The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-08

NARROW ESCAPE OF GEN. SHERMAN
When Sherman marched down to the sea,
that gallant commander had narrow escape
if We may credit the story of correspondent
of the Augusta Constitutionalist who repre-
sents that ne was left behind by the Rebel ar
my with four of his companions in the wilder
ness. He says:
Hunger is guest th at uses very little cere-
mony in his visits, and the little fellow was
knocking at our breasts very rudey and clam
orouSly asserting his presence. He was not to
be put to silence, and so for peace sake we de-
termined to grant his request. As if to try US,
no sooner had we agreed to search for food
than we came to a by-path which branched off
to the right of the road we were travelling. 1t
looked promising, and looking down a eafy
vista We discerned, about 300 yards off, un-
mlstakable signs or farm house, and as
thing of course, a land flowing with milk and
honey. So, determined to stand the hazard
of the die We filed off down the road to break
last. We found small farmhouse inhabited
by widow, whose two sons had been killed
In Virginia, and who, with four or five faith
full slayes,still managed to keep her little farm
IN good order Welcoming us, for the sake
OF the gray, as she said, we were soon seated
GU the grass plat, enjoying good though
homely meal, and under the influence of her
good buttermilk, corn bread and fried chicken,
were rapidly becoming reinvgoiated. Sudden
ly confusion OF voices sounded near us, and
l caught the CLEAN of sabres and bright uni
forms, as about dozen cavalry in dark blue
Numbered down toward ms. Evidently they
had not us. A word and a touch,
aad all four were in the ad-
joining thicket awaiting their approach
They galloped up, and ordering breakfast sat
down on bench to await it. 1 felt a touch
on my shoulder, and looking up saw a pale
face near my own, with eyes turned in a con-
strained manner to Sh officer on the bench
r" the lips whispered, almost inaudlbly,
now is the time to end the war. Yonder sits
sherman" l was so utterly taken by surprise
that did not at first comprehend him, but
gradually, as gazed mechanically on the off,
Ger pointed out to me, began to understand
that the South's greatest and most terrible en-
envy, the one who was rapidly wiping her out
of existence as nation, who heid her fate as
it Were, in the hollow of his hand, who had
done her more evil in four months than all his
predecessors had accomplished in as many
years, was sitting there serene and unoon-
sci0us, within reach of my carbine. l at once
commenced cautiously to unsling it. The fate
OF the Contederacy perhaps hung on that mo
ment; when, at this length of time, think up
on the awful interests that were at stake my
brain reels and l grow faint. The General
arose unconscious of his peril, and walked
with rapid military tread into the house, fol-
lowed by his staff and very soon we could see
them through the open window engaged in
eating breakfast. l was completely bafied,
and had no opportunity, nor had any of us, to
renew our attempts, as body of cavalry 500 n
arrived, before whom We thought it prudent to
retire, and accordingly made sudden re-
treat,