While this was not the concluding chapter, or the end of my dealings,
either by way of experience or adventure with these deserters, or all
that was likely to grow out of it, I felt that much of the burden had
been lifted. The long chase in the howling "Norther". The novelty of our
night at "Rhodes Ranch"--with seven people, including the crying baby,
and the three dogs in a one room "shack" to keep us from perishing;
sliding and skating over the desolate solitude, wind-swept and ice
crusted; the two long, weary nights among the dens, dives and slums of
Weatherford and Cleburne with my optimistic, jovial, joking--Musketeer
Corporal; the all night study of the map--the one-legged, "_Johnny
driver_" with his friendly Gettysburg battle-field reminiscing that came
so near losing me the fruits of a night's hard labor--and uncertainty
of plans in the early morning at the latter town;--the exciting,
thrilling--almost spectacular capture of the men in the brush near
Hillsboro; the bluff and threat of the wagon master; the novelty of a
Texas log jail with its forbidding exterior and interior, but sheltering
walls; the little, panic-stricken wagoner; the indictment of all the
citizens implicated in their escape and temporary release under the
stimulus of "blood money"; the "squealing" of Crafts on the concealment
of the arms; the identification of the raw recruits;--the encounter with
the fighting termagants at Hardin's Ranch; the hasty return of the
carbines by the "old man" who would "lick you uns outen yer boots"; the
commendations and warm personal thanks of Generals Mackenzie and Hardie;
the letter of thanks and congratulations from the Major-General
Commanding the Department of Texas; all were now over, and I could
at last, heave a great sigh of relief--and for a few days, at least,
indulge in a brief period of well earned rest.
It is believed that this march of over 200 miles in the dead of winter,
during an unprecedented severe "Norther" (10 deg. below zero) with sleet,
snow, hail and ice almost thick enough to bear the weight of our horses,
and for a part of the time in jeopardy of our lives--the capture of
these ten (10) men with all of their arms and safe delivery into a
military post, and the apprehension and indictment of the three (3)
civilians for their share in the adventure--stands on record as the
most complete and wide-sweeping "round up" of deserters, under all of
the circumstances, ever known in the official Military Annals of the
Department of Texas, if not in the entire United States Army-- At all
events, in any way it may be summed up, it was a most remarkable and
"Phenomenal Capture".