Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-02-06

the Potomac, and was riding along the road when
/ saw man coming. He eyed us closely, and
said, tHow are you straDger2 which way are you
going2' He asked where belonged, and
said we were Dixie boys (the term by which
rebel guerrillas are known.) He then said ho
was sent down TO buy horses for jackson. This
was the first we knew that jackson was In the
vicinity. After getting out Of him which way
jackson was moving, we went on But turned
round and called him back said didn't like
his looks and that believed be wasa-----Yan-
kee spy. He said he could convince me very
quickly who he wns, and pulled his papers out
Of his pocket l examined them and found he
was quartermaster Of Ashby's cavalry, and was
authorized to buy horses. then expressed my
self satisfied and offered to sell him our horses
He agreed 10 purchase them--eleven in all--for
nine hundred and fifty dollars, and to go to our
cduo few miles away. where could let him
have two men TO take them TO the army. On
the way to The supposed cave--(we were going
towards Freinonts army)-hc gave me full in
formation about jackson army and ell the reb-
el forces in Virginia, especially including the
plan Of the Shenandoah campaign When we
approached our lines he saw our piekets, and in
quiring who they We're was told that they were
men that we kept to guard our cave. Passing
through the pckets and into the openfeld where
our regiments were visible, he asked what that
meant. told him it meant that he was pris-
OllcI III luc Ud1lS VI lnt IhukCt htllQ
further that if the information he had given me
was not correct, would be responsible for hang
ing him to the first tree. 30" said he, 81 will
give you my word as a southern gentleman that
| told you the truth" He afterwards gave Gen.
Fremont the same report and it proved to be
correct.
A DINNER DURING the BATTLE OF srRAsBuRG.
While the firing between our army and the
rebels at Strasburg was in progress, / entered
house that in Of tha fire nf bafb
mics. One ofmy men was with me. We found
a table all set, ready for dinner. The women
had been frightened off by the cannon shot that
were flying. There were chickens and turkeys
and much other excellent food. The meal was
waiting, doubtless, for some of the rebel officers
| Without ceremony we undertook that dinner
| We were merily eating and drinking when a
shot [eannon ball came right through the house
just over our heads. We jumped and my COM
panion started for the door; but said, "Hold on
Dick: it isn't SHE'LL and we finished our din
ner. Then went to some of Blenker's men
and said we had some rebels in that house and
they must be taken. The men surrounded the
house, and rushing up they broke in the DOORS
and pushing in after their prisoners they found
dinner instead ofa fight, l was roundly
cheered by the Germans, who went at the tur-
keys with as little delay as circumstances admit
ted OF.
RETURNING REBEL SLAVES.
"Hahal laughed the captain, as he suddenly
remembered another incident. @There was a
fellow named Van Meter, who lived in Moore
field, Virginia; a rebel. Two of his blacks ran
away one day when some of my boys were pass
ing through that country. Van Meter somehow
heard that | knew where the men were; and he
was fool enough to ride over TO Cumberland
where happened TO be, to see me about it. He
offered me Two hundred dollars apiece if would
surrender the two black men to him. l took
him up at once. We agreed on certain hour
on the next day, when he was 10 meet me at an
appointed spot on road some distance out,
and receive the men and give me the money.
"My boys lay in ambush for this fool, who
thought ], a Buckeye boy, would return men to
slavery. He came up in a wagon and fine
span of horses, the money in his pockets, and
ropes ready to tie the hands and feet of his run
aways. My boys stopped him, took his money,
his horses and wagon, and told him to get back
to his rebel friends as quick as he could or it
would be worse for him. We sent the black
men to Ohio, and they are earning their living
there now"
"That was pretty hard on Van Meter, Cap
tain"
"Hard on him3 / tell you he was lucky
man. Somehow, my boys don't like these man
owing rebels, and he was mighty lucky that he
did not get shot in the head from somebody's
pstol -