The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-06-14

was not well posted in that sort Of thing
He did SO. Those five charges arc still II
the barrels, and 80 help me, they shall nevc'
bo fired of until they are discharged in thu
streets of Augusta, and one Of them into th'
body Of the sergeant who loaded 1t.
/ got away from the army and hurriec
home, where I found Powers making prcpa
rations to 60 North by the next train, which
left at half past ten o'clock that night.
told him must get away from Augusta that
night at any cost. l asked him to take my
carpet.bag on board tho train, and If did
not call for it in certain time to send 1t to
my family in Dubuque. lie said he would
do 30.
locked up my store and house, the one
completely furnished from top to bottom
and the other containing some $4,000 worth
of goods, which was obliged to leave
behind to fall into the hands Of the rebels.
then repaired to the depot nearly an hour
before the time for departure Of the train'
and secreted myself under tho rear end OF
the rear car on a cross piece which connected
the wheels. Grasping my pistol in my hand
and resolving to shoot the first man who
should discover me, waited for events
Soon after I had gained this position the
Vigilance Committee camo into the depot
They were a party Of men appointed to
SEQ that no Northern men went on the
train, and to exercise general surveillance
over oil suspicious characters. If they dis
covered a Northern man no was taken out
and whipped, and forced to enlist. If they
found one who had already enlisted, 1t Jared
worse with him. He was whipped and 9TH
crwise maltreated, and then usually shot, 30
knew what my fate would be IL I was de-
tected. As the hour for starting drew near,
my suspense was agonizing in the extreme.
Finally little incident occurred which prob
ably ensured my salvation from their clutch
es. The committee went through tho cars
after the passengers werc seated, and closely
questioned and scrutinized every individual.
In one car they found an old man who an
swcrcd to the description Of one who had
been tarred and feathorcd at Savannah and
whipped of. Appended to the despatch de-
scribing him, was this Christian injunction !:
"If you catch him, give him He'll"
Ono of the rufians lifted his grcy locks
and saw tho tar still adhering to his brow,
where he had been unable to remove it. He
fairly yelled with delight.
"Hcro's the old devil! We've got him J"
etc.. etc.
They howlcd and then dragged him from
the car to the platform outside, although
they did not know of thing he had done
amiss.
"Gcntlemcn," said the aged man respect
fully, "I am an old man, and do not know
that ever did any man wrong. All / ask
is for the privilege Of getting homo to my
family. beg that you will release me-"
They laughed his entrcates to scorn, and
bore him away in the dark, screaming and
bowling like demons, doubtless to torture
him with scourges, and perhaps to murder
him as they have SO many before him. Dur
ing all this time lay within dozen feet
of some Of the party, expecting every mo.
ment would bo discovered by some unlucky
fend. It is well for him and me that he did
not, for that moment would have been the
signal for his death. would have shot as
many as l could and died dearly.
At last the train moved out of the depot
and slowly around curve, and when it was
out of the range of tho depot lamps drop
ped from my perch and clambered upon the
rear platform of the car. Going into the
car sat down in tho darkest corner, and
drew my hat over my face in order to escape
recognition. BY feigning sleep escaped
the attention and remarks of my townsmen,
many of whom were on board of the train,
until morning, when We reached Atlanta
some two hundred miles from Augusta. II
| could get beyond there knew | was com
paratively safe, as there was no telegraph
between that place and Chattanooga, though
there was one from Augusta to Atlanta.
1t was daylight when wc left Atlanta, SC
that further concealmcnt was impossible
My fellow passengers expressed considerable
surprise at seeing INC, and wcro anxious t.
know whore l was going. informed then
that was going to Chattanooga, as usual, t.
purchase large quantity of bacon, in which
| was dealing extensively. Many of my &C
quaintances whom knew to be in tho sam'
business, were also going after beef, pork
bacon, flour, grain, and such other provis
ions as We were forced to purchase in th'
more Northern States.
We all talked secession loudly; and wor'
cockades. and invoked destruction upon th'
Federal Government, t,-and none were NOR
violent in the discussion than I. 1t was IN.
only alternative. was fleeing for liic
and the mcrcst hair might turn the rac'
against me.
When we arrived at Chattanooga we fount
the market almost Us high as at Augusta
so We concluded to 60 on Us far as Nashville
but we found tho Commissary OF tho Con
federatc army had fairly skinned the town o
everything worth having in tho way OF pro
visions, there was nothing left for US but u
60 on Us far as Louisville, where We coul'
obtain an unlimited supply ut reasonable
rates.
There were Eve cars Of US oil going fo
provisions. At last we landed in Louisville