The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-01-24

What Our Veterans Have to Say About
Their Old Campaigns
HARPER,S FERRY.

cavalry force at Harper's Ferry, y a., cut IT'S 4
way through the rebel lines enc0mpassing the /
Union forces at that place, ltried to escape with
IT
I had been sick with typhoid fever for three /
or four weeks while at Martinsburg, Va, and /
was still in the hospital when our regiment was /
ordered 20 the Ferry. On learning that the /
cavalry had determined 10 try 70 cut It's way /
out, j FASTENED TO my company ana told them
/ wanted a horse so ! could 20, too.
The CAPTAIN told me TO 20 back to the hospi-
tai and 90 10 bed that ] was not able TO ride
especially on such a trip as they expected TO
make ! told him had determined TO go If !
had 10 walk, for ] was almost certain that the
rebels would soon capture the Ferry, with every
man IN it. Well, when the cavalry crossed the 1
Potomac that night Sept. a. 1862 crossed
with il. had found an old plug of horse
in camp, and was going TO try 20 make my
escape, too, for I did not ike the idea of being
taken prisoner by the rebels. ] could not find
a saddle or blanket. and so had TO ride him
bareback, which was pretty rough, for he re-
minded me Of
Brian o I.us old gray mare,
Whose sides were sunk IN and hip-bones bare"
When all were over who intended 10 90, the
order was given 10 d" forward-march! and on
we went, first at a walk, then trot and afterward
gallon. Ny old horse tried his level best to
keep up with the column, and stood not on the
order Of his going, for ] was too weak TO
manage him. He ran hither and thither as he
feltdspOsed and. after making several attempts
TO run over some other horses. struck of into the
woods as fast as he could run. ] clung 10 him,
however, with desperation, being nearly pulled
from his back several times by the branches of
small trees. and think would have succeeded
IN riding him out had he not stumbled over a
fallen tree and fell, throwing me headlong 10
the ground. ] was stunned by the fall, and
lost all consciousness for a time. When / re-
gained consciousness I was puzzled to know
which one of the boys ] was aud how / came
there. j could not hear anything of the cav
airy, for it had all passed by some time before
There ] was alone, sick and sore. It was quite
darkand the stiffness oppressed me- could hear
my own heart beat ] got up and tried 10 walk,
but stumbled over some brush and fell to the
ground. Then j CraWled on my hands and
knees until / came TO the foot Of a large tree,
where I concluded to stay until morning l
waited and waited, but il seemed that daylight
would never come. Ny thoughts on that event
full night were none of the pleasantest, assure
you, for felt certain that the rebels would find
me in the morning, and then of to prison /
must go.
When I read the Boy Spy's" account of
night he spent IN the woods Of Tennessee
could sympathize with him, for I had been
thar
Toward morning heard something moving
IN the branches over my head, and 1 became
alarmed for ! did not know what might live
IN the woods OF Maryland. Presently heard
the familiar but not pleasant voice of an old
hO0ting owl, which seemed TO say, " Who-who
who are yOuy" / told him il was none of
his business. This broke the monotony, and
felt better.
When it had become sufficiently light for me
70 see my way through the brushy woods, be-
gan 10 look about for the road had been forced
10 leave the night before / was not long in
finding il, and as ] stood trying TO figure out
.1 - Ids -, Il +1r1
by the question, " BE you a Yank?" answer
ed promptly You bet"
ON turning around 10 see who had spoken, I
saw two rebel infantrymen near by. They
came TO me, and looked me over TO see If / had
any arms or yalaables about me, and then babe
me follow them. After we had gone about 80
rods we came 10 camp, where they gave me
some black coffee 10 drink. Pretty soon we
heard the cannon at the Ferry, which told Us
the battle had commenced again; but ii did
not last long, for the firing ceased, and soon
the news came that Miles had surrendered. l
was then taken back 10 the Ferry TO be parocd.
On reaching the Ferry ! was ordered, with
others 10 fall in line" when a rebel officer
took our names and regiment, and told Us 10
hold up our right hands and be sworn. He
then administered to Us the following oath:
You do, each and every one Of you, s0lemnly
swear that you VIII not take up arms against
the Confederate States Of America until you
ere legally exchanged. So help you God" We
were then marched across the Potomac and
ont 70 the Union lines, about six miles distant
from the Ferry.
! had become so much exhausted that I
could hardly walk, and on the road out TO our
lines played out. ] lay down by the roadside
70 ole. i Thought was more than three miles
from our lines. ! could not 90 any farther.
The rebel guards came riding by and told
nc 10 get up and mozy along. ! told them
] could not They said ! had better. for if
they found me there when they came back
they would shoot me. All was hurry, and
none OF our boys as they passed by offered to
help me.
When nearly all Of the prisoners had gone
by, along came our Surgeon. John Higgins,
and his wife. He had been permitted to take
his horse aud wagon, with other personal eff
fects, with him. When his wife saw me she
said, Doctor, there lies one Of our patients F."
lie answered, . Yes see him but what can
we DO for him now? We cannot take him
with us, for we have q load already" She
said % We must not leave him there 10 die. !
viii walk, and he can ride to our lines. y
They both got out and helped me into the
wagon. We soon reached our lines, but she
walked every step Of the way for over three
miles. To them / owe my life, and I shall
always hold them in grateful remembrance
GOD bless them both
After reaching the Union lines we were sent
e Frederick City. Nd, and from there to oul
respective States, where we remained until
Legally exchanged I was sent 10 CamI
Douglas, near Chicago, Ill, but being very
SICK, was soon taken 20 the City Hospital, where
j had 10 stay for several weeks. ! was ex.
changed some time in December, 1862, and
Joined my regiment at Belle Plains, Va. Jan
y, 1861. N. GARDNER, Sergeant, Co. L
18th Ill Cav, Eagle, Neb.