The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-08-26
RUNNING THE PICKETS.
ADVENTURES OF A BOY GETTING OUT
OF OUR LINES.
A "Copy.Holder's Successful Eva.
sion OF Local-Defence Duty ana
Escape to the Enemy.

was very intelligent and made an excellent
cOpy-holder. i remember bis directing at
tention to very evident slip OF the pen
in an article written by the editor-in-chiei,
which the proof-reader had passed in the
hurry OF reading late Mt night, and the rea-
sons he gave for thinking 10 an error. 1t
eyinced such thoughtiulness on his part
that il stimulated desire I had for some
time felt to know more OF him; so one
morning after the paper had gone to press
drew from him the following story OF his
7 life, subsequently iotting down his narra-
tive:
"I was born,' he said, Gin Charleston.
s. c. My parents, now living in George
town, are OF New England origin, but they
resided for some years in Augusta, Ca,
from which city they removed to Charles
ton. My father is machinist, and up to
the time when the war was declared had
found profitable employment; but after
the firing on Fort Sumter he resolved to
break up his home and return north. l
left Charleston with great reluctance. |
had made the acquaintance OF great many
boys OF my own age while at school there,
and 1t made my heart ache to sever the tie
that bound me TO thenf.'
"Did you not experience some difficulty
in getting away from Charleston! / asked.
The war, at the time you speak OF, had
actually begun
FROM CHARLESTON TO RICHMOND.
WYes, 1t required influence at headquar-
tiers to procure permit to pass through
the Confederate lines; but my father.
through his friends, finally accomplished
it, and we departed on our journey, arriv-
ing at Richmond in safety and without
having met with any adventure worthy OF
mention. 1t was not my fathers intention
to stay more than few hours in Rich
mond, but fate had decreed that he should
remain there two years, the authorities OF
the city, on discovering that he was
skilled mechanic, having impressed him
into the public service
"'How was your father treated during
his captivitys' was my natural query.
Exceedingly wel,' answered young
Blake; 'he was paid very liberal wages,
and had nothing to complain Of
FORCED INTO THE CONFEDERATE SERVICE.
""Were you idle during the two years
you refer tor
"Far from it. got a situation as copy
holder in one OF the Richmond newspaper
offices, and held it for a year. 1t was about
our detention that all the youths in the city
over sixteen years OF age were ordered TO
Join the Confederate army. Notwithstand-
ing my protest was compelled to obey the
command. had no taste for military SER
vice, and you may imagine how irksome
found il. However, | remained in the
ranks few months, when one day good
opportunity to desert occurred, and
availed myself Of it. 1t was not my inten-
ton or desire TO enlist in the Federal
army-my only thought was to return to
private life.
THE BOYS ESCAPE.
"The first night after leaving the Con-
federate camp, near GordonSvllle, va, was
n very anxious one for me. i thought of
the peril | should be in IL captured and
taken back to headquarters how grief
stricken my parents would be il | were
made TO pay the penalty OF desertion. But
had not taken the step without due
consideration. Better be shot, | then
thought. than pass another year OF hard
ship and privation, The clothes |
had escaped in were old and ragged,
my feet were almost shoeless, and the cap
on my head of unkempt hair was faded and
torn. In a word, presented anything but
cOmfort il had begun to rain, and had to
seek shelter under some trees that grew
close together near the highway. Soon AZ
ter gaining this protection | was startled
by the sound OF mans steps within few
feet OF me, and turnang round | was con-
fronted by a soldier in the Federal uni
form. Before giving me time to say a
word he had levelled revolver at my head,
and exclaimed:
"'Youngstcr. are YOU alone? II not
and you dare cry out I'll shoot YOU down
on the spOt!'
81 explained to him who was and my
wish to get out of military life, when he,
in turn, told me he had been taken prisoner
and marched to Richmond some months
before. but had just succeeded in regain
ing his freedom.
FRIEND IN NEED.
al presume you felt quite relieved
when YOU discovered who the man was l
said.
"More than words could express. l was
unacquainted with the country / should
have to steal through; l was without
lmoney and short OF rations, and it was a
long distance to the Federal lines. Ny
comrade that was TO be saw what was in
nv mind rs / stood there before him, and
erasping my hand he assured me that be
would stand by me to the last. | soon had
proof of the sincerity OF this assurance,
for Just at daylight, rs we were resuming
our Journey. the rain having ceased, two
horsemen suddenly galloped in sight, and
rushing upon us with drawn sabres de-
manded our surrender. Quick as flash
the soldier in blue drew his revolver
and discharged il full in the face OF
. the cayalrvman who had halted us,
and then turning TO his companion
fred at him. Both men fell from their
horses. which we quickly mounted, and in
an instant, rs it seemed. we were riding at
break neck speed from the scene OF the en-
counter. Neither OF Us spoke word un-
til mile had been run, when my CON-
panion slackened his pace, and looking to-
ward me, exclaimed: Boy, trust didn'i
kill those fellows But was in too des-
perate a mood to hesitate what to do. For
weeks before meeting you had planned tc
t make my escape from the Confederate pri.
; son. had despaired OF being exchanged,
l there being a hitch on the subject some
e where, and would rather have been sho'
than taken back to Richmond told him
( / was very clad to make my escape and very
: grateful TO him for helping me to effect it
ADVENTURES on THE WAY.
e "Our progress the next few days was
E rendered very slow by the April storm.
e which had set in, swelling the streams and
I compelling us frequently to swim oul
: horses across them. On one OF these occa
5 sions had an opportunity to reciprocal.
. the favor which my comrade, whose nam,
\ was Gray. had done me. We had nearl,
5 reached the opposite side Of ford, whci
o tho oirtb of his saddle broke and he wa
!. suddenly precipitaled into the stream. HI
0 had rot entangied in his horses reins, and
!. | I saw IL was becoming desperate struggl
e ON his mart TO extricIe himself, the animal