USA > Nebraska > Pioneer sketches, Nebraska and Texas > Part 3
USA > Texas > Pioneer sketches, Nebraska and Texas > Part 3
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"The night after the battle the Indians built fires all over the encampment, packed up and started across the staked plains in the worst snow storm that we have any history of in this part of Texas. They must have suffered terribly with cold, as I learned afterwards that the loss they sustained in the fight and their travel across the plains that night was seventy or eighty; our loss being, as before stated, twenty-six left on the battle-field, several dying afterwards.
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"We captured about seventy-five head of horses. The . four Tonkawa Indians, that we liad with us, deserve the credit for this, for when they saw that it was a bad fight, they gathered the stock and pushed for the pack mules.
"We made our way home from the Chism ranch at the mouth of the Concho River as best we could, gathering up just such provision as we could get.
"Thus the Dove Creek expedition and fight was ended.
"The battle was fought on the 8th day of January, 1865, between five hundred Texas Rangers and fifteen hundred or two thousand Indian warriors, on the lonely plains south of Dove Creek, and on this battle-ground lie the re- mains of twenty noble braves, there to await the call of the Master at the resurrection."
MURDER OF ANN WHITNEY AND AMANDA HOW- ARD'S BRAVERY.1
BY CAPT. A. J. SOWELL, AN EX-RANGER.
T HERE stood (in 1867) on the south bank of the Leon river in Hamilton county, a small log school house. A beautiful valley three-quarters of a mile wide and one and one-half miles long spread out in front-free from obstruction to view. This was called "Worlene Valley." The Howards liv- ed half a mile west and John Baggott half a mile east of the school house. Ezekiel Manning and Alexander Powers lived one and a half miles south, but behind a hill. The Massengills, Ganns, Strangelines, Cole Kuykendall and James Kuykendall lived up the river within two miles. J. B. Hendrix and sons, Crockett and Abe, lived two miles below the river, Judge D. C. Snow and Nel Livingston, three and four miles down stream. The town of Hamilton was six miles southwest of the school house.
At the time the incident related here took place, Miss Ann Whitney was teaching in this border school. It was on Thursday, 2 p. m., July 11, 1867. The logs of the school house were unhewn and the spaces between were left open
1 This account of the heroic death of Miss Whitney, written by Capt. A.J.Sowell, appeared in the Houston Post several years ago. In 1902 it wasrepublished in the Ham- ilton Rustler and some years later was again reproduced in the Hamilton Herald at the request of L. V. Manning, a citizen of Hamilton county, who was one of the pupils in Miss Whitney's school when his teacher was so cruelly murdered by Indians. Were- produce the story from The El Paso Morning Times, February 29, 1912.
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so that it was an easy matter for any one outside to see the inside of the building and to shoot at any one there if they wished to. There was a small window cut in the north side, and this was without a shutter. Olivia Barbee, about 12 years old, daughter of John Barbee, who lived north- east, about ten or twelve miles, was boarding in the neigh- borhood. Her father was a stockman and was expected to come after her that week while out stock hunting.
On this day at the hour mentioned, a daughter of Alex- ander Powers was at the door, which was on the south side of the house, overlooking the valley, While there she dis- covered a party of men on horseback, rapidly approach- ing, and was almost certain they were Indians. Miss Whitney seeing her standing at the door and looking so steadily, ask her what she saw. The reply was that she was looking at some mounted men in the valley who were coming toward the school house and she thought they were Indians. The school mistress told her to come away and be seated, and not to be so foolish as to talk about Indi- ans, as the men were cow hunters.
Miss Whitney believed that it was Mr. Bagbee and oth- ers and did not look to see anything about them. The Pow- ers girl, however, was still uneasy and soon went to the door again and took another look, crying out as she did so: "They are Indians," and running back, took her brother by the hand and getting out of the window, ran away. Miss Whitney then went to the door and after seeing the men told her children they were Indians and that they were taking Mary. Mary was the name of a fine saddle animal, the pet and property of Miss Whitney. She often made the remark, "If the Indians ever take Mary I want them to take me too."
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When she became satisfied who the men were, she shut the door and told the children to escape by the window, so the Indians could not see them as they were coming up in front. All did this except Mary Jane, a daughter of Ezek- iel Manning, who was sick, and two small sons and a little daughter of James M. Kuykendall. Miss Whitney was very large and fleshy, weighing about 230 pounds, and could neither get out of the window or hope to escape by running out at the door.
Many of the children, instead of seeking safety in the distance, crawled under the house, and there witnessed the terrible scene which was enacted in the building. The Indians soon surrounded the house and many ugly faces were seen at the cracks between the logs. One fellow in- dulged in a few oaths in broken English.
Reading her doom in the blood-thirsty looks of the sav- ages, Miss Whitney's thoughts turned to the little ones that were in her care and addressing the Indian who had spoken the words in English, begged him to let her death satisfy them and permit the children to go unharmed.
The Indian addressed, held up three fingers to the bal- ance and they commenced shooting between the logs. The sick little Manning girl clung to the skirts of her teacher's dress, as arrow after arrow struck her, until her life blood began to pour upon the floor and run through upon those under it. Miss Whitney walked from side to side of the room, marking every footstep with blood, and all the time entreating for the lives of the children.
The Indians finally came in front and commenced break- ing in the door and Miss Whitney, although reeling and staggering in death, assisted the two little girls in getting out of the window, but Miss Kuykendall received an arrow
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in the back as she went through, by an Indian who had at that time entered. This left the teacher and the two Kuy- kendall boys in the house and another Indian entered to complete the work, but too late to do any further harm to the young woman. She was gasping her last, meeting death heroically.
The Indian who could speak English was now called and when he entered asked the two boys if they wished to go with them. One, in his fright, said "yes" and the other said "no." Strange to say, the one who said "no," was rudely pushed down on a seat and left in the house, while the other was taken out placed on a horse and carried away. This was John Kuykendall.
In the meantime one of the redskins called into the house had discovered some of the children under the floor and had pulled Olivia Barbee out and was putting her up behind him when summoned to speak to the boys. This circumstance saved her from death or captivity for when the Indians left her she ran away and gained the woods. On the following day she was found by John Massengill, but the poor child was crazed with fright, and ran, so that he had to chase and run her down before bringing her in. She, however, soon recovered.
About the time the Indians made the attack on the school house two women rode into the valley from the south. They were Miss Amanda Howard and Mrs. Sarah Howard, the latter being the wife of Voley Howard, Miss Amanda's brother. They saw the Indians at the school house and at first took them to be cow hunters. They were discovered by the Indians before they had ridden far up the valley and two of them rode to meet them.
Fortunately the ladies soon saw their mistake and turn-
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ed to the house of Mr. Baggett, toward the east which was nearer than their own home on the west side, the Indians coming in hot pursuit of them. Miss Howard had some dif- ficulty in turning and starting her young horse, but when she had succeeded in doing so, the Indians were close upon her. She, however, was a brave young lady and never once lost her presence of mind.
Plying the whip vigorously, she dashed away from her pursuers and headed straight for Baggett's fence, determ- ined to make her horse leap it if she could. For this pur - pose she lashed him furiously, and he cleared it at a single bound, carrying his burden to safety in Baggett's house. Mrs. Sarah Howard did not fare so well; her horse shied and turned suddenly to one side just as the fence was reached. She was thrown headlong over the fence and the Indians got her horse. However, she was not badly hurt, and springing to her feet, also escaped to Mr. Baggett's home.
While Miss Whitney was being killed at the school house and the other two women pursued, Mr. Strangeline entered at the west end of the valley at the Howard place and had proceeded about half way across the valley when he was attacked by some of the Indians who were leaving. Mr. Strangeline was moving and had his family with him. He was killed but not scalped. His wife and two children were wounded.
About this time Miss Amanda Howard, seeing what was going on, formed the bold design to warn the settlers of the presence of the Indians. To do this she would have to ride in the direction of the Indians and outride them in get- ting to the road that crossed the high hill to the south that led to the other settlement. Having determined upon this,
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she mounted her half wild steed and commenced her dan- gerous ride.
Dashing furiously at the fence she again cleared it, and putting the whip to her horse, she urged him to his best speed. Miss Howard was well started before the Indians discovered what her aim was, and when they did, they left off the attack upon Strangeline's family and rushed at full speed to head off the young woman. Miss Howard's mis- sion was an heroic undertaking for any man to attempt, even a fearless Texas ranger, on a fast and well trained horse. She was riding into the very jaws of death, with- out a weapon of defense, depending on her skill alone in managing an unbroken horse, not bridle-wise, and the speed that she might be able to get out of him to carry the news to distant settlements of the fearful scenes enacted in the valley. Happily, she won the race a few rods and swept past the Indians, gaining the road and turning east; while the Indians hurriedly turned west and left the valley, carrying the Kuykendall boy with them.
The daring of Miss Howard, a beautiful and intelligent young woman, scarcely seventeen years of age, no doubt saved many lives. Her first act, when she made the horse leap the fence to gain Baggett's house, drew the Indians away from the school house, and when she made the run to reach the road, so as to carry the news out of the val- ley, she drew them away from the Strangelines, and once more from the school house. All hail the name of Miss Amanda Howard, and may her memory ever be kept green in the minds of her countrymen.
We must not, however, forget the dead young lady at the school house whose bloody form was stiffening in death. Time and again she begged the Indians to kill her and let
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the little ones go, and with her last remaining strength, her body, full of arrows and bathed in blood, she assisted two of them to get through the window while the Indians were breaking in the door.
Miss Howard reached the Manning and Power ranches and warned them; then sped on to see Mr. Hendrix, who at once sent his son, Abe, to the Pearson ranch for blood- hounds. Pearson called his dogs and with the Howards, Mr. Hendrix and several others, took the trail which led into the mountains, where the Indians separated. The day was hot and there was no water to be had. The dogs final- ly failed, owing to the fact that their feet were bruised and swollen. A man whose horse had given out, was sent back with them, and the chase continued until night put an end to it. The men had ridden more than one hundred miles without stopping. The Indians were well mounted, but had bandoned all of the horses they were driving and gave all of their attention to making their escape.
The Kuykendall boy remained with the Indians about two years, and was finally purchased from them and re- stored to his father.
THE BEAUTIFUL STEER.1
Oh, the steer, the beautiful steer, Kicking the fleas from the point of his ear, Flapping its tail in its frolicsome glee, Hopping about like a Snake-river flea. Bellowing! Roaring! Thundering along!
Filling the air with its steerical song, Till the rumble from its lung-laden pits Scares timid jack-rabbits and wolves into fits, To me there is nothing on earth half so dear As the long-horned, slim-bodied Texican steer.
How often I wish that I was a steer, With a long shiny horn at the butt of each ear; With a clear, fearless eye, and a tapering tail That would snap like a whip in the maddening gale. How I'd beller And roar!
And paw up the ground! And lope over the hills with a thundering sound, And snort like a terror, and hump up my back When I saw the wild cow-boy pursuing my track- And I'd laugh at his oaths as he fell to the rear, Oh, I'd be a Jo-dandy if I was a steer!
1 The author of this poem, Miss Ella Paxton, known as the "Cow-girl of the Pan- handle," several years ago favored an enlightened western audience with the above original production. which, in her introductory remarks, she styled a "paradox on "Beautiful Snow." She also stated that it was "paradoxed" while sitting on her horse on day-herd on her father's ranch in the Panhandle, situated about three miles from Mobetio, Texas. We copy same from a clipping in a scrap book which we made sev- eral years ago.
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I once roped a beautiful steer-but I fell, Fell from my pony with ear piercing yell! Fell with the lariat fast to my wrist!
Fell to be dragged through the grass wet with mist. Bumping! Rolling! Grunting I went!
A full mile a minute, or I don't want a cent.
The gravel and grass yanked the hide from my nose And ruined a pair of forty-cent hose;
Aye, even my bustle was thrown out of gear
By the frolicsome freaks of that beautiful steer.
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INTERESTING EVENTS OF EARLY DAYS.1
A
N interesting visitor called at the Times-Herald of- fice yesterday afternoon in the person of G. Mer- cer ("Pet") Smith. He was given the name of "Pet" by his father, way back in Missouri, when he strayed from home, as a little chap, and was lost in the woods.
Mr. Smith now lives at Walnut Springs, and this is his second visit to Waco since 1878. It's hardly necessary to state that he found some changes, and he was astonished by the spirit of progressiveness he encountered on every hand. Mr. Smith is a most interesting speaker, and he gave an entertaining summary of early days in this vicin- ity.
He came to Waco the first time in about 1876, and he drove the stage from Waco to Gatesville. One day, near the East Bosque, the stage was held up and robbed by a lone highwayman. There were five passengers in the stage at that time, and two of these recalled by Mr. Smith were Bob Cumby of Gatesville and a Mr. Stovall2 of Hamilton. The robber took all the money and valuables in the possession of the passengers. The same man a short time later, robbed the stage operating between San An- tonio and Rockdale, and also the one utilized on another
1 Printed in the Waco Times-Herald, March 30, 1913, and reprinted in the Hico News-Review, April 4, 1913.
2 This Mr. Stovall was a brother of J. W. Stovall of Hico, who is now deceased. He was at one time a citizen of both Hico and Hamilton.
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line in that immediate neighborhood. There were four soldiers aboard the stage coach, who had declared they would like to see the one man that could rob them; they saw him, and he robbed them, too. Mr. Smith said the party who perpetrated the robbery was later captured and given a term of 99 years.
When he first began driving the stage, Mr. Smith said . he secured a six shooter, but he was advised by one of the oldtimers, a stage driver, also, to leave off his shooting iron. This party told him that it would result in him be ing killed, as he was paid to carry the mails not to sacri- hice his life to protect such mail matter as might be en- trusted to him.
There are many of the older citizens here who recall Mr. Smith, and two of those with whom he is well ac- quainted are Messrs. Ed Rotan and T. J. Primm.
FIRST WAGON THROUGH TOWN OF INDIAN GAP.
I N the early part of 1913 the Arrow was established at Indian Gap, Hamilton county, Texas, by Mr. O. G. Campbell of Gustine, with Clyde Hammers of Dublin as editor, and was the first newspaper venture in this little burg. One of the first is- sues contained the following bit of interesting history of that section:
"Known all over Texas for the picturesque beauty of its location, unsurpassed in grandure by the Pyrenean range of France, clinging to the sides and on top of the surrounding hills, Indian Gap, is indeed, to be envied.
"A little more than fifty years ago a party of early set- tlers, who had settled near where Newburg now stands, organized a party to cut a road from there to Lampasas and as the gap in the mountain where Indian Gap is now located was in their path, a road was cut through the gap, then heavily covered with timber and matted with under- brush. Among the party was Aaron Cunningham, now liv- ing at Comanche, who, according to his statement, was the first man to drive a wagon through the gap, the sur- rounding country at that time being unfenced and to a cer- tain extent unknown.
"It was many years after before the cocks crow ever broke the morning stillness, or the woodchoppers ax echo- ed against the hills that are now covered with a growing town, but the black, rolling prairies, stretching away on every side as far as the eye can see, were too rich and too
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valuable to remain long untilled after the early settlers had seen and heard of it, and it was during the late 60's that cabins began to dot the valleys along the Cowhouse, and the settler's ax cleared out little patches in the rich cover on the mountains."
The Comanche Chief, under date of February 15, at greater length describes this first wagon through Indian Gap:
"Referring to the story of Aaron Cunningham of Co- manche; this is a true story, and we are indeed grateful to the Arrow for placing it upon the pages of their history. It was in the year 1856 that the incident above referred to occurred. Mr. Cunningham and nine others, including his father, Capt. James Cunningham, T. J. Holmsley, Dave Cunningham, his brother, Mr. Bonds, Bill Reed, Dave Parks, Mr. Mercer, from whom Mercer creek got its name, and the others, the names of whom have been forgotten. Aaron Cunningham was driving he tirst wagon, and it was by this reason that he was the first man to move a wagon between the two mountains.
"The company depended upon securing groceries and other necessaries of life from Williamson county. Here- tofore, they had been forced to travel the government road by way of Gatesville, and it was for shortening the dist- ance to market that the new road was cut through this sec- tion. They passed through Indian Gap to a distance of about one and a half miles, crossed the ridge between School-land Cove and the branch where the Geralds set- tled, and from School-land Cove they followed the Lam: pasas river to Hart's ranch, and from there to Gillette's
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ranch. From this point a road had already been prepared. On reaching the end of the old road all the crowd, except · Aaron Cunningham and Dave Parks, returned home, the latter two proceeding on to Williamson county for gro- ceries. A crossing was made on Cowhouse creek just above the homestead of the Prices, which road is used for a crossing at this time.
"In those days this was one of the best sections for wild game in this portion of the state-deer abounding across those prairies in great herds, plenty of bear and buffaloes, besides all kinds of small game."
FIRST ELECTION HELD IN BOSQUE COUNTY.1
T HE people of Clifton and surrounding country seem very much interested in the historic spot where the first election was held in this precinct, which was under the large live oak tree near the home of Tom M. Pool, at the roadside in his pasture, and are considering seriously the erection of a monument to the memory of these worthy people of our country by placing their names thereon and also the names of the first county officers elected at this memorable elec- tion, which were as follows: County Judge, L. H. Scrutch field; County Clerk, J. N. Mabry; Sheriff, Presley Bryant; Tax Assessor, Isaac Gary: Treasurer, Archie Kell.
Mr. M. F. Kell has given the people of Clifton some interesting history of the first election held in Bosque county. There were but three voting boxes in the county at the first election, which were as follows: One at Me- ridian; one at Van Hagans, on the Brazos river just below the mouth of Steel's creek; and the other under a large live oak tree on Tom M. Pool's farm, about three miles south of Clifton; and it is the last place mentioned that Clifton people are so vitally interested in.
It is with much satisfaction to our people that Mr. Kell is able to give from memory all names of those who voted in this precinct under the oak at the first election which was held on the first Monday in August, 1854. J. K. Hel-
1 Reprinted from the Clifton Record, April, 1913.
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ton was the presiding officer, and there were nineteen votes cast and their names were as follows: Captain Un- derhill, J. N. Mabry, Jas. Mabry, L. H. Scrutchfield, Wm. Gary, Gafey Gary, Isaac Gary, Mat Gary, John Roberson, John Thomas, F. M. Kell, Archie Kell, Wm. McCurry, Jack McCurry, Lum McCurry, Samuel Locker, J. P. Locker, Nathaniel Morgan and J. K. Helton.
Much praise is due to these nineteen frontiermen that faced the hardships of a frontier country and laid the foundations for civilization in this section. These noble patriots have all gone to reap their reward in that land where frontier life is unknown, with the exception of F. M. Kell of this city, who is now in his eighty-first year.
Mr. Tom M. Pool has volunteered to give several acres of land around this old oak tree for the purpose of being made into a public park and a monument erected to the memory of those noble men who participated in the above mentioned election. This move is gaining much interest with our people and it is thought there will be no trouble in pushing it to completion.
·
EARLY SCHOOLS OF DUBLIN, TEXAS.1
V ERY soon in its life as a community the little set- tlement of "Doubling" began to pay attention to educational matters. In 1859 the tiny collection of pioneers augmented by the removal from Cow creek of the families of Wm. (Big Bill) Keith and G. W. O'Neal, about twenty in number, had its very first school under the management of Mrs. Sarah Keith O'Neal. This bride, for -he had married C. M. O'Neal on July 4, 1859, thus inaugurated the schools of what we call Dubiin. Succeeding her came her uncle, "Jim" Keith. This man is worthy of special mention, because he was possessed of a true pedagogic spirit.
At that time the same Indians, who had by their "full o' the moon" horse-stealing raids, broken up the Cow creek homes, and driven them to Resley's creek, because more convenient for "doubling up," rendered it very un" safe for children to traverse the prairies alone. Two miles east of Dublin lived a widow, Mrs. Burnett, who wished to send her children to this school-"everybody, big and lit- tle, old and young, was going to it." "Jim" Keith trudged over that two miles each morning and afternoon that these fatherless children might be accompanied to school, and kept safe from the red marauders over whose fresh trails they often passed.
Very primitive and crude were the equipments of the
1 Paper read by Mrs. S. C. Lattimore at the laying of the corner-stone of the new High School building. Dublin. April 4. 1913
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day, but they did the best they could. They provided a log school room, added to it when needed. The earth sup- plied the floor, and logs split in two-puncheons-furnish- ed the seats. The infant town of Stephenville, and the more distant one of Meridian, were the depots for supplies of "'blue-backed spellers," "Smith's Grammars," and "Modern Geographies." On a teacher's certificate a few years later than this immediate period, one will find the subjects, "Spanish, French, and German."
Three of these log school houses were used at different times-one uuder the big live oaks now standing not far from Nick Keith's former home; one in Nick Keith's yard, to be used as his kitchen when not required for school; and one over in what is now a bare field, but the location is still determined by an old well, being where "Grandpa Keith" once lived. If needed for a dwelling the teacher and pupils moved out beneath the convenient live oaks.
One of these earliest teachers, Miss Adelia Burnett, still lives with us as Mrs. Blackstock, and delights to re- call the experiences of those days. Mr. Elliott was also among the early school masters.
In 1876 Mr. Wm. Keith and his good wife bought the lumber, having it hauled from the three nearest big towns -Waco, Fort Worth and Dallas-and gave it to the town, after having the two storied frame structure erected. It was the Baptist church, but furnished with desks and seats for school use. The second story was a Masonic hall. The bell, bought in St. Louis, and brought on train free of charge to Fort Worth, was also their gift. This his- toric bell perished in the flames which destroyed the Bap- tist church on the night of January 10, 1913.
In this house Mr. Morris taught the first public school
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in Dublin. He was succeeded by Mrs. Cannon, who here taught one hundred and one pupils, assisted by four of them-Misses Cava Coleman, Josie Arthur, Joe Leslie, and Pallie Keith, now Mrs. Ben Higginbotham of Stephenville. She was followed by Miss Mina Everette, whose dramatic conversion from an atheistic belief to a fervent, active missionary spirit and life, forms one of the principal events in the religious history of Dublin. There were a few teachers whose names I have not been able to obtain. Rev. Ruben Ross, for a long time pastor of the Baptist church, was at one time teacher in the school in the years immediately following the Civil war.
The school in the old town ceased to have a separate existence when the Fort Worth & Rio Grande (now Frisco) right-of-way passing through the school building caused its removal and destruction. Messrs. Wiley and Gibson were among the latest teachers there.
One of the first schools on the north side of the Central railroad was taught by a Mr. Pelham. Several of his pu- pils are in Dublin now, and delight to recall his custom of wearing carpet slippers, which were convenient to hurl at any offending culprit, accompanied by dire threats, never executed.
In 1883 Rev. Mr. McIlhany taught in the unpainted "box" building recently purchased from the Presbyterians by the Baptists. He was assisted by Miss Willie Durham, now Mrs. John W. Higginbotham. A curtain divided the space into two rooms. The spring of 1884, Miss May Cas- well, afterwards Mrs. J. H. Latham, taught a private school of three months in the same building.
The Dublin Public school may be said to have had its birth in September, 1884, when Rev. J. L. Lattimore was
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employed for a ten months' term by the trustees-F. C. Oldham, W. B. Davis, W. J. Davies, Joe Bishop and A. W. Townsend. Mr. Lattimore was assisted by his wife, Mrs. S. C. Lattimore, and daughter, Kate, now Mrs. R. B. Spencer, of Waco. Under the direction of Mr. Lattimore, in 1896, ground was purchased and a two-storied, four- room building erected. This structure was afterward en- larged by the addition of six more rooms and was used un- til its destruction by fire in 1900.
In 1901 the present handsome structure replaced the rather unsightly old house, wnich, however, had served long and well.
In 1886 Mr. W. J. Clay became superintendent and held his office many years. Succeeding him have been C. G. Foust, E. I. Hall, G. H. Read and J. W. Dunlap. The prog- ress of the school has been continuous and gratifying, and we "know not what it shall be."
DEATH OF PROF. ALBERT D. WALLACE.1
T HERE died in the home hospital here [Austin] February 7 a veteran whose death I chronicled at the time, but who was worthy of more than pass. ing notice and a more extensive paragraph than I devoted to his demise at the time. In the per- son of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, Albert David Wallace was born in Alabama and grew to manhoodinand near Auburnin thatstate. Hehadjust reached his majority when the call to arms came in 1861, and he was among the first to respond to that call, enlist- ing in a company made up in and around Auburn, which became company G, Sixth Alabama infantry, which regi- ment was perhaps better known at the beginning of the war as the Louchapoka Rifles. The first colonel of the regiment was the gallant and dashing John B. Gordon, who later attained the rank of major general and who after the war was governor of Georgia and served several termsin the United States congress. As soon as the regiment was or- ganized, it proceeded at once to the seat of war in Vir- ginia, where it became a part of the Army of Northern Virginia. Of course, the reader of history need not be told that after the first battle the fighting in Virginia became fast and furious as well as desperate and bloody. For a long time Virginia was the battle ground between the con- tending forces and battles followed each other in quick
1 From "Tales Told by a Johnny Reb" by Taylor Thompson in Fort Worth (Texas) Record, February 28. 1915.
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succession. The command to which Mr. Wallace belonged took part in nearly all of the big battles in Virginia and Mr. Wallace was always in his place in the ranks in every battle in which his command participated, and strange as it may seem, he passed through all those scenes of danger unscratched, as if he had borne a charmed life. I saw a statement somewhere recently to the effect that there had been more men killed within a radius of thirty miles, tak- ing Petersburg, Va., as a center, than on the same extent of territory anywhere in the world. That, however, was prior to the beginning of the present gigantic European war. I believe North Carolina furnished more men to the Confederate army than any other state, and I have little doubt that Alabama was second or third in the list as to the number of men furnished. At any rate, she furnished a large number, and the troops from Alabama were noted for their courage and soldierly bearing.
Mr. Wallace stayed with the cause until it was lost and the last gun had been fired. When the fatal hour came when Lee's battered legions stacked arms and surrender- ed, Mr. Wallace was color-bearer of his regiment. When the surrender came he tore the flag he bore from its staff, tore the flag into two pieces, gave one piece to Major Cul- ver and tore the other piece into several pieces and dis- tributed them among his comrades. Mrs. Wallace, wife of deceased, told me a few days ago that she had a letter from Major Culver in which that gentleman stated that he still had in his possession a piece of the flag which Mr. Wallace gave him at that time.
At the close of hostilities Mr. Wallace returned to his home, and in 1870 came to Texas. After a year spent in this state he went back to Alabama, but in 1873 returned
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Pioneer Sketches.
to Texas and has resided here ever since. He first located at Marlin, but had resided at various other points, but lo- cated permanently at Marlin about twenty years ago. In 1877 he was married at Hico to Miss Lucie Stinnett, and his estimable wife survives him. Soon after coming to Texas Mr. Wallace began the work of teaching, continu- ing in that work as long as he was able to follow any occu- pation, and he was well and favorably known as an educa- tor wherever he taught, and in whatever community he re- sided in commanded the respect and esteem of all who knew him. For the past seven years he had been bed rid- den, owing to paralysis and in 1913 he was admitted to the home. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church, was a gentleman of culture and refinement, and on many a battle-field half a century ago he displayed that daring and courage which go to make up the brave and gallant soldier. His trials and sufferings are ended now, and I have no doubt that when he reached the pearly gates of the celestial city there was no question as to his admis- sion.
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