Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-09-27
THE CAPTURE AND ESCAPE.
History of the Experiences Of "Doc." Jones Dur
ing the War of the Rebellion as Told by Himself

number of yankees who had escaped
from Danvillo, and tho threats against
the negroes for harboring rebel desert
ers. We were certainly Interested in
all he had TO tell us, rs It gave some
information as to our course OF pro-
ceeduro.
We eat very heartily Of the supper
placed before us, rs 1t had been several
months since VIC had such an opportun-
ity. They supplied us with corn bread
and pork to take with us, and with
many affcctionate farewells, once more
started on our journey South. Travel
ing all night, the morning Of the sec
ond day found us near an old vacant
barn, under which we crawled. We
expected TO suffer for the want of water,
and were not disappointed but 1t was
also necessary that we get some sleep,
where IL was comfortable. BY getting
some broken fodder together for bed,
we managed to sleep nearly all day,
feeling greatly refreshed when night
came on.
Tho third night we changed our
course ; instead OF going south, we took
a direction of north of northwest.
This, Of course, we did to evade pur-
suit, but for all our care we were
hunted until we reached the Blue
Ridge Mountains, as we learned
afterward. 1t was very common for us
to come in contact with some rebel
sympathizers or soldiers, but we sue
ceeded in eluding them, and with n
very few exceptions were fortunate in
smothering the trail until we came to
the mountains.
Our sufferings up to this time were
from hunger and cold, but mostly the
latter, as our clothing was nearly
worn out. To satisfy the cravings of
appetite we depended on the colored
population, which was quite numerous
in the section through which we had
been travelling, although their stock of
provisions was very scant, yet they
were always willing to divide with the
Union soldier. After reaching the
mountains we were not so fortunate
negroes were us scarce as the pro-
visions, and we came to the conclusion
that we had better abandon travelling
at night, rs our dangers would be more
than equal to those of daylight, when
the broken character of the country
was taken into consideration. Besides,
we were in section of country beset
by gang of desperate characters, both
rebels and few Union men. The few
negroes were in n starving condition,
and the difficulty in getting food COM
PEELED us to run many risks to satisfy
our hunger, and we suffered untold
agony many times. To add to the
terrors of our situation, comrade
Sarnes could not endure hunger. He
was one of the truest and bravest men
that ever lived, and was willing at any
time to give up his life for his country,
as he afterwards did. But hunger
would use him up; it really made q
different man of him, as he did not APP
preciate what risks he ran in order to
get food. He seemed to be unconscious
of danger, and hunger really seemed to
unbalance his judgment, while he
could stand untold suffering from cold
and severe marching. Often have l
seen the poor fellow cry like child be-
cause of hunger. The danger of cap
ture was greatly augmented by the
chances taken to obtain food, and it was
this fact that worried me most.
During our stay in the mountains,
we had very many narrow escapes in
TO obtain what we needed
most. 1t was necessary to invent all
kinds of stories in deceiving rebels
when making application for some
thing to eat.
There were large number of
deserters from the rebel army lurking
in the mountains and besides these
there were many Union men hidden in
the mountains, only going to their
homes at night. This class of men
were as much to be dreaded as n rebel
because they were all heavily armed,
and cared no more for mans life than
Tor that of a mouse or some other in
significant thing. We were safe
enough if we could get near enough to
him to tell him who We were, and this |
We were fortunate enough to do on two |
)r three occasions.
Now, our clothes that had once been |
blue, were more Of brown and black, |
md no one, mt any distance would take |
Is for yankees, and we necessarily had |
% go slow and look out for others.
One evening we came to a ridge run
hing along close by II stream called Ben
Fork Coal, and we had considerable
dispute as to which end of the ridge we
should take. 1t had been cloudy all |
lay and we had lost our bearings. / |
claimed one end of the ridge WIS the |
proper one to take, and Saines insisted |
he other was the correct way. Fin
llly said : Levi, if VIC can't agree,
will take the course | think the
proper one land you can take the other.n
Here, for the first time, in three weeks
ravel we separated.
TO BE CONTINUED.
-.
The Hon. VIM. Mckinley has been
appointed by the Republican State
Central Committee to speak in To'edo,