Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-08-01

Of my oanteen, relaxed the strained muscles.
1t was my desire to have my loins girt about
and my limbs in good order for the fo0t-journey
that doubted not was before us They would
march US to Gordonsyille, and thence to Libby,
carrying US through in an incredibly short time,
and without boots at that. had two objects
to labor for, as | began to get myself into con
dltion first, to be taken in charge by an oti
Ger and then--to escape from him that night
whilst the train was in disorder. | was OF
opinion that my companion, tacurn machine,
who lab0red, like the miners, well with his
little light, had some such plan Of his OVID, as
| saw him buckllng his belt beneath bis trou
sers He was slowing away his watch and a
photograph, which every soldier must have,
OF some poor maid or Other who tolls in the
shades OF obsourity at home and making him
self ready for run at any moment. thought
that | would sound him.
" You had better do it, orderly, soon in the
day said since the enemy will march
YOU between two files, and you will then have
but little chance "
80 think . he replied. "Ithought no bet
ter time than now. But then -
90 But what'' asked
Well, It's rather hard to leave you here.
What with your sprain, and your blow on the
head you re pretty sure TO halt at Libby.
| had no chance to answer, for the rebel was
before me who was to have the honor Of my
capture.
lie was Of the fabby white-6esh species OF
| the genus REBEL Quaker scareerow with mat
| ty locke that many Of my brethren ~ arms
have met harmless IL units but pouderous, as
even scarecr0ws will be, ii hurled back and
! forth IN thousands, swarms lank, cadayerous,
and whining; snuff chewing, and grossly filthy,
even 1nder the best OF crcumstl noes His flesh
was set dough, and his nair was long and yel-
low. lie spoke through the dirty eauseway Of
| his nose. The road dust and drab OF his uni
form, so called in satire, have often been de-
scrbed These gentlemen's faces, to me, who
| incline 70 an nte!ig mt expression on the human
| index. look like tallow-yats or nursery-suet,
piiable and swill-fed aud their mein aud cur
rage have never Impressed me iavoTably. |
had seen them rush with wild yell, an army
! ike the Paris mob Of intoxicated rags, upon
our Gibraltar at Gettysburg and bad myself
| charged upon their Attlla-works behind which
they had their household gods piled up and
cady TOR burning) at fredericksburg had
even taken ball from one Of them in the
shoulder, whilst skirmshing, 10 The shltinss Of
Imy experience and they bad before had the
honor OF my capture, IN sunny, grape growing
Maryland. Perhaps all these scenes passed IN
panorama before my minds eye, as ! rose to my
capur and eyed hls dirty linen. Here was an
! indigutY, ndeed. My soul Teyolted at the
| thought Of journey s1uthward, and all my
instincts warned me against sJ dire an under
| taking | stood before the rebel With determine.
ton 10 my eye.
" 4 couple Of Yanks, oing under tree,
he screamed to his companions, pointing the
finger and glrnIshng his speech, in rebel man
ner, with an oath - Prhaps you thought you
were Of, no chuckled.
He Was -Oin' TO take US To the " Gen raj
| lie muttefed more oaths with bis orders, and
directed US 20 be right smart and 10 git.
! | glanced u my order J, who was inaugur-
atlny an onset upon the weaker side OF this
mean battery, or ditchwork and who evident.
! iy counted UPON ehsctng a beach by rapid,
electric charges by handIfg over ms pistol.
| Ii was freely offered, before demanded. ani The
recipient took it 10 silence. lie then drew out
ms tobacco. a treasure with which, well knew,
he would not willingly part, and which was lhe
httle cwe-l1mb OF hIs uplewelled liie,-whicb,
also, was taken quickly, but under a nod OF
acknoW lgdemeuts from the rebel. The battery
was shaken, but, in truth, continued 70 draw
fire tive me your boots, said the critical
| captor, and the orderly knocked of his feathers
IN the best good humor in the world When
we had walked a little farther, the orderly now
marching as the Moslcms do on holy ground,
asked our guide if be had any grub about him
and accepted piece Of pork There was
variety OF vi4nds in the haversack from which
this fragment came,-both pork aud bacon,-
but the fre.eaters, have not iced always prefer
the latter meat | OWNED az once that my
orderly was laying IN stores fer solitary tramp,
and making a raven IN this, to him, strange
desert, oi the lll.omened bird that had pouncad
upon Us lie would conciliate his enemy, and
when the latter was growing careless be would
spring into some woods The pork, with the
berries to be found there, would sustain him
after he had broken leash and would be all
that be would eat, no doubt, in the course Of
two or three suns.
We noticed great STIR on all sides Of us,
conyergng streams OF stragglers, wounded men,
and prisoners, as we made our way, scattering
grasshoppers, over the fields, and soon mingled
with the throng Of troops on the open road to
Winchester 1t was about three miles from
this town tina, our capture had taken place
and from the immense wagon-trans rumbling
along with us, and the excited manner Of their
officers, augured not rs well for the rebel
cause. Perhaps Fortune had altered her humor,
and the white eagles of victory had settled with
the opposite side. Other parties of Union
prisoners jourucyed with US, and through the
urgent manner OF their gaurds thought could
discern y sunt loop-hole to freedom. In five
minutes time | was assured that the rebels
were preparing to retreat. Their sx-horse
teams were rushing to the rear, and their out
lying bodies OF cavalry were being hurriedly
dispatched the other way My mind was very
busy upon the new aspect Of affairs
The last | saw OF my orderly was when he
| had diyesled himself Vt the workmsn's lnoum.
brance. .---hig coat and was ttamplng, hootess,
haRngly along ia tho dustlest part Of the road
! l!e had eoneiliated his waIchnan into almost
ind ference, aad was spreading himself With
the sand Tossed knee high IN little clouds by
his leet) having then become quite rebel IN
looks la five minutes turned upon him but
I be had fallen cut OF the squad ! have never
seen hin since.
My own plans would keep me IN the rebel
lines some hours longer. was my object to
escape but had already decided upon the
evening, when darkness, and, | hoped rain
would settle down upon us. INDUCED hasty
prayer in behalf Ok The vanished man, and durst
not more than snatch look at where ho should
haye been, lest the guard should mise him also
At one mile beyond Winchester, which town
we had avoided by branching road, We came
to the Office OF the pi oyost marshal, very hum
bic lhell-Sork aud those Of us who wore
shoulder-atraps were hustled into bis presence.
b H. stood, the central figure in dun picture,
IN an atmosphere of smoke, a dirty looking
! Georgian IN lying coat aud hlgh-b00ts. With
r hn