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.o of soldiers
and ioin them 10 a plan of escape. How we'll Captain
Lee sustained his part, may be inferred from the fact
that when he had disappeared and placed himself among
the prisoners, his own soldiers saw him every day with
out the leas. suspicion. The person to whom the author
of this sketch is indebted for those particulars, was the
intendant of the prisoners. and familiar With Lee; but,
though compelled to see him often in the discharge OF
his duty, he never penetrated the dlsgulse. We'll II
was for Lee that it was so complete. Had his associates
suspected his purpose to betray them, he would have
be- q embraced in the proverb, dead men tell no tales
For many days he remained in this situation, making no
discoveries whatever. lie thought he perceived, at times,
sigus of int. lligence between the prisoners and an od
woman who was allowed to bring fruit tor sale, within
the enclosure. She was known to be deaf and bali
wit,ed, and was therefore no object Of suspicion. 1t
was known that her son had been disgraced aud pun
ished in the American army, but she hai never betrayed
anv malice IN that account, and no one dreamed that
she could have had the power to do injury II she pos
sessed the will. Lee watched her closely, but saw
nothing to confirm his suspicious. Her dwelling was
about a mile distant, = wild retreat, where she shared
her miserable quarters, with a dog and q cat, the former
OF which mounted guard over her mansion, and was
efectu.l in keeping visitors away.
One dark, stormy night in Autumn, he was lying
aw~k Ike at midnight, meditatiDg on the enterprise he had
undertaken, which, though in the beginning it bad re
commended itself to his romantic disposition, had now
IlbSt al la SU0 ~ q - W
in ur elm tie, so often hang upon the path Of the d.
par.iu x year. tbs companions slept soundly. but the
wind, winch shnok the tuiidiHg t0 its foundation, AID
threw heavy splashes Of rain against the window, CON-
sblred with the state Of his mind to keep him wakefui
AL at once the door was gently opened, aud a figure
j, rye IT'S motions narrowly, but be could see that it
stopped towards one Of the sleepcrs, who Immediately
rose next it approached and touched him ON the shout
der L.elma.euiately started up; tAe figure then al
.owed a slight CLEAN from a dark lantern to pass over
MS face, aud as 1t did SO, whispered impatiently, not
the man-but come! 1t then occurred to Lee that this
Was the opportunity b. then desired. The unknown
hen viii. pered him, to keep bis place till another man
vas called but just at that moment some noise dis.
tl bed him, and making a sigu to Lee to follow ne moved
silently out Of the room.
They found he door of the house unbarred, and a
small part Of tie fence removed, where they passed out
without molestation the sentry bad retired to = shelter
where he thought he could guard his post without suf-
tering from the rain but Lee saw that his conductors
Dat themselyesin preparation to silence him it he should
h,ppen to address them. just without the fence. ap
pearcd IA STOPPING figure, wrapped in u RED cloak, anu
supporting itself with q large stick, which Lee at once
perceived could be no other than the old fruit woman.
But the mos. profound silence was observed; a man
came out of a thicket at a little distance, aud joined
hem, and the whole party moved onward under the
guidance Of the old woman. At first they frequently
topped to listen, but having heard the sentinels cry,
AK WE'LL they seemed treasured, and moved with
more confidence than before.
They soon came near to her cottage, under an over
banging bank, where a bright light was shining out
rom a little window upon the wet and dropping boughs
that hung near 1t. A table was spread with some coarse
provisions upon it, and a large Jug. which one Of the
,ldiers was about to seize, when the man who conducted
them withheld him.
NO. said he, we must 6rst proceed to business
lie then went to a small closet, from viii h he returnel
with what seemed to have been originally a bible, though
now it was worn to a mahogany color and = 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 q short stout man,
with much the aspect of a villain. They examined him
in turn, and as Lee had formerly been obliged to punish
the shorter soldier severely, he felt some misgiviugs
when the fellows eye rested upon him. Their conduc
tor was a middle aged, hard looking man, whom Lee
had never seen before.
As no time was to be lost, their guide explained to
his dangerous enterprise, he should require Of them to
swear upon the Scriptures, not to make the least attemP!
to escape, and never to reveal the circumstsnc s OF
agents in the proceeding, whatever might befail them
The soldiers, however, insisted on deferr'ng this measure
till they had formed some sight acquaintance with the
contents of the jug, and expressed their sentiments On
the subject, rather by actions than words In this tn }
were joined by Lee, who by this time had begun t.
contemplate the danger of the enterprise in a new and
unpleasant point of view. If he we're to be compile
to accompany his party to New York, his diguias would
at ouce BE- detected, and it was certain that he would be
hanged AS a spy. He had supposed, beforehand, that
he should find no difficulty in escaping at any momen.
but be saw that their conductor had prepared arns tol
them, which they were to use in taking the life Of any
one who should attempt to leave them and then the
oath. He might P ,ssltly have released himself from I'll
obligations when 1t became necessary for the interests
Of bis country ; but NJ honorable man can well bear t
be driven to an emergency, in which be must violate
an oath, however reluctantly taken. He felt that Their
Was No retreatipg when there came a heavy shock, as !
something falling ag .iust the sides Of the house the1
pract;ced ears at once detected the alarm gun and thel
conductor, throwing down the old bible, which he hs'
held all the while impatientIy in his hand, directed tn
party to follow hin i'll close order, aud Immediately quit
ted the house, taking with him his dark lantern.
g They went on with great dispatch, hut not withou
Z difficulty. Sometimes their footing would give way Of
t come sandy bank or slippery field and when their pat
8 led through the woods, the wet boughs dashed heavli
, in their faces. Lee felt that he might have deserted h'
l companions while they We're N this hurry ana alarm
t but he telt that, az yet, he bad made no discoveries
aud however dangerous his situation Was he could u.
: bear to cunte.s tuat be had not nerve to carry 1t througt
On he went, therefore, tor two Ur three hours, anu Va
beginning to SINK with fatigue, when the barking OF
/. dog brought the parry to q .tand. Their conductor ga'
b q low whistle, which was answered at no great d'stanc
il aud d figure came forward in the darkness, who Will
u L --- -. - n hnHl