Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-02-16

luktant and hasty steps we prepared to
make good our exit by that overland line
which Rail Roads do not control, nor A.
Q. Ms impress.
With our families and little clothing
we crossed the Etowah bridge about the
broke of day on Wednesday, the 18th of
May, 1864, prezakly. a year and two weeks
| from the time when Gen. Forrest marched
in triumph through our streets. BY and
by the bright rays of the mornin sun dis.
persed the heavy fog which like pail Of
deth had overspread all natur. Then were
exhibited to our afflicted gaze highway
crowded with wagins and teens, katie and
hogs, niggers and dogs, women and chill
drcp, all movin in dishevelici haste to pla-
ees and parts unknown. Mules were bray
in, cattle were lowiu, hogs were squeelin,
sheep were bA@, children were cryin,
| wagginers cussin, whips were poppin, and
horses stallin, but still the grand kavan
moved on. Everybody was kontinualy
lookin behind, and driven before-every-
body wanted to no~everythin, and no.
body knew nothin. Ten thousand wild
rumors filed the sirkumambient air. Tho
everlaslin kavalry was there and as they
dashed to aud fro gave false alarms of the
enemy bein in hot pursuit.
About this most kritikul junctuSe Of af-
(airs, some philan.hropls friend passed by
with the welkum news that the bridge wer
burnt, and the danger all over. Then
ceased the panik; then came the peaceful
calms o. heroes after the strife of war is
over; then exclaimed Frank Rails, nv
demoralyzed friend. "thank the good Lore
for that Bill, let's return thanks, and stop
and rest. Boys, let Me git out and lie
down, I'm as humble as a ded nigger.
tell you the truth. I sung the long meter
doxoogy as crossed the Etowah bridge,
and l cxpekted to be ded man in fifteen
minutes. Be thankful fellcrs-le.'s al be
thankful the bridge is burnt. and the river
is three miles deep. Good sakes !! do you
rckun them Yankees kan swim7 Git up.
6oys-let's drive ahead and keep moyin.
l tell you, there's no akkounling Cor any
thing with blue clothes on these days.
Dinged, ef | amt Altered O, blue tailed
fly"
With the most distressin flow of lam
guage, he koutinued his rhapsody Of ram
dom remarks.
Then there WAS that trump of good
fellows, Big Johm-as clever as lie is fat
and as fat as eld Fastatf-with in de.tat-
igab!e diligence, he had sekured as last
resort one horse steer spring wagn, with
low fat body settin on two riketty
springs. Bein mounted thereon. he was
urgin a more speedy lokomoshun, by layin
on to the karkass of the poor old steer with
thrssh-pole some ten feet long. Having
stopped at house, he procured n two.inch
augur, and torin hole through the dash
doard, pulled the steers tail through and
tied up the end in knot. "My runnin
gear is weak" said he, "but don't intend
to be stuck in the mud. If the body holds
good and the steer don pull off his tail,
why Bill, am SAFE" "My fricnd," sed ],
twill you please to inform me what port
you are bound for, and when you expect
to reach it7" mo port at all, Bill" said
he; I" I'm goin ded strate to The big Stone
Mountain. I am goin to git Oh the top
and roll rocks down on all mankind. I
forewarn every livin thing noe to kun thar
until this everlastin foolishness is over."-
He were then but three miles from town,
and been travellin the live long night. All
my big friend, thought 7, when wilt thou
arrive at thy journeys endl In the Ian
guage of Patrick Henry, will it be the
next week or the next year? Oh, that
kould write poum, ] would ombalm thy
honest face in epik verse. lean only drop
to thy pleasant memory passing random
| rhyme:
Farewell, Big John. Farewell;
| Twas painful TO my heart,
To see thy chances of escape,
With that old steer and kart.
Methinxs see the now,
With axe.trees all broke
And wheels with nary hub at all,
And hubs with nary spoke.
But though the mud is deep,
Thy wits will never fail:
That faithful steer will take tho out
If thou wilt hold his tail. *. s"
j Mr. Editur, under such varygated scenes
we reported progress, and ID course Of time
arrived under the shadow of thy sitty's
wings, aboundipg in gratitude and JOY.
With sweet and patent sadness, the
tender hearts Of our wives and daughters
beat mournfully as we moved along. Of
ten. alas. how oftan n was the tear saan