Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-18

and to prove to the nations that their Re-
1eemer liveth.
low Two Augusta Confederates Made q
Narrow Escape from Capture.
The last winter Of the war, Lieut.. Carter
Berkeley, of the Confederate artillery, and
she writer entered the Federal lines some
distance below Winchester, at which point
Sheridan's army was then in winter-quar-
ters. We passed the Shenandoah River and
TWO picket-posts between two days in a
small boat barely large enough to hold US
and our trappings. Our horses were driven
into the river, and Gas is the case invaria-
bly) they swan out boldly for the opposite
shore, although it was invisible. Follow
ing in our canoe we caught them, and re-
sumed our route across the country, always
careful to follow by-paths and unfrequented
roads. About dark, after cold ride
through snow and ice, we halted at a farm
house in the county of Jefferson, the hospi-
table host, DR.. Williams, kindly inviting us
TO remain for the night. Apprehending no
ianger, we felt secure and comfortable,
and enjoyed good supper and pleasant
evening with the Doctor and his pretty
daughters. 1t was late when we retired
70 what we hoped would be peaceful slum-
'ers. l had scarcely fallen asleep, when,
Wake up! wake up! the yankees are here,
he house is surrounded! what are you 60
ng to do? Don't shoot, the house will be
burnt down." and thousand other excla-
nations and CALCULATIONS greeted my un-
hall, and the delighted yanks getting them
bought it would be as easy to capture the
gearers. Looking through the window,
We could see cavalrymen mounted and
,avalrymen dismounted running hither
.nd thither, some with pistol in hand,
'ome with carbine, others with drawn sa-
IRE, Below-for we were up-stairs-could
oe heard the jingle of spurs, the rattle of
sabre, mingled with the oaths of the SOL
liery, which together made bedlam worse
han Hades.
What shall we do? Can we escape?
Shoot the man with the light as they come
Up the stairs, mingle with the crowd, and
hen take to our heels, flashed through our
minds as fast as lightning across the heav-
ms! We must surrender! There is no
'scape! On to prison! on to starvation!
death! farewell, comrades, friends, coun-
~. We have resolved 10 surrender! What
lse? Can two men beat three hundredp
Can two men break through the crowd?
No! no! there is but one thing to do and
hat is surrender. We have decided and
'nly wait for the appearance of the enemy.
;ehold! the two beautiful daughters of our
iost, standing like spectres at our door, at
ur open door. One of them, at least, can
peak. ID MT give W! Don't surrender"
ne exclaims. What can we do? Only two
nen! follow us! lead on. we follow, but
wherefore! Taking us on tiptoe through
he upper hall silently, breatblessly-
1opelessiy, | thought. Our guides halted
1t widow, raised it, and said, Jump"
We jumped, and | don't know to this day
.ghether they pushed us out or we jumped
,ut of our own volition. Be that as it
nay, on the roof of a porch We found our
selves, with yankees in front, yankees on
he left of u.s. and yankees behind Uses
pecially behind us. Here they are! here
they go! catch 'em! haiti stop! fire! shoot!
kill 'eml bang! bangl bang! s-s-sip! bang!
off the porch, on the ground, in the snow,
over the garden fence, through the shrub
berry! Oh! those blessed rose bushes and
liiacs
1 have heard persons say, the garden was
not the place for shrubbery they are mista-
ken. On, on, we run through perfect hail
Of bullets, across the field, and into dense
woodland. Our enemy, trying in vain to
have to ride around to gate. We have
good start. Oh legs! Oh seven-league
boots; step far; step often they come,
they come. We have reached the woods
hard frozen, and we leave no tracks. Our
pursuers are bewildered, and ride in all di.
rections, halloing and cursing, looking be-
hind trees and up them. On, on, we go,
almost dead, out of breath, but not void of
hope. Xenophon's ten thousand, when
they beheld the sea, on their celebrated re-
tt eat. all began to yell, the "sea the sea r'
But they did not feel greater joy, than did
we-worn down like deer by the stag
hound-feel when we reached the river,
under whose friendly banks, hidden away,
speechless, and almost dead, we froze un-
til the morning. The Yankees, baff1ed
and disgusted, after hunting up and down
the river, rode off. They went back to the
farm house and informed our friends that
they had killed US, and left our dead bodies
in the woods. We, when morning came,
like unto the fox, returned to the starting
point; round our horses, of course, taken,
and he family lameating Car fate. We
are one hundred and thirty miles from
where we ought to be, and no horses-legs
run down-worn out last night must have
horses and must change base of operations
or the enemy will be upon us again-old
darkie went to Winchester and informed
Yanks. Some day 1 will relate to you the
story of our capture.
JOHN n OPIE.
s---.-
GIRLS, DON'T DoTE ON THE DUDE
Hun sville (sIo.) Herald Girls, beware
of the transient young man. He is slick.
tongued, perhaps, and we'll dressed, but
one good farmer boy or mechanic whom
you know thoroughly and don't know any
serious ill about is worth dozen of them.
Bonner: OF all the riches that we hug,
of all the pleasures we enjoy, we can carry
no more out of this world than out Of
dream
The Ilirtv 0andruH