The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-11-01

appeared 10 have no suspicion that they
were Yankees, and, without any audi
bile comment regarding them. resumed the
pacing Of their posts. Feeling this To be
INV opportunity, / stepped rom the arched
way and lesurey followed I'm the wake OF
nv friends. IL would be difficult 10 con-
ycy 10 one who has not shared in a like ex-
pcrience clear idea OF the peculiar sensa-
ton felt when. after an imprisonment oI
over six months, first found myself In
the open fresh air and drank in the first
fragrant breath Of my liberty; aud yet !
felt a pang Of regret ~ ! turned irresisii-
bly, 10 look at the grim walls Of LIBBY,
where ! was leaving, perhaps forever.
many Of the gallant fellows, the most valued
friends OF my life. There came at the mo.
ment to my mind the touching words OF
Bonniyurd, Byron's "PrisOner OF thll-
Ion y:
49, "Yct strange 10 tell,
In quiet We had learned 10 dwell
Ny very chains and grew irlehus'
80 much long communion tcnas
To make W. what we are Even
Regained my freedom WIN s'E"' .
followed the trail OF the ConicderatcS
10 the border OF the open held, winch III,
fordcd clear view for not less than . nan
a mile toward the north. A small farm
house stood in sight at distance whicn
estimated at thousand yards, but not a
man was in sight or hearing. The sudden
disappearance Of the party, whom khe"
could not have reached the house in so
brief a time. was significant, and instant
" concluded that they were at that very
minute deploying about the border OF the
an1 close IN oil
us. turned quickly and ran back INTO Tue
swamp, expecting as ! retrcated 10 near tue
whiz Of bullet from concealed CohIeue-
rate. had taken less than dozen steps,
when a long. clear whistle was hcard 10 NY
right and instantly answered by ahoticI OH
the opposite side Of the swamp. MY TWO
friends installing these for my sighals,
bounded through the woods Ike startled
deer, running toward the south sldc'
ALAST BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
| stopped an instant and heard dozen
answering whistles, followed 10y the loud,
clear command of the Gonfedcrates 10
"close in!" could hear the crash and
parting Of the brush as our ptlrsuers pushed
their way into the tangled jungle. The
thought Of going back a captive to Libby
was like "a knell Of death, and fully re-
solved TO take any chance short OF actual
suicide rather than be taken. ] had yet
heard no sounds from the east side OF
the swamp, and therefore determined
upon that rs the point to run the
gauntlet. tore through the low bog
and lost nv left shoe in the trcache-
rous mire, and TO increase my speed |
took off the other and threw it away. |
fX,arH an1
hatIcss and without shoes fairly flew over
the ground. Isprang upon the huge trunk
of a fallen tree that crossed the path, ana a.
lcaped to the ground on the opposite side
a tall Confederate, concealed behind il and
who had not heard my swift and noi>eless
approach. sprang to his feet, leaving his
carbine leaning against the tree, turned ana
ran. He trippcd and fell flat on his race
uttering "whoop" like Comanehc In
dian.
THE CAPTURE.
As he lay straight in my path leaped
squarey over him and almost into the arms
Of three of the COnfcderateS, who lcNcllcd
their carbincs at my head and demanded
me IT, halt. while the fallen man, recovering
his gun and his wits, came saNagely To-
ward me, Gun in hand, and in Il f0g-hOrn
voice shouted. Surrendcr!' amid The
laughter OF his cooler companions. For a
few Minutes hoped my two comrades
might meet ~ better fate than |, but they
were soon in sight. attended by the guard,
and exchanged condolences. The Confed-
crates hunted up my shoes for me and
treated Us with considerable kindness,
being soldiers and not priSon-guIa DIS; they
fed us literally from their hNcrSackS.
They admitted that our discovery in the
swamp was an accident and a great sur
prise to them, and added that we were out
side of their posts.