June 9, 1863, Weekly Columbus Enquirer (Georgia)
Ed. Enquirer: The particulars of this horrible murder we hasten to lay before your readers. The awful deed was committed at midnight, on Ashley’s Farm, near Mount Hebron Church. Hear the confession of the dastardly wretch: It was midnight, when all nature seemed hushed in quiet repose, and the weary soldiers were slumbering in fancied security upon their pallets, save the martial tread of the watchful sentinel as he paced his post, vigilantly guarding his comrades from skulking intruders, when suddenly from the west, dark clouds ominously gathered upon the horizon; when, as time grew apace, the muttering thunders and vivid sheets of lightning darting like forked tongued serpents across the heavens indicated a terrific storm. The heavens were pervaded with darkness–darker and blacker it grew–peal after peal rent the air; the lightnings flashed, the thunder roared, the earth quaked and vibrated at sounds of heaven’s artillery; large drops of rain fell thick and fast. I awoke! Would to heaven that I could have remained as unconscious as my sleeping comrades. Slowly and cautiously an object, apparently invisible, came creeping towards me; the monster had taken hold of my foot. I tried to speak but could not; my tongue clove to the roof of my mouth; a dizziness came over my bewildered brain; large drops of perspiration stood upon my forehead. I endeavored to awaken my companion, but my strength failed me. I grew faint.–Another flash more vivid, accompanied by terrific peals of thunder, revealed–Oh, God! how can I describe it! It was already on my body. I used every effort to shake the monster off, but could not move a hand. I almost ceased to breathe. I could not endure such awful agony much longer. With one tremendous bound I grasped my bowie knife and pistol with one hand, and with the other grasped the monster by the head. My teeth were clenched, my eyes protruded from their sockets. I raised the murderous weapon in the air, and, with giant strength, plunged my knife into the largest, fattest, bloodiest looking body bedbug I ever saw. Steve Wells told me to lie still, or he would kick me out of bed.