Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-05-22

my SITUATION. was III the leart OF Che
enemy's country. East of the prison /
knew it WAS not more than twenty-five
miles to our lines, In that direction lay
their main columns, camps, forts, earth
works. all heavily guarded. West were
not many troops, but it was fully four
hundred miles to our lines, Mountains,
rivers, hunger and perhaps recapturs
10y in thia direction. determined II
favor of the western route and As the
sun rose marked tho direction. Some-
time in the afternoon heard dog bark,
and was greatly alarmed lest was dis
covered. Soon heard voices, and eager
ly listening, Ioamo to the conclusion
that was near negro's cabin. Caro-
fully parting the bushes, L venture1 to
crawl in the direction OF the fence which
separated the corntield FROM the woods.
On reaching it stepped up high enough
to look over the field and to my irrepres-
sible JOY saw cabin and between me
and it stood an old negro gathering
roasting ears. After making searching
survey of the premises and finding no
enemy IN sight called out, "uncla." He
stopped, put down his basket and looked
ell about him, as If listening. l called
again. He saw me and Immediately
came to where i was. / sS;s;s. to tto him,
IL am an escaped union prisoner" and
told MIN wanted sood and directions as
to my further escape.
j. got both, such as he had. When it
was dark bRde him good bye, md re-
ceiviDg his parting GOD bless you,
Honey" set out on my psrilous journey,
keeping IN the woods so avoid the cav
airy. My object was now to strike some
point on The Ohio river. l pass over ten
days of travel by simply saying that for
the most part l kept up the precaution
ofayoiding the roads, travelling after
night, guided by the light OF the stars
and obtaining my food from the negroes,
the corntields, the melon patches and
orchards. / had now reached the Cum
beriand mountains and for some time
had seen no troops, nor even heard OF
any. On the l1th day l not only ven
tured to travel by daylight, but in
dulged 10 the luxury of walking on the
highway, l travelled now much faster
and made good many miles that day.
About four o'clock l came TO path
leading up ravine. which | believed to
be near cut, leading back iato the
same road again. ! had only just turned
into this path when heard the clatter
OF horses feet, and on looking up the
road which had left beheld COM
pany of cavalry a.alloping toward me.
The next moment / was hidden from
their view. Fortunately was not seen
by them, but it made me fully realize
that was yet in the enemy's country.
The path now led away from the ravine
and up the side of the mountain. just
as the sun was gong down Icame into
q field of fallow ground. Looking across
the field to the west ] saw road, which
| afterwards found to be the same | had
left. Near the road stood neat log
house. Beyond and south of the house
it was soon lost to view in the heavy
woods, bnt north could see it Tor quite
distance, gradually ascending to still
higher ground. As was rseonnoiter-
ing the position observed man stand.
ing at the corner of the fence next the
road and not more than three hundred
yards from where was. was shout to
slip back down the path, but observing
thathe had discovered me, I stood still
moment and then started toward him,
while he at the same time started toward
me. We met near the center of the field.
He was fair representatives, of that noun
famous country. Long hair, full beard,
thll, blouucf ault uftb5eU III uhFk gray
clothing. 1 inquired of him the dis
tance and dirsotion to the big Blame,
country. He answered me pleasantly
and yet l felt has black, sharp eyes
searching mo suspiciously.
My appearance was certainly not very
preposessing. The government uni
formI had exchanged with the negroes
for citizens clothing, except my shoes.
They did not fit me well ard were badly
torn.
Bidding him good evening, again
started in the direction that he had in
dicated. Just as was passing out OF
sight / looked back. He had moved IN
the direction OF the house and was
standing in the road watching me. It
was now getting quite dark aud walk
cd on very rapidly. was nervous and
felt SENSE of impending danger. That
company of cnHalry and the black eyed
mountaineer were ominous and several
times during the day,@nn coming to
parts OF tie road in which 1 could ses
several miles back, saw-or fancied I
did-two men following me.
This and what i had just passed
through made rne fearful. Almoss
every bush becauie an armed soldier,