The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-06-21
Gbs Dailp Grsen,al1.
NIONTPELaEBs, VII,
FRIDAY, JUNE 21, 1861.
A Race for Life.

While on our way to McGregor the other
day, on the steamer Milwaukee, we made the
acquaintance of one Of our fellow passengers
who had just escaped from the Southern
Confederacy. Many of our citizens know
him well, as he was once in business here
We will give the narrative in his own words
as near as possible:
You see 1 had been doing heavy whole
sale and retail provision business in the city
of Augusta, Georgia, for two years. and was
getting along with the inhabitants very
smoothly, until little circumstance transplred
last fall which melted the popuace against
me. had taken more or less interest IN
political affairs while lived there, and, as
much from policy as anything else, adopted
a conservative Southern view Of matters.
was strong Bell aud Everett man, and
when the State Convention was in session,
was mentioned as one Of the State electors.
AS it was known that l came from Dubu-
que, some of my constituents wrote to the
latter city for information as 10 my political
antecedents. The letter was addressed to one
OF the prominent law firms of Dubuque and
. for some unaccountablc reason answered IN
such a manner as to direct the deepest indig-
nation of the community where lived against
me. They W ere iniormcd that l was loud
mouthed Abolitionsst and stumped the State
for Fremont Within short time after the
receipt of that letter my house was S1rroun-
ded by an infuliatea mob, eager to wreak
blind vengeance on me. appealed to the
Mayor, who was warm personal friend or
mine, for protection. He responded by call
ing out the entire police force TO dlsperse the
rabblc.
Myself and son,i ,ia.aw stood all that night
at the head of the first flight Of stairs, In my
house with firearms and axes, resolved to
sell our lives as dearly as possible, should the
miscreants break in. My brave wife knew
no fear, and would not leave my side, al.
though entreated her 10 do So She seemed
ncrvcd to desperation by our common danger
and ready to face all, and sacrifice her lite H.
necessary, in defense of our home.
The people were pacfed at last when they
found US too resolute to be imposed on, and
after q short time [ was allowed to pursue my
business as usual. I satisfied them appar
! emily that did not entertain principles re-
nugnant to their peculiar views, and convlnc'
t ed them that the information they had re-
e ceiyed was a tissue OF falsehoods; yet there
) ever after lurked among them suspicion o.
G NV LOYALTY to the South Thus we llvec
v through the winter, the community daily be
d coming more excited and bitter against those
}. who did not coincide to the letter with th'
!. damnable opinions that then ruled the hour
d IN illustration of this [ will only cite on
y instance. A party of merchants were dls
e e cussing the impending crisis one aiternoo" II
It store not far from mine, when one
IL nv neighbors made the following remark
u Gentlemcn, v must be careful and not un
derrate the strength Of the enemy" Iha
same nioh, committee called upon HIM AM
asked him if he had made such remark
when he replied, " Yes, and do not SEQ tn
harm in it 1t is one of the first lessons
military strategy not to underrate the powe
Of the enemy His explanation awaited mr.
nothing. He was seized and one SIDE CT III
Id head and face shaved clear of the hair an
vhiskers. Then the newly barbered POI
tious were daubed with tar and feathers. II
then received forty lashes, and was given
understand that he had twelve hours IN whlc
to make himself scarce.
This was not an isolated instance. Deco
of violence were of daily occurrence an
many times they resulted in the death OF IL
a victim. With such a state OF society Dol
ing around me- naturally felt anxious to r
move my family beyond all chance OF lnlur
,.- Finally, when they had for some time bee
- drafting troops from the city for jeff. Davl
army, | foresaw the time when would
). called on, and determined to remove my WI
,, and children to the North. [ started
with them, ostensibly to 60 to another plac
and took them TO Atlanta, where l boug
ms through tickets for them and sent them 10
ward, while | returned TO Augusta to clio
up my business.
his continued in my trade there for she
time, cndeavoring to convert my property
to funds which would be current in Iowa.
dared not purchase gold at the banks m
self, Tor fear of attracting the attention
the Vigilance Committee. No one was
in in. lowed to leave the country openly. Throu
"a the friendship of young man named 70
IA ers, who had been boarding with me, p'
chased some cnrrent funds, perhaps $4OO.'
Ho was bookseller from Ohio who bad be
-. AZ HnAtoO Kipo