Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1862-03-28

Fidelity Of a Contraband Story Of 4
Refugee Family.

Union man named Smith has resided
about six miles from Fayetteville, Arkansas.
the owner Of a tract of 600 acres of land
with comfortable dwelling, stock, &c Oh
nox'ous to the Secessionsts. his properly
was plundered by their foragins and other
parties during the Winter, his place beins
about a mile from McCulloch's headqua,t.
ers. The family consisted of Mr.. Smith.
his wife and child, his mother. .in.law, and
also brother-in-law, james Watkins and
wife, married less than year ago. Be.
side these, Charley, the slave of Mr.. Smit..
Upon news of the approach of Curtis's
forces to Springfield, the Secessionists be-
gan pursuing all the Union men to hand
them, and Smith and Watkins fled, hoping
to make their way to sothe of the Union
camps. The women thus left, in fear Of
outrage and torture on their husbands ac-
count-if not death--left their home on tha
night Of the 9Th Of February. with Charley
as their guide and protector, leaving the
aged mother and child, who were unable to
move. On foot they wended their way,
sleeping what they did sleep in The open
air, upon such straw or litter as Charley
could gather for them, and covered by the
single blanket which he carried, and sub.
sisting upon the food which he carried. in A
pair Of saddlebags. He would have been
seized as marketable property belonging to
a Unioh man, and the women regarded theit
own jeopardy as something more than that
OF their lives, if met or caught by the Se-
cessionists. They travelled, he thinks, a.
bout eight miles the first day Qhe women
being feeble and one of them in delicate
situaton1, fording creeks, and avoiding the
travelled roads. On one occasion crossing
creek upon log, one of the ladies fell in,
and was with difficulty extricated by Char
ley, who, as he said, "cocned it on de log.
so that his mistress got hold of him, and
when she reached the bank he pulled her
out. Thus for nearly week, foot-sore and
with short and painful journeys, having n5
shelter, and not seeing fire, subsisting on
the ssant provision which Charley carried,
they slowly made their way until they frst
met the advance guard Of the Union forces
at Midtown. Here the ladies were at once
cared for by the Colonel, while Charley was
taken some miles on horseback to Mister
Sigel," who examined him at great ithgth,
comparing his stories with his own maps Of
the country. He was satisfied Of Charley's
truthfulness, and gave hin pass for him.
self and the two ladies.
From this point conveyance was given
them to Springfield and to Rolla. and they
arrived In St. Louis, on Friday hight, By
rail-the faithful Charley still their servant,
protector and friend. He exhibited the
various passes furnished him. He speaks
of them with the utmost affection. aI
brought dem children up" said he, though
not more than 81 years old himself.
Whether Messrs. Smith and Watkins
made their escape or not, the ladies do not
know. One of them fed from his house in
his shirt sleeves, and no intelligence has
been received from them.
Charley is preacher, and seems intelli.
gent for his condition, and manly in his
bearing. His wife, belonging to another
master, was sold off into Louisiana some
months ago. when they began to rush tile
the slaves off from that section In conse-
quence Of the troubles.
Chafley is anxious now to get into Illi-
nois, where he can find work TO support
these two ladies. Says he is stout, and has
good trade 'can lay brick or rock, or
work on de farm, and airn enough to Keep
them They are staying at the Refuge
Home, on Elm street Charleys narrative
IS artless, and exceedingly interesting.
Speaking OF Alr. Smith, in answer to 4
question, he said: He was good mas
ter, but | don't kiiow whether he is alive or
dead how" The noble friendship, and all
most heroic devotion of this slave to that
family deserves the respect of all right
minded persons, though ne manifested not
the least consciousness of any special merit.
An Irish Catholic once said 10 another,
who had taken the pledge and received
medal from Father Matthew :-a And so
you have signed the teetotal pledge, have
you ?" Indeed, | have and am not
ashamed of it, either" And did not Paul
tell Timothy to take little wine for his
stomacb's sake ?" !" So he did, said the
teetotaler; "but my name is not Timothy;
and there Is tic,hihg the matter with nit
Jefferson Davis, in his message, saws ths