MULTUM IN PARVO LIBRARY.
Entered at the Boston Post office as second class matter.
The Unique
Story Book.
Smallest Magazine in the world. Subscription price
50 cts. per year. Single Copies 5 cts. each.
PUBLISHED BY
A. B. COURTNEY,
Room 74, 45 Milk Street,
BOSTON, MASS.
[2]
THE THREE DIAMONDS.
“Do you remember the diamonds we foundup at old Gray Jake Wagner’s house when wewere making that little raid around Taylorsville?”was asked of Colonel Andrew M. Benson, ofPortland, Me., by a former companion withwhom he was dining at Syracuse, N. Y. Thecolonel at first failed to recall the circumstances,but on the mention of a certain Miss Wagner’sname a relaxation of his features showed that allrecollection of the episode was not lost, and thedinner party was soon in possession of the facts,as follows: In the latter part of the year 1864,Colonel Benson, the captain of the First Districtof Columbia cavalry, with Colonel James M. Gere,also captain at the time, Colonel Walpole, ofSyracuse, and Lieutenant Cornell, of Vermont,were confined in the prison pen at Columbia,S. C., and during December they escaped andmade their way to Crab Orchard, on Doe RiverCove. There they found a company of 83 struggling[3]Federal soldiers. Though in the heart of theenemy’s country, the members of this little bandwere suddenly stimulated to excessive braveryby thus meeting with their fellows, and conceivedit would be a fine joke to make a little raid onTaylorsville, a village nearly 50 miles furthernorth. The daring of the scheme appeared when,upon examination, it was found that 30 of themen had just one round of ammunition, while 31had only one extra charge. Six, however, weremounted, and, at the head of this plucky detachmentof cavalry Captain Benson was placed. CaptainGere led the infantry, and the whole squadwas in command of Lieutenant James Hartley.Such was the make-up of the band that startedout with more pluck than powder to captureTaylorsville. About 40 miles of the distance hadbeen covered when the plantation of a rebel wasreached who was notorious in all the countryround. A halt was ordered to treat with theowner, Gray Jake Wagner, who was at that timejust walking out to feed his hogs.
“Oh, take what you want; but only spare mylife,” cried Gray Jake Wagner, throwing up hishands like a flash and dropping his pail of swillas a bullet whistled past his ear, advising him ofhis distinguished visitors.
“We want,” said Captain Benson, “whatever[4]you have of use to us.” And it took but a glanceto tell the astonished planter that nothing