The emigrant aid journal of Minnesota. [volume] (Nininger City, Minn. Terr. [i.e. Minn.]) 1856-1858, 1858-03-03

barracks where be might gain the con6dence soldiers
and join them in plan of escape: How we'll Captain
Lee sustained his part may be inferred from the fact
that when he had disappeared aud placed himself among
the prisoners his soldiers saw him every day with
out the least suspicion The person to whom the author
of this sketch is indebted for those particulars the
intendant Of the prisoners and familiar with les but,
though compelled to see him often in the discharge OF
his duty he never penetrated the disguise. Well 1t
was for Lee that it complete Had his associates
suspected his purpose to betray them, be would have
BET embraced in the proverb dead men tell no tales
For many days he remained in this situation, making no
discoveries whatever He thought perceived, At times
signs of intelligence between the prisoners and an old
woman who was allowed to bring fruit for sale, within
the enclosure She was known to be deaf and half
witted and was therefore object Of suspicion. 1t
was known that her son had been dsgraced aud pun
ished in the American army, but she hal never betrayed
she could have had the power to do injury if she pos
sessed the will. Lee watched her closely, but saw
nothing to confirm his suspicious. Her dwelling was
about mile distant, wild retreat, where she shared
her miserable quarters with dog and cat the former
OF which mounted guard over her mansion, snd was
efectual in keeping visitors away
One dark, stormy night in Autumn, he was lying
awke at midnight, meditatng the enterprise he had
undertaken, which, though in the beginning it bad re-
commended itself to his romantic disposition had now
list all it charms. 1t of those tempests which
in ur clime often hang upon the path Of the d.
pairing year. hs companions slept soundly. bat the
wind, winch shook the building its Foundation, and
threw heavy splsshes Of against the window,
spired with the Of his mind to keep him wakeul
All at ouce the door gently opened, aud figure
moved silently uto the room It too dark to OBJ
Its motions narrowly, but he ceuld zee that
stopped towards of the seepers, who immediately
rose next approached and touched him the shOul
Il rfAA Aa Z a60NPe nj.
.vwed slight CLEAN dark lantern to pass over
MS tace and did 80, whispered impatienty, not
the nau-but come 1t then occurred tO Lee that this
Was the opportunity he then desired The unknown
hen whp pered him, to keep his place till another man
Vas called but just at that moment some noise dis.
bed him, and making sgu to Lee to follow ne moved
silently Of the room.
They found he door of the house unbarred, and
small part Of tie fence removed where they passed out
without molestaton the sentry had retired to shelter
where he thought he could guard his post without suf
ering from the rain but Lee that his conductors
pat themsvesn preparation to silence hun ne should
happen to address them. just without the fence. ap
peared STOPPING figure, wrapped in red cloak, and
supporting itself with large stick, which Lee at once
perceived could be other than the old fruit woman
But the most profound silence observed; man
came out Of thicket little distance, aud joined
Them, and the whole party moved onward under the
guidance of the old woman. At first they frequently
topped lsten but having heard the sentines cry,
|. alls we they seemed treasured, and moved with
more confidence than before. . s,t
They soon came near to her cottage, under over
hanging bank, where bright light shining out
rom little window upon the wet and dropping boughs
that hung near it, table was spread with soe
provisions upon it, and large Jug which one Of the
soldiers about seize, when the who conducted
them withheld him. =
NO., said he, we must 6tst proceed to business
lie then went small closet from Viii n be returned
with what seemed have been originally bible, though
now it was worn to mahogany color aud spherical
form. While they were doing this, Lee had time to
examine his companirns; one Of whom was large,
quite good looking soldier, the other short stout
with much the aspect of villain. They examined him
in turn and Lee had formerly been obliged topunish
the shorter soldier severely he felt some misgviugs
when the fellow eye rested upon him. Their conduc
had never seen before. II
Az no time was to be lost, their guide explained
them in few words that, before he should undertAte
his dangerous enterprise 10 should require Of them to
upon the Scriptures, not to make the least attempt
to escape, and never to reveal the circunstsno or
agents in the proceeding, whatever might befal them
The soldiers however insisted deferrng this measure
till they had formed some slight scquantance With the
contents Of the jug, and expressed their sentiments Oh
the subject rather BY actions than words In this
were joined by Lee, who by this time had begun tv
contemplate the danger Of the enterprise in new and
to accompany his party to New York. his diguas woaid
at once BE detected and it vas certain that he would be
hanged . spy. He had supposed, beforehand, that
he should find difficulty in escaping at any momeat
but be saw that their conductor had prepared tor
them, which they in taking the life Of sny
one who should attempt to leave them and then the
OATH He might ,ssblY haye selesssd himself from ts
obligations when becss necessary for the interests
Of bis country but honorable man can well bear to
be driven to an emergency, in which be nuSs violate
an oath however Reluctantly taken. He felt that there
was No retreany when there came heavy ahosk, if
something tapg ag.iast the sides Of the house their
prscticed at detected the alarm gun and their
conductor throwing down the old bble which he had
held all the while mpa,ienty in his hand, drected the
party to follow him n close order aud mmedissy quit
ted the house, taking with him his dark lantern. aoo
They went on with great dispatch, but not without
difficulty Sometimes their footing would give wsYsoa
come sandy bank slippery field and when thdispssh
led through the woods, the wet boughs dashed heavily
in their faces Lee felt that be might have bis
companions while they we're n thsssars1 ana alarm
but le te that, yet he had nDsde no discoveries
aud however dangerous his sisaatvn be could Net
bear to confes be had to carry it through
On he went therefore, two three hours, anu Wa:
beginning sink with fatigue when the barking OF
dog brusght the parry to srtsnd Their conductor gav
low wh-t,e, wn,cL answered II no great d'sancs
aud figure cauie forward 10 the daskness, who whs
,o.od hnitd