The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-11-22


in low whispers. So untiring was the search
and so thoroughly armed and watchtul wer
!, the population, that we felt that our safety de
: pended
UPON \ RARE CHANCE.
= Again making our way from wood to wood
and avoiding farm houses Is best we might
I ill the light OF another morning Saturday,
we retired to cover in the shade Of "a thick for
est.
Saturday night the Journey was resumed a
usual. II was my turn to act the part OF pick
ct and pilot. While rapidly lcadng the way
through forest low pines, suddenly found
myself in the presence of Il cavalry reserve
| The men were warming themselves by "a blaz
ing fire and their horses were tied 10 trees
around them | was surprised ana alarmed
but recovering my selfposscssion, | remained
ImotiOnlcss and soon perceived that my pres
cncc was unohscryed Carefully putting one
foot behind the other ! rctrcated out OF sight
and rapidly returned to my party Knowing
that there were vldctes sitting somewhere at
| the front IN the dark, we concluded to 20 back
about two miles to II plantation, and call at one
of the outcrmost negro houses for information
We returned, ard | volunteered to make the
call while the Others remained concealed
AT A DISTANCE.
| approached the door and raped, and a
woman's voice from within asked, "who was
there" ! replied, that | WAS "a traveller and
had lost my way, and wished to obtain some
information about the road" She directed
HIM to 70 To another house, but declined to
do so, and after some conversation the door was
opened, and | was surprised to find large
good-looking negro standing by her side who
had been listening to the interview. He lnvit
ed me to come in, and rs soon as the door was
closed, he said: 81 know whoyou are you're
one of them scapcd officers from Richmond
Looking him full in the face placed my hand
firmly upon his shoulder and SAID: Il am,
and | know you are my friend" His eyes
sparked rs he repeated: Eyes sir; yes, sir
but you mustn't stay here; regiment of caval
ry is right thar" pointing to place near by
and they pass this road all times of the
night The woman gave me a piece OF corn
bread and cup of milk, and the man accom-
panying me, left the house, and soon finding
my companions, our guide took us to a seclud
ed spot in canebrake and there explained the
situation OF picket IN front. 1t was posted
on a narrow neck of land between two lmpass-
able swamps, and over this ran the main road
to Williamsburg. The negro proved to be q
sharp, Shrewd fellow, and we engaged him
TO PILOT Us
round this picket. After mpressng us in
HIS SNiOuEtSl uuBt Win lilt UOlIl
to him and TO us In making the least noise, he
conducted us through long canebrake path,
then through several fields, then directly over
the road, crossing between the cavalry reserve
and their yidetes, who were sitting upon their
horses but "a few rods IN 'front.' and then took
us around to the pike about "a mile beyond this
last post Of the rebels After obtaining mpOr-
tant information from him concerning the way
to the front, and giving him substantial re.
ward we cordially shook his hand IN parting.
If good deeds are recorded in Heaven, this
slave appeared in the record that night
The line of the pike was then rapidly fol
lowed as far as DasCum river, which was
reached just at light Sunday morning. To-
cross this river without assistance from some
quarter was found impossible, We tried to
wade through it, but failed in this attempt We
were seen by some Of the neighboring popula-
ton, which largely increased our danger and
trepidatiOn; for we had been informed by our
guide that the enemys scouts came to this
point every morning After a while we sue
ceeded IN reaching an island IN the river, but
could get no farther finding deep water beyond.
We endeavOred to construct a raft but failed.
The water beng extremely cold, and we being
very wet and weary we did not dare attempt to
swim the stream !; and expecting every moment
to see the cncmy's cavalry, our hearts sunk
within us. At this juncture rebel soldier
was seen coming up the river IN row boat
with gun. Requesting my companions toI
lie down in the grass, | concealed myself in
the bushes close to the water to get good view
of the man Finding his countenance to midi
cate youth and benevolence, | accosted him as
he approached.
Good morning; | have been waiting for
you; they told me up at those houses that |
could get across the stream, but find the bridge
gone, and | am very wet and cold If you will
take me over, will pay you for your trouble"
The boat was turned into the shore, and rs |
stepped into it knew
THAT BOAT WAS MINE.
Keeping my eye upon his gun, | said to him,
there are three more of u.s." and they imme-
diately stepped into the boat. "Where do you
all come FROM" said the boatman seeming to
hesitate and consider We represented our
selves as farmers from different localities on
the Chickahominy. "The officers don't like
to have me carry men over this river" he sand,
evidently suspecting who we were. | replied,
" that is right; you should not carry soldiers
or suspected characters Then placing my
eyes upon him, said, "pass your boat Overt"
it sped to the other shore. We gave him one
or two greenbacks and he rapidly returned.
We knew we were discovered, and that the en-
emy's cavalry would very soon be IN hot pull
suit therefore we determined, after consulta-
ton, to 90 INTO the first hiding place, and as
near rs possible to the river. The wisdom of
this course was soon demonstrated. The cav.
airy crossed the stream, dashed by US, and
searched the country to the front,
not dreaming but we
HAD GONE FORWARD.
We did not leave our scclusion until about
midnight, and then felt our way with extreme
care. The proximity to Williamsburg was ev-
ldcnt from the destruction everywhere appar-
ent IN our path. There were no buildings, no
inhabitants, and no sound save our own weary
footsteps; desolation reigned supreme. Stacks
of chlmneys stood along our way like sentinels
over the dead land