Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-04-16
An Army Reminiscence,

INC dI SEudl, WllbuCl tu1 ACS iilAOue 1oN OSSA
withdrawn, after picket guard had been
detailed and sent out to hold the line OF
Bolivar Heights. As l neared the gates l
saw on the sidewalk, standing half-lrreso-
lutte, doubling, apparently, whether to go
forward or back, a tall, well-dressed negro,
about twenty-five years old. He was so
well dressed that could not help turning
to look at him as passed. His large
features were purely negro, but there was
a look of sad disappointment IN his eye,
and working of the corners of his mouth,
which seemed to tell of some deep grief.
But disappointed negroes were common
so sight, and walked on and turned into the
arsenal, the guard saluting me as passed
At the same moment the sentinel said
"Halt!" with q sharp emphasis, to come
one behind me. 1t came so close on my
passage that I instantly turned and saw
the negro standing at the gate.
"YOu can't come in here unless you give
the pass !; them's the orders"
"But want to cross de ribber."
;. sni "Guess We dew; there's plaguey many
rms on We wants ter, but orders are ag,n Il"
"ButI want to see the Gin'rl, or de
ss Cunil.n srqst
aWhat Ginral or Curnal dye want to
see." "
"Some one-I don't keer which.
~. "Wall, yew can't come in here; naoW
Jest stan back" raga d. va
49,. I had watched the man with interest,
and understood his story as he talked and
pleaded with the guard. He looked at
> me, at the iron gate, at the river, at the
a'sss hills beyond.
III can't go back; must cross de rib
g'' Der t'night. Don't say no. I'll do mos
q any ting, only lem me CO."
r. aNo, no; STAN back and don't be fool
in any longer" ..u,. &
I could not resist the mans pleading
. look and voice, though knew the penalty
for helping slave was the risk OF ones
iats commission, and, turning to the sentinel,
said, Z zn,'n..
come in. want to speak to him."
~ Willing enough to help the man II he
a. had the least shadow of permission, the
" sentinel raised his rifle, and the negro hur-
~ ried in He moved so quick, and at the
same time glanced over his shoulder in
such frightened manner, that l could not
help looking into the gloom to see who
was behind.
e-s Then walked on few PAGES into the
shadow of one of the ruined buildings, the
man following with his cap in his hand.
When removed out of the hearing of the
sentinel, said:
"Boy, what is your names"
"Antony, massa."
"What do you want to see General or
Colonel for?"
81 want to cross de ribber."
"Yes, see; you are runaway slave"
the man trembled all over as said it
"and you want to get to the other shore
to escape Is that SOP"
eyes, sar; nights well tell de truf."
81 understand. When you get there,
how will you get your living ?"
"Tll work for muffin, so I'll be free"
"WiH you work for me if l will hire
you and pay you wages?"
"Ill work for muffin, eff you'll lem me-"
whats your whole name?"
"Antony Hunter, sar."
"Where do you liver"
Shepherdstown. Miss Shepherds my
missus, sar."
avery well; see you never tell any one
else what you have told me- You are my
servant now, and need be afraid of no one,
unless tell you to- and / will see that
you are safe if your mistress sends for
you"
Antony followed me to my quarters
was put in charge of my kit and horses,
and at once went to work with untiring
vigor.
The next day went with the six com
panies which were ordered to Maryland
Heights, and babe long farewell to the
ruined buildings, aqueducts and ma
chinery which numbered the river bank at
the Ferry. s.
faa Antony grew rapidly in favor with ALL
Officers, privates and servants were equal
m ly glad tosee his pleasant face. No SER
u vice he could do Yankee was too great
no labor too much. His strength was
prodigious; he could carry barrel of
flour, lifting it by the chimes with bis
4 tpath and he woq willing tn mt thic
great strength to any use that was re-
quired. talked to him about his former
life, and one day, when he was busily
brushing my clothes, said
= r. "An'ony did you ever see John
Brown ?"
"Do you mean Mr.. Brown dey hanged
at Charlestown
eyes"
a. "Know him! Yes, sar "-he dropped
his brush and Strengthened up-"yes, sar
was one oh his lootenants."
"His what?"
"His lootenants." ees
"What do you mean !? He had none"
'o2fsa Yes, sar : de white folks said the cullud
people didn't care for him, an didn't want
ter help him. But the cullud folks roun'
yer was all down on his paper; dey was
7 rolled, an we met sar, in de woods, SUM-
. days an nights, an got ready ter fight for
utut WuGlE UC CdliCu US ill L was CuOSc
lootenant of the cullud people in Shep-
herdstown."
.z "How many do you think were on the
rolls?"
anarn "Can't tell yer, sar, jes' how many, but
dreffle sight more'n thousand"
!" But if that was true, why didn't you
come to the Ferry and help him"
"Cos we was afraid. De cullud peoples
: been cheated SO often by de white folks,
dat when dey struck de blow too soon at
de Ferry, we was 'fraid we was goin' ter
be cheated"
al don't understand about striking too
soon."
Why, ye see, sar, Mr.. Brown tole us
dat we should get Leah T. come home Sat-
urday fur Sunday; an right smart lot O.
folks came home, more'n ever in de sum-
mer-even more'n Christmas fur you see
de servants are hired out roun' de coun-
try. We was all ter be dar Sunday and
den, when they 'spected we'd be all done
gone back to our places, Monday, we'd be
in de mountains back OBJ de Ferry, till
Mr.. Brown gabe de word, an den all
hurry OAR ter jine him. We folks didn't
know what ter do when Monday came,
ccs we hurd de news dat Mr.. Brown an
ms men had taken de Ferry an de arsenal