Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-06-09

as well as upon any other dict4-if he
only thought 80. feel bound To say
that | have tried it and don't think so.
This person held the same opinion. He
revolted against the parched-corn diet,
SdHihg that he would go TO the first
house and get an honest meal, If he was
captured for IL. He went to the first
house, obtained the meal, and was cap
tured. . E-@E #af
After we had travelled fifty miles, cv-
crybody said to lis, "lf you can only
find Dan Ellis, and do just rs he tells
you, you will be certain to get through" 4"
We did 1iGd Dan Ellis. On Sunday
night, one hundred and thirty-four
miles from our lines, greatly broken
down, we reached point on the road,
waited for two hours, when along came
Dan ellis, with party of seventy men
-retugcos, prisoners, rebel desertcrs,
Union soldiers returning from their
homes within the encmy's lines, and
escaping prisoners. About thirty of
, them We're mounted and twenty armed.
Like most men of action, Dan was a
person OF few words. When our story
had been told him, he said to his COM
radCs: .z.|.F 81 E-....f
Boys, here are some gentlemen who
have escaped from Salisbury, and who
are almost dead from the Journey
They are our people. They have suf-
Tered in our cause. They are going to
their homes in our lines. We can't
ride and let these men walk. Get down
off your horses and help them up"
Down they came, and up we went
and then we pressed along at a terrible
pace. ......r ...
X y So
To-day when we came or ttc hot
track of eight guerrillas, the rcbcl-hunt-
ing instinct waxed strong within Dan
and, taking eight of his own men, nc
started in fierce pursuit. Seven of the
cntmy escaped, but one was captured
and brought 70 our camp II prisoner
Then Dan went to the nearest Union
house, to learn the news; for every 10y
al family in n range OF many hundred
miles knew and loved him. We, very
weary, lay down to sleep in an old or,
chard, with our saddles for pillows. Oui
reflections were pleasant. We Were oh.
ly sevthty-nine miles from the Union
lines. We progressed swimmingly, and
had even begun to regulate the domcs.
tic affairs OF the border!
Before midnight, some one shook my
arm. | rubbed my eyes open and look
cd up. There was Dan Ellis.
Boys, we must saddle Instantly -
Wr have walked right into IL nest q
rebels: several hundred are within ;
few miles; eighty are in this immediat,
vicinity. They are lying in ambush
for Colonel Kirk and his men. IL il
/ doubtful whether we can ever get out
of this. We must divide into two par
ties. The footmcn must take to tho
mountains; we who are riding, and in
much more danger as horses make
more noise, and leave so many traces
must press on at once, If we ever hope
to reach the Union lincs.n
The word was passed i'm low tones. --
Flinging our saddles upon our weary
horses, we were on our way almost in
stantly. My place was near the middl,
Of the cavalcade. The man just before
me was riding n white horse, which en-
ahlcd me to follow him with ease.
We galloped along ut Dams usua
pace. with the most sublime indincr
cmce to roads--up and down rocky hills
across streams, through swamps, ovel
fences - everywhere bat upon public
thoroughinrcs.
suppose we had travelled three miles
when Mr.. Davis fell back from tn,
front, and said to me:
THAT young lady rides very well
docs she not?''
What young lady?n
"The young lady who is plotting us.
l had thought Dan Ellis was pilotin
us, and rode forward to see about tn
young lady.
There She was, surely enough.
could not tscrutiniZe her face in tho dark
ness, but II WGs said to be comely.
could see that her form was graceful
and the ease and firmncss with whic!
She sat her horse would have been
lesson for ridiug-mastcr.
She resided ut the Union house W her
Dan had gone for news. The nlomen
she learned his need, she volunteered {,
pilot him out Of that ncighborhood
where she was born and bred, and knew
every acre. The only accessible hors
Zone belonging to II rebel officer, bu
just then Kept in her fathers barn) wa
brought out and saddled. She mount
ed, came to our camp at midnight, ant
was now stealthils guiding w, evoidin,
farm houses where the rebels wcr
quartcrcd, going round their camps
evading their pickcts
fh. led us for seven miles. Then
while we remained in the wood, sh
rode forward over the long bridge which
spanned the Nolechucky river, to Sc
If there were any guards upon it; wen
to the first Union house beyond to Learn
whether the roads were picketsd caml
back and told us the coast was clear
Then she rode by our long line towart
her home. We should have given he
4 three rousing cheers, had it been safe t,
cheer. | hope the time is not far dis
tant when her name may be made pub
lie. UntiI the rebel guerrillas arc driv
en- out from their hiding places uea
her mountain home, it will tot be pru
dent.