The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-12

she. that I could do more for my country's
defenders" and so with many " God bless
you and " God speed you Rell we parted.
A NEW FRIEND.
With two men the manor born" as our
guides, we were not long instraversing the dis
tance and on the way we took lessons from
them in their cautious method of travelling
that proved of great advantage to us after
wards. They would not permit us even to
walk in the sand along the road lest we might
leave suspicious tracks, and they told us we
must learn to be selfish-to not leave anything
behind, not even a footprint. At the appointed
time we reached the rendezvous agreed upon,
and when within five rods of the gate were
challenged with "Who comes there?" We
halted Immediately, and one of the guides
answered, Friends with friends" Our chal-
lenger then directed lone friend to approach
with the countersign," and we waited while
one of the guides went forward He returned
in moment bringing with him an old man
our new friend-who grasped us by our hands,
and gave US such reception as we had never
anticipated He told us his name was Yates,
and that at one time of his life he had ranked
among the first families of Virginia, but the
misfortunes of war and speculation in Southern
trade at the time of the breaking out of the re-
bellien had left him in very much embarrassed
circumstances. But" added he, eve must
not tarry here; come to my house. Supper is
waiting in the kitchen for you" He told us
in q whisper, as we walked along, that his SEN
timents were Union, out and out, and he was
doing all he could in clandestine way to fur
ther our cause and to injure the cause of our
enemies by encouraging desertion from the
rebel army, in protecting deserters at home,
&c. But, by the eternal" his favorite quo
tation from Jackson, this is the first time,"
he declared, that | have seen a Yankee since
the war began, and l feel very much lifted up
and being allowed to minister to your wants"
We were shown into the kitchen, where we
| found supper was on the table for us three
| only. Our new friend had been out in the
| afternoon and killed couple of squirrels for
us. This was the fourth time that we had
eaten that day. but we could not see that our
| appetites had abated An hours chat by the
| fire followed, during which we discussed among
! other things the cruel manner in which our
| prisoners had been treated while in the hands
! of the so-called Confederate government, Our
| host said the authorities were to blame for it
! all, for he knew very well that they could have
| done better by us had they chosen. He had
! heard hatafternoon of our outbreak at Danvllie,
| and had learned OF several rebel soldiers being
| in the neighborhoOd on the lookout for US. A
reward of $50 had been offered for each one of
| us, dead or alive. he told us, too, that great
| preeaution would have 10 be used or we would
| be reeaptured, but he would do all that he dared
| TO assist us and save Gs from falling into rebel
hands again He had arranged for us to sleep
that night in the garrett of his house, which
| was reached from the second floor by small
ladder, and he presently showed us the way
thither. After we Were up the trap-door was
put down and the ladder removed, but we were
assured we would be perfectly safe, as the lad
| der would be carried to the barn, and if the
| house should be searched 10 one would be likely
todiseover any way of getting into the garret, or
suppose that any one was concealed there. We
were enjoined, however, TO keep perfectly still,
and, in event of danger, our host told us he
would have US up before daylight and take US
to more secure spot. We found our bed to
consist of a few blankets ON the garrett floor, but
as it was such an improvement on the previous
nights quarters, we deemed it quite luxury
ITO be eonttnred.]