Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-03-29

/ c0ulG feel a ilghtnesS about the bead
as though hat and hair was gradually
rising choking sensation, like. as
if my heart was trying to creep up
into my throata sort of trembling
about the knees and a general relax
alton of the nerves, just as people
feel before going into battle. AT
this critical juncture when we were,
fully prepared to receive the first
voIIey a pesky dog which we had
neither seen nor heard before, made
one unearthly yelp, simultaneous
with which we exclaimed in one
voice, we're your prisoners. For
God sake don't shoot. Well sur
render !"
This magnihed Gen. Lee and his
army seemed to be in about as bad
/ u fix as we were, for said he, my
God, boys, but YOU scared me /!
Who are you ? Where are you
going ? Wol't you take q drink ?"
We did not use the vulgar phrase,
81 should smile," but we did, all
the same. This was the only real
skirmish we had between that and
the river, the rest of the journey
being attended with no fear further
than that of getting lost or falling
by the wayside from exhaustion.
We arrived at Cherry Run some
time during the following day, when
we had to pass through another or
deal which put our courage to the
test. At this point the river is at
all times very deep and from recent
Iains was considerably swollen. The
small craft which was to convey us
to the other side was only of about six
people tonnage. None of us had ever
crossed the mighty deep in such a
diminutive vessel. However, upon
the assurance of the Captain that he
would give us a safe voyage, we en-
barked and were speedily and safely
taken to the opposite shore.
/ was seated in the rear of the
vessel and of course was the last to
60 ashore. The Captain had very
prudently made his vessel fast to a
tree but being entirely ignorant of
the method of unloading myself, /
made one big step for the shore, my
hind foot showed the boat from me
which precipitated me "kerplash"
into the river, and but for the a.
droit skill Of that hoary-headed old
mariner, Captain Miller, l would
to-day have been a fish nnonger. 1
came to the surface snorting like
whale, but he extended his friendly
hand and gave me timely relief.
May the gentle breezes of many sum-
mers fan his aged brow
We now felt that we had reached
the goal of our deliverence, and were
ready to pitch our tents upon the
solid rock of freedom and rest our
weary bodies under the protecting
folds of the glorious old stars and
stripes. Night had again come upon
US, as we entered the town of Clear
spring, but not a greater welcome
ever greeted the storm-tossed mari
ner from an anxious and loving fam
lily than we received at the hands of
those who had preceded us, urged
by the same motives as ourselves.
We took the place without firing
gun, Notwithstanding the 9Th Mary
land regiment, Colonel Henley; and
the 18th Mass, were there in full
force. We were clothed in gray
fulled linsey, the best the Confeder-
acy could afford and just such goods
as we used to furnish slaves In ante
bellum days. BY the soldiers we
were looked upon with more or less
suspicion and was the butt of much
wild speculation, but as time passed
we succeeded in making many warm
friends in that place both in civil
and military circles. I, of course,
expected to be arrested and was
somewhat disappointed that / was
not. Our coats were adorned with
the Virginia button, with its signifi-
cant coat.of-arms, which seemed to
excite the envy of those Massachu-
sets men, and in less time than it
takes to pen this fact, we had not q
button to hind US in the covenant
we entered into when we left our
homes, viz, ito stick to each other