The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-12
GOODBYE TO DIXIE.
Fleeing from Danyille---In the Hands
of Loyal and Loving Women.
by John F. Hill, Co. X, seh o. " II
III.

Around the cheerful fire in the cabin of our
gentle host we again rehearsed our story, but
she still seemed incredulous, and when we
asked her if there were any Union men in the
vicinity she replied that she did not know OF
any The door was kept shut all the time, and
] noticed that little boy was stationed In the
yard to watch out for the appearance OF any
strangers. After a while it was announced
that breakfast was ready for US in the other
house. We all went in together and found
there another lady-the one who had prepared
the meal 1t consisted OF corn bread, stewed
chicken, cabbage slaw, stewed pumpkin and
rye coffee. Imagine my feelings, for my pen
cannot describe them! The good lady said we
We're welcome to all we could eat, but my
friend Thompson suggested that we had better
be careful and not eat too much. Still, he did
not heed his own precaution, and / ate till l
thought j had eaten an ordinary meal, and
was then quite unsatisied After breakfast was
over, our hostess who had been very much
reserved for some time, finally gave way to
her feelings and expressed herself as follows:
Ny young friends, must acknowledge that
you took me by surprise this morning, and
was, for a while, afraid that you were spies
The Confederates often resort to such means to
find out persons whom they suspect of dis
loyalty to their cause, and punish them by
seizing their property and sending them to
Jail. But now, since you have been so candid
with me, and told me the same story over so
frequently, feel that can put full reliance
in your truthfulness. l believe you now.
You have asked for help and such as is in my
power to give you shall have at all hazards"
She then told us that her name was Sarah
Corbin. She had husband in the rebel army,
who had been compelled to go as a conscript,
though, like herself, he was as loyal to the
Union as any man who ever swore by the stars
and stripes She was poor, exceedingly poor,
having five small children to feed and clothe
NV har he
government had refused her the aid which
other soldiers wives received because she had
expressed her sympathy with the North. She
and her sister-the other woman preSent-had
cultivated the land-ten acres with hoes
themselves. She had owned a horse, but the
authorities had taken it away from her and
given her no compensation for it. aud even her
two cows had been driven away for beef for
the army BY hard labor and the most rigid
economy she was able to supply the wants OF
her family. 81 have often felt, said she, as if
/ would like to do something for my country,
and now see | may have an opportunity, and
] only ask you to command, and anything
| within my power, even at the peril OF my life,
! / viii do for you. l have always been a
/ staunch friend TO the rebel deserters who left
! the rebel army because they would not fight
against their principles. But remember" she
continued her whole face beaming with enthu-
! siasn, . / am myself running great risk of
! L
| you as ] wish, though | trust my God will help
and protect me and save my country in the
| end" We knew then that we had fallen into
| the hands of loyal and Christian woman. We
now renewed our inquiry as to whether she
! could not take us to the house of some good
| Union man who would be willing TO help u.s.
DAY OF REST
! She replied that she could, but would have to
go and see the mau first and satisfy him as
| to who we were. The distance to his house
was six miles and she volunteered to so there
! herself that day and alone. What was to be
done with us through the day? That was the
next question. To remain around or in her
| house might be her ruin should we be seen
there 1t was determined at last that we should
return to the woods. She said she knew where
| two men who once had been soldiers of Gen.
(! Lees army, but had deserted, had concealed
! themselves, and offered to take US to them and
put US in their charge for the day. 1t was nee
essary, however, that we should not be seen in
her company, nor even take her path, for fear
of an accident; but we were instructed to keep
her in sight. The distance was mile and a
hall, and when she got to the place she was to
| turn and give US a signal 1t became our turn
now to be suspicious that she might betray US.
We told her our fears, and l think she felt a
little offended. For moment her eyes sparkIed
and then / could see the tears rolling down,
and she asked US why, as much as she had suf-
fered and undergone, any one should doubt her
devotion to the Union cause. We said no
more, but did as she ordered US. Though stiff
! and sore, our walk refreshed US, and we were
not long in reaching our destination. When
we saw her halt, face about, and give the
signal we Joined her. A man was approaching
her from the opposite direction, and when he
came up we We're formally introduced to the
stranger, who proved to be good looking
and intelligent young man. While talking
-
his brother. They had been hiding in the
woods for over year, and their mother, who
lived within half mile of the place, had been
caring for them in their state of semi-captivity
woMANs CURIOSITY.
To the custody of these two men for the day
we were consigned by Mrs. Corbin, who then
repaired to the house of the mother of the de.
serters, but returned in few minutes accom-
panied by their sister and another young lady
"a neighbor-who was curious TO see live
Yankee soldier. Mrs. Corbin told us that the
two young ladies would prepare our dinner and
bring it out to us while she paid visit TO the
Union man of whom she had spoken. The day
passed very pleasantly. In the company of the
two deserters we exchanged old war stories and
fought our battles over again About one
o'clock our dinner was brought out by the
ladies who had visited us in the morning, ac
!: companied this time by a very old woman
the mother of the two deserters-who had
come, as she said, to give US her blessing, and
though her eyes were dim, she praised Goo
that she had lived to see a loyal Union soldier
Our dinner was all that hungry stomach
could wish-boiled beef and cabbage, swee
potatoes, corn bread, pumpkin pie, and swee
milk, and it was succeeded at FIVE o'clock by
: supper of cakes and pies-the latter baked il
5 the shape of half moon. Our benefactres
returned about four o'clock She had been al
the way to the Unionists house-a distance o
t six miles-0n foot, and had had long tall
with him. He had been fearful at first that w,
r were spies, but finally, after she had taken al
| the responsibility on herself, had agreed to re
ceive us and care for US few days. We were t.
i meet him at certain gate on his plantation
near the hour that the moon would set-abou
ten o'cleck-and were to use as a countersign
} when hailed, the word Charity"
r The next question was, how were we to ge
( there, since we could not go through the opel
a country and inquire the way without runnin
+ the risk of being recognized and reeaptured
n | The two deserters solved the problem by agree
0 ing to act as our guides. They had ofte
c visited this man. and he had often done then
good service They accordingly looked up th
Q old muskets which they had brought hom
with them from the Army of Northern Viz
ginia. They were already loaded, and we wer
prepared for action on q moments notice. A
S night came on the air grew very chilly, and
Il was beginning to shiver again, for my oil
y clothes were very thin, when Mrs. Corbir
It having noticed my distress came over to m