Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1882-07-25
mis scELLANEo
A WAR REMINIsCRNoE,


IA. WRITER in q recent number of the
@S american Field, published in Now York
and Chicago, tells the following:
"Wh:le on recent visit to Florida. 7
heard related by tho principal uctor in the
scene an incident of the late war, so curious
aud romantic that it ought to be embslmed
IN deathless verse, instead of being submitted
10 ordinary proSaio narrative
"StartiDg from ST. Augustine one morning
on fishing excursion, in a sail boat M tho
wide and dreary North river, VIC found our
selves, toward evening, at the hospitoble
cabin of one of tho carly pioneers of the soc-
tion of Florida which lies between this river
and the Atlantic Ocean. He had como here
with his little family, from South Carolina.
at the close of the war, had cleared land
enough to rsise all the sweet potatoes he
wanted could in holt an hour any day. not
i've rods from his door, catch fish enough
with his little cast>nct, 10 last him week,
and in half day. mt almost any season of the
year, could furnish with his unerring rife NIL
tho venison he wished for. What moro could
reasonable man want, or life Afford His
an mbition had bean fully gratifed by his dar>
ing achievements in tho Confederate service.
In his own estimation he lived l;ko prinoc,
was oontented and happy.
"In tho evening as we sat around bI.zinp
light wood fro, our host entertained us with
an account of his war like adventures. one of
which will give the reader in the language
OF the narrator as nearly as I can rocall il.
As ecout aud spy, for he acted ia either or
hotd capacities as emergency rodpired. he
frequently crossed the lines between the two
armies and found binself IN tho Northern
towns and cities, sometimes in the parb of A
Union soldier, and sometimes in that of a
private citizen.
"My success, said the Captain in crossing
the lines and gathering information without
being captured. not only made me srca. IA
Voritc with my commander, but gave me suoh
uGbounded confidence in my own resources
and ability to escape, TINT grew absolutely
reckless of danger, and sometimes neglected
tho precautions that common prudence re,
qaired. can recall several Instances in
which, though was ct the time almost IN =
conscious OF 1t, l came nonr paying tho PEN
slty Of my fool l>hardiness. Perhaps one OF
the most remarkable OF these was whom one
night wes returning from Alexandra, while
1t was in possession of the Yauks, having
crossed the onomy's lines soverel days be-.
fore. mention this not so much on account
of the danger l was in, as to show you the
wonderful manner of my escape, or as the
young lady Who really made it for me, ex,
pressed it, of covering my retreat In nv
various visits to Alexandra was in tho habit
OF staying at the house of friend of our
cause who belonged to one Of the best fam
ilies, and whose only daughter was one of
the prettiest and brightest girls in old Yir-
ginie. On coming to this house in the eyen>
ing q never approached it in the daytime>.
| used to give notice of it by rapping three
times on one of the window shutters. When
L did this, no matter what timo of the night,
the door was invariably open to me. On the
occasion alluded to l had picked up some
valuable information for tho General, and
was ready to carry it bone, when the thought
occurred to me l would call for few mo,
nsnts at the old rendezvous, just to INQUIRE
after the health of the family, and to take a
parting look at the bright eyes of the lovely
daughter. She it was who usually answered
my challenge, and let me into the house. II
was not late, ns [ thought, when rapped on
the shutter; and yet noticed that nv fair
doo5keeper, who let mo in as usual. was at.
tired in her night-clothes, having thrown a
shawl over her shoulders. I was about 10
apologize for the lateness of my arrival. when
to our horror and surprise We heard the sound
OF horses, feet approaching the house, and
the voice of the leader exclaiming:
"'Now surround the house as quickly .s
possible. and see that no one escapes, at your
peril
"HeFe veg an interesting state of thipes
and we were both put to our wits end to de,
wise ways and means of making nv escsne
as ne were satisfied vas the prize thew vere
alter. Ny frat thought was to climb mp and
See!ete myself iu one of the huge chinpeys
which all old dfashioned houses in the South
mad such supply of. But I had hoard OF
several captures in my profession having
been made lately in these hiding PLACES and
| abandoned this design Is soon as Il was
formed, very muoh 70 my relief and safety,
as the sequel will show My next thought
was the cellar, but we concluded tha. this too
would be thoroughly searched. and afforded
very little chance of safety. The little cav.
airy troop had already approached both the
outside doors, and were banging away at the "a
With their sword hilts, and cIamoring for sd-
mission. Just then heard my companion
IN low voice, in which there was not a trace
! of fear or despair. direct her f,Ebe- rzho +. !