Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-04-17
nay CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
AN INCIDENT OF THE WAR,

/
How my blood foamed il didn't bo;l
but raved through my veins as If it wo'd
burst them. Suddenly Jenny sprang for
ward and pushed the corporal back with
such force that he almost fell TO the floor
and snatched up flag and flaunted il in
his face.
'As under its folds tyranny was driven
from the land, so shall traitors be driven
out or hung; and if were a man, 1
would punish you for the insult you Of
iered this dear flag of mine
Il didn't come here to ight the women
said the Corporal doggedly. Come. Mr..
Davis, you've been drafted, and must 20
to the army"
4 will not fight against my will ex.
claimed the man, exhibiting some signs
Of resistance.
But you shall, seize him, men %
The rebels sprang forward and caught
Davis, but being strong man, he hurled
them from him. Again they set upon
him with more success and were pro-
ceeding to bind him. / could stand it
no longer. / rushed to the door scream
ing;
Come on boys, we have them now"
dashed into the house, and Just at
that moment down went one of the reb.
els, levcled to the floor by chair in the
hands Of jenny. Again the chair whirled
in the air, and came down on the head of
the Corporal The rebels were fright
an ! nj n.l 81
was alone, returned to the combat
Davis was still bound, and could afford
no assistance. The fight was unequal,
and | was overpowered and taken priso-
ner. We were marched off to the enc
my's camp, while Jenny and her mother
were left alone in the house.
For two days | was a prisoner in the
enemy's camp, near Fairfax Court House
What had become Of Davis knew not,
and what would become of me | cared not,
now that | had lost the brave girl had
learned to love.
The day had passed gloomily away,
and night was coming again. l was
seated in a sort Of brush tent, with a
guard pacing up and down in front of it
paying more attention to me than tho't
was absolutely necessary. While lost in
happy thoughts Of home and Jenny, l
heard rustling noise beside me, and
delicate white hand was laid on my arm.
"Foilow me quickly and will save
you, she whispered in my ear and placed
her hand over my mouth.
She then withdrew, and /, snake-like,
o. n ~ Loo nj Of ha
tiously we moved along until we came
to the guard.
WHO goes there ?" came quickly, and
down we dropped upon our faces.
The guard passed on, and we crawled
forward, stopping to listen. The guard
was returning, and We lay still until he
again passed, and then we pushed for
ward more rapidly.
1--WE are now beyo the camp, but
we have the pickets to pass yet. My
father is waiting for us just yoider," 4" said
she, turning little to the left.
"You sre brave girl" ventured to
say, and there is no knowing what else l
might have sal but she placed her fng-
ers on my mouth, with a gentle "hush."
Secreted in the bush was her father,
who firmly grasped my hand as we Joined
him. Jenny then placed musket in my
hands, and | could see by the dim light
that her father was provided with one,
and she carried one, though must con-
fess rather awkwardly, was all curios-
ity to know how she, the little frail crea-
ture could accomplish SO much.
IL
pickets, i" said her father, but its life or
death, and if we can scare them we are
safe"
In perfect silence we approached the
locality of the picket guard, and thought
we had eluded their vigilance, when a
quick and frightened challenge burst up
on US. This was followed almost instant
ly by fash and bullett whistled pretty
close TO my head,
Charge oD them on, boys p shouted
Davis, as he fired, and l quickly sent
bullet in the direction of the rebel pick
cts. | saw Jenny's musket come to her
shoulder, and as it was discharged she
reeled and would have fallen to the ground
but | caught her, and in a moment she
had recovered from her shock. We heard
the enemy's pickets retreating in alarm,
and making the most of their confusion
we dashed towards the Federal lines,
soma half mile distant.
| had made my escape, but not through
my own strategem or skill, but by the
constant work and energy of young
and brave girl, whose patriotic heart
would not forsake her honored and be-
loved government, and whose determine
tion rescued her father from the hand of
the oppressor.
The muskets she provided us with were
secreted in her fathers house. She had
loaded them and at night eluded the Wig
ilance of the enemy's guard, and deposited
them where she delivered them to u.s.
She bid us touching farewell, and in
company with her mother proceeded to
the State Of Massachusetts,.
Her father enlisted in the Federal ar
my, and now, side by side, we are fight
ing to deliver his home from the hand of
the oppressor, while l look forward with
pleasure to the day when / shall be award
the hand of Jenny, as a reward for my
offer to save her father.
One of the most agreeable consequen-
ces of knowledge, is the respect and i'm
portance it communicates to old age.
Men rise in character often as they in