The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-12-23
aPrivate Of Ionostreefs corns %,

"Private of Longstreets corps. I got
behind in the retreat yesterday, and stayed
all night in the woods"
"Them clothes?" the other asked, with
more point than grammar.
l repeated the story l had told to the
other men. The two whispered together
very briefly, and then announced their con-
clusion:
"You uns don't fool We uns. You're a
prisoner tryin' TO escape. Come along"
They marched me of few rods, where
there was large squad of Confederate
cavalry, all armed with pistols and sabres.
From there the whole party conducted me
as much as three miles, over to the west
side of the hill, where there was large
picket post brief consultation which
they held showed me that they thoroughly
understood the situation. They were cut
of from their command; Sheridan's cav
airy was probably south of them, on the
pike; they must keep to the woods till they
passed them. They started off at fast
walk, and soon took trot. | Jagged be-
hind, of course, and they pulled up and
held an angry conversation about what to
do with me. Some proposed shooting me
on the spot, others liberating me, and still
others, to hold on to me at all hazards.
ing, when one of the men, who had been
called Bradley, suddenly said:
Move on, sergeant, and leave him to me.
I'll settle him."
He slapped the butt of his great revolver.
The sergeant complied, and / was left
alone-with the man who was TO murder me
When they were all out of sight and
hearing he drew his pistol and cooked it.
Great God, man." L screamed, "you are
a soldier; you can't kill an unarmed pris-
oner!"
well, yes" he said, eying me closely,
and speaking very slowly, IL cOutd-but
I'll be - if / do! You take of that
blouse and vest and hand 'em over, with
anything you've got in your pockets"
l complied quickly. He discharged his
revolver twice in the air, and, ordering ME
to git rode off.
With an overpowering sense of deliver
ance, wandered all that cold and bitter
night i'll the woods. benumbed with frost,
and chewing the leaves and twigs to deaden
hunger. In the morning got clear of the
mountain, and ventured 10 ask some ques-
tons, and learned that was eleven miles
flom the "Hayiield Church" wherever that
was, and that Strasburg was "a good bit"
OIL. Seeing a benevolent looking man
standing in front of house, L stopped
and talked with him. He said he was a
Confederate, but that looked poor and
hungry, and that lie would give me some
breakfast, anyway. / ate hearty meal
with this good Samaritan, and pushed on.
/ knew | was getting round toward the
Valley Pike, and was encouraged, when at
n distance | saw a horse patrol in the road.
l lodged off in time to escape discovery,
and, taking wide detour through the
woods, | struck the road again far beyond
them. Making my way cautiously along
that afternoon, / passed another man, who
also eyed me compassionately. and asked
me to come into his house just beyond. He
gave me "A good supper, and told me could
stay all night. l repeated my old story
about my being Confederate. He looked
at me a little queerly.
"You don't look like it" he said. IF
you are Union soldier, own it. You'll be
safe here"
His words and manner inspired con-
fidence. | told him the whole truth; and
tn it came ont that he was staunch
Unionist. He showed me protection
papers given him by General Banks in
1862. He gladdened me by the assurance
that Winchester was only fifteen miles off,
and that the pickets of the Eighth and
Twenty second New York Cavalry were
only four miles away.
"Stay with me tonight" he said, "and
in the morning you shall be in Winchester"
1t was n very sweet and very sound sleep
that visited my eyes that night in one of
good GIr. Russell's beds The next morn
ing after breakfast, with comforta ole
coat on my back, / was about bidding him
and his family good-Dy, when a negro
came flying into the house, exclaiming:
"Golly, Mas'r Russell, de rebels done
comm"
l was hurried up stairs, and from my
hiding place listened to the noise made by
dozen guerrilas as they staggered
around. / wondered that there should be
so much laughter, as well as singing; but
my kind friend told me afterward that
they had not the least idea that there was
Union soldier in his house; that they
came merely to sample his "apple- jack, F"
and that he had treated them TO liberal
portion of it. When they had gone he adj
viSed me to stay another day.
Not only did | stay another day, but still
another. The faithful negro brought such
reports of guerrilas scouting on these
back roads that | was satisfied to lie
perdu while longer.
About three o'clock one morning / was
reused from a sound sleep by the tramp of
a large body OF cavalry. / heard loud
knockings at the door, voices, and pres
emily heavy footballs on the stairs. My
door was ope led. Russell entered with a
light, and behind him tall man in the
snowy uniform of Confederate officer.
Words can not describe my feelings; hope
abandoned me; the very pit of despair
yawned before me.
We'll, sir, who are your" the officer
asked.
There seemed no use Of further decep-
ton. The man before me was not one to
be fooled
81 am Dennis Thompson, Lieutenant
of the Nineteenth Corps" was my hopeless
answer.
Indeed? A Yankee, then?"
Yes. Take me Richmond, if you will;
there's no use trying to keep up this lie
any longer"
He laughed heartily, and laid his hand
on my shoulders as sat up in bed.
We'll, Lieutenant Dennis Thompson, of
the Nineteenth Corps, if it will suit you
just as well we'll take you to Winchester.
Allow me to introduce myself as Captain
Young, of the Massachusetts Cavalry, and
Provost Marshal of Winchester. Our
friend Russell sent his negro in last night
with the news about you-and here we
are"
1 ought to have Rugged him; I'm not
I I. -