The National tribune., 1890-10-02
A SCOUTS ADVENTURES.

| the engine as trains would come and 60 but it
did not come. As half of tho night had gone
decided to undress and get rid OF my blankets
as they were anything but comfortable. After
dressing myself again, spread out the blankets
and turned in FOR tho night
| About o'clock | was aroused by noise Mt
he door. Looking up I saw several men, with
| q lantern, and, as the massive iron grated door
swung open, Hall and Davis were thrust in,
| Davis wearing chain around his neck fastened
| with paddock. Under the circumstances we
| could not congratulate each other upon our
| successful escape
They had been captured about 30 miles from
Basts house, and were chained together by the
neck and driven back to Concord. The key to
| the lock fastening the chain around Davis's
neck having been lost, they left it on him at
| The time OF his incarceration in the iail.
| AT breakfast we were informed that we would
be sent to Salisbury at o o'clock I tried to
prevail upon Hall and Davis to each take a
| blanket, but they we're afraid of detection
| Being little fearful myself | only took one,
which doubled as before and wrapped around
my body, then around each log and tied at the
ankle.
| At the time stated we were marched ont and
| halted while blacksmith cut the chain from
| Daviss neck. While walking down the side
| walk toward tho depot, carrying boot in each
| hand, was several times aeGosted thus: "Say,
| Yank, why don't you put on your boots?"
| Giving different answer TO each as we passed.
we soon reached the depot where we were pu
on the cars, aud, after n short ride, arrived at
Salisbury.
From the depot we were marched to a little
pen about IL feet square and three and half
feet high, with little hole In the bottom TO
crawl in at, Hero we found several moro men,
and short conversation with them developed
the fact that they were all Union men who had
been conscripted, or deserters from the Confed
crate army.
was uncomfortable with the blanket
wrapped around mo, and broke the strings
and took it off. Hall and Davis told where
got II and all commented upon it. saying: If |
that wasn't Yankee trick VIC don't know
what Is, Tor no one but Yankee would have |
thought OF that way of hiding blanket"
Our quarters were very uncomfortable az we |
had TO sit or lie down all tho time. About |
sunset we were called out and notified that we |
would be sent to Raleigh. soldier stepped |
up TO me, saying that he had orders to put |
shackies on two OF u.s. They would not go |
around my old boot, and he threatened TO cut |
the legs of, but Istrenuousy objected and they |
decided TO shackle Hall and Davis together, as |
they wore shoes. AS / was congratuating my |
sell with the thought that | would not be |
hampefed IN any manner Sergeant came out |
OF the tent with small rope about I2 feet long, /
and walking up to ms ordered me 10 hold out /
my arms
he TIED 1T AROUND ONE ARM
y'9t Aoofo hiiS ctDoWI ptSScu the rope across my
back and tied the other arm / made great
many complaints about their tying me too
tight, aud after they bad completed the Job |
they put tho blanket over my shoulders az |
requested. / Was partially successful in my
efforts, and began to think Of getting my arms
free.
In my haversack was an old caseknifs.
noarly worn to = point and pretty we'll nicked
mp. 10 get the knife was but moments work
and holding IL with my thumb aud forefinger |
! managed to reach the rope. Hacking at il q
Few moments, the rope parted and my arms
were once more free.
Arriving at the depot and learning that the
train wss two hours late, we decided to lie
down upon the door and take nap. / man
aged to keep the blanket we'll over me and my |
arms covered. As the train came laundering |
In the Sergeant ordered US TO get up Hall aud
Davis complied. made an effort to get up "a
man naturally would without the use Of his
aflus aud the Sergeant, thinking was tied,
helped mo up, Eomarking, &" 1t is hard to tie a
man in that way but could not help it, for
was ordered TO do so, aud at daylight l viii
unite you"
Thanking him, l said he was in duty bound
to obey has orders
NeWeGe put Into car and seated as follows:
Hall aud Davis in one seat. with two guards in
'front.' and two at thoir right; "a conscfipt and
myself sat behind them, two guards TO my
right and the Sergeant aud one guard to my
roar.
We slept most of the night, but Just at day
hght | was aroused, arose to my feet aud
stretched myself. never thinking Rbout my
arms. Shortly after the Sergeant reached over
and punched me in tho back, saying:
" How did you get that rope OF your armsf"
"As 1t was somewhat annoying jokinrly
answered, " shed 1t in short time after you
put il on"
"What did you do with it?" he asked.
"As 10 was Of no particular use to mo threw
1t away" was my reply.
Well, yoI ought TO have brought IL along
so that l could have taken ii back" said the
Sergeant.
Probably" was my answer; "but neyor
carry rope with which TO hang myself"
A little after daylight they took the shackIes
of from Hall aud Davis
Arriving at Raleigh, we were marched
through the city to place known rs Camp
Holmes, where we met Lttlejohn and several |
other men who had escaped FROM different pris-
ons embraced my first opportunity to give |
DIR. Littiejohn piece OF my mind for his re-
marks about me whom no was captured and |
the information he gave that there were two
more, which assisted in the capture of Hall aud
Davis most OF which he denied, even when | |
informed him l was secreted close by in a cab
bagc-lot and heard him toll Old Fatty.
The next day ws were marched back 20 the
depot, put into an old box car and started for
During the afternoon ] saw one of
the guards hang his haversack on one side of
the car aud as il had tho appearance of being
pretty well filed, could not easily forget it
in fact became very much interested in that |
particular hayersack, so much so that took mp |
n position as near it l could. A little after !
dark / decided to confscate its oztents. and |
minute sniiiced TO complete the job. ] fouEd
one onion, piece Of rusty pork and a quantity
OF bread, or biscuit. Not daring TO take the
onion or pork for fear OF detection by the sense
OF smell, / contented myself with the biscuit,
und, after eating all could, hid the rest by un-
my sbirtb bosom and tucking it away
for future use. The guard soon missed his ra-
tions and swore that il he could find the -
Yankee that stole his biscuit he would dig it
out of him with his bayonet." Under tho cir
cumstanCes l became anxious for him to look
in some other quarter for his rations
Arriving at Salisbury about O'Clock in the
morning We were marched to the regular
prison and put in with about 600 deserters. As
soon as we were safely lodged in our quarters.
/ unbuttoned my shirt, took out the biscuit
and divided with Hall and Davis Several of
our men were robbed of every loose article by
the deserters who were. without exception, the
worst lot of men | ever saw together, and for
several days our squad was kicked and cuffed
around by them ut will, and taunted in various
ways, they asking US IL We did not wish we
were deserter5 The scale soon turned how