Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-03-06
The Capture and Escape
OF James L. and DIR. Jesse M.
Stewart, Co. G. 41stI Tennessee,
c. s. A.
BT THEIR BROrnER, o. SIDNEY STEWART.
ARTICLE VI.

4
The rain was still falling anC
loud peals Of thunder constantly
shook the earth beneath them
The conyulsion of the elements
was a striking representation of
their minds as they stood fearing
to ask admittance. 'Hallo,'
shouted Jim, summoning all his
courage, and a young man in
stantly appeared at door. owe
have been out hunting labor III
the harvest and my brother has
suddenly become i'll. Can l get
shelter for him?" said Jim earn
estly. "Bring him in" replied
the young man dryly. When
they entered the lady of the
house scanned them from head
to foot over her spectacles, then
placing them Oh her forehead
proceeded to make a more nil
mute inspection. "You are sol
diers, are you?" she finally en-
quired. "No ma'am," replied
Jim, ''just out hunting work. :"
"l1ave you never been in the
army?' she continued, eyeing
them alternately. mo ma'am,
but we mean to go before long," "
said Jim. "Then how came
you with Confederate uniform?"
still interrogated the old lady.
1--WE swapped for this the other
day, but we didn't know it was
Confederate uniform" replied
jim, as he looked at the cloth
ing, then at the old lady in sur
prise. An unpleasant 81 ence
followed, during which the old
ladies' two SONS stepped out;
and Jim, to avoid another VOL
ley of unpleasant questions, fol-
lowed them. Jim's conversations
with the young men led him to
believe that they had happened
at the right place. 81 have not
spoken a word of truth since
we came," said Jim finally, "but
believing you are friends to us /
will relate 10 you our secret"
So he told them when they join
cd the Confederate army as vol
where they were cap
tured and taken to prison and
how they had made good their
escape that far, to the great as
tonishment and interest of the
young men, who assured him
they would do every thing in
their power to assist him and
his brother 10 get home. Jim
then tod them that they had
two more companions they had
left in the bushes that evening,
and at the young mems sugges-
ton they went to offer Buffalo
and Nuby home also Till Jcs-
sc was well, but they could not
be found.
Jesse, who was left alone with
the old lady, lay moaning on
The floor, while the water from
his clothing had formed a pud-
die about him. "IIavc you not
escaped prison?" interrogatcd
the old lady after gEancing first
at her knitting and then at the
wret tched figure before her. "No
ma'am," replied Jesse family.
'If you have," she continued,
not appearing to credit Jesse's
negative reply, "you are at the
right door. You need not be a.
fraid for we are friends Of the
South. Our name is Brown, we
moved from the Elk Ridge in
Marshall county, Tennessee,
many years ago." eve arc
from Tennessee" said Jesse,
revived by the old ladies
last remarks, 1--WE now live in
Lincoln county, but my mother
formerly lived in Marshall coun-
ty near the Elk Ridge" "Who
was your mother?" eagerly en-
CURED the old lady. "IIer mai
den name was McLain, Nancy
replied Jesse. "Nancy
Me Claim p'exclaimed Mrs. Brown,
as she took Jesse by the hand
and raised him up, 81 knew your
mother when she was a little
girl. Well, could | ever have
believed ] would see -Nancy's
sons and have the pleasure of do
ing them a favor" The broth
ers found a welcome and pleas