The Brookhaven leader., 1885-01-08

on anu WHen tne air was almost eN
hausted, / cautiously raised my hcaC
from under the boat and looked
around. l was just passing the
large gun boat, Tuscumbia. The
ports were all open on the lower ol
rather western side, and l could see
the men resting about in thelr
burks. | merely lowered my head
so as not to attract the sentinel on
the deck, and hoated on; when out
of danger / swan with my boat in
front of me toward the island above
Warrenton, and landed, righted my
boat and was soon in it padding on
the stream. At daylight l was at
Diamond Bend, and landed just OPP
positc Federal gun boat, and
made my way up the river bank,
after tying my little boat TO a root
fast in the clay, and bidding it a
long farewell. There was a wood
yard close by and l saw an old man
standing in front of his cabin, and ]
went straight to him and asked if l
could get horse. He said that he
had an old poor mare, eighteen
years old, and young unb:oken
colt, three years old, and that if
either suited he would sell to me.
CHOSE THE COLT,
and they put me a saddle and bri-
die on it, and after great trouble
got on him. He reared and plung-
ed little, and then stood still.
urged him on, and at last he broke
away in run, and struck out across
the swamp, and l let him run. In
short time he began to show signs
of fatigue, and whickered. He was
answered by horse somewhere; he
pricked his ears and went forward
and / heard the distant horse again
whicker. Mine was going straight
TO it and l kept sharp lookout, and
presently came in
SIGHT OF A NOBLE ANIMAL
fastened by strong halter on the
edge of cypress brake. / dis,
mounted from my colt, and took the
saddle off and placed it on the back
Of the horse, turned my colt loose,
and got upon the fine one. / felt
like l had exchanged a dug-out for
a magnificent steamer, he stepped
so grand and proud. l found ont
afterwards that this horse belonged
to
JUDGE w. l.. SHARKEY.
and had been hid in this out of the
way place to keep him from falling
into the hands of the Federal sol
diers, and it was the will of The
great Am that should ride him
into the jaws of death. He stepped
out at lively pace in foot path
that led in the direction that
wanted to 60, and he seemed to
know the path well, and we soon
came in sight ct the hills that
border the swamp and divide the
Mississippi from Big Black. l could
hear an occasional gun, and l was
soon close to large encampment of
Federals. l turned so as to avoid
them, and started to ride up lane
when L came abruptly on Federal,
as he was making his way toward
the camp. saw no way to avoid
him, so when invited to by him to
become a prisoner, | refused, and
the
FLASH OF MY PISTOL
sent him to his long home and l
rode on. A wagon train was NOV
ing in the direction of Port Gibson.
and rode into the road just behind
it and in front of few scattering
men, only a hundred or two yards
from me. l saw no chance To cross
the road, so | followed down behind
the wagons until l came to road
that led off to the lett, and this /
took, and rode slowly along in full
view of the train until came to d
bend in it. l was soon out Of sight,
and then dashed on at rapid rate.
l rode fast for some five or six miles
and came in sight of house, and
around it were hitched several
horses. / inspected them closely
and found each one had on a lady's
saddle. I rode up close and halo
ed. A youth about eighteen years
old came out and l asked him if he
could pilot me to crossing on Big
Black. He said he knew where /
could cross, and that if
HIS MA WOULD LET HIM
he would show me. lie went back
into the house and soon came out,
and put a mans saddle on one of
the horses and we rode off in the di-
rection of Big Black. We struck it
in front of some negro quarters. but
there was no way to cross; both
banks were too soft and wet to per-
nit my horse to climb the opposite
bank or to enter the water on this
side. So we concluded TO go on up
to the ferry, some two or three miles
above. When we were in about a
mile of the ferry, sent my guide
forward to see if there were any
Federal soldiers there. He was
gone for long time, / had told
him that if the soldiers were there
to tell them that he was only hunt
ing stock, and as he was only a hoy
they would not bother him. After
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