The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-08-25

3 his spunk. They started for the bank
The darkness was so great that they al
: held each others hand so as not to ge
! separated. Arriving at the bank, Sambt
S said F: "Massa Colonel, Use can't go in dal
: in dis lightener." He trembled in every
: nerve, and it was more than an hour be-
fore he could regain command of him
! self, so that the Colonel dare trust him to
the turbid stream.
| Btackness plunged into darkness, and
all that could be heard was splashing
) and putting. In few moments the sa.
BILE son of Neptune came in with the
chain in his mouth towing the canoe
The Colonel, Lieutenant and Sam imme-
diately pushed into the stream, hoping
under the cover of the darkness to make
the greater part Of the way to Roswell
Bridge that night. The party had gone
but short distance when they heard the
unwelcome roar of rapids. They were
too near to make the shore, the canoe be-
ing wholly controlled by the current
This was a most critical moment. They
who had so narrowly escaped death in
battle were now at the mercy of the mad
dered, impetuous water. Not all of the
party could swim, so it was decided to re-
main in the boat, and if she foundered
they would rest in the same watery grave
together. Onward the frail, trembling
canoe sped, bearing its precious burthen,
amid myriad of eddies and whirlpools,
until at last She gave sudden plunge,
completely submerging the passengers
They all held tenaciously to her sides,
when she came to the surface, and with
their hats bailed her out. Once more
they began to paddle down the Chatta-
hoochie had gone but mile or SO, when
that same dreaded roar of falling water
came through the darkness, falling with
appalling effect upon their ears. The
boat was Immediately headed to the shore.
Reaching the bank they found that the
ivy and briars were so thick, that it was
almost impossible to land. After more
than an hour of hard work, they succeed
ed in getting place to lie down, where
the water was not more than inch in depth,
the rain still pouring in torrents. At
daylight the weary travellers again en-
barked, with scarcely hope of ever
reaching their goal but they must not
relax their efforts when SO near home
The underground is so high and thick that
it is like vast, green curtain spread on
either side, for miles along the banks of
this now historic stream. The bushwhack-
ers were not looking for Yankees in ca
noes, so they did not watch the river very
closely. There were guards at the fords
along the river, but their attention seem
ed to be directed from the water, to the
approaching roads, so, very fortunately
for our refugees, they were permitted to
quietly slip down unnoticed and unharm-
ed.
As the boat came around bend in the
river they saw one part of the "Rosswell
Bridge" All began to cheer and clap
their hands for joy. Moving beyond, a.
round the bend, they saw the whole
bridge enveloped in vast sheet of flames.
Colonel Capron says that no language can
ever tell the bitter anguish of that mo-
ment The first and only natural conclu-
sion was that our whole army had been
forced back across the river and in their
retreat had burned the bri1ge. Having
landed, they cautiously approached some
citizens, who said our army was all cut up
and was beyond Marietta. For the first
time since their journey began they were
discouraged. All were unarmed, and
as they supposed, in the advance of the
rebel army. However they made up
their minds to press on, and, if possible.
reach our rear before morning. They
march through the woods all night, and
at daylight reached our pickets, who told
them the true position of our army
This glorious news made them forget their
hardships, their decorations, their fatigue
They came in town to be welcomed by
many brave souls who had suffered the
same, though separated from them
When the Colonel left Hillsboro he thinks
he had about eight hundred men. 1t is
evident that since the surprise no organ
ization has existed in the brigade. There
are now about two hundred and fifty who
have come into camp in squads OF two or
three, scarcely more than four at time.
They say they are hunted with blood
hounds, aud if found, shot like wolves or
any beasts of prey. The men from Col.
Adams brigade are also continually COM
ing in. Both colonels say it will be i'm
practicable to make out list of casuali-
ties for several days, as there will be
probably two or three hundred come in
to camp within week.
A Fable with a Moral,