Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1889-11-22

but Wood seemed worry anxious to dis
coved what had frightened Anderson
he thought he could go down quictl,
and take In the situation and get bacl
without exposing himself. AS hat
perfect confidence in his ability ant
discretion, made no objection. II,
started off and was gone not to exceed
n halt hour when he came back and
reported that he had seen three mer
on horseback come out of the house
just as he arrived, and rode away
Anderson had probably seen the horses
hitched outside, and that was sufficient
to cause his fright and flight, as
described above. When Wood came
back, he did not fail to bring some corn
bread and pork with him. / thought
he was displaying too much boldness In
the matter, but it came out all right.
After waiting a while longer for
Anderson, and eating our supper in tho
meantime, we took up our march for
the sixteenth night. Wood was as
happy man rs ever saw. The dis
appearance of Anderson from our pres
cnce seemed to have renewed all the
old energy in my comradc. do not
think that l ever before or since, knew
of anyone held in such utter contempt
by another, us was manifested in this
case. 1t was u relief, ut least, because
it stopped the quarreling.
We plodded along to the best OF our
ability the remainder of the night, and
secreted ourselves the next day in the
woods alongside of IA ridge. We would
have passed very pleasant day had it
not been for the fact that had
spraincd one of the cords in my leg,
from which l suffered considerable
pain. We had been following down the
course of stream, very often wnding
when we came in contact with another
flowing into it, and bends in the one
followed. We were well aware that we
were getting very close to New River,
and were watching chance to get n
talk with some negro in order to gain
some knowledge as to which was the
better side of the stream to go down on.
About five o'clock in the evening we
observed II negro at the bottom of the
ridge, repairing fence or bars, and as
there were no buildings in sight, we
rnnrltla1 IN un mud COO hin,
AS soon as we came up with him, we
informed him who we were, and in
quired of him which was the best side
of the river to travel on to avoid rebels.
This negro, as well as all others was
glad to see us, and gave us some very
valuable instructions, informing us
that we were on the wrong side of the
river, and in danger of coming in con-
tact with rebel soldiers. Besides by
crossing the river we could consider
ably shorten the distance to the Ken
awha river. He also told us that by
taking n certain course we would find
boat fastened to the roots OF u large
tree. About three-fourths of mile
down the river we would come across
a ravine, and following this to the
river, would find the boat.
At nine or ten o'clock we started on
the seventeenth nights journey. We
had no trolble in finding the ravine,
and followed it through strip of
woods, until we arrived at the river.
was probably twenty feet in advance
of Wood, following the path down the
river bank, and was within ten or
twelve feet where the boat was fasten-
ed, when suddenly some one stepped
out from behind the tree and com
manded me to halt and give the coun-
tersign. Instantly it flashed on my
mind that the negro had betrayed us.
| began telling the challenger that we
were paroled rebel soldiers and did not
have the countersign but had only
uttered n few words when / caught
sight of Wood stealthily slipping up
behind the tree, and knew that some
thing desperate was going to be done,
and | advanced closer to the rebel, to
keep his attention on me and away
from Wood. Again Mr.. Reb COM
manded me to halt and give the coun-
tersign; but he had hardly made the
demand when Wood, like cat, jumped
from behind the tree and seized him
around the body and arms. l soon had
hold of the gun and wrenched it from
his hands. Then we had the pleasure
looking upon scared rebel. o. how
he did beg for his life. The work of
him was much easier than
anticipated; but we attacked him SO
savagely that he gave up almost in
Wood then asked him what
he was doing there and he replied
that he was detailed to guard the boat
crossing, for the purpose of catching a
couple of deserters from his regiment,
a part of the 36th Va, stationed ut the
King Salt Works. This statement re-
lievcd my mind from the belief that
the negro had betrayed us.
TO BE Continued