The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1874-05-05

surprise ana amalement when i finished
my statement. Some of my judges knew
that George Lucas kept that hotel and
there was chance that the balance of my
statement was true. had stopped at the
hotel two or three times in 1860, while
travelling, and therefore knew what was
talking about / know that some reader
may condemn me for what he may justly
term downright lying, and have no ex-
cuse further than strong belief that there
are hundreds beside mo who would not
submit to moose if a broad untruth would
save a life.
The captain was again called upon, and
this time he was not so sure that was the
man he took me for. In fact, he hesitated
so much about it that the body were almost
convinced that was Richard Hall, and no
one else. got up a second time, seeing my
advantage, and explained that was trying
to make little money by selling station
cry, but would quit the business and enlist
in the army. This was good hit, and l
might perhaps have cleared myself but for
the captain. He requested short stay of
proceedings, went out and in fifteen min
utes returned with half dozen soldiers
who testified ono after another that / had
never worked at the hotel. In fact, one of
them had been boarder at the house for
a year before the war, and of course was a
hard witness against ME.
"I shall not ask you to relate your story
again" said the president, turning to me.
"The evidence seems to be all in, and the
sentinel will take you back to your tent"
was convinced that they would find
verdict against me, and half an hour after
had it read to me, the document ending
with the words, "to be hung between the
hours of eight and nine o'clock tomorrow
morning" This settled my case. had no
hope whatever Of escape, and stretched my
self out on the ground with bad heart
ache. l could not sleep, and gave little
heed to the flight Of time. About two
O'Clock heard a quick tramping of feet
around me, and as all else was still, dis
tinctly heard voice say:
"Call the colonel, Bill | There's going to
DC HPnJ uOWn Oh Une Dluu T.
The sentry guarding me pricked up his
ears at this, and called the speaker, who
was picket from the Bluff, and heard
the statement reiterated. He stated that
the Yankees had got hold of some boats,
and were then crossing from Harrison's
Island to the Bluff The news excited me
fully as much as it did the sentinel, but in
different way. He was jubilant, while /
was distressed. l knew what a trap our
men would be led into. In short time
officers were aroused, camp fires added to,
messengers flying around, and by daylight
nearly all the troops around had been sent
forward into the woods. The sentinel was
relieved by another, but was given no
breakfast, and in fact not half SO strictly
guarded as l was the day before. The
troops not yet gone were resting on their
arms in line, ready for a call, and everybody
was full of excitement. Hour after hour
passed, and then we got the sound Of the
first gun, quickly followed by rafting vol
leys. In few minutes more the troops
went forward with cheer, and the disas-
trous battle had commenced.
You may be sure was Watching chance
to escape. The sentinel, although anxious
to keep me safe, could not help participa-
ting in the excitement, and at length stood
with his back to ME. l was at the rear of
the tent, and to raise the canvas and dodge
under was the work of an instant. I'm
fortunately, l rose up face to face with a
soldier, musket in hand, and he shouted at |
me and drew back to lunge me with his |
bayonet. Before he could thrust, leaped
to one side, and headed for the shrubs, not
over ten rods away, and was off like shot.
1t seemed to me that at least fifty soldiers
fired at me. Their bullets tore up the |
ground, barked the shrubs, sung in my |
ears, and screeched above my head, but not |
one touched me. If any one pursued, he
gave up the chase in disgust, for did not |
cease running for half an hour. Firmly |
convinced that the Union force would be
driven off or captured, avoided the battle
ground, and made my way along up the
woods to near the spot where had entered |
them on the night Of crossing. Here re-
manned concealed in tree top until the |
middle Of the afternoon, without knowing
which way the fight was going. knew
then, by the yells Of the Confederates, that
they were driving the Unionists back.
About five o'clock Iheard some one coming |
towards me on the run, and looked out to
see one of the Massachusetts Fifteenth, who |
had henn sUonnded in fIo nhn,,lIo.. LII.