Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-02-28

house and vowed to search every nook
and corner before night. At another
time we found ourselves upon the brink
of a large river which we must cross.
We built a raft as we'll as we could, for
We did not make the least noise, laboring
long and wearily we were so exhausted
from hunger. Then we waited until
night-fall and struck out into the river,
thinking we had adroitly eluded the reb-
ell pickets, but the instant our frail craft
was afoat the bullets whistled about our
ears amidst shouts and yells, as if the
whole region was up in arms. We aban-
doned our dearly built raft, which they
instantly destroyed, and ran forour lives,
the balls pattering about us though not
one hit, and as we ran, there right before
us on the shore lay a boat with oars in
a twinkling twas shooting across the
stream, while we lay hugging the bottom,
and listening to the music of the balls as
they struck the water all about us, and
the curses of the rebs at the devilish luck
that left the boatin our way. Wereach-
ed the other side in safety and crept into
the shelter of the forests, hungry and
cold, with an exasperated foe all in arms
about U.S. Once more Providence had
spared US"
This soldier lived over again that ter
rible night march of six weeks in length,
he never once spoke lightly of luck or
good fortune or happy chance; no, the
loving care which God had vouchsafed
to these, his hunted children, he did not
seem to be ashamed to recognize.
Once, when too weak to 60 on, and
afraid to stay where they were, these
men ventured to ask for food of white
man. He heard their story with cordial
sympathy. / am not myself said he,
"a Union man, true Union man, but
with secesh neighbors all about me what
can l do? 1t would cost me my life to
be found out helping you. Let me tell
you-stay where you are until dusk. I'll
go home and have nice lot of things
cooked up, and then I'll let you know
when the coasts clear, and you can come
down and get all you can carry While
he was speaking they watched narrowly
every line of his face. Honesty itself
never wore a more sincere one, and, sure
test, he met their eyes with the clear, un-
winking open glance of truth. Nothing
could have seemed more reasonable than
his excuses for not bringing them food
at once it was foolhardiness for any
Union man to risk secesh vengeance.
They lay concealed all day gnawed with
the pangs of hunger, while they feasted
upon the thought of the good things in
store for them, and, believe me, never did
twilight fall more sweetly to waiting eyes.
When they came out of the forest they
passed house they had then only to
cross the road and they would be at the
door of their Union friend. I'VE were
SO hungry said Mr.. Smith that we were
rushing along thinking of nothing else
my comrads kept little ahead of me
and were past the house when little girl
came out as if wishing to stop me. l
passed on too eager to mind her, when
her mother beckoned me back into shell
ter of the house, and said, Are you the
Union boys? Call back your friends.
That man is my brother but he lied to
you, he is secesh clear through. love
the Union and if die for telling can't
let you 60 right into trap. They've
got rebel band in ambush for you.
He's been off all day for soldiers 1t
was said in an instant, and Smith sprang
forward, threw up his hand and shouted,
Come back, boys, we are sold!' They
wheeled and ran, but score of bullets
told them what an enemy they had to
dread, and as they fled the tramp of sol
diers always gaining upon their steps,
gave them strength, although they were
too faint from hunger to crawl. Another
volley, one fell, shot dead, another was
taken back prisoner; I'VE never knew
said Mr.. Smith, with face so sad that /
shall never forget it, what become of
him but it was enough to nerve their
faltering limbs. They had to climb
mountain side about as steep as the side
of house, but the trees sheltered them
from the balls, and when they gained the
brink of the precipice upon the other
side, they dashed headlong down it with
wild shouts, itseemed such happy choice
to meet death there rather than in rebel
hands. There very desperation saved
them. The rebels dared not follow with
equal speed and at last gave up the pur-
suit. The faintness and exhaustion which
followed, when they were once more safe
was terrible but is was nothing in COM
parison with the agonies which wrung
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