St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-07-16
Close Quarters.
you're hiding rebels in the house
Wi'Out the leave o. me-"

Close Quarters.
you're hiding rebels in the house
| Wiout the leave O. me-"
! Scotch Ballad.
1 am a Georgia gentleman. and
served the South during those foul
crucial years which one side calls "ouI
late struggle for independence" and
the other stigmatizes as ''the rebellion
In Il skirmish before Fredericksburg ]
was taken prisoner, and was sent North
with a squad of fellow -misfortunates
to Point Lookout. Thence, after a
while, number of us were transferred
to Fort Delaware. During the journey
while the train was running at slack
speed, about fifteen miles from Balti-
more, l managed to jump off it. took
the leap literally in the dark, not know
ing where l was going to land, for it
was growing dusk, and the day was
the I'd of February. There was snow
upon the ground, and l slipped as l
struck the track, rolling over and over
until | brought up in Il snowdrift below
steep embankment, and saw the
lights of the recediug engine flashing
| round curve in the road. As soon as
| could rally my wits, L gathered my
self up, and turned my face toward
Baltimore.
After walking a few miles l saw the
hazy glow that hangs at night over a
large city. had never been in Mary
land. l had no friends and no ac-
quaintance there. l had no money and
felt faint for want of food; but l knew
that Baltimore was a sort of outwOrk
to the Southern Confederacy, and that
I was likely to find aid and sympathy
amongst its women; while | knew
likewise that l had better steer clear of
any men met, us most of those who
favored the Confederate cause had
gone already into the Southern army
AT Point Lookout | had observed
several letters directed by some of our
prisoners to Miss Fanny Lewis, 184
Read street, Baltimore. AS / walked
on kept repeating this address over
and over. / had no idea of who Miss
Fanny Lewis was, nor, for that matter,
had my friends at Point Lookout,
though they were in the habit of ad-
dressing her, according to the prison
etiquette, as 'My dear cousin" They
only knew that she was Il charitable
lady who sent boxes of good food and
cast-off clothing to the prisoners, while
they in return made rings for her out
| OF their coat buttons, and inlaid them
with mother-o pearl cut from their
shirt studs.
l entered Baltimore toward the east,
and presuming on the universally of
that great law, "westward the course
of fashion takes its way" l walked on
until | found myself, about balf-past
nine O'Clock, in what seemed a fashion
able quarter of the city. Presently
reached a cburch-a Roman Catholic
church, presumed, for the Cross upon
its front-and / observed that several
ladies who came out of it had prayer
books with gilt crosses in their hands.
| knew we'll enough that the Roman
Catholic population of Baltimore was
man. | followed these ladies and con-
trived to stop them without frightening
them. / concluded they felt | was a
gentleman by my address, and were
not influenced by the clothes philos-
ophy. l asked them to tell me the
way to Raede street. They gave me
clear but brief instructions. | raised
my hat and walked on, striking into
shadow whenever l could, and fearing
the glance of a policeman. l made my
way to Reade street, and pulled the
bell of 194. 1t was house standing in
a garden, little back from the street,
and an alley ran along one side of the
lot. An Irish servant-girl answered
nv summons. That was good omen.
Irish servant-girls were all sympathiz-
ers in their way.
"Can see Miss Fanny Lewis for a
moment7"
"No; Miss Fanny's sent off-gone
away. The master is come home.
Maybe our other Miss Fanny would do
forye."
"Let me see her," l said.
She opened the door of Il sort of Ii
brary or side sitting-room, turned up
the gas, and left me there. looked at
my torn clothes, my Drowned hands,
my haggard face, and unshorn beard
and hair; for there was large mirror
over the fireplace. AS l stood wait
ing, / wondered what impression /
should produce on that other Miss Fan
nv when she came.
Presently the door opened. A small
blonde woman entered. She was about
twenty-five, with very pleasant face.
She looked as frightened as | felt my
self to be. Closing the door carefully,
she came up close to me, without a
word.
"Who are you7" she said trembling.
.sMadam," answered, 81 am Major
Dangerfeld, of the Confederate service.
l knew Miss Fanny Lewis to be lady
very good to our poor fellows at Point
Lookout. l knew nobody in Balti-
more. | came to ask your advice and
protection" And told her my story.
"Oh!" she cried, II am the wrong
lady; you expected to see my sister-ln-
law. You bave run yourself into the
greatest danger. My husband Colonel
Lewis, has just received staff appoint
ment here, under the .majOr-general
commanding in Baltimore. He does
not allow me to have anything to do
with treason or disaffectiOn. He is a
federal officer"
81 beg your pardon, madam" said,