Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-08-21

them" 1t was now p. M, and the long
prayed for darkness came to our rescue,
and helped to cover our retreat. For near
" another hour the old wretch kept prowl-
ing about the woods, and finally went away.
AT about IL o'clock we were so exhausted
that we fell asleep, and rested until twelve.
when Allen crswled over to me and said,
"They haven't got us yet"
| had dreamed, during my short slum-
Der, that was a captive, and he had some
difficulty in persuading me TO tie contrary.
Being treasured, | rose from my retreat,
and, as we emerged from beneath the
branches which had just saved our lives,
we beheld the youth who, two hours be-
fore, had been placed to watch for us; he
was in a deep slumber, and had his gun
grasped between his arms, in a horizontal
position. Idrew my knife to dispatch him,
but Capt. Allen prevented me.
We then retraced our steps for nearly
mile and half, and struck over for the
Potomac, which we reached at Al o'clock,
Sunday morning, having kept up quick
aud double-quick step all along the road.
Having reached the Potomac, we sat
down to rest; but we were hardly seated
before we saw man on horseback. APP
preaching us by the road. He walked his
horse past us as though he was unaware of
our presence, until he reached the corner
of fence surrounding a corn field, when
he pat spurs to bis horse and went up the
bill at full speed. Wesuspected something
in This movement, and looking for shallow
water, but finding none, we Immediately
plunged into the stream and swan the riv-
err. When within twenty feet of the OPP
posite shore we heard firing and cries Of
"Come back" and on turning round we
saw ten or fifteen men, 10 their SKIRT sleeves
ordering us back, and firing several shots
at us. OF course we Gid not obey this
command, but started off at a good pace
into what we supposed was Maryland
We had not gone far before we came to
another stream, which we wa led.
We afterwards ascertained that we had
crossed Edwards Island about seventeen
miles from Washington. Before losing
sight of our pursuers Capt. Allen showed
his pistol, and shook it in defiance of them.
This was the only weapon; with the excep-
ton of the knife, we had among us. This
was about half past five Sunday morning.
Finding ourselves among friends, we walk
ed five miles to Great Falls, where we laid
down and rested till noon. On waking we
resumed our march and reached the arsen-
al at nine at night, where we found our
picket guard of Second Vermont Regiment.
They received us kindly, provided US with
supper, and furnished us with bed. The
next morning we all hurried on to Wash
ington, and telegraphed our safe arrival to
our friends.
| may here state that on Wednesday |
visited the field Of battle on horseback, in
company with Capt. White, Of the Virginia
cavalry. I saw there numbers Of com
rades, unburied, principally in the uniform
Of the Fourteenth Brooklyn and ElIsworth's
Zouaves. / asked the reasonj the reply
was they had not vet reached them. The
smell was yery offensive. | galoped up
to count their numbers, but was obligedto
turn back on this account. / counted four
teen Of the Fourteenth regiment in one
spot. We were uniformly treated with
kindness by both soldiers and people.
There remained in hospitals and Tents
which wire erected for the wounded at the
time of my leaving, about 24O, all doing
very we'll and are, presume, BY this time
removed to Richmond.