Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1861-11-07

1
! of past days, wben, in early youth, no cry for
| blood had yet awakened that inherent ferocity
! that turks unseen in the heart of man until the
! fearful scent rouses as it does the blood hounds
and it springs forth with a swiftness that ap-
pals and strength that desolates.
| CAPTURE.
| Ny reverie was broken by the sound Of vol
ceS. Then came that of approaching footsteps
As it drew nearer a new life seemed to quiver
through my veins, like a fresh gGsh Of virgin
spring The most savage foe, to whom the
texture of captive were, with an uuapproach-
able delight, advancing upon me with the me-
naces of a demoniac, would at that moment
been welcome as an angel of light in compar-
ison to the loneliness the woe OF that dismal
glen, and its bloody and unburied dead .r..
la few moments dozen armed men were
on the spot leaning upon their rifles and gaz
ing round upon the dead Some stopped and
examined the body with careless scrutiny; 9th
ers merely stirred them with the foot or turned
them over the muzzleS Of their guns, with the
brutal indifference bloodshed eugenders in
the heart.
They're dead Let them rot ?" said one
who appeared to he the leader of the party.
Not all dead, !" | replied
Had a voice actually Issued from the tomb,
as mine undoubtedly seemed to DO its effect
would not have been much more startling -
Each man, for an instant, seemed changed in
to statue Then the whole group made
simultaneous mOvemenC toward me-
That's the fellow that bayonetted Ike"
exclaimed one of thern cooking his revolver
and thrusting the mnzzle between my teeth
In inc ut I bor hao,o in
eternity, but for the sudden jerking back of
my would be destroyer's arm by one Of bis
comrades, who calmly remarked :: " If he's got
through the rough work he had awhile ago,
well not kill the poor devil now With
mnttered curse the ruf1iin replaced his weapon
in his belt and withdrew "Where are you
hurt 2' inquired he whose interference had just
saved me ; q can't yer get up p | told him ]
had been shot in to re hIp, and was dying OF
thirst Here he called a member of the party
to him. aud taking from his hand q canteen,
poured some of its contents-brandy and water
down my throat My wound had entirely
stopped bleeding, but my whole side was stiff
and painful With much difficulty rose to
my feet and by the aid Of two of my captors, for
such they were, managed to move along with
the rest of the band, through what appeared
Oi1i' 'tiN ti'A''''~-'--J F--''C5 a." PA'H
to that had hitherto traverSed iu the com
panv of those who had fallen, and whom | was
now leaving behind me forever
For some time we followed this road, running
at the base Of TWO decIivities almost perpen-
dicular, whose dizzy SUBMITS could not scan,
and whose rugged sides of gray, at intervals
were shining coldIy beneath some stray CLEAN
of moonlight, that, even in that cavernous pass,
found its way and smiled amid the gloom, like
the good glance of visiting angel.
Suddenly we emerged from this gloomy de-
file, and found ourselves in what appeared al.
most level country Here-where some
tents were pitched-we halted, and | was a
prisoner in a guerrilla camp.
\ week elapsed, aud ! had recovered from
my wound The chief Of the party who had
captured me offered me my liberty, on cond-
tion that | gave my parole not to bear arms
against the rebels again during twelve months
This had sworn never to do in the event Of
my becoming a prisoner to the Confederate
army. | was equally resolved now to adhere
to my oath
From that moment | was closely guarded
with the vigilance known but to an angry foe.
No sleepy sentinel ever lounged with heavy
limb and weary eye, in mock watchfuInesS, near
the rugged couch whereon | lay But sleep
ing or walking some hawk-eyed watcher kept
guard 10y my side, marking all my Outgoiugs
aud incOmingS
In that camp was another prisoner beside
myself, miserable creature, apparently, only
waiting the certain death that the caprice of a
merciless band would, in some unexpected mo,
ment, hurl upon his head, and whom nothing
but the same caprice permitted still to move
upon the earth living thing This wretch
had been captured some days after | had in
the act of roobng the dead after q skrmish.
His crime, in the eye of a soldier, is deadly
sin lie is the parah OF his class. A yulture
too foul for an honest shot. from whose blood
the bright steel would receive disgrace deeper
than its stain. A thing too worthless to hang;
one whose loathSome life should be crushed out
suddenly, with stone or club, as a reptile should,
and tee contaminated weapon then flung from
the hand forever.
He cringed to his captors, and they drove
him from them with curses and kicks, and
when he fawned they spat upon him.
AN ESCAPE.
One night, after unwearied watchtuness and
ceaseless planning, | broke from the bondage
that held me- The night was cloudy and
threatened rain. | had heard enough from my
captors to know that detachment of northern
troops was encamped to the eastward, within
five miles of US. This detach nent | resolved
to reach or die From what | had learned
among the guerillas,i felt assured could with
little difficulty find the encampment. After
crouching my way through and along the ont
skirt of a thicket (that grew by the side Of
oil nd rIu
and west for at least two miles, | merged
from it into the road, sweating and bleeding (;
hatless, my clothes torn into fragments, pant
ir,rr n,,d Lnl IL ,,,,t hnnrinrrS