BUCK TRAVIS’ CAPTURE.–

23. July 2009 by admin.

In the early days of the rebellion, ere the keen edge of Southern chivalry was blunted by contact with the mudsills of the North, Buck Travis raised a regiment among the young bloods of Henry County, in West Tennessee. The regiment was organized by the election of Travis as Colonel, and the celebrated J. D. C. Atkins as Lieutenant-Colonel. Travis lost no time in putting himself at the head of his gallant band, and “starting forth on martial deeds intent,” they approached Union City, Tennessee, just at the time when Pillow was transferring military stores, ordnance, &c., to Columbus, Kentucky. They arrived at the depot simultaneously with a train from the South, bearing several pieces of artillery. These, by some strange mistake, were at once seized by Travis as Lincoln guns, and a telegram was immediately sent to Atkins, who had remained behind at Paris, announcing the brilliant achievement. The despatch was handed to him on the Square, surrounded by a crowd of citizens. He glanced at its contents, and looked around for the most eligible site for a rostrum. Discovering a pile of boxes on the corner, he made for them, followed by the eager crowd. Mounting the box, he lifted his voice and announced the glorious intelligence. “My countrymen!” he said, “this is a proud day for Henry County and for the State. I am proud to announce to you that your gallant sons, under the lead of the indomitable Travis, have already wreathed their brows with an imperishable fame. The murderous artillery with which the tyrant Lincoln sought to enslave our people, has been wrested from the tyrant’s hands, and—” Here another despatch was handed to the speaker, and he was heard to remark, with an oath, “Buck always was a d—d fool. Boys, them was our guns, after all.”

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