The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-06-08

| WneH we met DaQe MIN gOO0 evening,
and eonversed for q few minutes upon the
weather, or some other subject, in which ]
did not feel any very profound interest
Then he passed into headquarters, and I
went on. Yet a few yards further en-
countered a. third rebel, who was entirely
familiar with me, and whose quarters, in
side the garrison, were within twenty feet
of my own. There were not half dozen
Confederates about the prison who were
familiar with me, but it seemed as if at
this time they were coming together in a
grand convention.
Not daring to enter the rebel hospital,
where was certain to be recognized, laid
down my box of medicines and sought
shelter in little ont-building.
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 surgeons
or nurses. And then, on that dark, rainy
Sunday night the first time for twenty
months, we found ourselves walking free
| ly in public street, without a rebel bayo-
net before or behind us. H
After we had travelled fifty miles every
body said to us, eff you can only find Dan
Ellis, and do just rs he tells you, you will
be certain to get through"
We did find Dan Ellis. On Sunday
night, one hundred and thirty-four miles
from our lines, greatly broken down, we
reached point on a road, waited for two
hours, when along came Dan Ellis, with a
party Of seventy men-refugces, prisoners,
rebel deserters, Union soldiers returning
from their homes within the enemy's lines,
and escaping prisoners. About thirty Of
them were mounted and twenty armed.
Like most men Of action. Dan was per-
son Of few words. When our story had
been told him, he said to his comrades:
"Boys, here are some gentlemen who
have escaped from Salisbury, and who are
almost dead from the Journey. They are
our people. They have suffered 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 terrible pace.
Before midnight some one shook nv
arm. rubbed my eyes open and looked
up. There was Dan Ellis.
"Boys, we must saddle instantly. We
have walked right into nest of rebels;
several hundred are within few miles;
eighty are in this immediate vicinity
They are lying in ambush for Colonel Kirk
and his men. 1t is doubtful whether we
can ever get out of this. We must divide
into two parties. The footmen must take
to the mountains; we who arc riding, and
i'm 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 lines.'' f.r-f .rn.-. ~
Isuppose we had travelled three miles,
when Mr. Davis fell back from the front,
and said to me: A"n
''That young lady rides very well; does
she not?'' Ia1
"What young LADY,"
"The young lady who is plotting u.s.
Ihad thought Dan Ellis was plotting us.
and rode forward to see about the young
lady. s .nfe rwHa' Hn aar a
There she was, surely enough I could
not scrutinize her face in the darkness, but
it was said TO be comely. / could see that
her form was graceful, and the ease and
firmness with which she sat her horse
would have been a lesson for riding
master. . .'.t... ...#'t A
She resided ut the Union house, where
Dan had gone for news. The moment she
learned his need, she volunteered to pilot
him out of that neighborhood, where she
was born and bred, and knew every acre
The only accessible horse Zone belonging
to rebel officer, but just then kept in her
fathers barn) was brought out and saddled.
She mounted, came to our camp at mid
night, and was now stealthily guiding us,
avoiding farm-houses where the rebels
were quartered, going round their camps,
evading their picllets.
She led us for seven miles. Then. while
we remained in the wood, she rode for
ward over the long bridge which spanned
the Nolechucky river, to see if there were
any guards upon it, went to the first Union
house beyond to learn whether the roads
were picketed; came back and told us the
coast was clear. Then she rode bv our
long line toward her home. We should
have given her three rousing cheers, had
it been safe to cheer. hope the time is
not lar distant when her name may be
made public. Until the rebel guerrillas
are driven out from their hiding-places
near her mountain home, it will not be
prudent.