The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1890-02-21
MY Prison Life and Escape.
CBY Col. ]. q. GREEN.)

utttl we reacbeu the lie salt works, thir-
" miles away. The report OF tine coin-
miiiee WAS made and without one mo-
ments hesitation the command was given
forward march," and off we stepped at
/ quick time to make a march on foot of
thirty miles on hot night in the middle
of June without water to drink. Most of
our company had served in infantry and
many were accustomed to long marches on
foot, but there were about dozen of us
who belonged to the cavalry branch of
service and had never mad thirty mile
march on foot in our whole life, and one
poor fellow, the writer of this sketch, had
on pair OF heavy, unbr oxen new boots.
The wear and tear made by those boots
that night made sore impression or his
feet, and very lasting impression on his
mind. To such degree was he disguised
with boots that he has seldom worn a pair
since the war and will probably never
wear another. Some families take great
pride in having it said of them "they all
die in their boots" Now if have any
pride at all in the boot line, it is that
will never live or die IN boots We march
ed down the beach close to the waters
edge, where tn sands were beaten firm
and hard by the rising and falling tide.
When ! became foot sore, as I soon did.
pulled off my boots and swung them
| across my shoulder. This was a great re-
lief for a while, but nay socks soon wore
through, and then the sole of my feet were
worn through by the hard and gritty track,
Though seriously crippled ! kept my
place in the ranks. AT last my condition
became so intoIerable that made my
way to the head of the column, thinking
to find a seat in the cart, but found that
loaded down by men in a worse condition
than myself. Some had been in prison
for seven months without the least exer-
else during all that time and the hard
march and heat had go CALLED them that
they could not walk at all, and the horse,
/ could readily see, could not pull anoth-
err man. / was ashamed to make any
complaint and without word dropped
into the ranks and kept up as best could.
Marching at quick time, even at night, in
June weather, very mutually begets thirst.
/ had grown thirsty early in the night,
but thinking we would soon come to wa
ter, had marched on uncomplainingly.
Midnight passed away and no water
We were going south and the boundless
ocean was stretched out on our left hand,
it's white capped waves were rolling into
the shore, and breaking every moment al
our feet. Ii looked 30 clear and cool and
refreshing this heaving up and down
seemingly breathing sea, that found il
difficult 10 refrain from drinking, though
] knew that 1t was salt and would produce
vomiting and greatly increase thirst. We
marched on until L saw grey s;reaks OF
light pe,ring up and out of the sea that
betokened the near approach of day. My
( thirst became so severe that l lay down
on the beach and dipped my head in the
water and took some in my mouth. and
washed it out. This and the moments of
rest, seemed TO refresh me for time.
] hurried on and overlook the company.
tried TO forget my thirst and WEAKNESS by
watching the new scenes by which / was
surrounded. / had never seen the sun
ri,e at sea. | said to myself | will see it
now. / watched the grey streak as it
climed up higher and higher, and present
I ~ saw tongue of flame shoot up out of
the water, to be followed by another, and
then another, until the great burning
globe leaped up Suddenly out OF the water
| as II an invisible hand had reached down
aud dipped it out of the sea. Then it be-
gan to whirl round as / never saw it do
before, and suddenly making great stag
gering sweep around the horizon it reached
the west a nd went ont; aud found after
wlrd that J ad gone out with i'll had
tainted On the beach from utter exhaus-
ten, / had fallen behind the company
and no one had missed me. When
awcke 10 consciousness they were still in
sight, long distance up the beach. l
arose and struggled on after them as hest
| could. When came up they were all
lying around a we'll which they had near
ly drunk dry. As came near, McSpad-
den having drawn a bucket OF water from
the well. came with it in his hand to meet
/ ft.1 Of la Il
ed the bucket and drank, not as much as
l wanted, however, for had been wisely
allowanced, but certainly the sweetest
draught Of water that ever passed my lips.
They had surprised the salt makers at
their breakf asst, and seized them and their
boats without opposition. Our thirst be-
ing quenched, rations distributed and APP
petites satisfied, our old question arose tor
debate :what uext?" Cross the Sound i'm
mediately was the first thought. But it
was suggested that there were vessels pas
sing at all hours and seven or eight open
boats crowded with men in confederate
uniform will attract attention. ii we are
not run down by an armed vessel, it will
be at least known where we are and a reg
iment be ready TO take us In when we and.
On the other hand it was argued that if
we stay here all day the cavalry may get
our track and overtake Us, but upon fur
Their inves tigation it was found that cav
airy could not reach us in any way but by
the road along the beach, and their ap-
proach could be seen as far "a the eve
LII .oanh l.. IL on.., L.. .u..,ll -.