The National tribune., 1883-04-05
GOODBYE TO DIXIE.
The Last of DanVille---Crossing the
Rivera Friend in Need.
[By John f. Hal, Co. K, seth o. III

1
we were outside of the prison-wals. The most
serious part of the undertaking however, was
yet before US. We were fully 300 miles from
the Union lines, in an enemy's country, enfee-
bled by starvation, nearly naked and just at
the beginning of cold and disagreeable weather
We halted for moment after passing through
the break, TO ascertain if the guard within had
discovered our departure, and then glancing
around, saw that the coast was clear. We
started to run in STOPPING position but owing
| to weakness. excitement and slippery ground,
/ / was half the time tumbiing down. We first
tried to make our way down a back alley but
seeing several men approaching, lodged into a
stable-yard and hid behind some stacks of fod-
/ der. As the men were passing by, we noticed
/ that they were comrades of ours, who had lost
/ their way, but we Were afraid to even whisper,
/ lest we should be overheard by Others and
/ therefore did not hail them 1t was so dark
and raining so hard that we remained here ten
minutes before making another start. We
were probably I50 yards from the prison and
could hear the guards on duty calling the hour
! When The guard at the fence sang out: Post
number 6, o'clock and all is we'll / whis-
| pered TO my companion. g I don't believe that
! guard is telling the truth"
| 1t assured us, however that the coast was
/ clear, and we started off again on the double
/ quick. My tin and fork ratified SO in my hav-
ersack that / threw the former away, Passing
last to some ontlots or commons In crossing
/ these We found persimmon tree loaded down
with ripe fruit. One Of my companions was
/ UP the tree in moment and broke of several
/ branches. These we threw across our arms and
ate as we walked 1long. / thought had never
/ tasted anything more delicious in all my life
! lt was the first food | had eaten since we had
/ left Richmond, nearly forty eight hours pre-
/ vious and ] made up nay mind that if l should
live to see the close Of the war and return to
! my home, the persimm0n tree should have q
prominent place in my orchard.
FAREWELL TO pANtILLE
| l soon began to feel stronger, and we kept
! pushing on at very rapid rate. Wepassed some
open fields and came up to the edge of a woods
Here we halted moment. Looking back, we
could plainly see the lights of the city. and
through the scattering clouds the stars were
now beginning TO shine. Here we were Joined
by couple of our boys, who came up painting
for breath, having ran the whole way. We all
gave last glance at Danyille, mentally ex-
claimed "Good-by, dear comrades, and then
started northwest through the woods taking
the north star as our guide. In the woods we
came upon some more of our boys, who had
lost their course and were coming back towards
the prison. They faced about with us, and we
kept on together until finally we came to
public highway or pike As this afforded much
pleasanter travelling than the woods, and led
IN the direction we wished to go, we put on all
the speed our strength would allow, so as to
place as many miles between us and the prison
as we could before daylight. We logged along
quite merrily. Some of the boys had discov-
cred Q garden and had gathered an armful of
cabbage stalks and leaves which we deyoured
with much relish
After a couple of hours travel, the road
turned due north, and we came to a crossing of
the Dan River, called as we afterwards learned,
Wilson's Ferry In the ferry-boat we found
half dozen of our boys who were irving to
break it loose from its moorings, for it was
locked TO the bank. With all our pounding
and prying, however, we were unable to loosen
1t at any point. Squads of our boys were
every minute arriving, and we were becoming
quite noisy, when, in the height Of the hustle
and confusion, we heard some one shouting
from a house near by: Let that boat alone
and go home, you black devils !" Finding
that we could MT accomplish anything, and
not wishing TO be delayed any longer we gave
II up and began now to divide off into squads
ard start away in different directions Ny two
companions and two others lost no time and
started directly up the south bank of the river
We Travelled in this way some two miles together
over rocks, logs, brush, and through thick tim
Der, when one of the strange men that had Joined
US gave out and had to sit down. The other fol-
lowed on after rs. but he had a distressing
cough, and we told him we did not want his
company, since it might be the means of be-
traylng the whole party. We told him. also
that it was unsoldierike to leave his own mess
mate, who had given out, and he finally turned
back and rejoined his eomrade He belonged,
1t was said, TO the Seventy third Illinois in
fantry. We never heard OF him again.
saw now that it would be necessary TO cross
Inc Dan River, and that as soon as possible
certainly before watch was SET for us at the
ferries. 1t was raining again furiously, how
pTa6rS In1 IL
becoming very much fatigued, indeed and
knew that l would soon have to stop TO rest.
We had now come probably four miles from
the ferry, and, as we'll as / could Judge IT was
: O'Clock in the morning. ! finally became so
exhausted that | could go no further and
told my companions that they would have 10
50 on and leave me. This they syyore they
would not do, for we had solemnIy agreed before
starting that we would stick together through
thick aud thin. So we all lay down in pine
thlcBet upon the bare ground, muddy, wet and
shivering and famished with hunger / could
not rest, and all hope for time fed. prayed
for death to end my sulIerings, and almost
wished myself back again in prison
MEMORABLE SUNDAY.
We all felt discouraged the next morning,
which was Sunday, November 10th, and, for
myself, was on the point of giving up.
found IN getting up from the ground that !
could not walk, but my two companions. who
were considerably stouter than | was, finally
got me on my feet and led me a short distance
l wanted them TO leave me and care for them
selves but this they said they would not do,
Tor they could not get through unless was
with them t. gitide them. So they got me a
couple of STICKS. and With one in each' hand |
began to move off very slowly at first. though
after while, when my joints became lmbered
up, ! found | could &c on quite briskIy We |
heptslong the river, hcping to find a crossing
place somewhere. but the Dan River has no bot
toms, and the b!Hifs c;ine so near the waters |
edge III places as 90 barely admit OF small foot
path. Occasionally there would be q little SPOT I
Of level land of five or six acres, or less, and /
this WAS generally cultivated in corn tobacco
or vegetables. After going about mile we |
came TO one OF these small corn fields. The |
corn was not gathered yet so we helped our |
selves tn half dozen ears apiece, which we ate |
raw on the cob. Going on IL short distance /
farther, we came To another small clearing |
which WIS planted in vegetables Some fine /
falnips attracted our attention, and throwing !
part OF our corn away. we loaded mp with these |
fiiting our haversacks and pockets and taking |
;lii we could carry by the tops We were afraid /
To stop to eat them, lest some stranger should /
accidentally come upon us.
Opposite this truck patch we found 10 orr |
great delight, an old canoe tied up TO the |
bank. 1t was half full of water and we found |
1t quite a job to bale it out with the pint Tin |
which one of my companions had brougli along |
After getting the water out we hunted up q |
piece OF fence rail for an oar and went aboard |
4 flxc lNn,..