New-York tribune., 1886-02-21

prise that | was entirely alone. and that the
guards and my comrades were quietly resting
Quick as a flash determined to strike for my
liberty There was large thicket not two rods
Away and h leaps took me out OF sight
they yelled at me to stop, and two or them came
after me on the run. They did not shoot, for was
out of sight i'll the thicket before they were fairly
walked up and had at least $50 yards the start of
them. They were in earnest IN the pursuit how
ever, and dashed into the thickct within few
moments The other boys looked on with interest,
as did also the solitary guard who had been left
behind Noticing his fOrgetfulness OF present Ie-
sponsbItlCs. the boys concluded that they, too,
would move for hberty. Quietly stealing behind
the guard, two of them seized, disarmed. tied and
gagged him; and without further ceremony all
soon took their leave. Three of them were cap
tured the next day. but four escaped to the Uuion
lines. OF course knew nothing of this till long
aiterward.
When the guards called to mo and ordered mo to
halt knew that had gone too far to back out.
As was in for it, put forth every energy and
made my best time running. In some places
the woods were tolorably ODcn, but skirtlng the
creek was a fringe of underbrush that made it easy
TO hide. Dodging from clump to clump as ran |
kept entirely out OF sight of my pursucrs. In fact
don't think they saw mo after | made my dash.
In open daylight could not have eyadcd thom so
readily but IN the thicketS It was now growing dark.
AT first could hear the guards, as they rushed
through the undergrowth, but was careful tomake
as little possible, aud they did not hear
me they supposed was hidden. and lost so much
time peoring about that soon left them entirely. |
knew that the search would be removed in the
morning and so determined to get as far away as
possible during the night
tiOn was travelling. Here and there a path or
poor country road was found, but saw no houses
nor single human being, was going up stream,
and occasionally walked In the water as well
took other precautions to break my trail. Al last
left the stream and turned off across the country.
The sky was cloudioss and the moon nearly
full. This gave me plenty of light and made it
easy to get bearings and to keep them. Keeping
sharp lookout pushed on as rapidly as my strength
ard | tn
stream. Changing my course abruptly ! walked III
the water for Quarter OF mile. ! judged l was
as daylight was coming on hid IN deep thlcket,
lay down. slept a little and rested for the DAY.
i had eaten nothing since starting, and was in
poor condition for travelling on the second night
but trudgcd on, keeping my direction as well as
| could following roads, bat travclllI directly
across the country; did not try TO hide at day
light on the second morning hut pushed on, hoping
to find house where might get some food. had
passed houses during the night, but seeing no one
sunrise met n black boy, who told me that COM
pany of cav AIRY was i'll the neighh0rh0od, and
must look harp" or I'd done glt cotched' The
boys home was not far OF, and after a little ma
n@uvrlng he brought me some food, and directed
me 10 q safe hiding place in a neghboring swamp,
where | rested for the day. In the evening he
brought me more food, and getting directions Tor
need not stop to tell the experiences of each
successive day and night Usually rested ana
slept by day. made good progress, but l knew
that had a long way TO 90 before COMIC reach
point occupied bv the Union troops Sometimes
had TO 90 a day or two without food at other times
/ was well supplied. After had been on the way
for two weeks dOdglng this way and that, TO aVoid
towns and The more pubic r9answl& & lounu . my. ys
without food had seen soldiers each day. and
knew that | might be surprised by them az any
moment; | had travelled a part of the previous
night, and had been moving nearly all day.
Toward evening came TO a plantation. saw
the house at distance across the heds ana made
long detOur to reach ii without beng seen III was
dark when ! reached II and coming up
in the rear vas not long In n Ga' 'dl>
federate Army. squad of soldiers was cncamped
about two hundred yards away and sentinel was
pacing III front of the house. lh" table was oeing
set in the dinlng-ToOm, ana the smell OF loou
almost OvcIpOweTed me. Finding WlndO" open
| crept into a room adjoining the dlnlng-room,
hoping to find there something to appeaSe my
| had been in the room scarce minute when
the door was opened and Young lazy entered,
carving light. could have lcapcd from the
window and escaped IN the darkuess, hut my
hdnger had made mo desperate. As bad noih mug
of the Federal blue about me tue IadV may Hano n
thought, al first sight, that was Que oi the Con
fedeTatc soldiers from the camp. Though she was
evidently surprised at finding an intruder IN thG
room she made no Ontcry, but closed the dooi ana
looked into my face with quick hcaIchlhR glahc'.
spoke at once: " Won't you please give ms
something to eat am almost iamlshcd'' Judge oi
INV SURPRISE when she replied:
Are you not the Yankee officer who spared me
sack Of meal and gave me some food aud VINE tor
my sick motbert"
cazed al her in Speecless astoni'hmcnt. re:
called the incident and. looking Tor moment.
recognized the lady who stood before me- NY
courage returned ] knew now something oi my
whereabouts, and that the Union lines must nc
near. resolved to throw myself on her generosity
and replied:
a. Certainly l recall the incident you refer to. !
think however, dld only my duty III the ease. ana
that any either good soldier would have done tne
same. am as much surprised as you can po',IDN
be- at tins singular meeting. have been "a pIlN-
oner and have capped and am starving. Can you
give me something to eat T. 81.
>" With great pleasure for we have plenty of food
now. But there's company OF soldiers mere; ann
the officers are waiting for Their supper; WIN
supply your wants as soon as / can. lor the pres,
ont must put you into this closet, where you VIII
be out of sight"
Hastily opening a door, she pushed me inside =
small room, closed tho door, locked II ana went
away. / was in total darkness, for the room. or
closet, had 10 window. | groped around Tor lew
moments bur found not hing beside the bare walls
Then | tried the door, but 1t was too strong to be
forced. EVIDENTLY was, for time at least piis-
oner and feeling too nearly exhausted 70 90 any
thing further, sat down Oh the noOr ana began 10
consider the situation.
The guests came to the table, and from the sounds
that reached me and the time they continued,
could imagine that tho family larder was pretty
well supplied now. 1t seemed to me they would
never get done eating. | remembered that when
boy Rad sometimes had to wait tlll second
table when 10Y mother had company, and rCcOg-
niZeG the sensation. At last heard footsteps. ana
the door was unlocked But instead of my young
lady here was Confederate field oiiGer' III lnl5
me with % Hello Yank," to which promptly re-
spOnded " Hello. Johnny"
You must DO brave man to be captured and
locked up by woman"
"WenS' said l. that depends. You're not 50
hungry as am or you'd know how il is YOURSELF
al beg your pardon, sir you must excufe nv
pleasantly. | am Major -. the brother OF the
lady whom YOU have just met. Ny sister tells me
that You did her and our mother kindness some
time ago. The food you gave my mother carried
her through, and she ls doing well now ana likely
to live for many years yet But for your kindness
| think she must have died. for the fortunes OF
war for long time before and after your visit pre-
vented me from doing anything fOI her. Indeed
did not and could not, know Of the condition OF
things at home. And now 1t is with great pleas,
ure that find my self able 10 do you service. And
Yankee you are, and escaped prisoner to boot,
am going to supply your needs and then take you
10 your own lines in safety | can appreciate kind
the Contederacy will not stand III the way Of my