Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-09-09
NO. "a.

and what course they should pursue.
, They concluded to follow the line of the
r railroad for some distance, which they did
until they reached the first high-road. This
road they took, still not knowing where they
were, but did not follow it far before they de-
ciGed to wait till morning and ascertain, il
possible, their location. They accordingly re-
paired to the rearest piece of woods, and there
remained till daylight. At day light they
made their way in through the woods, crossing
sWsmps and clambering through underbrush
and briars, in search Of plantation, nten-
ding TO get what information they could from
the negroes. Very early in the morning they
came to a road, and soon, to their great Joy,
saw two negroes approach with a wagon
They accosted the negroes and found them
friendly, and gained from them the important
and satisfactory information that they were
about ten or fifteen miles from Port Royal
Ferry, one side of which was held by the
Union forces, and which was the only route
along the coast by which our forces could be
reached. They were about getting directions
as to the road, when white man showed him
self about hundred feet distant and they re-
treated hastily to the woods, apparently un-
noticed, and the negroes went on.
They did not loose any time here, for fear
the dogs might be put on their track, and
made at once for the swamps ia order to break
the scent in ease the blood hounds were sent
in pursuit They travelled all day and towards
evening made for a wood to look up another
negro, they came across plantation, and Sc
creting themselves in a field, were soon ap-
preached by couple of negroes. They were
| - he yubapa fhaw
we're till dark, when they could go to one OF
the shanties and procure food, and one of them
would conduct them further on the road
This was done, and about midnight the two
officers started with their nogro guide along
the road to Port Royal ferry. He led them
two or three miles, and directed them to an
other darkey on plantation beyond, who
would give them further information. This
plantation they failed to 6nd, but continued
their course in the direction they thought they
should take, travelling over bocksded roads,
the darkness rendering their course not only
very dangerous, but very difficult. They
! pushed On, however, and finally were reWar-
ded by arriving at plantation. They took
q survey of things aEd believing all was safe,
went TO one of the negro-huts and aroused
| the inmates. The man went with them about
O mile aud directed them to another plAnta-
ton. They travelled ou, crossing in their
route large marsh, in which they waded al
moss waist deep, and at daylight they reached
! the main road fFom Pocataligo to The Ferry.
Here they discovered two rebel pickets, about
! 100 yards ahead Of them, and they retraeed
their steps to the woods. Being completely
exhausted, both from want Of food and drink,
| they laid down in q thicket and went to sleep.
! Awaking about 10 o'clock they endeavOred to
ascertain where they were, buI could not, and
decided to remain 10 the woods till evening
Just before night they again started, ard
coming to e plantation, upon which there ap-
/ peared TO be no white people, communicated
their ptehence to negro, who informed them
that they we're only mile distant from two
rebel picket posts, that these pickets were in
the habit of coming there every few hours for
! corn, milk, chickens, &c, and two OF them
had only short time befoEe left there. The
darkey however, said he would aid them all
he could, and slowed them away in a cotton
gin house while he went TO aa adjoining plan
tAtion TO procure negro he called Jake" to
pilot them on their road the following night.
Here they we're about six miles from the Fer
I4 AuGJ TC0nluCQ bAl hibubs hNs
heavy thunder storm coming up, their depart
ure was delayed, and they were advised to re-
main where they were another day. They de-
cided TO do 80, and the darkey fed them on
corn, watermelons, &c, visiting them occasion
ally to counsel quiet and give fresh assurance
of their sympathy.
During the second days confinement they
experienced one of the most perilous episodes
of their whole trip. The authorities at Au-
gusta had become aware of the escape of a
number Of Union officers, aud were securing
the country in every direction. Through the
cracks in the room they occupied they saw the
confederate hunters with their blood-hounds,
and in the vicinity three Union officers had
been captured. Finally they heard footsteps
on the ladder ascending to their hiding place.
Had they been betrayed? white-faced
man, wearing a confederate uniform, thrust
his head up through the door way. Their
hearts sank within them, and they were on
| the point OF surrendering. But the man
spok, and 10 moment their confidence was
| restored He was a mulatto, and cook for
the pickets, and cautioned them not to stir a
muscle, but to remain where they were and
they would soon come out all right They
did as they were told, and passed the day un-
molested In the evening they were told by
the negro they had first seen that they could
not go out that night and must remain anoth-
er day. This they very much disliked to do,
but they considered the position, aud decided
to do so. The following day passed without
incident, but what was their chargin in the
evening to learn that their expected guide,
Jake" could not go with them, owing, as he
said, 10 the sickness OF his wife, bat as was
confessed by another darkeY, really to his fear,
resulting from the presence of the Confederate
soldiers and dogs the day before. Losing oil
hope in this quarter, they decided to set out
themselves, aGd about two o'clock in the
morning OF the fourth day, again resumed their
march
They travelled industriOusly, and by cir
cuitous route, in which they had to pull them,
selves through marshes, briars and under
brush they avoided rebel pckets at Gardner's
Corner, and about dsylight made the road
leading to the ferry. During all this time
they had very little to eat and drink, and
would frequently fall in their tracks from ex-
haustion, where they would rest q short time
aud renew their march. To Lieut.. Jacquette
it was particularly severe owing TO bis hav-
ing been ill for some time, and Capt Hunt
more than once despAired Of his going through,
But they were not to be foiled.
Keeping along the line oil the last road,
but in the woods, they at night reached q