The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-04-26

white objects that looked like buildings and
presently discovered something ahead that
looked like covered bridge. l approached
cautiously and found that was not mistaken.
1t was bridge across large stream, which we
thought must be- the Blackwater Looking
through, saw the way clear, and went over
on tiptoe, expecting every moment to be chal-
lenged by sentinel When through, /
found myself within the very heart of a
town or city. / knew the boldest would be
the best plan, and SO kept in the middle of the
street and passed right on. All was still as
death, and [ saw but two men on the side
walks. The town was over mile long, and
as | passed outside of its limits / began to
breathe easier. went on a mile or so further,
and sat down under stone fence to rest and
wait until my companions came up. They ar
rived III great state of excitement, and swear
ing like sailors, declaring that was "darn
fool to make sucE venture. But as it had
passed Oft with such success. they felt a little
proud OF having run the gauntlet
DAY OF REST.
Soon red streaks in the east told US that day
was coming. We left the road and began to
look about for some place at which to obtain
breakfast. Several houses were in sight, but
we did not like to venture up to them, as they
all wore an aristocratic air. Finally, We Sc
lected a cabin under a hill and partly hid by
clump of trees. We knocked, and were told
w
small children. A scanty breakfast was on the
table. We told her what we wanted. She said
she had but little, but she would divide with
US and the children. On inquiring whether
there were any Union men in the vicinity, we
were told there were none, and that the town
we had come through was Rocky Mound, and
thoroughly secesh. She also told US that there
were some rebel soldiers at camp of instruc-
tion below the town. She had never seen a
Yankee soldier before, but she believed they
were not half as bad as had been reported. We
told her we were Yankees, but she only shook
her head and laughed. After breakfast we
thanked the woman for her kindness, and,
making our way to the woods, hunted up
thick copse, and separated for the day. We had
been two nights and one day on the tramp with
out sleeping, and We needed rest. My sleep
that day was the sweetest l ever enjoyed on
Virginia soil.
We awoke about sunset, and as the first
thing on the programme was supper and we
knew that we were in a secest community, we
concluded TO play secesh ourselves for the occa-
sion. Looking around for some time we finally
spotted a house near the roadside. AS we
approached it in the dark, a fierce dog kept US
at bay, but an old man finally came out and we
asked for supper. He inquired who we were.
We told him We We're Confederate soldiers and
had been home on d French" and We're ON
our way to join our regiment in Tennessee.
Come in, boys" he said, it will be ready
soon." While supper was getting ready, we sat
on the stoop, chatting. We played the ruse to
perfection. When asked what regiment we be-
longed to-which was an unexpected question
Il had an inspiration, and answered, the
Fifty fourth Virginia. the name of the regi-
ment that captured US at Chickamauga, and
which guessed at that time was with Bragg's
army near Chattanooga. He claimed to be
rebel also; but have often thought that he
may have been Union and that he was playing
a ruse too. He told us we were nearing the Blue
Ridge Mountains, and were within some forty
miles OF the Virginia and East Tennessee
Railroad.
IN THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS.
After good supper our pockets were filled
with cakes and we started off, remarking that
we must reach the railroad early next morning
so as to take the first train south. On on we
went Soon in the far distance we could see the
Blue Ridge, like cloud, lowering low to the
horizon. Weary and tiresome was cur tramp
After awhile we began to ascend the noun
tains The road was very much broken and
| quite steep in some places, and we passed many
picturesque spots that would have given me
much pleasure to have seen under different cir
cumstances. Towards morning we crossed the
| summit and began TO descend the western slope
At daybreak rain set in, and, being much
| fatigued, we sought shelter in a thicket of
evergreens. As l sat with my head against a
| hemlock soon fell asleep, and there, with the
water dripping from my head and shoulders,
| dozed away, not awaking until broad daylight
| We all complained of sore feet that morning,
| owing probably, to the rough road over the
mountain. My old shoes were now about
gone up, and had to tear the lining out of
my blouse to wrap my feet in, as | knew my
salvation depended on keeping them in good con-
/ dition. Looking around we could see no place
where it seemed likely we should be able to get
/ h,ac he aY1
! sions, and we did not care to make any acquaint-
anee above our own social standing Itstill con-
tinued to rain, and we lodged about seeking
shelter here and there till we were as COMPLETELY
drenched as If We had stood out in it ALL To-
wards noon we noticed a large barn, away from
any house, and short distance from the road.
We directed our steps tbither, and creeping up
| by the back way and into the hay-loft, nestled
down close together, so that our own bodily
| heat would dry our wet clothes. The rain
ceased at noon but we kept our own quarters
| in the barn. In the afternoon we could see
| that there was much travel ON the road that
ran by the place, and concluded that we could
not De very far from town or village. We
could also tell by their clothing that many
of the passers-by were rebel soldiers Could it
/ be we were near Confederate camp? Late in
| the evening we managed to slip out of the
barn aud get into the woods again unobseryed
We felt that we ought to find out something
ABOUT the nelghDorhood IN which we We're be-
! fore we resumed our march, and having dis
covered a cabin at last ventured up to it. Its
| solitary occupant proved to be very kind and
communicative old lady, who informed us that
we had reached the finest valley of Virginia
the Shenandoah; that We were within four
miles of Big Lick Station, on the Virginia and
East Tennessee Railroad and that there was q
camp of rendezvous near the station on the rail-
road, but she could not tell exactly where She
supplied our temporary wants with a half
pone OF bread, some boiled beef and raw onions.
| We did not stop to dispose of them there, but
took them to the woods, where we held council
OF war as to what we should do. 1t was finally
decided that we must make reconnaissance
ahead, and that, too, in daylight. Having
discovered the exact location of the rebel
camp, we could then flank it, as well as
cross the river which lay between us and
| the railroad. 1t was no trifiing undertak-
ing but after supping on our bread, beef and
onions, we felt brave and determined We
resumed our march, making our way cautiously
by lodging from fence corner to fence corner.
through thick copse and down deep ravines
Sometime after dark we were startled by hear
ing, at some distance, drum beat q tattoo. We
then knew which course to take! We struck off
at right angles to our course and doubled cur
speed. Presently we saw some lights ahead,
and thinking that there must be a town in that
/ direction, We bore more to the left, across
the fields, till we came to a road. This we fol-
lowed about hair mile. when we came. to a
very rapid stream OF water, called, | think,
| Roanoke 1t was very much swollen by the