River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-08-26
Cincinnati Enquirer


hind. watched the habits in this re-
spect, and seeing a guard seat himself
by a driver, | prepared for action. |
lad donned my uniform, and, with
trousers rolled up, cap in my pocket
and blanket around me, to conceal
the colors | was sailing under, | follow
ed the ambulance from bivouac to
bivouac until the best opportunity pre-
scented itself, viz: when the full cOmpli-
ment had been taken in, and they were
ready to drive off. The order to 90
was given, and my friends lifted me in.
lay on the floor but not without the
remonstrance of a sick and querulous
fallow, who said the ambulance was full.
We halt at the gate Word passes, :"
All right sounds aSsuringly in my
ears; and the ponderous gates shut.
Here we are in beautiful gravel
road, bowling along; the guard keeps
Il weather eye on us but to my close
observation he occasionally gives his
attention to fly on the horse, and
while in his pride he dexteriously
snapped one off with his whip, the sick
man from barrack seventy-seven arises,
but leaves his bed behind him .crouches
in the back step, dons his cap, and
presently steps off into a knot Of feder-
ais, full forty yards away from the hos
pital and hundred yards from the
prison.
The next tussle with adverse circum-
stances will be Mt the bridge.
Hello there"
Hello YOURSELF"
won't you ride ?"
Certainly"
wagon The bridge was a mile away
We chatted pleasantly about the 60
rebels and | gave him, in reply to his
many questions, a good deal Of absurd
information. Finally, protested to be
tired and told him | would lie down
among his sacks in the wagon | pre-
tended to sleep. The horses hoofs
sound and the wheels rumble on the
bridge He is stopped by the guard.
4 pleasant word passes. when he says;
Il have a soldier inside, but he is asleep
now"
"All right; never mind Go ahead"
Hello" | say, Are we across the
bridge? | want to get out here" and
with thanks | dropped out, remem-
Der, from the tail piece.
| had the address Of certain lady
in the city of Rock Island, whose name
it may not be proper to mention even
at this time. She had been of great
service to the prisoners and was in
secret communication, it was said, with
few of them. The house was found
without difficulty after a short walk
The lady responded in person to my
knock. presented my card. The re-
ply was startling. Under some excite
ment she abused the Yankees for their
surveillance over her, and their send
ing spies to entrap her. She accused
me of playing that part She had
never helped the confcderates. 1t was
all false. etc. ! pleaded with her and
protested; gave names, but this any
spy could do. | had no token and no
words would do. Yet all this time she
would occasionally relent and brush
away tearof pity. Finally she gave
me food and 80, and | was instructed
to 90 to the next station of the Chicago
and Rock Island railroad and take the
7P. NJ. train My plan was to go to an
intersection Of the road and take
train to Bloomington, H.. where had
friends
sank into seat of the car, and
when | awOke from pleasant dreams it
was late at night, and / was informed
that we had passed the station. There
was nothing for it then but to continue
on to Chicago, for which all the money
in hand except s. was paid out A
two mile walk at Chicago brought me
to hotel. 1t was l o'clock at night.
| sat by the stove, dozed away indus
triously to keep off conversation, which
was sometimes forced upon me. The
remaining s. was applied to two enor-
nous meals during the day. | was in
constant danger of arrest rs a DESERVING
federal soldier | had to get to Bloom
ington, and that night, or be without
food or lodging, or fare worse. ! Went
to the depot Is there none to trust?
Not face that peered into answered
the question. | concluded to try the
engineer or fireman. They were sor-
nv; could not let me ride on the ten
der or help them at stocking The con
ductor referred me to the provost mar
shall of the city, who would give me a
pass, etc, he would not let me go
otherwise ON any condition 'All
aboard" The invitation was accepted
at once.
Ny plan was to get some one on the
train TO pay my fare, After turn or
so through the ears 4 benevolent-look-
ing gentleman was selected; the case
was explained to him A federal sol
dier, an invalid. with a Through from
his commanding officer, had left Rock
Island with the design Of spending the
Christmas holidays with friends in
Bloomington. The mishap of missing
connections was stated The gentle
man regretted his inability, etc In
the meantime the forged Through was
examined by others who were attracted
10y the conversation. Finally, one gem
tleman-a kindly but profane Good
Samaritan-said: He would be --
if he wouldn't help Il soldier who had
fought for his country This sentiment
was echoed around, and in a few MIN
utes s. was made up-more than
enough for the fare
But the end was not Vet. \ knot
gathered around me, and | bad to pass
an ordeal Of questioning. | had as
Sumed the name OF JOnn simpson.
John and Samuel Simpson, brothers.
cousins of mine. had removed to
Bloomington some wears before the
war, and invested in land. This is all |
knew definitely of their surroundings.
These names of real persons are nc
titious heFe) One man living in Bloom
ington asked In what direction from
Bloomington does John Simpson live27
Trusting 10 luck. | answered North,
This was correct. How far ?" About
a mile from the place believe. " Cor
rect. How far does Knox live from
him p About half mile This was
also correct He was satisfied. Another
man objected TO the fact that my pass
was signed by the colonel in red ink,
but the furlough in black But the
most formidable objection came from
member of the 4th Illinois, the num-