The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-26
GOODBYE TO DIXIE.
Bound for the Union Lihes---A Rather
HaSty Breakfast.
TBy John y. Hal, Co. Z, sah O. H.L1

1t was certainly not very pleasanethlng, con-
sidering that we were escaped prisoners trying
to make our way to the Union lines, to be con-
fronted so unexpectedly with rebel soldier in
full uniform and armed to the teeth, even if
our host, Mrs. Reynolds, was a Northern SYM
pathizer; but we did not finch. On being
asked who we were, replied that supposed
he could tell from our uniforms who we were. 4
Are you from Danville, then?"
"Yes"
"What do you propose to do?"
Make our way to the Union lines"
Do you think you will get there through a
country where every one is hunting after
your"
Eyes, or we will die in the attempt"
He laughed at this, and said it was only fool
hardness for we never could reach the lines.
ALI our fellow-prisoners who had escaped with
us had been recaptured, and two of them only
the day before, near that very place. To talk
about going on any further was, therefore, all
nonsense. He then inquired what our motives
were in exposing ourselves to so many hard
ships and prlyatlonS instead of waiting until
we should be exchanged. By way of answer we
told him how we had been treated-frst rob-
bed, and afterwards almost starved to death
and that we accordingly had improved the first
opportunity to escape. We had gone so far now
that we would rather die than go back to one
of his odious military prisons again. To this
he replied that he could arrange to have us put
in one of their county jails, where we would be
sure OF receiving good treatment; but, after
thanking him for the great p interest which
he manifested in our behalf we remarked that
as we had committed no crime, we did not care
to accept the hospitality of the county Jail
Breakfast was now announced, and we went
out into the kitchen alone At the table Mrs.
Reynolds asked Us in a whisper if our new ac-
quaintance had not been trying to get US to
surrender to him, and on our replying in the
affirmative said: Don't you mind him. He is
my brother-in-law, and a notorious rebel, and
a coward, too. He was in the Northern Vir-
ginia army, but was wounded at Gettysburg,
and is now doing light detached duty here at
home. Don't you mind him, but go ahead"
Shortly after this conversation he entered
the kitchen and took seat at the door-the
only one to the house, too. He still kept his
rife in his hands, and l noticed that he had
revolver strapped about his person, which /
had not observed when he first made his appear
ance. Presently he inquired: Have you boys
made up your minds what you intend to do ?'
TO OHIO OR BUST.
At this Thompson spoke up, and said " You
old fool we have already said that we were
going to Ohio or burst"
"Well," he remarked, after moment of
hesitation, lyon might as well consider your
self busted now" and, suiting the action to the
word, began to feel for his revolver. AT this,
Thompson, who was very quick and resolute
man, sprang to his feet, snatched his chair
raised it in the attitude of striking, and swore
if he touched his pistol he would crush him to
the earth, ordering him. in the same breath, to
get out Of the door. He promptly complied,
and Thompson, having rushed into the yard
turned to the man and said: You may kin
one of us, but the other two will kill you
that you may be sure of! OF the two things
death or prison-we viii take the former. So.
now, pitch in +"
At this our enemy wilted, and declared that
as he admired men of such pluck as we had
shown, he would promise not to modest US fur
ther, but let Us go in peace.
Mrs. Reynolds was standing near by, but ap-
peared to be not in the least alarmed at the
threatening ho5tilities. We thanked her for
our breakfast and were about to make o break
for the woods, which were probably 100 yards
of, when the soldier again addressed US:
WELL said he, 'as / have put you men to
some trouble, would like to do you q favor
now, if you will accept it. / believe am more
familiar with the country than you are, and
am willing to go with you part of the way,
SO as to take you out of danger"
We replied, however, that we had had all
that we wanted of his company and started off
without him.
As we reached the woods we noticed that he
was trying to follow us, and facing about,
ing him that If he attempted to track us into
the woods his friends might have some diff
Guilty in finding him again.
As soon as we were out of sight of the house
! we started off on run, and after going about
half a mile through the woods, changed our
course and made due north. We were now
! travelling along the side of low ridge called
Snow Mountain, and as we were afraid that we
might be pursued, We were constantly on the
! alert-tTaveling awhile and then hiding; sleep
| we could not. We kept this up all day. and as
we travelled along the side of the mountain
| and through thick forests we met no one dur
ing the whole day. Late in the evening we
| turned our course due west and by nightfall
/ had crossed Snow Mountain. West of the
mountain we found fine level country, and
determined, if we could only strike nice,
smooth road and direct course, to roll up
| good many miles that night.
A HALT FOR SUPPER
| couple of hours after dark we stopped at a
! house near the road for something to eat The
| family consisted of an old man. a couple oi
! young women and small boy. We told the
old man who we were, but he appeared not to
| believe our story. Nevertheless he was very
| kind and communicative. He said we were in
Franklin county, and if we kept on in the di-
rection we were going we would have to cross
/ a small mountain called Chestnut Ridge, and
would also have to pass through the county
seat-RoclSy Mound-on the Blackwater River
If you are actually Yankee soldiers he
said, "you had better not go through Rocky
Mound, for there are some troops there all the
time on duty, and they might take you in
He then volunteered the information that we
could pass around it by going either to the
| right or left and crossing the river above OF
below the town, thereby escaping all danger
| He told us we would have to go about twelve
miles further on, until we came to cross-road
and should there take the right-hand road
which would lead US to a crossing about five
miles below the town.
While the conversation was going on the
young ladies were preparing supper for us in
the kitchen. 1t proved to be a good one and
after the excitement of the day, we did it jus
tice. The young ladies sat at the table with
us, and by their conversation we perceived thai
they were very intelligent and, what was oil
more consequence, loyal to the Union. When
we were about to start Stookey complained that
he was suffering from sore throat, and one
of the girls kindly brought out large red
bandanna silk handkerchief and tied it around
his neck as tenderly as if he had been child
saying at the same time that this would be heI
way of treating Union soldiers, if she only had
the power. Stookey vowed that night that il
he could manage to keep that necktie till the
war was over he would try and hunt up the
fair donor again. After supper goodbye was
said, and we were off again for long nights
tramp. AS hour followed hour so mile
after mile was left behind US on our weary
| tramD We had mn means of 9Scnrtn i,il,,r l. ~,