Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-01-23

mile vide 81 this point. "A fiIage was
close at hand; and in order to make nc
noise in going through. they. took of
their shoes. Here they found small
boat at the waters edge. in which Hurd
and Rsynor placed their shoes-Mur.
ply laying his on the shore. With
hard pushing the boat was got into the
water, oars were found, and they push,
ed off for the opposite sbore. Murphy
then discovered that be had left bis
shoes on the other side. but fancyine
they heard the sound Of an approach.
ing boat, they showed theirs into the
stream and pushed rapidly on. They
kept on a road which led TO the Poto.
mac; about daylight they rested in The
woods, and again started. The ground
being swamPy and filed with briars,
which tore Murphy's feet krribly, they
were greatly delayed. tHers they
crossed smamp, filed with decayed
logs, in which they would sink to their
waists in black. oozy mud. Crossing
this was the most disagreeable part Of
their tramp.
About nine O'Clock they caught q
glimpse of the Potomac-bluish. green
in the distance--and dim outline Of
the Maryland hills beyond. 1t was a
glad sight to the weary travellers. They
came suddenly upon a group Of negroes,
eating breakfast at spring, near which
was the house in which. George WASH
ington was born. Being discovered,
they went boldly forward-told the ne
groes that they were Confederate Off
GERS who had lost their way--and on
asking for something TO eat, they gave
them a little corn bread, and small
piece of fat bacon. Their overseer
passed them, going to the field, to whom
they told the same story, with which
he seemed satisfied. They reached a
creek, probably a mile from its mouth,
where Raynor, being exhausted. de-
sired to remain until night--but Hurd
was anxious to proceed, desiring 10 join
his company before they had fight
A negro crossed the creek near them.
in a small boat; and as soon as he had
left they broke it loose andsrowed down
the creek. As the wind was blowing
strong, it was impossible to cross the
Potomac in this boat. Meeting ne
gro and white boy fishing, in a much
better boat, they commenced bargain
ing-got into the boat-and told the ne
gro they must have il. The negro said
they could MOTT was eMassa Will
sons, and Massa Wilson cnt dis chile's
head of if he let dat boat CO." Ray
nor threatened him with The same de-
struction if he did not-let them have it,
and Hurd and Murphy, in order to pre-
vent an alarm, gave him three dollars.
He still held to the rope, but additional
threats prevailed. The river was six
miles wide, and as the waves were high
and the boat frail, the passage was per-
ilous. They reached the Maryland
shore at the mouth of Wicomico river,
where two fishing sloops were anchor
ed. After satisfying Captain Faunce,
of the Ann Rebeccs, as TO whom they
were, he furnished them with a good
dinner, and treated them kindly. Capt.
Hurd was anxious to proceed; but af-
ter trying in vain to get some convey
ance, was prevailed upon TO stay on the
sloop all night. Captain Faunce told
them that good Union man, by the
name of Burroughs, lived at Cedar
point, and there they would be more
apt to reach one Of our steamers. The
blockading feet was at Acqus Creek,
to prevent the rebel forces crossing into
Maryland.
Early next morning they started up
the river in their boat, but the wind
raising and the tide changing, they de-
serted it at Swan Point and struck into
the country. They inquired, of q
couple Of young men whom they met,
the road to Matthias Point, who advised
them to follow the shore, if they could
get boat to cross several creeks, as
they would thus save a walk Of five
miles around. Upon limiting that they
desired to get to Virginia, one Of them
accompanied them to Mr.. Hayden's,
who was induced to lend them his boat.
Having crossed, they procured dinner
at house, and persuaded the man to
help them on their way with his wagon.
They arrived at Mr.. Burroughs house
Just before sundown, on Thursday, and,
upon making themselves known to
him, he treated them kindly, and offered
them bis house for the night. He
showed them a revenue cutter, some
four miles above, which Captain Hurd
desired to reach that night, fearing she
would be gone in the morning. Bur-
roughs told them to avoid all persons
above, as they were rank Secessionists,
the cutter being there to watch them.
As Murphy could travel but slowly over
the stones and shells, Hurd went for
ward to the vessel, promising to have a
boat sent down. Murphy and Raynor
travelled as fast as possible; and, after
short time, began looking for boat,
but no boat came, and about nine
O'Clock, they arrived opposite the cut
ter, surprised at having seen nothing
of Hurd. They hailed her several
times but received no answer, and
soon she weighed anchor, unfurled her
sails, and bore out into the stream,
leaving them much disheartened.-I
Hearing voices on the bank. they went
up the stream, but determined to 60
lI.--ku