Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-10-25

into bed again; but otherwise we wer
both comfortably warm all day, an
when night came, the few clothes W
had on wero thoroughly dry.
= After becoming warm and befor
going to sleep, we entered into com
!. pact, which was to bo faithfully observe,
by both Of us on the long and hazard
Gus march we just began. The substanc,
OF this agreement was that should b,
the pilot, and do the talking, excep
what few questions Wood might bt
compelled to answer and in case o
any risks to be run, We should share
them alternately. The latter part O
the contract was frequently violated by
Wood, who persisted in taking more
than his share of the chances In danger,
met all through the journey to oui
lines.
Following the conclusion OF the com.
pact, other matters came up for con-
sideration, and not the least among
these was tho probabilities Of re-capture
and what course we would pursue in
case such a calamity seemed inevitable.
Our minds were certainly one in this
matter, and was that we would sell our
lives as dearly us possible, but under
no consideration would we surrender.
We also discussed the course of our
march to reach the union lines and
avoid risks. Our conclusion was to go
south for some distance and then in n
northwestcrly direction to the Blue
Ridge mountains, and strike the head
waters of the Kanawha river. And we
also decided to take advantage OF the
first opportunity to get change OF
clothes, rs our present raimcnt was not
exactly of the color desired, and besides
were in such condition as to admit of
the ingress of too much breeze.
On the evening of the second nights
travel, we started about o'clock, and
were feeling exceptionally well consid-
ering the experiences of the night
before. We were exceedingly careful
of ourselves, and would not think of fol-
lowing the road, although in the direction
which we were travelling, and kept as
far from all buildings as possible. We
did not even hear the bark of Il dog
during the long hours of the night.
In fact we leftnothing undone that we
could think of that would add to our
safety.
About one o'clock we were startled
by hearing voices little to our right.
We were in the depths of q wood, and
this unexpected noise, of course, added
more to our surprise. Instantly we
dropped fiat upon the ground, and very
near to each other, for an emergency
in case we were observed. We were
none to quick, for directly after three
horsemen passed within twenty feet in
front of us. We hardly dared TO breath
while they were passing, and were en-
abled TO hear the drift of their CONVEX
sation, which was indicative OF the
fact that they had taken French leave
of absence, and were on their way home.
You can imagine our relief when they
had passed, and still more so when we
were assured that they were not in
| search of us, as that was our first i'm
preston when we heard the voices.
After they had passed, asked Wood
If he was scared ? He replied, "nary
a ID scare" l fully believe that
he was not. In fact, in all our travels,
1 never saw him but once when he
seemed to be the least frightened; but
l cannot say as much for myself.
We continued our march until day.
light, and made very good headway.
We were not so fortunate in finding as
good resting place as we had the day
before, but finally succeeded in finding
some swamp grass that had been left
standing near ravine in a swamp
After pulling quite quantity of it to
lie on, / Immediately dropped upon it,
for / was almost exhausted, but Wood
continued pulling until he had obtained
enough TO cover us with. We soon
went to sleep and did not awake until
four o'clock in the afternoon.
We had had nothing to eat since the
night before, about IL o'clock, and
believe me, was hungry. l waitou to
hear Wood complain of hunger, but
waited in vain; | coon saw that nv
comrade could stand as much suffering
from that cause as could, or any one
else, and probably more. After start
ing again on our march that evening,
| asked Wood how we were to get
something TO eat. He thought possibly
we might be able to get along that
night without anything, and that was
the third night.
We continued our journey south,
and about 10 o'clock we observed n
plantation, around which were several
huts, or slave houses. suggested
that one OF us had better go cautiously
around and take in the situation, keep
ing as far from the plantation mansion
as possible. Wood very willingly
offered to act the part of the spy, and
| just as willingly consented to his
doing SO. He had not been gone more
than twenty minutes when he returned
with the intelligence that there were
no lights at all in the owners residence,
that he could see, and the only light
visible was at an old slave house, where
there were two boys, and an old gem
tleman and lady, who were singing
when he got there and We're :kneeling
down to prny.
Without any hesitation we made up
or minds to go down to them, tell
them who we We're, and that we wanted
something to eat. Upon rapping the
old man opened the door for us, and as
quick as fash the two boys ran out.
asked where the boys were going !?