Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-06-06
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
CLOSE TO DEATH.

+ A "Reminiscences of the "BunaIoes" and
"Gucrillas" of tho Civil War.
A southern correspondent sends
story of wartime. In some parts of the
south, and especially in North Carolina,
the horrors of war were greatly aggra-
waited by the strife between irregular
organizations of union and confederate
sympathizers, known respectively as
"Buffaloes" and "Guerillas." Both or
ganizntions were composed of lawless
men, and no ultimate good appears to
have been accomplished by them, either
for the north or for the south.
After Gen. Burnside's capture of Roa-
nolIe Island and Elizabeth City, things
began to grow very uncomfortable for
the buffaloes, who had made themselves
obnoxious to their neighbors by many
deeds of mischief. One of their ac-
knowledged leaders put his family into
buggy, and set out for Elizabeth City.
On the way he was met by band of
guerillas who called upon him to sur
render.
He knew that he could hope for no
mercy if he gave himself up and think
ing that they might not fire upon his
wife and children, he urged his horse
forward, at the same time holding his
infant child in front of himself as
shield. But the order to fire was givSn,
and he fell back dead,a volley of bullets
having reached him through the body of
his child.
The horrible deed reused intense in
dignEtion, of course, and vengeance was
threatened. Unhappily suspicion fas-
tened upon the wrong man, and he was
marked for destruction. News reached
him upon his farm that the Buffaloes
were in pursuit of his head, and he ar
ranged with his wife q code of signals
for his protection.
Again and again, by day and by night,
his house was searched, but without
success, Many times he watched the
searching parties rs they withdrew,
disappointed, from the premises. One
day he had peculiarly narrow escape.
A band of armed men We're seen APP
preaching. Evidently they were after
him again. He FASTENED from the house
into the field, thinking himself unseen:
but his pursuers had caught sight of
him, and at once started in pursuit.
There was no time to reach the woods,
and in his extremity he crawled into a
log which lay near the entrance to the
field.
Hardly was he inside when his ene-
mics swarmed into the field. "Where
is hep" Where is hep" he heard one
and another ask. I'VE saw him run
this way, and he hasn't had time to
cross the field. He is hiding here some
where, and we have him at last.
Some kept watch, and the rest search
ed the field. After while all hands
came together about the log, and some
of them sat down upon it. One would
shoot him at sigh6; another wanted to
hang him to tree and riddle him with
bullets. No one suggested trial, or
the possibility of his innocence.
The prisoner was almost afraid to
breathe. Another search was made, and
his agony of suspense continued. In
his distress he prayed earnestly for
protection. No one thought to look
into the log, and late in the afternoon
the sound of the bell notified him that
the coast was clear, and he might re
turn to the house
Many years have passed. The man
still lives, and still believes that there
was some connection between his pray.
err and his deliverance.-You Com,
| oanioD