward, whence they made ineffect
ual raids upon the deserters’ strong
holds. A fight with the outlaw forces
on Christmas day resulted only in the
wounding and killing of some of Hen
son’s men; and the dawn of a chilly
morning in January found the
soldiers camped in the hills one
mile west of Leaf river. They
spent the day in searching the swamp,
but found no trace of outlaws save a
canoe hidden under the river bank.
In this they crossed to the eastern
side, and late in the afternoon re
crossed in the flat-boat at the ferry.
The road led up a steep bank from
the water’s edge. As the men climbed
up the deep cut between overhanging
trees there came a roar of rifles from
both sides, and the ballets whistled
keenly, wounding several soldiers.
Not a foe could be seen; but, gaining
the level ground, Lieut. H. led his men
on a rapid charge into the woods. But
the outlaws had vanished; and night
fall saw the tired Confederates taking
their wounded back to Williamsburg.
Could the rippling waters have
spoken or the drooping willows have
told a story, the troops might have
heard how in the gray dawn a slender,
j girlish form stood upon the frosty
I bank, and over the river and the woods
i there rang a long, shrill call. A cry
i three times repeated, clear, musical,
i thrilling. Then from the hills on the
eastern shore came the doleful hooting
an owl—“To-hoot! to-hoot! to-
whoo-ah-h !”—three times.
It was Mary Harden’s warning to
her cousin, a fair-haired boy in “Ma
jor” Knight’s band. Mrs. Harden was
known to harbor deserters, and her
house had been searched by the sold
iers. Had they captured her beautiful
daughter their expedition might have
resulted differently. But long before
they reached Williamsburg that night
young Harden stood on the porch of
his aunt’s house with Mary’s white
arms around his neck, while he told
how they “scared the secesh” back to
their post.
Shortly afterward Lieut. Henson’s
company was recalled to the regiment.
On the night after their departure the
outlaws set fire to the village, burning
the courthouse and some other build
ings—also the bridges on the road
leading to town.
But retribution came, swifter than
they dreamed.
One balmy April morning, just at day
light, the thunderbolt fell. Col. Rob
ert Lowery—afterward general, I be
lieve, and since that Governor Lowery
—being detailed to hunt, capture, bang
shoot or otherwise destroy this jawless
band, now nnmbering its hundreds—
came down upon them with his regi
ment, the Sixth Mississippi Infantry,
with the suddenness of a cyclone
Four or five of the leading spirits
were surprised together at the house
of one of their number. Startled from
sleep, they made a dash for the woods
In the face of rifles and blood hounds
They were shot, were torn by the dogs,
run down and caught, bleeding and
bruised.
Near the east bank of Leaf River in
a beautiful grove of oak* stood a little
church. Here these first prisoners
were taken, on that dewy spring morn
ing. One of them was but a youth—
the fair-haired cousin of Mary Harden
He was wounded, but his blue eyes
flashed hate and defiance at his cap-
tors. Under the green oaks they
halted; a short, gloomy conference en
sued between the officers, and brief
prepara' 7ons were made to send the
outlaws to another world.
“If ye want to pray while there’s
wings, while birds sang blithely in the
green boughs far above the dreadful
scene below. Some awful moments
passed, while some of the soldiers
turned away their faces; then the
bodies hung straight and motionless.
“They are dead,” said an officer, feel
ing forlhe heart-beats. “Shall we take
them down?”
“No,” said his superior, “leave them
there and let us go. There are others
to dispose of.”
“What is that?” queried one of the
men, reaching up and touching a jetty
circlet gleaming beneath the rope on
young Harden’s throat. “A necklace,
as I’m alive! He must have been a
dandy fellow!”
Winston looked, and turned shud
dering away. A hundred times he had
seen that necklace shining on the
snowy neck of Mary Harden, his little
sweetheart in the far-off, pure days of
their childhood.
Ere sunset of the following day fif
teen of Knight’s followers had been
hung or shot to death. Many more
were captured or gave themselves up
and were afterward sent to their re
spective commands in the army. Their
leader escaped.
The home of Mrs. Harden was now a
house of mourning. Her son-in-law,
a reckless “lieutenant” in Knight’s
band, was wounded and in hiding
somewhere. His young wife lay sick,
crying for him day and night. And
Mary, the gay and beautiful Mary,
she knelt with her arms over the rude
coffin where lay the young outlaw,
with the necklace still encircling the
swollen throat.
‘He was my darling!” she wailed.
In one more week we were to be mar
ried. O, my poor, murdered love!”
Ah, Mary! on that fatal morning
no fairy braved the darkness to send
across the river the warning cry that
had saved him so often; fur even you
dreamed not of his peril!
The “conquered banner was furled
twelve months later, and Newt Knight
and the men still left with him came
out of their hiding places and “walked
on top,” as they exultingly said. They
taunted the war-worn heroes of the
lost cause as they straggled back to
their impoverished homes, and rejoiced
in the desolation of their native South.
Time has healed many wounds and
reunited many broken ties, but there
are scars that some will bear to the
grave, and there are memories that
will not die till this generation shall
pass away. Traditions like these, sad
and tragic as they are, handed down
to those who come after us, may help
them to know the cost of that conflict
whose participants are passing like the
fast-falling leaves on an autumn day.
(Mrs.) S. A. Chambers.
Perkinston, Miss.
Note.—The main facts in this sketch
are true, and matters of local history.
S. A. C.
Mrs. J. W. R., Leeville,
This.
Term., Read
breath in ye, pray,” said a grim-laced
“Confed” to the doomed men.
Among the faces grouped around
them, the outlaws recognized George
Winston, the son of a neighbor near
by. He and young Harden had played
together in boyhood.
“Pray for us, George,” said one of
the prisoners. George’s father had
been driven from home, and his house
plundered by deserters, two months be
fore. He knelt beside them and com
mended their souls to the mercy of a
Judge who makes no mistakes. They
clasped his hand and said, “good-bye,”
while swiftly the ropes were thrown
over the limbs of an oak; then horses
were led forward, the prisoners
mounted on them and the ropes noosed
around their necks.
“Good-by, old Confederacy!” cried
Harden, standing on the brink of eter
nity. “You 11 soon go up as well as I.
Good-by, you Confederate Secesh! I’ve
fought you and I’ll hate you till death!”
A touch of the whip to the horses, a
plunge forward, and four struggling
bodies swayed in the sunshine.
Around the quiet church, where
Sabbath hymns had floated on the air,
the morning breeze wafted sweet
breaths from dewy blossoms, and bees
and butterflies hurried by on busy
Editor Sunny South:—The piece
written by Mrs. J. W.R. and published
in Sunny South, November 18tb, 1893,
was not noticed by me until a few
minutes ago. My attention was called
to it by one of my daughters.
I have been a laboring farmer all my
life; have always, for the last three
score years, been accustomed to taking
hold of the smutty end of the
chuuk, or doing *he drudgery; I yet
do it. Appreciation, I believe, is the
sweetest morsel I ever tasted. I think
the piece was written in response to a
letter I wrote to you, which was .pub
lished in Sunny South November 1th.
I suppose no man now living received
a worse wound than I did in the war.
Yet I have had no manifestation of
appreciation publicly given except the
piece referred to. 1 have lived a
strictly temperate life, and until the
last few years, made a comfortable liv
ing for myself and family; but I never
held an office under government or
received a dollar of pension money;
but my laboring days are nearly over.
Yours truly,
R. H. McGinty.
Moulton Institute, Texas, Lavaca
county.
Another Old Soldier,
Lauderdale Station, Miss., Dec. 29 ! 93
Editor Sunny South : I seat myseff
as one of your subscribers to drop you
a few lines as an old crippled Confed
erate to tell you how well pleased I am
with our paper. God bless you in
your grand and glorious cause. May
the richest of His blessings rest on
your effort. I think everybody ought
to take our Sunny South.
I followed our last cause from
Corinth, Miss., to Nashville, Tenn.,
and was in the seige of Vicksburg. 1
was captured at Nashville and carried
to Cape Douglass. I saw many thin vs
that makes me shudder now to think
about.
I am now behind with you for my
subscription, but please don’t discon
tinue my paper, for money is scarce
with us. I will send in my subscrip
tion as soon as pos ible. I see in your
last week’s number that owing to i he
scarcity of money any old Confederate
that wants the Sunny South and will
pay you by the 1st of November, 1891, j
you will send him the paper. Capt. j
D. O. McWharters wants you to put
his name on your subscription list and
send him the paper to Lauderdale,
Miss. Hoping you great success, 1
remain, Yours truly,
A. II. Moore.
is often equivalent to
getting ill. If loss of flesh j
can be arrested and dis-!
ease baffled the
spots ” in the
eradicated.
weak
system are
iiijQin
SUlylUfi
an absolute corrective
“ weak spots.” It is a
builder of worn out failing
tissue—nature s food that
stops waste and creates
healthy flesh.
Prppr.rpd by Scott & Bawne. Chemists,
New York. Sold by druggist3 everywhere.’
A Specimen Letter.
The writer of the following is Com
mander of Peter Bramlette Camp, U.
C. V., at Carlisle, Ky.:
Carlisle, Ky., Dec. 30, 13P3.
Editor Sunny South, Atlanta, Ga.—
Dear Sir: I received rhe Christmas
number of The Sunny South, sent to
me, 1 presume, by yourself, and 1 am
very much pleased with it. I was a
member of the First. Kentucky Bri
gade (Breckenridge’s) now known ss
the “Orphan Brigade,” and, with it,
opposed Sherman’s infamous “march
through Georgia,” the most dramatic
and tragical features of which were
the operations in and around Atlanta.
Many of the most interesting, and, I
may say, thrilling experiences of my
soldier life are therefore associated
with that city. I very much desire to
take The Sunny South during the
coming year, and ask you to enter my
name as a subscriber, to begin with
the first number in January. I do not
ask for credit until November next
(per your kind offer), but will send
subscription price soon, being row in
a press financially.
Respectfully,
Thomas Owens.
THE SWISS PRESIDENT.
Once
in This
Beware of Ointments for Catarrh that
Contain Mercury,
as mercury will surely destroy the sense
of smell and completely derange the
whole system when entering it through
the mucous surfaces. Such articles should
never be used except on prescriptions
from reputable physicians, as the damage
they will do is ten fold to the good you
can possibly derive from them. Hall's
Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F. J.
Cheney & Co., Toledo, O., contains no
mercury, and is taken internally, acting
directly upon the blood and mucous sur
faces of the system. In buying Hall's
Catarrh Cure be sure ) ou get the genuine.
It is taken internally, and made in Toledo,
Ohio, by F. J. Cheney & Co. Testimo
nials free.
jSST^Sold by Druggists, price
bottle.
ioc per
a Tramp and a SoIdi«
Country.
John A. Gratwold is a humble farmer
living near Middletown, Ohio. In
a stranger applied at the house of Grat
wold's father for food and lodgin''-. He
gave his name as Frey and said be had
been exiled from Germany for a politi
cal offense.
He was given work and sent with John
to the forests, where for a whole winter
they lived in a hut and chopped wood.
Frey was a jovial, good-natured fellow,
and he and young Gratwold became very
intimate. Frey claimed to belong to a
wealthy Swiss family and to have been
a student in Germany, where his politi
cal affiliations caused his banishment.
In the winter of I860 Frey went to Illi
nois, and the next year enlisted in the
army. His military career was quite
brilliant, and he soon became a Major.
He was captured at Gettysburg and con
fined in Libby Prison, where, after a
few months, he was condemned to death
as a retaliation for the sentence pro
nounced upon Captain Gordon, a Con
federate prisoner, by the Union authori
ties. Capt. W. Y. Stewart, another
Confederate officer, was held as a host
age for the threatened execution of
Frey and the sentence was never carried
out.
Frey was paroled at Aikens Landing,
Ya., in January, 1805. He was broken
down and seemed to be on the verge of
death, and he decided to return to his
native land-to die. lie recovered, how
ever, in the bracing air of Berne, and in
a few' years became prominent in poli
tics. In 1SS2 he was sent to this coun
try as Switzerland’s representative, but
resigned in 1SS7. His success in the po
litical arena then became a matter of
universal comment. He was secretary
of war, and held other offices, and at
the recent election was chosen presi
dent of the little Republic.
For many years the Gratwolds, in
whose hearts he had always held a place,
lost sight of their employe and friend.
He had never forgotten them, however,
and a few days ago John received a let
ter from Mr. Frey, recalling early scenes
and telling of the success that crowned
his now declining years.
FOR DYSPDPeJA,
Indigestion, and Stomach r reorders, use
BROWN’S IRON HITTERS.
AH dealers keep it. Si per bottle. Genuine Si*g
trade-mark &no > Huns .r
A Veteran’s Voice.
Oakville, Shelby Co., Tenn.,
December 26, 1S93.
Editor Sunny South; Dear Sir—I
will avail myself of your generous
and kind proposition to veterans in
your beautiful Christmas number and
pay you the subscription on the 1st of
next November, 1891. My wife has
sent the back dues and told you ro stop
the paper because we had not the
money to send our subscription for the
present year in advance, but it was
done with many regrets, for we have
been regular subscribers from the very
first number that was issued from the
press, and we did not kuow how we
could do without so excellent a paper
as the dear old Sunny South.
I contracted the rheumatism during
the war and am now a constant sufferer
and cannot do much of any kind of
work, but I dearly love to read all
about the good old times. I was iu
the Ninth Mississippi regiment, one
of the first to go to Pensacola, Fla
March 27, 1861. ’
Wishing you every success I remain
yours truly, O. H. Lumpkin.
A new pneumatic tire brought out iu
England, which is desciibed as a really
good thing, has a pad of prepared cot
ton -wool covered with sott cloth, which
is inserted between the cover and air
chamber, rendering it almost impossible
to puncture it even with a sharp awl.
The weight of this pad is 50 ounces, and
the cost is trifling.
Sick Headache ? Beecham’s Pills
will relieve.
Speeches, Essays and Poems Written.
Excursions to California.
On account of the San Francisco Mid-Winter
I air, the Chicago. Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail
way Company will seil excursion tickets to San
Francisco. St. Jose, Colton. Los Angeles, and
&an Diego, CaL and Portland. Oregon, at re
duced rates, good until April 1, ]x»4. ForfuU
particulars call on any coupon ticket agent or
address 1). C. Brady. Southern Passenger Agent,
Mi Fourth Avenue. Louisville, Ky.
Don’t you need help with your
speech, essay or poem this term? Send
subject for analysis for $2.50 or for
treatment at full length for $5.00, $7.50
and $10.00.
Correspondence confidential.
W. Franklin,
Box 771, Atlanta, Ga.
FACTS.
TEXAS AFFORDS GREATER IN
DUCEMENTS TO THE HOME-
SEEKER
the Union, for ti0
In the eighty-eight years from 1800 to
1S88 the world mined 7,942 tons of m>ld
95.559.000 of silver, 81.900,000 of copper’
34.600.000 of lead, 31,500.000 of zinc 1 -
430.000 of tin, 1,273,000,000 of iron and
10,b01,000,000 of coal.
COLUMBIAN FACE BLEACH.
An infallible remedy for freckles and
pimples and blackheads. A Wonder-
tm Specific for rough or chapped skin
Apply at night after the face has been
thoroughly washed, rub in well. Price
only fifty cents. Send stamps, postal
note or money order. Address Colum-
Georgia? 6 Bleach Co ” Box Atlanta,
Than any other State
following reasons:
Cheap Lands,
Best Schools,
Low Taxes,
Mild Climate,
Short Winter,
Searoard Ports,
Timber Plenty,
Minerals Abundant,
Soil Easy of Cultivation.
MORE FACTS.
The International Route. I. & G. X. R. tra
verses the most fertile portionsof the Stale.ana
affords the shortest, quickest and be=t route
from the North, Lad and Southeast toTexasan
Mexico.
THROUGH PULLMAN SLEEPERS
Daily in each direction between St. Lou;- an
Taylor, Austin. San Antonio and Lnr
Louis and Palestine. Houston and Galvesti'--
Dallas and Taylor. Au-tin anil San Antonio i*
H. & T. C. and Hearnej.
ANOTHER SET OF FACTS.
The ■•Old World in the New" is to be ‘'' UI U ff
Mexico, which is now. more than ever ode
attracting the pleasure-.-eeking tour:-t •"
traveler, as well as the capitalist seeking!-:
vestment. Bear in mind that the Interna.
Route and its connections forms the short =
line to all principal points in Mexico.
information as to rates, titm
time of trant*
liessi
For full
connections, etc- call on your nearest
agent, or addre=s.
D. J. PRICE.
A. G. P. A., I. & G. N. R. R«
Palestine, Texas.