The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1892-01-27
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI
We found road, which Liz directed
US to, and which she assured us ''ran
plum est fob bout ten mile" Along
this we fairly ran, holding each others
hands to keep from stumbling. Where
the road turned we left 1t, and, trusting
10 iutD, tuolN W tLts ruansls =e.-,l f--,anieA~-
fields.
| Now and then we saw camp-fres to
the right and left, but we avoided them,
for we dared not run the risk Of an in
vestigation.
1t was near daylight, and we must
have travelled fully forty miles from
our last stopping-place, when from the
crest Of what was q considerable eleya-
ton for that region we saw campfire
beneath us. 1t was so near that we
could see men in long overcoats grouped
about the fire, with their rifles stacked
within reach.
This seemed to be reserve picket
post. The men had built the fire among
the branches of a large tree that had
been uprooted by the wind Keeping in
the shadow OF the great mass Of earth
still clinging to tho roots, we made our
way to the tree.
"Stay here and I'll see If can learn
who they are" said Howard, and before
Icould stop him he had left me.
He crept along the trunk, but he had
not gono far before stick broke under
him. saw the men selling their rifles,
and heard the command: "Halt! Who
goes there?"
Don't fire; am q Yankeev' called
out Howard, as no rose to his feet and
advanced towards the fire.
''We belong to the Twenty-First Vir-
ginia, and are out searching for you
fellows" This l heard in response to
Towards question. My first impulse
was to run, but with flush at the
meanness of the thought of DESERVING
my gallant young friend, | walked up
to the fire, and was greeted with cheer
and roar of laughter.
81 am sorry you didn't make 1t, gen.
tlemen," said Lieutenant Brown, the Off
Ger in command of the post.
He made us sit by the fire and one OF
his men brought us some bread and
bacon, but our appetites were gone.
During the hour preceding daylight
Howard Scotts pale face took on the
age of many years, but the light in the
fine, brave eyes did not flicker for an in
slant.
With the first light of day our guards
formed about us; we were faced towards
the west, and the return march to Libby
began. Now we realized, for the first
time, how cold and weak We were, and
how swollen and blistered were our feet
We climbed the slope from which we
had first seen tho campfire, and on the
instant, with cries of surprise and alarm,
our guards broke away from us and fled
through the wood.
forward Trotl Gallopl Charged Like
bugle blast we heard the familiar COM
mand in our front. Dazed and trernb-
ling we sought the shelter of tree and
chung to each others hands.
We heard the quick pounding Of hoofs,
the blinking of scabbards, the hoarse,
deep cheer that followed the order
"Chargel' Thengleaming sabres flashed
before our eyes, and horsemen in blue
swarmed about us.
"Friendsl Friendsl Thank God!"
My arms were about Towards neck
and / was kissing him and crying with
the weakness of an emotional woman,
for the terrible strain was over
1t was General Butler who, hearing OF
tho escape, had sent these men to our
rescue. It would take volume to re-
cord the kindness Of our friends from
the time Of the rescue till we entered
Fortress Monroe and exchanged our
vermin-covered rags for decent gar
ments.
The day wo reached Washington
read tho following dispatch in morn
ing paper:
"SANDUsKY, o., February 10, 1864.
captain Frank Brent, the Confed-
crate Partisan Ranger, who was con-
demned to death last November for the
wanton murder OF John Harding, re-
spected Union citizen Of Perryvilie,
KY, and who was respited by the Pres
ident for ninety days, will BIO returned
tomorrow to Camp Dick Robinson,