TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA - MILITARY - Capture of A. W. Tabor
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Capture of A. W. Tabor, 1906 - Tazewell Co. VA


CIVIL WAR, Clinch Valley News, Friday, January 26, 1906, Tazewell, 
Tazewell Co., VA 

CAPTURE OF A. W. TABOR-A WAR INCIDENT *

In connection with the publication of the roster of Co. I, in the paper, 
the following incident will be interesting: MR. A. W. TABOR Falls 
Mills, was perhaps the youngest member of the company, being about 17 
years of age when he volunteered. He was captured at Moorefiled, West 
Virginia, * in 1864 and he tells his experience about as follows: 

(* A.W. TABOR-ALEXANDER WALTHAM TABOR) 
(* aka Kearnstown)

"About a hundred of us were out on a short scouting trip, when, the 
first thing we knew we were among a lot of Yankee Cavalry—seemed to me 
about five thousand of ,. em. We broke down the road, as fast as our 
horses could go. The first thing I knew, I was pitching over my horse’s 
head, my horse was shot dead, and I thought I was dead, too. I felt 
blood running down my face. And then I didn’t remember anything else for 
some time, until I heard somebody holler, "halt." I looked around, and 
there was a big Yankee standing by me, with a big pistol pointing at me. 
I was out in an old field. It seems that when my horse fell I got up 
runnin’ and kept on runnin’, and perhaps would have been runnin’ yet if 
that Yankee hadn’t halted me. When I fell from my horse my head was the 
first place to hit the ground, cutting a great gash and dazing me so 
that I didn’t know anything, but I hadn’t forgotten how to run, you bet. 
My captor ordered me to give up my arms, and asked me who I was, and I 
told him I didn’t know. He asked me if I was shot, I told him I didn’t 
know, and he said I seemed to be able to run alright. Now what do you 
think that Yankee did? I’ll be dad-blamed if he didn’t get right down 
off his horse and told me to get up, as I wasn’t able to walk, and he 
walked beside me, leading the horse, and treated me just like a brother. 
Further on, he got up in front, and I rode behind him into camp, where I 
was treated with every consideration. In a day or two I slipped out and 
got away, and went back to my regiment. I halfway believe they didn’t 
care whether I got away or not. You may say what you please, but they 
were good kindhearted men on the other side. I never have forgotten the 
kindness of this Yankee soldier. He was a member of Indiana regiment, 
and I’d be the gladdest in the world to see him and thank him for his 
kindness to a soldier boy in trouble. If he is living I hope he is happy 
and prosperous, and if he is dead, that his soul is at peace and rest," 
and Alex took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. Many an old 
soldier can tell of similar kind treatment on the part of the enemy. 
Judge Graham, who was a member of this Company, tells an interesting 
story of how, when severely wounded he was kindly treated by his captors 
and everything possible done for him. We hope to get him to tell it for 
the benefit of our readers. Also, any other incidents by members of this 
or any other Company, will be interesting, and gladly published in this 
paper.