Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-04

Elbow about that uniform, thenaS
Picked it up, sir. 1t was either that or
go naked"
| "Hum Who are you, anyway
"a Marylander; enlisted in the Yankee
nri.r end deserted md came here through
the lines, after Charlottesville.
Where did you enlist?'
at Baltimore"
Ever lived thera?'
"All my life, sir"
I was so well acquainted with ,hat city
that could safely make this answer.
"Ho-you have, have you? Well see
about that. Now, my fine fellow, hap
pen to be Bsltimorean myself, and if
you've been lying to me, shall find it out"
! Jaw that l was suspected; but, knowing
! that | was perfectly equal to the cd eehisn,
! he proposed, 1 faced him boldly From
Druid Hill Park to Patterson Park, and
from Fort Fedetl! Hill to the Battle Monu-
ment. he led me all over Baltimore, aud
was not very long in discovering that
| knew quite rs much about that city as he
did.
We'll, | cart fool with you any longer"
he sid, testify. Get up OH that wagon;
you can drive it, and take care Of the
mules; but. by -, if We catch yen in any
tricks; you'll get n ball through you Dye
Learf'
Yes, sir--al right" / cheeffully re-
! spondcd, and climbed up to my seat
The train left the city, the empty wagons
strinsiu2 out over mile of the road, until
| they were closed up, with three companies
Of cavalry for escort, and wendell slowly
along toward the Lower Potomac. There
We're incident and excitement enough hap
pening every day on this tour to make q
! story of itself; but | must omit everything
save what related 10 my own fortunes. We
crossed several rivers; the water was high.
and the. crossing was usually made on
! boats. As % were THUS passing the Pa
munkey, while I was standing by myself
aud looking into the water, d resouhdlng
Slap fell on my 8horldar, and familiar
voice exclaimed:
"IIalloo, Porter. why, eSG'd have
thought TO see you hcre!"
My forethought had carefully presided
for Just such an incident as this. Foi n
! vee', before ] left Richmond my friends
had called me tiothing but Mr.. Parish, in
order to familiarize me wit the name; and
l hal schooled myself not to betray the
| slightest sign of recognition Upon hearing
| my own name. ] turned now, slowly and
| deliberately. There stood my friend, the
wagon master, with a simulated smile ON
his face, holding out his hand.
CHATS not MY ntnie, sir, I said; "but
I'm on hand for duty"
THE deuce it isn't! and the deuce yod
are!' he exclaimed, snappishly. "You
needn't deny the truth. sir; you arc Cap
| lain Porter, of the Yankee army, who
escaped from the Libby few weeks ago. u
! NO, Sir; atn mo-"
We'll, you're Yankee out of the Libby.
/ whatever your name Is.
| No, sir; ami beg you wont accuse"
+ 80, boSh! don't put on airs VI 18th NE. Who
! ire you? tie truth, miud.'
Just what told yon at Richmond, sir.
| My raIne is Moses Parish; / am FROM
There, there enough of that stuff. II
you're not a kuayc, then I'm fool; we'll
Try TO find ont which.
! lie turned abruptly away. My position
was now critical indeed, after what had
happened. | NJ ght be put under guard at
any motnent. We crossed the Mattapony,
and, after proceedin, some distance toward
the Rappahahnock, the train turned down
The peninsula. 1t was now or never with
me; every hour now removed me further
from the Union lines. l resolved that
would desert the train that night.
Everything seemed TO favor me. The
| guards were sleepy; there was no danger
to be apprehended by them from
our troops, in this locality. 1 found il
easy to slip out with one Of my mules. ]
led the animal to a safe distance. and then,
mounting, rode him with all the speed
could get ont of him toward tie Rappahan-
mock. l reached the river before daylight,
and with the help of n sympathlztng negro
and his boat | had soon put that stream
between myself and the tain. THEN away
1 sped to the broad Potomac. Ny flight
and with the friendly help of another
negro and his skitf was ferried across to
Gods county, 1t is very distinct
memory of that last day of eager hope and
hurassing fear, that when the boat touched
the shore, leaped from i'll fell PROSTATE
on the sand--1 caught mp grea. handfuls OF
it, and cried aloud, Maryland, my Mary
land.7 / laughed danced, and possibly
wept for joy. Safe, safe, thank God.
4 cavalry camp in the vicinity welcomed
and provided for me all that my imme-
diate necessities required. felt like hug.
ging every blue-coat of them. With the
help of the officer in command was able
to reach Washington in a few hours; and
had not been in that city whole day be.
fore ] was closeted with the Secretary OF
War. giving him full account Of my ex.
perience. | have reason to know that
gave him information that was of great i'm.
portaEce to our arms.
But l should really have liked to heal
what the rebel train master beyond the
Rappahannock said. when he CANE around
that morning and found me missing i
James Franklin Fits IN Chicago Ledger