The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-05-17


house one night and hung to a tree in his yard,
and two other men who, on returning home
one night, had been shot dead in the road.
THE DEsERTERs DESERT Us.
His stories made profound impression
the deSerters in our party, and they decided
that to go ahead would be too hazardous for
them. They were satisfied that their fate
would be death if they were captured. and
since we would evidently fare no better, they
tried to persuade us to return with them to
Craig Valley and wait for more favorable
opportunity to escape. This, however, we
would not agree to do. We were less than
Seventy-five mixes from our lines, and we were
determined to make our way through, let the
danger be what it might. Accordingly, before
daylight, the three deserters gathered up their
little effects and started back alone, leaving US
once more TO our own resources
Mr.. Smiths stories had filled us with gloomy
apprehensions, but we were resolved to go
ahead. After breakfast we were escorted TO a
hiding place, In deep ravine near the house,
where we were to remain all day, while our
host took his horse and rode ahead some fifteen
or twenty miles, to ascertain what the outlook
was. The day proved a very dismal one for
us. The weather was cloudy and cold and the
indications were strong that we should have
snow In q few days; so we built small
fire and hovered over it all day. 1t was evil
dent to US that during the rest of our journey
we should be beset by dangers at every step,
and as q measure of precautiOn DESTROYED all
the memoranda that had made in prison and
the diary of our adventures since our escape.
In case of capture it would be well to have
nothing about US that might reveal our identity
or betray those who had befriended US. In the
flames all secrets would be safe. So the flames
got all my notes, as dearly as / priced them.
During the day / wrapped my feet up in
some old rags as well as / could and got ready
to ntrrt tray rs ioht Sho
come on and Mr.. Smith reported the condition
of the roads. Just at dark he returned and
took US back to his house for supper. He told
us that he had been as far as Unionville,-the
eounty-seat of Monroe county,-where he
found seme troops under the command of one
Jenkins, but he had not seen or heard of any
along the road. Smith instructed us to keep
the road until we came in sight of the town,
and to then flank it on the left until we came
to the west of the town, where we would find
public road leading out in q northwest direc-
ton. We were to follow this road, and after
crossing a small mountain would reach the
Greenbriar River at q ferry kept by man
named Layton Quinn, who was good Union
man and would help US over.
ON THE WAY To THE FERRY.
So we babe our friends goodbye and set out
with the hope of reaching the Greenbriar be-
fore daylight distance of thirty miles. By
IL o'clock we were in sight of the lights of
Unionville, and, as we had been instructed,
we passed around on the left of the town.
After going around the town for some
distance we took what we supposed to
be the right road, but after following it
for over an hour we found that we were
bearing too much to the south, and, to remedy
this error, changed our course to one nearly
north, across the country. We wandered about
for some time and, as the sky was cloudy most
of the time, we were often at a loss to know TO
what point of the compass we were travelling.
At last we came across another road, and in
sheer desperation concluded to follow it, even
if it led to the river Styx instead of the Green
briar. The night was extremely cold, and to
keep ourselves warm We increased our speed.
Just before daylight we reached the river, and
there at the bank found just such house as
had been described TO u.s. By dint of persistent
rapping at last succeeded in Tousing one of
the inmates, and to my inquiry whether a Mr..
Quinn lived there he responded that man
by that name lived about a mile below. 'sWas
his name Layton Quinn? 2" we asked The
man said he did not know, but he believed he
signed his name l.. Quinn" Thinking that
this must be the man we were in search of, we
at once started down the river to hunt
him up. The day was breaking when we
came in sight of his house and, lest all
should not be right, two of US hid in a
fence-corner behind the garden while StoO-
key went up to reconnoiter. He went as
far as the yard gate, but there met such a
fierce pack of dogs that he did not dare TO
venture further. The noise, however, brought
out maH from the house, and seeing Stookey
standing at the gate he inquired who he was
and what he wanted.
"Does Mr.. Quinn live here?" asked Stookey
"Yes sir; am the man."
L. Guinn?"
ssVes aurio
Captain William Thurman's independent
Militia Company. VIII you not come in?"
No. sir" said Stookey, I" am going to
Philip Thurman's company, and / have just
stopped to inquire the way"
GLAD to accommodate you; but do you live
hereabouts 2"
mo, sir; my home is in Craig Valley
used to belong TO Longstreet's corps, but when
they went south last falII took French and
came home Not liking to go back again into
the regular service, and finding it unwhole-
some to remain at home, my friends advised
me TO come here and join one of those inde-
pendent companies, where | would have more
freedom and do as much service for my country,
tOO."
The conversation lasted for half an hour
Stookey had been quick TO see that he had
struck the wrong man and had assumed the
character of q rebel deserter to get himself
safely out of the scrape. The man did not sus-
pect him, however, and went on to tell where
both of the independent companies were sta
| toned. One, he said, was up and the other
was down the Greenbriar, at points which he
| mentioned. He ended by politely inviting
| Stookey in for breakfast, but the latter
! thanked him and said ne must be off, Passing
| the place where we We're hid in the fence
| corner, he whispered to US to crawl on our
| hands until we We're out of sight of the house,
as it was not safe place to be found in, and
| you may be sure we did crawl, and, as soon as
we could, made good use of our legs. We made
through the woods in the direction of the
river in great state of excitement being
afraid that the man might suspect that some
thing was wrong and attempt to fellow US. When
we reached the stream, at last, made the un-
pleasant discovery that the rags on my feet had
| fallen to pieces and that was without shoes
| and stockings, with the mercury down to nearly
zero!
To be continiIed.l
| General Early on the Burning OF Chambersburg.
Under date of Lynehburg, Va. June 6, 1882,