Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-11-01

sign :" or Surrender" But tho Inst
remarks Of tho ono who had spoken,
set at rest our fear OF rebel soldiers.
We told them we we're rebel soldiers,
or had been, but had been captured mt
Vicksburg, md were now on our way
clothing. At this juncture, they sug-
gested that when wo got home we had
bettor stay there; that the confeder-
acy was getting black eye. In short,
it did not take us long to learn that We
had come up with class Of Union men
who were keeping themselves hidden
during the day, and came out and
visited their homes at night.
Then wo told thom who we really
were, and you may believe me when l
sny they gavo us cordial welcome,
and can tell you that we were glad TO
SEQ them.
BY this time It was near morning,
and they invited us to stop with them
during the day. OF course we gladly
accepted the invitation, and we spent a
very pleasant and profitable day.
Their residence was in the rocks in the
Blue Ridge mountains, where nature
hud provided n place especially for
their protection and comfort.
Near by was beautiful spring OF
pure water in place where man would
hardly think oflooking. All sides of
them was crowned with gorgeous seem
cry, where an artist could feast his
eyes for years.
We gained much information from
our new friends that proved Of value to
US. They laid out n course for us that
was lenst fraught with danger Of
coming in contact with any OF the rebel
troops. They also impaired to us n
knowledge OF all the signs, grips and
signals Of the Union mems league, or
scouts, and directed us to Union man,
by the name oi John Lambert, about
sixty miles distant, and told us
that II we should be successful in dis
covering his whereabouts, he would
|
aid us very materially in reaching our
lines, as he had been employed several
times In similar services.
On the evening OF the fifth night We
again started on our toilscme march.
Although we had been well fed and had
comfortable place to sleep, / did not
feel like beginning; l was not re-
freshed; the excitement OF the night
before, and the tedious climb up the
side Of the mountains had n tendency
to weakness, and from tho effects Of
which had not recovered. My feet
were getting sore, as the only protec-
tion they had was on the soles, the
upper front part Of my feet was entirely
bare, and were badly cut and bruised.
To add to our distress, the clouds were
lowering, and gave every indication Of
the approach OF severe storm, and We
could imagine nothing much less in
viting than the prospect before us.
Wood was in as sorry plight as my
sell, but he never uttered word Of
complaint. Immediately after dark we
bade our newly found friends goodbye,
and left them. The farther we got
away from them, the darker it seemed
TO get until nine o'clock, whan it COM
menced raining. We travelled US best
We could on our rough road, through
the unbroken country, and to add still
further to our discomfort, it began to
turn very cold, until we finally con-
cluded not to go any further until the
storm abated. Acting upon the de-
cision we gathered some leaves to-
gether and laid ourselves down upon
them. Soon after that 1t began to
snow very hard, until it became evil
dent that we would perish II We con-
tinued to lie there. Something must
be done; We wished ourselves back
in the cave dozen times; but that
was an almost impossible feat to ac-
complish that night.
| Woods eagle eye now served US q
turn,fo peering through the darkness
he noticed light down the side
OF the mountain and came to the
conclusion that would probably be the
best and only chance that night. We
went down the side of the mountain as
fast as possible, hoping to get there
before the light was extinguished, and
in this we were successful.
We raped on the door, which was
opened by man who seemed to be
the only occupant, and he was employ
ing his time in making an AK helve
l told him we had been caught in the
storm and were almost frozen. HI
welcomed us by piling more fuel on the
already glowing embers, and We soor
began to feel quite comfortable. o
course he wanted to know who We
were and where we came from, ant
to crafty his just curiosity, we in
formed him that we were rebel soldier
on our way home to get clothing, ant
that we lived at the Ben Fork OF Coal
We belonged to Pemberton's army ant
were paroled at Vicksburg, and woult
return rs soon as we had satisfied ou
wants. And we just now particular.
desired TO remain over night with him
and as he seemed agreeable to tn,
story told, he rapidly consented. W.
insisted that we be allowed to lay b.
the stove on the floor, TO which h
likewise made no objection.
During our conversation with him
Wood, in order to do little net @
kindness, endeavored TO show him no,
to make different kind, or shaped
I helve but before he had finished tn
rebel to our astonishment said: "Tha
: is what we call yankee helve." A
this remark Woods countenanc
would have made our old comrade
: laugh until their sides ached; he locke