Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 April 1883 — Basil Duke’s Guerrillas. [ARTICLE]

Basil Duke’s Guerrillas.

The Washington Herald gives the following incident: Basil Duke, a noted cavalry officer under Morgan, has been at the Capital during the week. Duke is a very handsome man. Although nearly fifty years of age, he does not look over thirty-five. He is a lawyer with a fine practice, in Louisville, where he is very popular. His fig* ure is siill the same as when he used to rush down the country on a crazy thoroughbred at the head of a company of freelancers. One day during tjie war a detachment of his troops were moving through the northern part of Kentucky. Diok Wintersmith’s son was in the band as its lead-

er. The guerillas were worn out and hunted down. Their homes were nearly I foundered. The men were dirt}' and ragged. They halted for a rest near a seminary for young ladies, all sympathizers with the Confederacy. Out oame the ladies when they saw the gray ooat a They brought out food, drink rand armsful of flowers. They hung flowers around the necks of the hunted man, and sang out n a musical chorus. “Oh, you darling Confederates.” A straggling Confederate, fat, greasy and ragged,oame pounding up at this,flogging a jaded hack ing because he oould not keep up with his better mouured associates. He was just in time to hear the invocation of the young ladies. He yelled out, “Oh, you sweet, darling Confederates, the Yanks are coming!” There was a bolt at this. The laggard pounded on behind, swearing, “Oh, you d sweet darlings, I hope the Yanks will get you!” The Federate were right at his heels. The flying Confederates wheeled in their saddles, laughing at the slow rider. Suddenly the tired horse stumbled, fell and tlirew the fat rider over into the ditch, where he escaped notioe, while a detachmont of the Federate headed off the main band and captured every one but one mqn, who was saved, he having the poorest horse. The prisoners never heard the last of “Oh, you sweet, darling Confederates.”