Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-07-10
wv oApTURE AID ESCAPE

Federal lines, and portions were sent
out on picket duty. When it came my
turn 10 advance near the enemy's lines,
/ felt some spprehensions for my safety,
and, tbeugh j was a soldier, ! must
frankly confess / feared the rifles Of
the Confederate sharp shooters. Near
where our pickets were stationed was a
little old fashioned log house that looked
comfortable and cheering, and often
made me feel sad, when seated IN some
little nook or corner, Of the bushes.
watching the enemy. How that old
log house made my heart palpitate,
and drew from me deep heavy sighs.-
Not that Ihsd lost one particle Of my
patriotism or felt any the less brave or
willing to fight for my country, but it
would bring to my mind pictures Of
home, and the many pleasant scenes l
had passed with nv sisters and broth
ers around the family board. / noticed
that the house was occupied, and fair
forms fitted in snd out, and one in par
ticular tha. drew my attention. / be-
came deeply interested in the inmates
of that house; and, as l thought the
matter over, it seemed as If ! could
not restrain my curiosity. but / must
visit it. Standing, as it did, between
two hostile armies, what could induce
its inmates to remain, with destruction
visible all around them.
Il was beautiful afternoon in the
latter part of June, that / was again
on picket duty in the vicinity Of the
log house. was determined that day
to satisfy my curiosity. and visit the
house. Leaving my companion. /
stole across Q field or two. watching
with vigilsnt eye. every bush and fence
to prevent surprise. As ] approached
the house heard plaintive song, but
sang so sweetly that / wept, though l
felt ashamed of myself as a soldier,
for my weakness. ] drew close up be-
side the house, and iE a crouching po-
sition, 1 silently listened. The song
ceased. heavy basty step sounded on
the floor.
Father what is the matter?' / heard
a voice exclaim, that was mingled with
an agitated and mournful culver.
my dear, dear daughter, you and
your mother must depart at once. You
must go to Washington, and from thence
you may find your way to Massachu-
setts, where your uncle lives. Tell
him that his brother implores him TO
protect you until can reach you. Our
country is torn and distracted. and ut
ter ruin seems to hang over it. Oh,
Godi when will all this trouble end?'
'And you, George believe this
was the voice OF the vile, where are
you going?'
/ had now approached a crevice
through which 1 could see the interior
Of the house and when the question
was asked / could see the man start,
and look at his wife in mute astonish-
ment. His face turned white. then
scarlet, and then a dark blue; bis eye
balls seemed TO start from their sockets,
and the veins in his neck swelled 10 an
enormous size; he trembled and reeled,
and down be sat in chair.
Where am l going?' be gasped.-
God only knowsP l.ll.e - . %
why, what on earth do you mean?'
fairly screamed his wife.
Il mean this said he more calmly;
4 am going into the rebel army, not
from my own free will. but from COM
pulsion, to save my property from con-
6scation, and save home for you and
Jenny u-f.7
'Ob, father do not Join the rebel ar
my, but fight for the old Stars and
Stripes, and for the country you have
so long loved And Jenny caught her
father about the neck and kissed him.
I could get but single glance at her
face. but how lovely she looked. plead
ing for her country and her fathers
honor. The mother was standing by
him, and the great tears flowing down
her cheeks and dropping on her shoul-
ders. ff f@N
Come, dear father, let us go North
Uncle David is good man, and we can
live in safety there q II
The father sat listening to the plead.
ings Of his daughter. and these were
Joined by the wife with such stirring
pathos, that he yielded and consented
TO leave Immediately for Washington,
and Join the Federal army.
You have decided me; l viii co.
he exclaimed, and the terror that agita'
ted him few moments before had en-
tirely fed.
Bless you, fatberr exclaimed Jenny
as she drew back an old board that wal
against the wall, over the mantle piece
and from its secret hiding place drew
out q small, beautiful Star Spanglet
banner.
There my father. under the folds o.
that fsg you must 6ght, if you will gc
to war, but not beneath the Palmetto
the Pelican, and the Serpent and she
threw it around his shoulders, while hi,
stalwart frame brsced up and his eye.
frightened as he pressed the Stars and
Stripes to his bosom.
! How / loved that girl as she stood
there in all the majesty of her pride,
gszipg on her father. / could have
fought regiment of rebels at that mo.
: ment, or as many more as might have
been brought against me. Had / been
ready to marry at that moment, / would
have made that girl my wife at least a