South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1884-05-09
GcosrIxurnl

! We then unloaded Mai. Crisman' g
wagon, and my father took it back,
and returned with our wagon, when
we had a new axle put In, loaded up
and proceeded on our journey safely
and nothing ofinterest transpirlng UNI
til we arrived at Lacy Springs in Rock.
ingham CO., where my father had rent
ed "a house of Mr.. Barlysand put the
load of goods, that he Arst brought
out. We found that our sister Mary
had arrived there in safety. l re-
manned lew days at home helping
them to fix things up, and filled my
haversack with good grub, bid them
farewell, and started across the noun
tain on by path to the army in Or.
ange county.
The first night stayed with far
mer IN Swift run gap at the foot of
the Blue Ridge. The next evening
arrived at Stanardsville on the east
side OF the ridge in Green county,
and there found several soldiers on
their way to the army, several belong
ing to the 10th Va. band. was anx-
ious to go on but they would stay all
night and wanted me TO stay but
went ON, and after travelling about
two miles, | met man on horseback
and two soldiers walking, he halted
mo and wanted to know where i was
SonS,I replied, 'that L was on my
way to my command have you a
pass says he. / told him / had not.
he then said he would have to arrest
me, and take me to the army, that he
bad orders to arrest every soldier that
had no pass or furlongh and take them
to headquarters, that he had arrested
the two men that we're with him, and
for me to turn around and go back to
Stanards ville with him, aud he would
take US 10 the army the next day. 1t
surprised me very much for he was
dressed in citizens clothes aud did
not look like soldier that had seen
any service. So sat down by the
side OF the road aud wanted to know
who be was, and what command he
belonged to. He replied that he was
a 'conscript officer and that he did
not belong TO the army but that be
lived in Stanardsvilie | then tod
him that he could not arrest ne, that
| was an old soldier and that | was
on my way to the army, that my
homo was many miles behind me, and
that l would arrive at the army the
next day, and commenced abusing
him, for keeping ont OF the army, and
that he had better take musket and
go III ranks instead OF hunting them
up that was i'll service, and that did
not Intend to 60 back with him, he
then said he would make me go, an
pulled out his pistol and threatened to
shoot me, l just dared him to shoot,
and told him that L would bet that
he never shot at yankee or any one
else in his life, and that be was COW.
ard or he would not seek for such an
office Ia order to keep out of range of
the bullets. | then scolded the two
soldiers that were with him for being
ARRESTED by such pake rs he was,
one OF them then came TO me and
whispered that they were Louisian-
lan5, and Tor me to come on and 90
back with them, and we would put
the tixens on our bold conscript otfi-
Ger that night knew then that they
had some plan to escape, so after
quarreling awhile longer with him, /
told him that was very tired after
walkingall day, & that if he would dis.
mount and let me ride back to town
L wonld go, if not / would remain
where | was. He then concluded
that was the best he could do, and |
got on his horse and rode back but a.
bused him so much that he threaten
cd that if | did not hush he would
make me walk, L told him if he did
would not GO step further so that
settled it. When we arrived in town
it was dark and be took US out to the
edge Of town and put US in a small
brick Jail (the county jail). But be-
fore leaving Us we made him promise
to bring US something TO eat, then
told him there were severs more SOL
diers up there at the hotel TO 90 and
bring them also and we would have a
fine time, he said he would, but
knew some of them had guns and if
he went to fooling around them they
would kill him and / did not care il
they did, but he never brought the m
down, neither did he bring us any
thing to eat, and we never heard of
him afterwards. But as soon as me
left us we inspected our room by the
aid of matches, and found il had two
windows, with iron grating across
aud a fire place in one corner, and
there happened to be an old musket
sitting in Que corner So we soon
formed our plans, and that was, when
he brought ne something to cat we
would knock him in the head with
a musket, and then make our escape,
bit we waited, and waited in vain,
We then hallooed as loud as we could
but no one came, we then concluded
to try another plan, we tore out all
the sash in the windows and made O