Noticing that he seemed confused and in trouble, I sent the children
out to bring him to me. He came up haltingly, and in response to my
questioning told me that he had been rejected by the hospital because
he had been a Confederate soldier and it was against their rules to
accept any but Union veterans.
I turned the stranger over to my sister, who prepared a meal for him
while I went over to the adjutant's office to see what could be done. I
met General Emory in the adjutant's office, and on my promise to pay
the ex-Confederate's bills, he gave me an order admitting him to the
hospital. Soon my new protege, who said his name was Jim White, was
duly installed, and receiving the treatment of which he stood in sore
need.
In a few weeks he had nearly recovered from the wound in his leg which
had necessitated the use of his crutches. Every day he came to my house
to play with the children and to care for my horses, a service for
which he gruffly refused to accept any pay.
Now and then he would borrow one of my rifles for a little practice. I
soon discovered that he was a splendid shot, as well as an unusually
fine horseman. My surprise at these accomplishments was somewhat
lessened when he told me that he had spent his four years' war service
as one of General J.E.B. Stuart's scouts. Stuart had no other kind of
men in his command.
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