The National tribune., 1885-04-16

| clearing which seemed deserted, they came
! out unexpectedly in front of lonely looking
| log house. where two men stood Oh the porch.
| Brown aud Knight wesre 60 hungry that they
resolved to take the risk Of asking for diu-
| ner. As there were only two men, they
thought they could not be arrested, especially
| If they first got something to eat. They
| pretended to be rebel soldiers, who had been
sick aud were now trying to get back TO their
| regiments. Tue mistress of the house gave
acrused them of bGing Yankees" Denial was
| useless, aud they soon found each other out.
These Union people put them on the Southern
branch of the Underground Railroad, aud they
arrived at Somerset. KY, on the 2oth of No
vember.-a month and nine days after leaving
Atlanta.
The course of the next pair, Dorsey and
Hawkins, was also northward, aud iu nearly
the same track. In the early part it presents
marked pecuiiarities. especially in the fact that
much help was obtained from the negroes.
| These sympathized with all iugitives on gen.
erai principles, and still more when the tugi-
tives were Union soldiers. The latter part OF
this narrative passes over the same ground as
the former. 1t is a triting but noticeable coin
| cidenCe that four OF the eight who escaped
came to the town Of Somerset, KY, and two
others TO tho ship Somerset.
Dorsey shall tell his own story, with few
abridgments He hurt his ankle in the first
terrible run, aud this caused him great suffer
ing. he also met a countryman just before
reaching the woods. but having armed himself
with large stone in each hand, and looking
| dangerous, he was not stopped. The rapid
| firing Of the enemy led him TO believe that
| many of our number were killed. We take up
his story at tho entrance of the forest. The
first touch is very graphic.
Passing little way into the woods. / found
Brown and knight leauug against a tree gasping
for breath. leaned agsns, the same tree. None
of iis could speak. Thought for moment or two
that each breath would be my last As we recos-
cred little, one gasped, " Guess we'd better go,
boys" On we went. but not so tas, as before, for
soon joined by Hawkins. nIason, aud the escaped
deser,er 80 that we six ia all. We lay in an
open field that night, Judging it to be safer than
lection from the cold All night long we heard the
bayi,g of the hounds aud the frequent discharge of
firearms The distance from which these sounds
came indicated that the pursliero were beyond us.
and that our best chance ia hiding and allow
ing them to pass still farther ahead The uext day
were fortunate enough discover some luscious
wild grapes, which devot,rcd with the greatest
relish Our mouths afterwards were very sore. aud
the grapes may p''ssby have been the cause oil the
injury. The same day were surprised by SOME
citizens with sbot-guns, but outiHn them aud
escaped.
Brown. Mason and Knight LEFT US. the latter
being sick. The deseiter continued with Us day
long r. lie then wished to visit house for food,
but we. though very hungry, did not think II ad-
visable, and parted with all good WISHES. have
heard that he gt. safely to Wustngui ID. c.. but,
returning to his home. in Northern Georgia. was
arrested aud executed as Il descrer from the Con-
ietesate army, into which lac had been conscripted
at first
On the fourth day on, met two of our pur-
suers, who were apparently coming back dscour-
aged, but easily eiueied them by hiding under
bushes. We now began 10 travel more rapidly.
hniinj. by day aud continuing way Ivy nglt,
directed by the stars, which Hawkins understood
very we'll.
On the eighth day out we came to tho ferry of the
Chattahooci,ee River far to the northeast of At
ut,fu F1itS frf,ftt 10 fil,lriu
and began To build raft, when observed
lighted torch approaching the opposite side of the
river. When ii came nearer we SAW that the party
accompanying II were negroes two III number,
with four dogs Hawkins. who had spent some
years in the South and understood the disposition
of the negroes. felt disposed to trust them Accord
ingiy, we asked them a. ferry over. which they
readily did, we giving then, little tobacco we had
and which could mol ,,se because Of onr sore
mouths. They protested themselves Unonists, and
told them that We were Union soldiers. The
fact of belonging 70 aie railroad party we did not
disclose until we vert Within the Union lines. One
went for provisions. whefhe other remained with
u, ~ II To aliy eiispicions might entertain
They told that .ye were Is miles northeast of
Atlanta, in tl.e region OF deserted gold niues and
proposed to hide It's in bf th"se mines. supply
with quilts and PROVISIONS etitil we were wei rested
aud then direct on our i,urthward way. IL would
probably have been better tu have accepted their
kind offer. which thiEk Hawkins wished TO do
but had some fear tsc we declined.
The one WHO had Ifuue for provisions returned
with good!y supply of boiled polk and beatis
mashed Irish pnts,ioss. sweet potatoes nnd corn
the we had eaten for six long months! We
did IL ample Justice sfnd what vas left carried away
with es. Our African iriri,tls gave piece
of broken butcher knife ttt ST great service
They also gave Invaluable directions, telling
where the rebel truupS Liy. and where we could
find n c.'ored SLAVE. wlo would ferry the
fitNasSee (which rnis @it%h from North Carolina
into the TehncsSeef. as they had done the
Chat ahoocliee. We assured them that they woud
be free, and parted with mutual " Ged bless
you!"
With thankful hearts pressed on, made
good nights Journey, and then laid by until even
ing of the aext day. Seeing hoiiSe the edge of
woosis. we watched IL until assured that only old
man aud woman were there. wien went boldly
up 10 IL and asked for supper which was given with
reluctance.
Early in the evening Journey came to small
stream. and attempting To cross ON fallen tree
fett into the water, and thoroughly soaked.
From this cause suffered greatly with cold. Some
hours after came TO "A hart, the uows OF which
were tiled with o"rri- blades We glad to
bury ourselves out of sight ill the fodder where
grew warm. aud slept all say. 10 n.fOrtable
but p ,id for it by terrible fright. Some cav
arynieu came into the stable under the uiows and
took out their horses we could hear their cuuver-
ssiinn aud TIA jingle OF their spurs. aud scarcely
dared To breathe But they left In safety. We
stayed a. day longer. the bed the bes, had
found since our first capture But negro boy
came up te hunt eggs, and found He
frightened that could not fcify him. AMI fear
iii,: alarm. fastened Ia the w,os more.
Some negrocs were again met. starting their
tiroriie amusement.-an op',ssi,n hunt On APP
p.ictiion they gave magnificent ireat.a hat
f:ii OF apples, haf ''pone,' and two three
pounds of boiled beef on a bone. This supply
lasted for several days.
OF, The night Journey we were muci, anaoyed by
the barking of dogs ut the HOUSES passed. Ouce
we were seen. but, pretending to be reb is the
way to our regiments, we succeeded well i'll ull
ing su5picon thai AN old nian nj message TO his
VINO WAS Ia the rebel army by us and added
cornbread for the messengers
here became more lame than ever. by reason Of
AN unfortunate mis,tep and had 90 walk 10y ica-
ing part of my weight upon my faithful conrude.
We came to wide river we could cross and,
going back into the fie.ds, lay the damp ground
till niuruIug. II ever huted cold. il was then.
Hawkins became reckless from suffering aud was
disposed to so to house even the r,sk of capt
urc. But derurred. ald>we waited for tI up;iur-
tunity to communicate with the faithful
negroes. We found hut. aud Watching il some
time SAW none hut Il black woman there She
readily responded to our appeal for help, gave us
hot breakfast. fire to warm by. aud some pnrced
corn To curry our Journey. She also directed us
to ford. Thanking her from our hearts we re-
turned TO the river. gey over. and concealed our
selves ia the woods on the other side
With the canning of night we once mere took up
weary way. Towards morning we saw a large
eHcanpmeut Of whites and o,,iured people. All
were asleep except one of the latter. We APP
preached and, in a whisper asked hIm who they
were. lie told Us of the retreat of Bragg army
FIRE IN Kentucky. and these a band of ftig.liveS
coming South with their siarrs 60 avoid the union
army. TO Us this was ~ serious iuHlter. A large
army, with all it, baggage. n,,i the country
fun ,f pickes. directly III front was II great
additions 10 oar danger. The co.orci man gave us
all the scanty information lie possessed about the
cred skillet tli- fire. winke at our friend = Il
an nsseung Iud and reached for IL. IL had two
baked sweet I.,titue-, Wiiici lriated aiid
departed as noiseies5iy rs we hal advanced.