John Rufus Coats and the Deserter

   Pap won't for Secession, but when this state joined the Confederacy, he sided with the state. He was an officer and had a uniform and a sword. His health wasn't very good and so he stayed home. His job was to catch deserters and drill recruits. I was a little fellow and wore a dress. I used to walk behind him holding on his coat tail while he was drilling the recruits. It's funny now, but nobody laughed then.
   One day Pap heard about a neighbor that had deserted. Pap sent word he wanted to see him. One cold morning Pap and I were sitting in the kitchen at the fireplace when we heard a fellow outside hollering, "Rufe, I heard you wanted to see me."
   Pap got up and took his stick and went to the door. I was right behind him. There was the neighbor standing in the yard with his shotgun cocked and pointing at the door, "Well, Rufe, I'm here," he said.
   Pap said, "Put down that gun," and started walking to him with his walking stick.
   "Don't come any nearer, Rufe, or I'll shoot," the neighbor said.
   Pap kept on a walking and kept saying, "I told you to put down that gun."
   The neighbor kept saying, "Stop, Rufe, or I'll shore as hell shoot you." But he kept on backing away. Finally, he backed against the rail fence to the field. I reckon it scared him, for he threw down his gun and jumped over the fence.
   Pap hobbled after him, but he couldn't catch him. When Pap got to the fence, he threw his cane and it caught the neighbor between his legs and he fell. Pap reached down and picked up the gun. The neighbor thought Pap was going to shoot him, I reckon, for he came back, holding up his hands.
   But Pap won't going to shoot. He handed the gun to his neighbor and he said, "Now, Bill, I don't like this war neither. But, we got to fight. You know that."
   Bill (I don't remember his name) said, "I don't believe in slavery neither. Why should I fight to keep slavery when I don't have none myself? Besides, I've got to get my corn in the barn. I ain't a goin back."
   And Pap said, "It ain't slavery you're fighting for, it's your state. Are you scared? Some recruits are going to be here in the morning. I need you to help me drill 'em. They're scared, I expect, but they're going to fight for their country. But, if you're scared, don't you come here tomorrow. If you ain't scared, you be here." And Pap turned around and walked back to the house. I was scared, but Pap didn't scare easy."

Daniel Miller Coats, son of John Rufus Coats (as told to his own son, Kenneth Coats)
Coats Family History, C. Stanton Coats