The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-05-12

Prison Life in the south Capt. AIban's
Narrative.
CoNTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.
We only reached Anderson that
night, distance OF ten miles from
where we started the evening before
camped at five in the morning of the
22th. Roasted three of our chickens
TO last us until the next morning, af-
ter which we laid down until night.
We started at sunset and travelled all
night. At five o'clock in the NOR
ming we came into deep cut IN the
railroad and could not climb up on
either side until daylight should
come to our assistance. This caused
us considerable alarm as we were lin.
ble to he discovered at any moment.
We got safely through, however, and
finding a good camping place, pro.
ceeded to roast our remaining two
chickens. We had about finished
roasting them when hearing rustling
in the leaves behind us, we looked
around and bchcld to our horn or, n
rebel soldier, an elderly man (whom
we subsequently ascertained was the
soldiers father) and two dogs. The
old man apologized for the interrup
tion by stating that he had seen the
smoke and thought the hunters had
set his fence on fire Cooper then
spoke mp, "Old man, there is no use
in trying to dodge. You know rs
well as we do who we are. We are
Yankee officers who have escaped
from Columbia Now, what are you
going to do with usf" "You can go
where YOU please" said the soldier.
IL shall not trouble you" "That's
my ticket" said the old man. He
then gave us history Of his troub.
les since he had been living under the
dictatorship of JEFF Davis, as he very
aptly termed the government of the
Confederacy, and concluded by say
ing that he was born in the Union,
and he wished TO live and die in no
other. We were then warned bv the
soldier that the woods was full of de-
serters, and that there were frequent
" government officials in pursuit OF
them, but if we would come with
him he would conduct us to place
OF safety. We were somewhat fear
ful of a trap, but the fellow seemed
honest and we felt that we could not
do better under the circumstances
than to trust him. lie took us to n
thickct where there was plenty of
clear water, and told us to stsv there
until he returned in the evening He
and his father returned after dark,
bringing with them basket filed
with biscuit and sweet potatoes.
The young man then entertained us
with portion of his history. At
the commencement OF the war he was
employed az clerk in dry goods es-
tabhshment, and that although only
fifteen years of age lie had been fire.
ouently urged to volunteer, but that
he steadily refused, that regardless
of the remonstranc,s of the father
that he was too young, and the ur-
gent entreatics of the mother not to
take her only son from her, they con.
scripted him and put him in the S g
Heavy Artillery. He was then home
on thirty days furlough, and h. 4
come to the conclusion that he would
serve the Confcderacv no longer
He proposed 20 accompany us, hut
his mother o. posed it so strongly that
he had to abandon tn" project
We then started under the guild
ance of our Young grayhack friend,
who accompanied us to the road lead
ing to Walhalla, (avillare at the pres
ent terminus of the Columbia &
Knoxville railroad, and gave us all
the information necessary in refer
ence to iianking that place, which was
then guarded by three regiments OF
militia. He also informed us that
Tunnel Hill, point on the line Of tho
railroad six miles west of Walhalla,
was strongly picketed. We had trav.
eled till one o'clock in the morning,
and reached a point within two miles
from Waihalla, when the sky became
suddenly ovorspread with clouds, and
having no compass and the North stai
being invisible, we thought hest to
lie down till morning, and take day.
light for fanking the town. Near
morning it commenced raining in tor,
rents. I sprang to my feet and call.
ed to Cooper to get mp and set for
ward, for that was the time to 90
through Walhalla. He considered il
dangerous and at first objected, bu'
as told him he could do as he pleas.
ed-that ! was going at all hazards
he concluded to go too. We reached
the eastern extremity of the tow
Just as day was breaking, and as
had anticipated, found that the guarC
had all been removed during the rain
The town was one of those everlast
ing country places that are built al
along the road, and it was ncarl,
broad daylight before we reached til,
western extremity. We however
reached it in safety. We stopped
one mile west of town at the Hote
de Bramhlebush, where we breakfast
ed on wheat biscuit, sweet potatoes
and roast chicken. We then pushed
forward. taking to the woods witt
the intention of fanking Tunnel Hill
We soon struck the Blue Ridge, an,
having no means of judging of ou
course, we soon became so complete
ly lost that we wandered round an,
round, frequently passing the sam
objects the second or third time. A