The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-05-22

was startled from slumber, and, listening, soon
learned that Rebel cavalry were in search of
me, and had surrounded the house. dozen
horsenen could be seen through the lattice
work of hay, moving about in the darkness.
From the dwelling they went to the outhouses,
and finally came to the haystack. prepared
Tor the worst. With my head thinly covered, !
] could watch my foes, unseen by them; while .
my revolver lay before me. Ii discovered, | |
resolved 10 shoot the succe sful man, and run |
tor dear lie towards the wood. Several times |
the cavalry rode round the stack then one the |
number dismountng, began a sword eXamina-
tion OF my lodgings. l could hear the thrust !
OF the blade into the hay, until it grazed my
coat, and / grAsped my sx-shooter 10 spring;
but he passed on, saying;-
"He amt IN there, bOys.p
Remounting, With his comrades, he rode of.
Wa ching them TIL out of slght, crept eau
tiously into the deepening light and started for
the woods. The sun rose gloriOusly over the
near horizon; but whether to light me to wards
safety or capture, was entirely Uncertain.
without breakfast or dinner, hastened on
having not even glimpse of human being,
and avoiding every indication of his habtation.
At two o'clock in the afternoon, when emerging
from clump of bushes, came in full view OF
man hauling timber. l could not retreat, and,
changing the coat hanging on one arm to the
other, put my hand on my pocket, and stood
in thinking posture. saw that had an Irish
man to deal With, and not remarkably bright
specimen Of his race
With the air of one interested, asked:-
"What is this timber for?" ...
cts fur the batthery down here, in course
This answer settled the uestion OF the proxt
nifty OF the Potomac, and also apprised me that
forti6cations and plenty of Rebels were not far
off. / walked along stick OF timber, measuring
| il by PAGES, and then said:-
''Tell these men they are getting this timber
| four feet too short, will youl"
Eyes, sur, Will sur. It's only haulin, am
"Weil,"I replied, leaving him, tell them
| to cut 1t four feet longer, will you? Tell them
| ] say so.n
| Of uiI1 sur
| Into the woods again, and making as good
time as possible, walked on two hours longer.
Hunger began to gnaw, and create that despera-
| tion which disregards the cooler prudence OF
| full stomach. Striking a small creek or bayou,
! running into the Potomac, resolved TO follow
| 1t till it decided my fortunes for the night. No
| sign OF anything in reach to appease hunger
! appeared, nor of boat in which to get across
| the river. The very first sight of human exist
| ence was in form to excite fear-a white tent,
! snugly pitched on the sloping point of hill, by
| the water-side, and sur ounded with bushes. /
| paused to watch Tor further intimations Of what
! was there.
At length soldier came up the bank with
| fish, and entered the tent Soon alter, with
another man, he reappeared outside, and they
! sat down, lighted their pipes, and chatted after
/ the fashion of good.natured Dutchmen The
! imperious demands OF hunger urged me to join
them, and, advancing, l accosted them. 1t
turned out that they belonged to battery on
the hill above, and had moved to the bank to
| catch fish for the officers. told them lived
things were getting on; then inqured:-
"Have you got anything to eat in the ten"
ave got net much here to eat"
"Boys, | am very hungry. | hain't had any
thing to eat since came from home, and I'll
pay you for something "
"Yell, dat ish tiHerent matter If you pays,
dat ISL titierent matter.n
Cant you cook some tish?"
"Oh, ersh, spose we get you some fish,"
In a few minutes they set before me supper
simply of fish, cooked in their primitive style,
am U nt N n UaG Gn
taste. After it was finished, asked Tor pipe,
and began to puff away, entirely at home; out
all the while revolving in my mind the chances
and eSpedlents for final parting with my
Dutch friends. Finally, my eye fell upon
small boat lying in the bushes below; and the
conviction followed the discovery, that 1t was
my only hope of crossing the Potomac.
Learning that the fishermen owned it, said
II want to buy that boat What will you
81 no sells dat poat," replied one.
"I'll give you $40 for it in gold"
''lt's worth more as that to US. The Yankees
ish breaking up all poats on the Potomac"
There was an end to the prospect OF a pur-
chase; and a new plan must be devised. The
sun sank behind the trees, and in the pleasant
shade we smoked and talked away the hours.
found, in the course of conversation, that the
battery was not over 200 yards from US, and the
Potomac few rods below.
The evening advanced, and begged the pri-
Vilege OF sleeping in the tent, as was too tired
to think of returning home before morning.
Permission was reluctantly granted, and, spread
ing their blanket, they turned in,n while
continued without smoking, till the moon rose.
| had practical business on hand which eX-
cluded contemplation OF the romantic scene
the silver light tipping and then fooding the
hills, and creeping down to the quiet spot of
anxious wakefulness. For the illumination was
to aid me in my design to escape. l could now
watch the movements of my companions in the
tent sufficiently to see when they we're appa-
rently asleep, depending on the ear for the lur.
ther evidence of the desirable fact. When all
was still, indicating profound slumber suddenly
change of position, grunt, and look outside
would dispel the illusion.
Towards midnight heard a sbout:-
'Helow, there! you come to ped tonight"
Eyes, am coming in.n
Soon after entering tent, found that room
had been left between the men, and the effort
10 get on an outer edge of the blanket was
fTuitless.
A suspicion had evidently crossed the mind
OF the one who had just spoken TO me, respect
ing the stranger, and there was design to
guard against any unpleasant results from the
VISIT
The days fatigue made my own inclination to
sleep almost irresistible; but watcned anx-
! iously for the favoring moment to leave the bed
! unobserved. Repeated trials found the dis
! trusiful soldier sufficiently wakeiul to look
| after his guest. Overcome by the slumberous
| influences OF fatigue, my comfortable quarters,
and the "stilly night" l sank into restless
repose. Scarcely an hour had passed, when l
suddenly awoke, starting with alarm lest the
! opportunity to escape was lost. On the con-
! uary found my companions were thoroughly
asleep, their loud breathing the only sign of
life. / carefully crawled from between them,
tlll half my body was out OF the tent. The sus-
plcious man, with SQUAD OF unrest, turned
overs l remained perfectly still till he made
another turn and stretched out his arm TO see
II all was hight in the middle. i drew back to
my old place, and he laid his hand upon me