Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-09-13

reach Joe after nightfall | must have an
excuse TO pass the guard. This alone ne
could furnish. / was TO go, horse or no
horse, but to get the horse il could.
Autumn had now come, end the raing
season might soon be expected On the
morning of the day l had set for my last
at Andersonville, Joe came to see me
out sore throat. His demeanor was
such that l determined to fully trust him,
and finally queried
"Joe, would you advise me to try and
escape from this?"
Goa foot?" he asked.
mo, on horseback"
"Whar' ye giving to git hos5s"
am take the captains"
(which way ye gwing?"
"West, into Alabama"
Glow fur?"
about twenty five miles; then I'm go
ing TO stop with an old colored man for a
month, or until the matter blows over"
"How ye giving to get that hoss9"
Why, to night, soon after dark, you'll
be taken with cramps and send for me.
I'll come. Then III ride off"
But day'll track yer"
',Its going to rain. 1t will be rainy
night"
"Dar mought be two HOSES in the alta
ble," he said, after looking at the weather
from the window.
"HoWYn
de capting bought anoder yesterday,
which he's giving TO send off to some
body"
"Well you can go, too"
After dinner had opportunity to speak
with him again, and it was settled that he
should go with me. He realized the dan
ger as fully as | did. If recaptured,
would be returned to the pen, but he
would suffer death in some horrible form.
A slave would not only help a prisoner
off, but go with him, and rob his master
in the going, would he be burned at the
stake as fitting punishment. AT 5
O'clock in the afternoon the heavens were
overcast, and slow study rain-storm set
in. l was determined to go that night,
Joe or no Joe. He came to me at
O'Clock with the information that q
strange negro, and one be dared not
trust, had been sent to share his quarters,
and that any attempt to get off with tht
horses would be frustrated. From 6 to 8
| might be alone for fifteen to twenty
minutes. When taps sounded at 8 was
supposed to turn in, as were all others
about the post. If went must 60 be-
fore that hour, as l would then be stopped
by the sentinels.
At $50 lieutenant who had quarters
a few steps away, came in off duty with a
chill. l advised him To go to bed and
when he had done so / hung his clothes
before my fireplace to dry. It was while
engaged in this that 1 got the idea If
taking them along. 1 bundled them up
wet and soggy as they were, brought out
from my desk some bread and bacon
ha6 saved up, and at O'Clock, bundle in
hand, | stepped outside. 1t Sas a dark
night, with steady drizzle of rain, and
put on the lieutenant's cap, and passed
the camp sentinel with q wave CT my
hand. ] went down into the village, pass
ing numerous soldiers on their way back
to camp, and without coming in contact
with anyone, took the highway running
west. / had made break, and | 3ould
not expect that my absence would re-
main long undiscovered. While in feve.-
ish haste TO get as far away as possible,
l did not run. The dogs could not fol
low me, owing to the rain, and If pursued
by horsemep, l hoped to hear ard avoid
them.
Luckily for me, after going about two
niles without meeting anyone, l heard
men coming from the west. l lay down
beside a log, and as they passed, made
out II was a portion of some home guard
company proceeding to the post to do
duty. 1t was lucky for me, because when
met nearer the town by those ia pursuit
Of me, they truthfully declared they had
met no one in the highway. After the
guards passed | took TO the roe b and
pushed on at the rate of FIVE miles "A
hour. l was strong and hearty, and
good walker, and Was determined that
daylight should find me fer away. Twice
before midnight | had 20 give no the
road to horsemeu, but after tndl rouc |
met no one. put in a. least nine hours
walking between the time of my escape
and daylight, and l was justified in be
lieving that was over thirty eigh t uies
from Audersouyllle VIXEN | spu1ht md
ing place. | was mistaken howeve. In
the darkness aid rain, and without the
slightest suspicion on my part, had
taken the wrong road at the first fork,
and gone toward Columbus. | had thus
cheated myself out of ten miles.
As u3yught Oegan 10 OreRk entered
upoa a plantation, having for the last
half hour been following the road through
the woods. Ii was stu raining, and
wanted shelter for the day. As soon as it
was light enough to take an observation /
crossed an old cotton FIELD to cabin or
building, which turned ont TO be filled
with COW peas on the vine. | elm bed in over
the vines and slowed myself away near
the roof, cold, and soaked through and
through and so tired out that could not
go rod further. My crackers had been
reduced to dough by rain, and the bacon,
none too good at the start, noE disgusted
me. l therefore lay down without tast
ing food, and was just doz ng off to sleep
when two or three people came o. the
building. A LITTLE lister they went TO work
on the peas, and made out that there
were at least taree old negroes In the
party. They we're below me and entirely
uusus picious, apd after a time | got over
my scare and ventto sleep. 1t was neon
when awoke, and what broke my slum-
Der was the voice OF white man who
come riding MP to the place. Looking
out between the logs sav that he va. a