Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1889-01-03

soon b expected. On the morning ol
the day ! had set for my last ct An
dsrsonviIle Joe came to sss me about
sore throat. His demsanor was
such that ! determined to fully trust
him. and I finally queried:
Joe. would you advise me to try
and escape from this9
On footY he asked.
No. on horseback
What ys gvins to git hoss? 2
I'll take the captains
Which way ye gwinsr
West, into Alabama.
How fur?
About Is miles; then I'm going
to stop with an old colored man for 9
month or until the matter blows over.
How you gwins to git dat hoss9'
why, tonight, soon after dark,
you'll be taken with cramps and send
for me. I'll come. Then I'll ride
off,
But dsy'll track yer
It's going to rain. Ii will be g
rainy night
.'Dar mought be two hosses in the
stable, he said, after looking at the
weather from the window.
Howl
'Ds capting bought anoder yestsr.
day. which he's gwins to send off to
somebody
Well. you can 60 too
After dinner 1 had opportunity to
speak with him again, and it was set
tied that ne should 60 with me. he
realized the danger a. fully az I did.
At 5 clock In the afternoon the
heavens were overcast, and a slow
steady rain-storm set in. ! was de-
termined to 90 that night. Joe or no
Joe. He came to me at 6 o'clock with
the information that a strange negro,
and one he dared not trust, had been
sent 10 share his quarters, and that
any attempt to get off with the horses
would be frustrated. From 6 to 9 I
might be alone for Is or 90 minutes.
When taps sounded at Q l was sup
posed TO turn in, as we'll as all others
about the post. If | went ! must &c
before that hour, as would then be
stopped by the sentinels.
At $50 q lieutenant, who had
quarters a few steps away, came in of
duty with chill. I advised him tc
10 to bed, and when he had done 80
hung his clothes before my fireplace
to dry. It was while engaged in this
that | got the idea of taking them
along. | bundled them up. wet and
soggy as they were, brought out from
M desk soma bread and bacon haf
saved up. and at Z o'clock. bundle il
band, | stepped outside. 1t was I
dark night. with steady drizzls o
rain. and | put on the lieutenant's cap
aad passed the camp sentinel with Z
Wave OF my hand. I went down int
the village. passing numerous soldier
on their way back to camp. and with
oat coming in contact with anyone
took the highway running west.
bad made q break, and could moi
expect that my absence would remain
long undiscovered. While in feverisf
haste to get a. far away as possible.
! did not run. The dogs could not fol
low me. owing the the rain, and i
pursued by horsemen, ! hoped to hear
land avoid them.
/ Luckily for me, after going about
two miles without meeting anyone
heard men coming from the west. ]
lay down beside log. aud as they
passed ! made out it was a portion oil
some home-guard company proceeding
10 the post to do duty. II was lucky
! Tor me. because. when met nearer the
town by those in pursuit of rne. they
trnihfally declared they had enconnt-
cred DO one on the highway. After
The guards passed / took to the road
ard pushed on at the rate of FIVE mile.
Al hour. was strong and hearty
,ud good walker. aod was determin-
81 thAi Daylight should 6nd me far
away. Twice before midnight had
10 give up the road to hsfseraen, but
after that hour met no one. put
- a. isast nine hours walking between
i.s line Of ny escape and daylight.