The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-05-26

; with all the Indignation l could assume
J "Have not you seen it often enough t.
; know by this time?"
Apparently little confounded, he re
piled, modestly:
Probably l have, but they are very
strict with us, and was not quite sure >
i gave to him the genuine pass belong
ing to nv associate.
We had speculated for a long time
about my using a spurious pass, and my
two comrades prepared several, with q
skill and exactness which demonstrated
that, if their talents had been turned in
that direction, they might have made first
class forgers. But we finally concluded
that the veritable pass was better, because.
if the guard had any doubt about it,
could tell him to send it to headquarters
for examination. The answer returned
would, of course. be that it was genuine
But it was not submitted to any such
inspection. The guard spelled it out slow
| ly. then folded and returned it to me, say
ing:
"That pass is all right. l know Cap
tain Fuqua's handwriting. Go on, sir
excuse ME, sir, for OBTAINING you"
| thought him very excusable under the
circumstances, and walked out. My
great fear was that, during the half hour
which must elapse before l could 90 out
side the garrison, l might encounter some
rebel officer or attache who knew me.
Before had walked ten steps, l saw,
sauntcring to and fro on the piazza OF the
headquarters building, deserter from our
service named Davidson, who recognized
and bowed to me. l rather thought he
would not betray me, but was still fearful
of it, went on. and few yards fur
ther, coming toward me in that narrow
lane, where it was impossible to avoid
him, | saw the one rebel officer who knew
me better than any other-who came into
my quarters frequently-Lieut. Stockton,
the post adjutant. Observing him in the
distance, | thought / recognized in him
that old ill-fortune which had SO long and
lsteadtastly batiled Us.
When we met / bade hun good evening.
and conversed for a few minutes upon the
weather. or some other subject. in which
| did not feel any profound interest
Then lie passed into headquarters, and l
Went on. Yet few yards further | en-
countered third rebel named Smith. who
was entirely familiar with me, and whose
quarters. inside the garrison. were within
twenty feet of my own. There were not
half dozen Contelcrates about the prison
who were familiar with me, but il seemed
as if at this time they were coming to-
gether i'll grand convention.
Not daring to enter the rebel hospital,
where | was certain TO be recognized, l
sought shelter in little out-builing-
While remained there, waiting for the
coming of the blessed darkness, | con-
stantly expected to see 4 sergeant. with a
iilc vi ltucl SoiiiCiS. Sollit 10 tithc lllc
back into the yard; but none came 1t
was rare GOOD fortune Stockton, Smith.
and Davidson all knew. if they had their
wits about them. that / had no more
right there than III the village itself l
suppose their thoughtlcSsne>s must have
been caused by the peculiarly honest and
briSincSs-likc look of that meiicne-box.
At dark, my two friends joined me-
We went through the gate in full sight of
the sentinel, who. seeing us come from
the hospital, supposed we were rebel sur
geons or nurses. And then. on that dark.
rainy Sunday night, the first time Tor
twenty months. we found ourselves walk
ing freely in 4 public street. without 4
rebel bayonet before or behind us.
For many months. even before leaving
prison. we had been familiar with the
name of Dan Eilis-a famous Union
guide. who. since the beginning of the
war, had done nothing but conduct loyal
men to our lines.
Ellis is hero. and his life romance
lie had taken through, In all, more than
four thousand persons. He had probably
seen more adycniure-in fights and races
with the rebels. in long Journeys, some
times barc-footed and through the snow.
or swimming rivers full of floating ice
than any other man living.
lie never lost but one man. who was
swooped up through his own heedlcssnesS
The party had travaled eight or ten days,
living upon nothing but parched corn.-
Dan insisted that man could walk twen-
ty-fve miles a day through snow upon
parched corn Just as well as upon any 9TH
er diet-if he only thought so. | feel
bound to say that | have tried it and
don't think so. This person held the
same opinion. lie revolted against tho
parched-corn diet, vowing that he would
90 to the first house and get an honest
meal, if he was was captured for it He
went to the first house, obtained the meal,
and was captured.
! After we had Travelled fifty miles
everybody said to US, elf you can only
find Dan Ellis, and do just as he tells YOU
you will be certain to get through
We dill find Dan Ellis On Sunday
night, one hundred and thirty-four mile'
from out lines, greatly broken down, W.
: reached a point on the road. waited tol
two hours, when along came Dan Ellis
| with a party Of seventy men-rcfugees
. prisoners, rebel deserterS, Union soldier