The palmetto herald. (Port Royal, S.C.) 1864-1864, December 15, 1864, Image 4
T112 FEDERAL CHA3I?LEO.V.
One evening, about an hour after the
sun had gone down, si couple of stout
men dressed in soiled rebel uniforms, and
etch holding in his hand a good Austrian
rifle, nipped at the door ot a small frame
building near the C road in Virginia.
The knock was answered by an old
woman whose face was almost-concealed
by the tangled masses ol her gray, uncombed
hair.
"And what may ye want heah?" she
exclaimed, as her deep-net eves Hashed
upon the two men. " 1 haven't the smallest
bit of Jolinuy-cake to otTcr ye, tor it.
was all?"
'No, no," interrupted onaofthe soldice^
" we don't, want auything to eat:
but we wutit you to tell us, and tiiat in
quick time, too, whether or not you've
seen a slight but stroug looking slip of a
man go by here of late."
" Dressed in blue and carrying a double-barrelled
ritle," added the other.
* lley! hey!" cried the hag, lifting her
KunUii C'vnkimr in ft ftll.iro. ftnirri'
?> >< ?- , , .? ?
voice, ''If ye hadn't interrupted me I
reckon you a a heard me speak of him
before now. as that was the very ni iu
who came here and bought all my cakes.
It was about two hours ago. and?"
" Which way did he go after he left
you?" inquired both men, "eagerly.
" Before I answer that question you
must tell me who he is," said the old woman.
with the curiosity natural to Iter sex.
"He's a celebrated Union scout whom
we call the 'Federal Chameleon' because
he changes his uniform so often. Sometimes
it Is blue, at other times gray, and
he has even been seen wearing the disguise
of an old fai mer. He has shot more
of our meu than is at all pleasant, and we
*> '?"? ? "" inn1 ortrntiiiaairkli from illtr Col
nn*c a tunu^ wm
ouel to go on a bunt utter him and capture
hint, if we can, either dead or alive.
now as we have replied to you," continued
the speaker a little impatiently,
*' we demand thafyou answei our question,
and?"
*' DemandJ" interrupted the hag in
shrill, piercing tones. Is that the proper
way to speak to a woman, and an old
woman at that ?"
^ "Come, come, answer us if you please,"
?ned the soldier in a milder tone. " I
meant no harm?it is ray way of speaking."
44 \Vell, perhaps I may-forgive you and
perhaps not," said the old woman, shaking
her head.
" TTnw- far ia mnr ramn from here ?"
44 What is that to you ? What has that
to do?"
44 There you go again with your accursed
incivility!" shrieked the hag,
fiercely; "but you shall answer my question
before you get a single word out of
me. Now,*then, how far is your camp
from here, and how many men have yon
iu and around it ? I intend to carry your
fellows some corn-cakes, d'ye see, aiid I
want to know the number of mouths that
1 have to cook for."
"Oh, in that case," said the rebel, "I
do not see any reason why I shouldn't
satisfy you. Our camps, then, are about
live miles from here, near the ? Cross
roads, and our number may be about five
thousand."
44 That will do," cried the old woman
with a grin ol satisfaction?44yes, that
will do. And now you are sure that the
man who came here to bay h supper is
the one you are after?"
44 We are sure of it, for although we
have never seen the man s face, we'd
know him by his double-barrelled rifle,
as nobody else in the Yankee army carries
a weapon of that kind.''
44 Ay, ay, it's the right one, then," said
the hag. 44 Alter he had finished and
paid for his meal, he says to me, "Friend,
1 should like to put up here for the night'
it you have no objection." But as I did
not like the idea of accommodating a
Yankee any more than I could help7 I
told him there was no room for him, as I
expected visitors before many hours.?
* Well, then,' says he, 4 can yon tell me
ot auv nlace where I can pass the night
a little comfortably. You sec,' he added,
' looking toward his big double-barrelled
rifle.** I don't like to camp out, as it
looks like rain, and this piece might be
hurt by it.' 'I know of no place,'1 answered,
' short of four miles from here?
an old barn which is tight enough, 1
ihink, to keep olF the rain." 'Four miles
is a pretty long distance.' said he, 'and ns
r
I have been tramping about oonsid. r ? >;>*
I to-day, 1 don i feel much like carryi 14
this heavy load so far.' pointing to hiknapsack
us he spoke. 4 Will you oe
kind enough to let ii remain till morning?'
'Well, ves,' said I, hesitating hJ
little and throwing a significant glance at i
the well-filled pocket hook in his hand.?
He understood the look aild gave mu a |
j greenback dollar. 4 All right,' syid I. aad
he then departed, saying he'd call for his
luggage in the morning, utter he should i
fpAUi ?J...ill ill tilt* 4W|\V i
then.' continued the speaker, 'which will j
ye do?go alter him at once, or wait in i
| ambush lor him until morning ?"
f The two soldiers drew buck a few jfi-.
ces and held a short consultation, after
which they again advauced to the side ot i
the old woman.
! " We will go now," said the one who j
I had spoken first, * that is if you can tie
scrii)-* to us the exact iKisitiou of the j
j barn."
" I don't think I could describe it so I
! that y??u could find it in the dark." re-!
plied the hag, "but as I am willin' to do
I everything in my power for the contcd-;
j eraey. I will go with you to show you
j the place."
"That is right," answered the rebel, |
j and we'll see that you are rewarded for j
i your zeal."
"1 don't want any reward for helping '
my countrymen," replied the other. "I;
| ant al>vays ready to help along the cause." !
W ith tnejc words she disappeared into j,
I an inner room, hut came forth in a few j
i miuutes with a gray blanket thrown over j
1 her shoulders.
" I took this out of the Yank's knap- {
sack." said she, with a short, dry laugh; I
i don't you think it becomes me?''
i " Ave, aye, my good woman, very |
: much." Bui lead on. if you please, lot we !
i have no time to loss." *
i The hag then closed the door of the |
; house.
4> Forward march!" she exclaimed, im- j
j itatiug the voice of a man with strong !
i lungs. 4*Forward march! Close.Up !j
I close up!" And she moved along the
j road at the slow tottering pace natural to
j a person of Jiier age. .
The uight by this time had become 1
very dark. The skv was obscured with J
thick driving clouds, and the wind j
w ronmed ami roared anion;: the tall pines
, that towered upon each side of the road, j
Occasionally a heavy branch wrenched !
from its native trunk, would fall into the !
road with a terrific crash, and more than 1
once the "rebels started hack, aud cocked j
tlicir pieces in the belief that the din was (
caused by the discharge of some Yankee '
rifle.
" I la! ha! ha!" laughed the old hag '
upon one of these occasions, "it seems to
me that you are easily startled. Doft't !
you think your commander might have '
picked out a pair of bolder hearts than
yours for this expedition ?"
" You'd better keep a silent tongue In
your head, my good woman.until you hare
had an opportunity to witness as many
battles as we have," answered one of the j
men: "a good soldier is always on lii3 .
guard."
"Aye, aye!"replied the old woman;
but he should know how to distinguish
between the crashing of a lry branch and
kr* inn.* /\f o rlflnfl mnoirot '
i The rebel did not relish the noise made
J by the loud, sharp tones of the female j
| guide, and, in order to put an end to tbo j
. conversation, he controlled himself suf-;
1 ficientlv not to reply to her last remark, j
i The party then continued their way in j
j silence-?"which was uot broken by cither
| of them until they had gone about three
' miles, aud a loud,"clear challenge suddcu'
ly startled the rebels,
i "Halt! Who comes there?"
"Friend!" answered the old woman,
in a tinging voice; "friend with prisoners
!"
j "We are betrayed !" yelled her com!
pauions, and, even as the words passed
I their lips they were surrounded by a dozi
en Federal soldiers, one of whom carried
a lantern. #
As the rays of the light fhished upon ;
i the hag, the rebels saw the gray hair, the
! blanket, and the female apparel drop to !
the ground, revealing the slight but iron- i
j like frameoi a liuousoiuict iu mupiuuc
j of life!
u It is he, by ?!" exclaimed the prisoners,
simultaneously, ui their /lances i
wandered to >}?? 1 -l> ti-H *?l
ii
v f: which he now held in hand: "it is
h -?j si.- sio it?the Federal C .aiueieor*!" ,
" Aye. aye!" answered the latter, as he i
leaned upon his weapon,with a quiet aiuile
"You are trapped, sure enough, thanks i
to my disguise, which is only oue of the
many that I carry in my knapsack. AI- j
low ine to express my thanks to you for
the information you gave me regarding 1
the position of your camp atul the number
of your men. I have already sent a
message to my colonel in relation to the
matter, and I perceive that he has commenced
to act upon it."
And sis he spoke he pointed down the j
road where the dark outline of troops
forming; into line might l>e faintly distin- !
guT<he?L ?- j
They were soou in motion^ and id lin,i
course of half an hour the booming of i
? - - x 1_ -A 1 4,1. ~
cannon, tue raining 01 nuisKvirv. mm uie1
cheers of the Federal troojw pr.iclaimed j
that the couibat had commenced. The i
din continued for about an hour, when {
the prisoners learned from others who !
were brought to share their quarters, that
the Southern troops had been surprised
and totally routed.
Josh Bim.inos has recently had ills life >
insured. These are a lew ot. tques- I
tions which he answered "JijUB * iimn," J
in the "confirmalitT'
1. Are yu mail or femail? If so, state i
how long yu hav been so.
i. Are yu suhjee tu fits, and if 90, du
jru hav more thau one at a time ? ^
What isyure precise fiteing v*#ght ? j
4. Did yu ever hav enny ancestors, and ;
if so, how much ?
f>. Wliat u yure legal opinion ov the
coustitushionahty ov the 10 counnand
mentsf
0. Diil yu ever hav enny nite wares, if'
so what is their best time?
7. Are va married and single, or are yu :
a Bachelor?
S, Do yu belcav in a futur state, if yu ;
dn, stale it?
9, What are yure private centiments j
about a nish ov rats tu the head, c^n it
be did successful/ ?
10. Hav yu ever committed suiside, !
and if so, how di it seem tu affect yu ? [
A London capitalist came to ine not J
many months since, says a sculptor, and j
opened the conversation by saying:
*' Sir, your name is Robsou ? '
I admitted my name was Rolwon.
"And are you a statuary ?M said he.
1 admitted this fact also, substituting ;
sculptor.
"Sir," continued he, "I will give you j
a commission."
I bowed and begged him to be IWted. j
" Iiobson," said he, drawing a paper!
from his pocket, "I am a remarkable
man; I was l>orn ui the environs of Loudon,
and began life by selling quiches at
.five boxes a pynny; I am worth ?t this
moment two hundred thousand pounds."
I bowed again, and said I was glad to
hear it.
"Sir, he went on to say, "how I
eardfed that two hundred thousand?how
from selling matches. I came to running
errands; to taking care of a boss; to
tradiug in dogs, tobaccos, cottons, corns
and sugars; and how I came to be the
man that I am; you'l find all that made
out on this paper, dates and facts correct.
Sir, it is a very remarkable statement."
I replied that I had no doubt of it, but
that I did not see what it hud to do with
the matter in hand.
" Sir," said my capitalist, " everything.
I wish to perpetuate my name. You
have a pretty thing, sir, here in Rome?a
pillar with a procession twisting up all
around it, and a figger at the top. I
iliink ron call it Traian's Column. Now.
Robson, sir, I wish you to make me one |
just like it?same height, same size, and ;
money no object. You 9ball represent j
m}' Cilreer in all my various trades, a
twisting around the column, beginning ;
with the small chap selling matches at |
five boxes a penny, and ending with the i
full length figure of me on the summit, ;
with one hand in my bosom, and the j
other under my coat-tails."
HC. FOSTER. PHOTOGRAPHER. MORRIS !
ISLAND near FORT SHAW. CARTES j
DE VI8ITKS, AMBROTVPES, Ac., made in the
best possible maimer by experienced trtiets.
rPAYLOR'S ALBANY ALE,
A By the Barrel, at Phauody & Morgan's.
t *esh Goods of all kinds now being lauded, from
iSiig Mars Co.ua
t
I' '
v
(1 bAVlLLK 6c CO.,
J? Wuj;.K8aia: ,\>r> Stauoni-ks.
Palmetto Iler.iM Store,
Hilton Head, S. 0.
CTf A Lilx-rsl Discount to Purchasers at
Wholesale.
Cash Orders hy mail or express promptly filled.
STATIONERY.
We have just received in store POl'K HUNDRED
REAMS PAPER, consist*** of White
Laid Congress Cap, Cougress^eOer. Agawam
ami Manhattan Miihs Couirn^?*al-Xotfc yariutw . ,
gradeefrom Atrawam and VatrbaMsfti fti/HC. j
White Wove No e, Dove Mills; alias an assortment
of Envelopes and other goods usually at
Wholesale and Retail Stationers*.
< stvir.i.R x- co.
Palmetto Horalu Store.
J) LANK NOTES AND DRAFTS
_ -Eur Sale ft the
PALMETTcTiilW.lLlJ SHIRR,
PAT.Mrrro Umu) Building.
RUGS AND MEDICINES'!
Just lauded from New York, a large assortment
of Drugs. Chemicals, and Perfumery, viz.
Lubin's Extracts. EdrihiN. do.: Cologne Pomades,
Hair tonics of the tiuest quality, Tooth Powder,
Pastes i.^4 Washes.
A large quantity of Patent Medicine*, Pills
and Ointment*.
A nice lot of Bathing. Carriage and Velvet
8i>onges.
Flea Powder. producing instant death.
Pure Soda Water from Stone Fountains, with
the choicest Hfrnps.
Ail orders will receive prompt attention, .t > **
W. M. WALSH, M. ]>? .. v1
Merchant*' T".
JlTST RECEIVED
By C. W. DENNIS A CO.,
And will be sold at
vert low Prices i !:
10,000 Lbs. Bntter, Hardware, of every d?lo.iNto
" Cheese, ecription,
loo 000 Cigars Yankee Notion* of every
10,000 I.bs. Cake? and kind,
Crackers, Matches. ?
100 Bb'.a. Potatoes, Canned Peaches. Toma100
44 Flour, toes. Peas, Green;
8,000 Prs. Olovea 3Ieats--IW>f, Veal,
500 Camp Stoves, Chickens Turkeys.
Stationery. In variety,
Nnts Raisins Fijjs F1? Paste. Confectionery,
Blank Books Lefoprs Day Books, Shirts Drawers.
Collars Handkerchiefs Neck-Tie* Boots and^
Shoes Army Ranges Cooking Stoves, Stove*
Pipe. Herring's Sales Abbott's History of the
War, FM? Lmw Ctttlerr, MetaiBc Tin
Ware, Wooden Ware, ic., Ac. Call and ex
IIii-ths Head, S. C., Nov. 14^ ISiU.
^PROFESSIONAL NOTICE.
B. B. ANDREWS,
Attorney ami CoonwutH: at Laav, Somoitor m
cuaxckry and PttH/TOK and AUTOMAT* i.n Aw
mieai.tt. %
All Courts cation Cases In the District Court of
the Northern District of Florida examined and
defended promptly and reasonably.
Address, B. b. ANDREWS.
Jacksonville. Kl*.
Reference at Hilton Head, S. C., S. W. Mason,
Editor Pamuccto Hmm.
Boots and shoes made and repaired
At No. - Broadway.
Choice Segars and Tobacco.
Beer, that cannot be beat.
Apples, prime Batter.
Also, Shoe-finding for Sale at the above place.
WM. M. WILLIAMS,
Proprietor.
Back numbers t)f the palmetto
iikkald.
' Those who desire
COMPLETE FILES
Of Toe Palmetto Hkbald, to date, can procure
them at this office, at the regular price per copy.
We have reserved, each wet-k. a sufficient number
to supply any reasonable demand. ami we believe
no more complete and accurate compendium of
events in the Department can be procured.
S. W. MASON A CO.
ORTROYAL HOUSE .UNION SQUARE
Hilton Head. S. C. E. 3. KIDDELL,
Proprietor.
Boots and shoes
Repaired in rear of Post Office.
J. H. TONKIN, Proprietor.
It pOOD LIVING,"
At reasonable prices, can be had at the
EAGLE OYSTER and REFRESHMENT SALOON,
in the rear of the New Post Office. Hilton
Head S. C. I have the very best facilities for
furnishing OYSTERS, (J LA MS, MEATS, POULTRY,
VEGETABLES, ire. from the North and
other places in this vicinity. Cooked to order
from 0 A. M. to 3 P. M.
PETER FITZGERALD. Proprietor.
P. S.?One trial is respectfully solicited.
Pea body a morgan,
No. 1 BaoADWA*,
Deulers in SUTLERS' GOODS, Wholesale and
Retail. _____
A LARGE COOKING STOVE FOR SALE AT
FITZGERALD'S SALOON,
IN THE REAR OF THE POST OFFICE.
E. W. SINCLAIR,
PHOTOGRAPHER.
Galleries at Beaufort, and iliiton Head, S. C.
and Jacksonville, F!a.
DUNBARS A FRANZ, 10 SUTLER'S ROW.
Dealers in Sutlers' Goods, Wholesale ana
l-.etuL