The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-10-06

After dinner l had opportunity to
speak with him again, and it was
settled that he should ge. with
me. He realized the danger
as fully as ] did. IF recaptured,
would be returned to the pen, but he
would suffer death in some horrible
form. A slave who would not only
help prisoner off, but go with him,
and rob his master in the going,
would be burned at the stake as a
fitting punishment. At 5 o'clock in
the afternoon the heavens were over
cast, and a slow, steady rain-storm
set in. was determined to go that
night, Joe or no Joe: He came to
me at 6 O'Clock with the information
that strange negro, and one
he dared not trust. had been sent to
share his quarters, and that any at
tempt to get off with the horses
would be frustrated. From 6 to 9
might be alone for fifteen 20 twenty
minutes. When taps sounded at 9
l was supposed to turn in, as were all
Others about the post. fl went l
must go before that hour, as would
then be stopped by the sentinels.
At $50 a Lieutenant whohad quar-
tiers few stops away came in off
duty with a chill. l advised him to
go to bed, and when he had done SO
l hung his clothes before my fireplace
to dry. 1t was while taking them
along. bundled them up, wet and
soggy as they were, brought out
from my desk some bread and bacon
I had saved up, and OF 6 O'Clock,
bundle in hand, l stepped outside.
1t was a dark night with a
steady drizzle of rain, and /
put on the Lieutenant's cap and
passed the camp sentinel with wave
of my hand. l went down into the
village, passing numerous soldiers on
their way back to camp, and, with
out coming in contact with any one,
took the highway running west l
had made a break, and l could not
expect thatmy absence would remain
long undiscovered. While in feverish
haste to get as far away as possible,
did not run. The dogs could not
follow me, owing to the rain, and if
pursued by horsemen, l hoped to hear
and avoid them.
Luckily for me, after going about
two miles without meeting any one.
/ heard men coming from the west.
l lay down beside a log, and as they
passed | made out it was a portion
of some home-guard company pro-
ceeding to the post to do duty. 1t
was lucky for me, because, when met
nearer the town by those in pursuit of
me, they truthfully declared they had
encountered no one on the highway.
After the guards passed l took to the
road and pushed on at the rate of
FIVE miles an hour. 1 was strong and
hearty and a good walker, and was
determined that daylight should find
me far away. Twice before midnight
| had to give up the road to horse
men, but after that hour l met no
one. put in at least nine hours
between the time of my es-
cape and daylight, and was justi-
fed in believing that I was over thir-
ty miles from Andersonville when 1
sought hiding place. l was mis-
taken, however. In the darkness and
rain, and without the slightest sus-
picion on my part, l had taken the
wrong road at the first forks and
gone toward Columbus. I had thus
cheated myself out of fully ten miles.
AS daylight began to break | en-
tered upon a plantation, having for
the last half hour been following the
road through the woods. 1t was
still raining, and I wanted shelter for
the day. AS soon as it was light
enough to take an observation 1
crossed an old cotton-feld to a cabin
Or building, which turned out to be
filed with cow peas on the vine. l
in over the vines and slowed
myself away near the roof, cold,
soaked through and through and SO
tired out that could not go a rod
urther. My crackers had been re-
luced to dough by the rain, and the
bacon, none too good at the start,
low Disguised me. l therefore lay
Town without tasting food, and was
ust doing off to sleep when two or
,hree people came to the building. A
title later they went to work on the
,eas, and | made out that there
we're at least three old negroes in the
party. They were below me and en-
irely unsuspicious, and after time
got over my scare and went to
leep, 1t was noon when l awoke,
md what broke my slumbers was the
7oice of a white man who came rid
ng up to the place. Looking out
'etween the logs 1 saw that he was
. confederate cavalryman and
rom his mud-splashed appear
nee | could guess that he had rid
len many miles. His salutation as
.e rode up was:
"Hol thar you niggers, come
'utl"
eyes, mas'r," answered all in a
horus, as they hurried to the door.
"You are hiding a white man in
har'! He came here this morning.
Bring him out or I'll have the three
# you skinned alive"
"a white mann" queried one.
"Yes, d-n you! Bring him
utp'
For a moment I gave up, believing
had been seen as / crossed the fields.
fy heart was in my throat as one of
he negroes finally said:
"No, mas'r, no white man ar hidin'
ere dis mawnin'."
eff you lie to me I'll shoot you'll"
houted the trooper.
"Fo' God, but we's done toled de
roof, mas'r!"
"Well, keep your eyes open. Ifyou
ee a strange white man around here,
o you let 'em know at the house at
nce."
"Git away from de prison-pen,
ah?"
Eyes, last night. Keep yer eyes
eeled."
"Yes, sah."
With that he rode off, and Twas
atisfied that no trace had been found