New-York tribune., 1886-03-07

the coolness necessary to accomplish what was re-
quired on the present occasion. :, He could not
stand by quietly and see Bush do all the work and
Just as Bush knocked down the third guard, he
sprang forward and attacked the sentinel at the
gate before Bush could come 10 his asSlsanGe' Inc
sentinel was tall lank specimen Of North Caro-
| lima and the blow fell short The axe struck him
on the side of the head. gancing stroke SIMPLY
| taking off the scalp and his ear Terrified at
such rough handling the guard yelled muir
der, and then called out: Post Number
fSH fommopn ,nm o The " Rebe 5 ocers cried out Fall in
! men." and the hurried tramp OF the rebels on the
frozen ground. as with alacrty they responded to
the call and fell INTO line could be distinctly heard
| Not a moment was to be lost. Bush came forward,
! and with bis axe broke the fasenings of the gate
while others rolled the prostrate and bleeding body
of the guard out of the way. Another blow the
gate opened. and Bush stood confronted with the
| rebel sergeant of the guard at charge bayoncts.
IT'S death or liberty now, boys" shouted Bush,
as grasping The bayOnet with his left hand he
struck down the sergeant with his right, and
bounded into the darkness. me rest followed ana
don OF guards were placed around the prison; but
be dashed through the line and rcjoined his COM
rades out IN the road. The Rebels first fred vol
ley in the direction taken and then started In pur-
sult, but the fugitives had too much start. They
left the road and started up the river under cover
of the timber. and for that night were perfectly
safe. -
All hope of travelling together was gone. The
only hope ay IN travelling in two if not more, par
ties and taking different directions. Painter ex-
pressed himself sOrry for his ndlScret0n, ana the
boys, generous as bravo men are. well knew MS
could not repreSs the tears he reflected that the
rash act might COnsiGn his comrades 10 death. 1T
was lll-timed,' said Bush " but YOU only initiated
the example of our Generals. Let us now make the
best OF what we have accomplished. Regrets are
useless. As for me, the Rebels snail never capture
me awe Hurst. Curtis, Fish and came from the
same county; will 90 together. Painter and
the other bows If they choose can keep together and
make the Union lines at what point they please.
This was agreed by all 10 be the best pHn.aS, being
without arms and provisions, numbers would only
increase the liability OF recapture and 80 Win a
hand shaking all round aud 4 fcrvcnt God bless
you from each we parted. Painter and his men
crossed the Roanoke with the intention OF making
the Union lines on the Potomac. They were never
Bush, Curtis, Fish and l started for the Blue
Ridge as the safest and nearest way to the Army OF
the Cumberland. and when morning dawned lay
over till night when started out again. travelled
all night without meeting any one, and the next
morning stopped again, Up TO ths tlmc we nae
had nothing to eat and hunger became almost III
supportable We judged that we had put nearly
hundred miles between us and Danville ana con,
cludcd that all pursuit from that direction would
be abandoned. Blood hounds had not yet been
sent to Danvlllc aud If force from that place had
been sent out in pursuit, they would haEe TO De
pend upon what tracks they could find OF the fugl-
tveS. This we had been careful not to leave ana
the object with us now was what could be found 10
appease the hunger that seemed gnawng into our
very vItAlS. For hours we kept IA strict watch IN
the hope that some negro would come III sight To
whom we could appeal for relief, but in van.
q calf-hOny and woolY- seeming to be
the last calf that ever was made,
camped. II was not allowed 10 Stake IT'S THIRST.
But howto kill II was the question The axe had been
thrown away after breaking ont OF prison as an
iinpediment but sharp flint stone was found and
with this an artery IN the neck severed and II
soon bcd Ia death. With the flint W. tore oil the
hide and after that made short work with It, Not
daring TO hight fire lest it should bctray us. we
ate ii raw. That day Ne lay down ~ the sunshine
and slept and watched by turns, but could sei
nothing and with sense of security we rested
easily hat night. as soon as 1t was dark, we
started on our 'urncy westward. In the course OF
our march we had cross tho Junction Of two roads
where guidc-post told us the direction we were to
take. and also gave us tho unwcicomc intelligence
that 4 party of eight, men had broken prisoa al
DanVie and Were at large in the country, offered
| reward Of 500 each for their lrcIptule
or Information that would lead 70 ihcir
apprehension and earnestly requested every
home guard to bo on the look ont
for the Yankee ,audals. This information was gwen
in printed poster.
cautiously as possible. unless we wish 10 dance on
nothing said flSl
TO hear OF oak trees bearing any such FRUIT said
Curtis
bis pocket. We passed on. avoiding IA" oll' Keep,
ing in close to the fences and under tic shade ot
the great trees that every southern plantation can
boast its division lines. IwlCe we passed squads
of cavalry, but each time passed thcu uupCfceiVod
That night placed twenty-five miles more between
rs and captivity. apd Just as daylight broke We
stopped for the daY In piece OF thick woods built
! a small ire and roasted the remnant "i ne caIL
That day was cloudy, ana before noon GriHhng
We had vet made and nothing occurred th" whole
day to relieve the strain that oppressed us ALL Not
a single living thing could b. seen. but at times we
could hear the deep baylng oi the hounds III the Gls
tancc. As they did not come nearer We concluded
il was some hunting party; bat To make security
douby sure, We got INTO the creek ana maIcued mp
stream about half n mile and then stopped under
a dense underQrowth 0t small trees and made uur-
selves az comfortable as men constantly expecting
pursuit could be. That night We ate walnuts FOR
Supper. but being soaked through with lying on
the damp ground and by the falling ram they were
-. rltf yn la N..
miles more. Tho next day was clear. but >hIic
did not bring food and hunger again nssaled rs.
But for the first time since we set ont we met "a
negro. llo came on US suddenly and there was sur
Hello boy,1 said Bush (which way are you
The negro removed his hat, and answered "To
Massa MortOus'
"Where does bo lyoY
"Rght there on the hill, sab"
"Well. wLero have you been and . hat are you
doing hercp
my wife"
4 hurried consultation followed and we agreed to
ask him for food. and If there were any white
people IN tho vicinity who could be trusted.
I" DO you know where we can get anything to
catT
Fob God. massa. habent anything to glib YER
"Wcll. how is your masterf Is he rebel or a
{" Fob God Massa yer can't tell when the rebels
are around he's rebel, and hen the Union soJcrs
como hyar then bes Union"
g DO the Union men come here T. quered all in n
Dlcdlu lHcIl lcd ID bcdtiHS AIbH WIN iVPN "N t'''
unexpected information.
"Yes, sab, the Union bushwhackers from the
mountains come hyar."
30 you think you could get us anything to eat
up there at your masteTsf
"Yes, sab, if massa Isn't at home. s'pccts Won !
could. Well, dunno but what he'd gye IL 10 you |
II nd be just which he thought was nearest hyar !
the rebels or the Union men. Missus am all right !
and don't think there any rebels around here
now. One OF you might 60 up there and see. She |
wouldn't tell on yer; she's ii ght smart woman"
This was all We could make out Of the negro, ana
offn faty pfnf tng
that one of our number should go up TO the house
with the negro and see what could be done. Lots |
drawn and the choice fell Curtis who at
once started the boys going with him to the edge |
of the timber. where they could see him enter the