The Portland daily press., 1872-06-01


"Yes, Granny" replied the scaptain: give
oeen getting up an appetite this morning, and
am hungry as Texan. What have you got
for us to eat %
'Lor, massa, muffin but some milk and
cOrn-dodger"
''That won't do for stomachs so hungry as
ours,'' answered the captain. "Boys," he
cried, turning to his men, Think see some
provender in the enclosure behind the house:
you have permission to make the most of it,
1 shall give Granny some Confederate scrip
fer the damage; and she can hand it to the
owner when he comes home.'
To a Confederate partisan, nothing could
have been more welcome than this license for
free forage; and in less than three minutes
time, half dozen of them were over the
fence, and had ''roped'' a cow, to be killed
for their midday meal; while another half
dozen were making havoc among the hens
and ducks belonging to the little plantation.
The four prisoners were placed together on
log near the cabin-door; on the sill of which
the Confed captain and his lieutenant had
seated themselves. They talked in low
tone; but my hearing is wonderfully ACUTE
never more than at that moment: and, by
listening attentively, made out from their
conversation, our guard would soon be rcduc-
ed to six men, with only the lieutenant to
command them. I had not before taken
much notice of this subordinate officer except
10 perceive that he was very young man,
with a sallow and sinister cast of countenance,
and most Enthusiastically contemptuous look
In his eye whenever he glanced at us. But
now, as a remark of his reached my ear,
turned round on the log, and took his meas
ure more fully.
He was mere boy in appearance; of tall,
| gaunt frame, with pair of small, weasel-like
eyes. He was, evidently very different sort
ofperson to his handsome, frank-spoken SUI
A T
easily see; and one who would shoot us down
as readily as hewouldpick off squirrel, if we
gave him the slightest provocation for doing
it. Nevertheless, rejoiced at hearing that
we were soon to be left to his tender care; for
l had hopes from his youth, as also his evil
dent over-confidence in his own great merit
as soldier. knew he would be found off
his guard ten times for once his seemingly
careless captain would be likely to make a
slip.
The old negress still kept up her garrulous
enjoyment, making many remarks at our ex-
| pense. Every now and then she would APP
pear in the door way, clap her hands, and
slap her knees, repeating with apparent de-
Light
'Bress de Lord! fo' Yanks all took toged-
derp ---
After time she brought out bucket of
water, and an old tin cup. Placing them
near us on the ground, and kneeling down be-
side them, she bent over the bucket, pretend
ing, as l could see, to skim out with the cup
some imaginary object in the water. just
then, heard her say in low tone, and as if
talking to herself
"God hub you Lincum sogers! Don't mind
what dis old fool niger say. She only skeert
to say noting else. Look out, tell you.
for dat Massa Barker: he kill you all, eff you
/ DON'T e3E s5gGe EH 1905 I ...
Having cornered what she had been trying
to capture in the water, she threw it on the
ground; and, filling the cup she offered it to
me with grin. l
l caught Totten's eye, as my thoughts ran
thus. There was decisive, wicked look in
it, that fully answered mine; and 1 knew 1
had fearless comrade for whatever / might
| undertake.
About one O'Clock in the afternoon, we
again started forward, descending the hill to-
wards the Shenandoah. But, before reaching
this river, the captain, with the bulk of his
party, drew off from us; taking road leading
down stream, and leaving his stern lieuten-
ant with six men, as our guard. ~ r...t
AS the horses picked their way slowly down
the rough road, l managed by degrees to in
crease the distance between the leading file
of rebels and myself; so that Totten and l
had the chance of exchanging . word or two,
unheard by either our comrades or captors.
'Totten," said l, ''you don't want to go to
|
pose" -.
'By jiminyH he replied, this being his us
ual form of affirmation, cpd just as soon have
bullet sent through. me. At least, 1 would
willingly run the risk of dozen, rather than
go there"
''Pm afraid that young Reb will give us
but slight chance to escape"
81 don't know about that: he may think so
little of our pluck, as not to give us credit for
enough to make the attempt. Jimmy! if 1
had square blow at that yellow sconce of
his, would ntI show him stars. Do you no
tice the way he speaks to, and looks at us, as
if we were meaner than dogs?' s.
Sergeant, could you manage to sprain
your ankle, at our next stopping-place?
They are going to change horses soon. 1
overheard one of them say so. If I have to
wait on you, and battle your damaged ankle,
and all that
1 had no chance to finish what 1 intended
saying. The lieutenant at that moment rode
up, and kept along side of us.
On reaching the bottom of the hill we came
upon clearing, in the centre of which stood
a farm house. 1t was a large log building
with two wings, and an open space between
them, rooted Overcome of the wings only
having the appearance of dwelling, the 9TH
er without any windows, only an entrance
| from the open space between.
We were ordered to dsmount as soon as
we had ridden into the enclosure in front of
the house. Then, after hitching our horses
to long rack, we were taken through the
open passage to another enclosure in the rear,
which was several feet below the level of the
| ground in front. Totten and were walked
along, side by side; and, just as we came to
the steps leading down into the backward he
stumbled, and fell violently forward, in an UNI
successful attempt to recover himself Two
OF the Rebs. who were striding before us,
| xxyith hoir in han
hearing the noise When they saw the ser
geant scrambling in the dust, they burst out
laughing, and seemed greatly to enjoy the
sight
Totten had fallen with such violence, and
SO naturally, really imagined he had ser-
ously hurt himself was sure of it when,
on raising him up, he dropped down again
with groan, crying out, "Cap, I've sprained
my ankle darned badly"
The lieutenant now came up, and roughly
inquired the cause of therumpus. On getting
satisfied he ordered us to be taken to small
| stable that stood in one corner of the yard
l requested him to allow Totten to remain
outside, and myself along with him, so that
l might battle his ankle with cold water, and
see if couldn't get him into walking condi-
| ton before we started again.
"Bah! you can doctor him in the stable as
well as here" replied the young wolf with a
| grin.
"But, lieutenant, it will be more convent
ent here" 1 said, in the most conciliating
manner l was capable Of "The water is
| near at hand.''
"Put in the other two, then," he exclaim-
ed, pointing to Hill and Carey, the two pr-
Yates. ''Turn all the horses into the old
field; four of you get ''fresh mounts,'' and
be ready to come along with me-"
Hill and Carey were taken on to the stable,
and thrust into it; the door was closed and
bolted behind them, and two sentries station
ed near by.
managed with some difficulty TO get Tot
ten close up to the stoop of the dwelling, and
under large tree; against the trunk of which
placed him in sitting posture Then, us
ing my hands as ladies', l kept pouring con-
tinued stream of cold water upon the injured
| ankle.
One of the sentries had been placed over
Hill and Carey by the stabe-door, while the
other kept guard over Totten and myself,-a
| gaunt, stalwart fellow, with very wide-awake
and dangerous expression in his small, green
| ish eyes.
With Joy, l saw the Confeds take the sad
dies from their horses, lead the animals down
narrow lane, and turn them loose, into
large enclosure.
When they came back into the yard, four
of them stepped into q second stable, larger
than that in which the prisoners were secur-
ed. In short time they came out again,
each leading horse. These they hitched to
a long rack i'm front of the house