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Show j "JOE" WHEELER SANG. j Sought Safety in Flight and Disguse Made Him Sing Despite Protests. I General "Joe" Wheeler probably would . have been able to add some interesting details to a story about himself, one that has no doubt often recalled to him that familiar quotation, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers." etc.. had he been present in a military circle a few evenings even-ings ago, when an anecdote of his service serv-ice in the confederacy was told. Shortly before the close of the civil war, ; in February, 1SG5, after Sherman had cap- ; lured Atlanta and made his famous j "march to the sea," after Fort McAllis-i ter had fallen, and the city which it had I defended. Savannah, had been turned! over to Sherman's army. Generals Wheel-i Wheel-i er and Wade Hampton were feeling sore over the reverses which the southern cause had met, and as they sat on their horses, in front of their commands, contemplating con-templating that, while they had fought with dogged courage, the war was near-i near-i ly at an end. they felt that they must not give up until they had been driven to the "last ditch." Wheeler's face suddenly ! brightened up and lie s'.iggested a scheme I to Hampton which the latter assented to after a few moments' reflection, for he realized that should Wheeler be taken prisoner it might be the end of his promising prom-ising career. The proposition was that Wheeler, in disguise, and some trusty soldier should cross the Peedee river and make a scout within the federal lines. The volunteer to go with Wheeler was "Jim" Nance, the bugler of the Fourth Tennessee cavalry, a daring and trustworthy trust-worthy fellow. Wheeler doffed his uniform uni-form and put on a private's coat, and then the two swam the river to an island about 209 yards from the bank. Then, after resting a few moments thoy were joined by another private of the Tennessee Tennes-see regiment and the three started to the opposite bank and landed on the shore in drenched clothing and well-nigh exhausted exhaust-ed from swimming against the current. It then occurred to Nance that there was a chance of all getting caught,, and If Wheeler should be recognized their game would be up. Nance asked his general what they should do in case of capture, when Wheeler replied: "Get away again, 1 reckon, would be the best under the circumstances." cir-cumstances." "But," said Nance. " In 'case we should be , captured. If they found you to be General Wheeler they'd watch us so close we wouldn't have any chance to get away. Why not you assume another name?" The s';gejition was agreed to. and Wheeler said: "All right, then; Sam Johnson I'll be for the present." Then, plunging into the woods which skirted the stream, they went on for some distance before reaching a road, and suddenly sud-denly came in sight of a house, . when Wheeler said: "Now. boys, I'll stand picket in the road while you go to the house and see if you can scare up some dry clothing for us." No difficulty was experienced, for the occupants of -the house were strong secessionists, se-cessionists, and when the party 'had put themselves Into dry clothes they received as hearty a welcome as could be given to friends and defenders. Thev were regaled with an excellent supper, after which tne young women for the men folks had gone to the war urged them into the parlor, par-lor, where the soldier guests were urged to sing anything, so long as it was southern. south-ern. With characteristic gallantry the soldiers pleaded with the women to sing, which they did. and then, almost In chorus, chor-us, they insisted that, "Now, we've done our part, and you promised that you I would do your best afterward." Nance responded with a song, especially popular popu-lar with the command, called "Wheeler's Cavalry," which so delighted the young women that they clamored for more. And then Nance spoke up with. "Well, the fact is. ladies. J sang only to redeem my promise to you. I was almost ashamed to utter a note in the presence of the best singer in the confederate army." "The best singer in our army! Which j is it?" the young women demanded. "My friend. Air. Johnson, has that reputation. rep-utation. Come. Sam. don't be so modest. You know you ho!d the age for the best singing, and there's no reason why you should be so modpst now." General Wheeler blushed like a girl and denied the soft Impeachment, but there was no escape from the blandishments of the pretty southern girls, and so he joined with the others in singing "The Bonnie Blue Flag." But he wasn't urged to sing again. And it was luckv he wasn't, for almost lmmediateiv General Hampton appeared with a squad bodv-guard. bodv-guard. when Wheeler's identity was revealed. re-vealed. When the young women learned that the. "be'st singer" was none other than "the dashing young cavalry officer with whose rikme they were so familiar, he got the best that the house could afford af-ford .andwas Invited to stay as long as he wished. But his stay was cut short by the report of his scouts that the "Yanks" were close at hand, and then Wheeler and his companions sought refuge ref-uge elsewhere. |