Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-03-21
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
A SUCCESSFUL ESCAPE.
Suherings and Perils of an Iowa Troop
During a Tramp for Freedom

Tramp IOr freedom
While at Little Rock, Ark, in the
summer of 1864, there appeared at our
picket post about sunrise one morning
an Iowa trooper. A more forlorn look
ing object never saw. He told us the
following story which was so full of in
cidents, and with such earnestness and
modesty, that can never forget it L
never learned what became OF him, nor
do l remember his name, but of all men
to see a Union soldier and enjoy the
protection of the stars and stripes he
appeared the happiest. At last he was
in ''God's country"
Here is what he told US:
My horse was shot from under me in
a cavalry fight near Helena, Ark, in
1868, and / was taken captive. | soon
learned that my destination was Tyler,
Tex, where l remained until early
spring 1864. About ten o'clock one
night four of us managed to escape,
but before we had gone one hundred
yards was met by a squad of mounted
guards. We scattered, l turning to-
ward the big fence, lay quickly down
and was overlooked. / never knew
whether all the rest were Immediately
recaptured or not but suppose they
were. After getting well away from
the detestable place | sat down to re-
fleet upon what to dO-so far away from
Little Rock, ARK, which was the near
est place any new arrivals at the rebel
prison had hailed from alone,
only about two days rations, and
my clothes badly worn (they could
hardly be recognized by an expert as
regulation blue). A sense of loneness
came over me that almost shook nv
resolve to try to make long tramp for
liberty, but the horrors of the camp
were too much to think of returning to,
and after calculating my route, and
taking a look at the polar star, set
out for Gods country, travelling all
night and concealing myself during the
day. / did well for time, but hunger
at last grew too pressing. Late one
afternoon ] ventured out, and found a
cabin. All the inmates were out. In
side / found a large pone of bread,
crock of milk and few scraps of fried
meat. All was mine by right of dis
covery. That night made better time,
and got along for two or three days,
when again / became very hungry. By
this time | found | was on a high
mountain range entirely unsettled.
pushed out boldly here by daylight.
For three days 1 did my best to '.get
out of the wilderness. At last
cabin hove up in view. l was too far
gone to hesitate, but walked boldly in
and inquired for Prices camp, when,
to my surprise. neither of the two wo-
men, the only occupants of the house |
present, knew any thing OF Price, nor !
but little of the war. After getting a |
plain, square meal, and hiding all !
could about my person while eating, |
trudged on boldly in the day time. |
guessing at the direction, and also |
travelling at night where the country |
was sparsely settled, which was no |
small portion of the way.
After several dark nights and foggy,
dark days, which | had tried to get the
full benefit of, came to better coun-
try, roads travelled more and signs of
life. At the forks of road, while try
ing to guess which way to go, heard
an approaching column, and had bare
l. time TO hide in the mick brush be-
fore they came up and halted to await
another column. Here / had plenty of
time to learn that they were Prices
men on a scout, and were to go as near
Little Rock as was safe, visit the pick
cts who We're left at private houses on
the road ard to watch the movements
of the Yankees. To my horror l found
that | was inside of Price picket lines,
and that | must be at least two hundred
miles from Little Rock. My courage
almost deserted me. My shoes were
literally worn out, othes almost as
bad, hunger, fatigue and exposure tell
ing on my body, while the only thing
eft intact was patriotism. This was
always above par The thoughts of
my little ones at home urged me to at
least one more effort for freedom. After
three nights of retreat, | turned for
the Yankee camp.
One morning. after weary march all
night, turned into an old barn, crept
under some fodder, ate some raw corn,
and was soon asleep. About noon was
by soldiers talking and get
ing fodder from over me. Bundle af-
er bundle disappeared until could be-
gin to see daylight and the faces and
ong hair of some Texas Rangers, who
lust then had feed enough and ret red {
% the outside of the barn, where they ;
uncOnsciously some valuable
pointers, which was not slow to catch. :
Now began the struggle of almost :
death. The sharp stones had not only !
worn out my shoes. but damaged my feet {
BADLY. | tore piece after piece off my ,
pant legs until they would give up no ,
more. Bad rs ! needed my blouse at !
hight it followed my pants, but as |
vas now getting some early vegetables
was feeling better and nearing home,
rs it were. One morning, when dav ,
iawned, Twas at the edge of a narrow
bottom farm with heavy timber oppo- !
ute. Not seeing any signs of life or
house, l ventured to cross, keeping the
Dad. Unlucky tramp. About the /
middle of the field the road turned a
ew rods south, and in the center a
lump of trees was a cabin, and what c
vas worse, out came large, fierce dog,
i. - L IL q