The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15

up, belera 'licl stood half dozen rebs. We
backta cut lot into the brush, and Ranking
them, got into the road beyond. The noise we
made caused them to look around but their
eyes being blinded from the freight, they
thought it was soiae pigs, and did not fire.
Reaching the road again, we went along for
some distance, when we heard voices ahead of
us.
AN UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY.
Creeping up as near as we dared, we dis
covered another picket of rebels, and in trying
to flank them, we got into a swamp. 1t was
now so near day that we thought it dangerous
to go further, so finding good binding place
away from the road we lay down, and in an
instant NeEe fast asleep just as day was
breaking Ws were awakened by a noise, and
looking around, discovered a negro with cart
load of furniture. / whistied, when he saw u.s.
and leaving the cart broke off III run, and we
after hi-a, and soon captured him, telling him
we a- ankees. Thank God; L thought it
was y rebels" he said we WEE near the bat
tlefeld of the day before; that the bridge was
burned over the creek, and that all were rebels
on this side and all Yankees on the other; that
we had unconsciously come through the rebel
army the night before. Suffice it to say, he
showed us through the swamp to the banks
OF the creek, and tllon, just as we came to it,
we heard afar off the strains of q bard.
Now, how to cross the creek was the question
that then interested US. 1t was wide, deep and
very cold Brady could not swim stroke, so
telling him ] would come back in an hour if /
lived, pulled off my clothes and jumped in.
Breaking the thin sheet of ice that had formed
the night before, | swan over, and waving my
hand to Brady, disappeared in the bushes Oh the
other side.
As soon as possible found the road, and went
tearing up it as fast as I could to keep
from freezing and to find our troops. I had
ran couple of miles and no sign; was think
ing OF going back after Brady, when out Of
the woods in my front dashed about dozen
cavalrymen, with their revolvers out, crying,
Haiti haiti" I halted and threw up my
hands, for | saw the dear old uniform of our
army. When they came up / explained that
l was Union officer escaped from prison.
One of them said: That's too thin; you are
pretty looking subject for a Federal officer"
But / soon convinced them | was Then they
took me back short distance to house and
got me butternut suit, with an old yellow
hat and pair of negro shoes, and then we all
started TO find Brady. As they came near the
creek / had them dismount and deploy as
skirmishers, then, running down to the bank,
1 called, Oh, Brady!" No answer. / called
again, when head was stuck out from behind
log, and Brady says: Who is that over
there that knows me?" / said Brady,
don't you know me? It's all right; here's
our fellows" He said: My God, Roberts, is
that you? Are we really saved ?" Yes" 1
responded as loud as / could; "there's our fell
lews; don't you see the blue? We have struck
Sherman ON his march to the sea.
A HAPPY MOMENT.
was soon made exceedingly happy in find
ing the noble Captain Brady, my comrade, by
my side. Then, by hard riding, we caught up
with General Fitzpatrick at noon; as we rode
up to him we saw the dear old flag, made a
Thousand times dearer By our sufferings in
Dixie. Months had passed since we had gazed
upon its splendid folds. It looked beautiful in
the hour of triumph at Fort Donelson, Shiloh,
and Corinth, but not as beautiful as when it
was seen over Kilpatrickis troopers ON the day
we knew we were delivered from Confederate
bondage.
Flag of the free hearts hope and home,
By aHge D5ao - gaIor given,
Thg siars ligre she welkln dome,
AID 81 ~ We're born IN Heaven
Now, my comrades and friends, let me bear
testimony TO the answering loyalty and the
unselfsh kindness OF negroes, without whose
assistance no Union soldier could have pence
trated through the miles of sEaInps and woods
which lay between chem and liberty.
L have no conn Iaints. to make over what
had TO endure in Confederate prison pens when
contemplate Z. restored Union, a happy and
prosperous people, over whom hovers the angel
OF peace Brady | have never heard from since
long and prosper, and when he dies
May his soul rest forever. with the good and the
brave,
Through ali zine by the river of God"
Where Libby Prisoners Served as Array Nurses.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE
About the 9th Of July, 1862, some 200 or 300
| of US prisoners in Libby, In response to re-
| quest of the Confederates, volunteered to go
! down to Savage Station and help nurse the
| sick left there by Mcclellan when he changed
| his base We were told 1000 sick had been
| left behind
! Many Of us were so anxious to get out into
| the open air-any out of Libby-that
| we were glad TO volunteer for the service,
though some were entirely unfit for the hard
! work on account of wounds and sickness
| Among our number was Sergeant Howard (of
my own regiment, company a. and myself
| both limping from wounds We were put on
the cars, I think there were 200 of u.s. and
| when we arrived at Savage Station were as
! signed to our work. Howard and myself were
| placed in charge of three or four tents at the
| hill. We had twelve or fifteen sick in our care
| They lay On the bare ground with only q
| blanket to cover them. Some were very low
and so covered with filth ana vermin that il
| was a wonder they could endure it. Two
| Young boys occupied little shelter tent by
themselves. They were unconscious from dis
ease and swarming with lice. We procured
tub, brought water from a spring at the foot o.
the hill, and did our best to care for them, but
they died in a few hours after, and were thrown
into big trench. Our food was -four and ba
con. We took q pan Of -four down to the
spring and wet it up, then spread it on fla
| piece of iron laid on some stones, under which
| we made fire, and baked pancakes for our
selves and the men under our charge. WheI
baked they were heavy as lead, and, taker
with piece of fat boiled bacon, were no
tempting to the sick. Howard and.I limpet
about among them, doing what we could til
the third day after our arrival, when | wa
taken sick, and with considerable difficulty go
back to the station and on the cars, and wa.
taken back to Richmond and to Belle Island.
do not now rememberthe names of single
one Of. those men, but if this should meet tn
eye Of any who was there or of Sergeant How
ard, should be glad to hear from them.
w. III. CLARK,
SALINAS, CAL. Co. e, 92d n. Y. V. I.
The New Prisoners Association at Hampton, Va
meeting of officers, soldiers, and sailors, a
Hampton, Va, was held on the 18th inst, TO
&.