Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1863-12-25

and so continued until they had passed some
Instance from the old tobacco factory, when
they emerged into the street.
Fortunately no one was around, and
waiting for favorable time, at.-half past
nine we walked out into the street and made
our way out Of the city. There were guards
within fifty feet of the door on each side OF
H. but both were just round the corner of
The building and did net see us. Many Of
their soldiers wore blue pants and over
coats. so we escaped through the city and
were net suspected.
We dreaded passing the forts which we
believed we should find around the city,
yntr,ost Of them turned out to be without
esr,isrnss Once, indeed. we very nearly
ran into an encampment--getting between
il and the fort, but we avoided it and went
on. Later in the night we came close upon
another encampment, and hid under the
fence till the disturbance was over, and then
we took our course at right angles to the
one we had followed, and thus avoided them.
About three o'clock we lay down, and though
the air was very frosty slept s,undly for
two hours. Then we started again. We
met with no other incidents Till near night
Wednesday"
These Union soldiers came very near be-
ing Giscovereda and taken prisoners Wednes-
day night, but eyaded their enemies and
pushed on toward, the Federal lines.
About noon, Thursday, we came to the
Chickahominy, having walked till then in
the woods and swamps. Fortunately we
met negro whom we questioned. From
him we learned our proximity TO the rebel
pickets and the difficulty OF crossing the
river. He told us, TOO, that there were no
boats on the stream, they having all been
broken by the guard about week before.
How We were to cross was more than we
could ima.ine. We questioned our in
ing raff. We told him what we were,
and must cross the stream without being
discovered. For the first time since we had
talked with him he raised his eyes TO mine
and slowly turned on his heel without a
muscle of his face changing its stolid ex-
pressionless aspect, he said
8 guess, mebbe, l help you. | had an
old fish boat. Mebbe dey didn't find it,
And he led the way, deaf to all querie;
as 10 the boat. Reaching the river he gave
US another piece of information.
You stay here and look out. Dey's
erfulqueer--dem pickets--huntin' round
all de time
OF course we staid on the lookout. Soor
we heard noise on the wafer, and all was
I, ,le
iiiend made his appearance.
Come dis way.
He led us to the boat, and taking the oars
rowed to a path on the other,Side. There
he fastened the boat and went as guide fo
some distance along through the swamp
and then giving US directions to avoid tht
piekels, and what road to take, turned, anc
we saw him no more.
We followed his directions, and made
good progress till near sunset. We wer,
following the road when we came to turn
that led down hill, completely hiding th'
road from sight. Just at this point We me
two horsemen, and did not see them til
within at least three rods of them. w,
dashed off into the open pine woods. wher,
horse could make his way as well as il
the road, ! suppose the rebels did not ap
preciate the case for moment, for we go
good start. Then they came on calm;
7 out, Halt What you doing there? Wher
you goin'? Haiti halt, or I'll fire on you !
and such exclamations. We paid no atten
ton to their threats. In about twenty rod
we reached the fence, jumped it, and RAJ
among some scrub pines and other ever
greens that grew close to the ground. w
had gone but few rods in the field beeor
our pursuers reached the fence and one o
! them fired. / was not hit and | could Sc
that Davis, who was ahead, was also un
harmed. The men behind us could no
jump their horses over the fence and stoppe
10 take it down. ! was getting completed
exhausted, and felt that must soon Civ
out. Turning square TO the tight, ra
about rod out of my course, turned agai
to the right, and ran back few steps, the
threw myself fiat on my face and crawle
under the evergreens. Fortunately | wa
not noticed, and our pursuers passed by m
hiding place. Before very long | hear
two men returning, one of whom was talking
could not see either of them, and ftare
Davis was taken. waited a while longe
and then got up TO find him. had just re
turned TO my hiding place when | saw
rebel pass through the open pines with GU
on his shoulder. Iwaited two hours longe
aud hearing nothing of Davis, it haviu
been for some time, proceeded on alone.
ii was bright moonlight, and aro;din
the principal roads | kept on nearly all nigh
Once / heard nose behind me and steppe
into the shade to allow patrol to 60 b,
Then | followed on. Toward morning
crawled into a cJrner of the fence an
slept couple of hours. Then plodde
on once more.
As il grew to be morning the negro hous.