Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-05-04
HOW THE HEN SAVED US.
BY HILLIKER PINCKARD.

1t was in the latter part of Septem
berthe third year of the civil war. 1
had been riding all day in the country
neighborhood around our village, try
ing to beg money enough to procure
three or four OvercOatS and as many
pairs of boots for some soldiers hiding
in the vicinity. They were awaiting
their guide, who was expected that
night, and would start at once through
the mountains of Kentucky to Virginia
and the Confederate army.
l was hardly more than boy myself
then, and net very able to distinguish
right from wrong; but | threw the en-
'thusiasm of youth into my humble eff
forts to aid the cause l loved, and laid
every hope and aspiration of my life
upon the altar of the Confederacy. The
men | speak of were not Kentuckians,
but strangers whom 1 had never seen.
The Federal party was SO strongly as
cendant in the border counties of Ken
lucky that all we did for the Southern
cause was very quietly and secretly
done. One such escapade as was now
engaged in, if discovered, meant prison
bars for the remainder of the war
We had been suspected, but never in
terfered with, and many a weary, foot
sore soldier hiding in the woods and
thickets along the Ohio during the day,
and finding refuge at night in the
homes of sympathizing farmers, had we
clothed and mounted while waiting
their chance for guidance through the
mountain passes.
L hurried through my supper, snug
gled my purchases, bought from an
honest merchant named Black, into
my buggy, and at about ten o'clock
started, with my inseparable compan-
ion on such expeditions, Doctor bud
ley, to our waiting soldiers | had
been told we would find them in a
small woodland couple of miles from
town; and we did. They were sitting
close together upon the ground, con-
versing earnestly in a low tone, upon
the prospects of success in their ven
ture. 1t was the loveliest starlit night
ever saw. The shadows of the gro
tesque old locust trees, the dull red glow
of two or three cigars, and the beauti-
full foxhound walking slowly from one
to the other, impartially dispensing his
hospitality, was like one of Murillo's
pictures, touching from it's very sim
plicity.
Every one returned with kindly
words and a stroke of the head the
dogs advances, for the hour and the
place were conducive to gentleness
The men were soon busily trying on
their coats and apportioning their
boots in the dim light, and many low
laugh accompanied the mistakes they
made.
We stayed with them until twelve
O'Clock, and at last, with innumerable
good wishes and heartfelt 'God speed
YET" saw them, with the guide and six
others, on the road to Pound Gap, be
fore turning our horse homeward We
drove along quietly, and were about
congratulating ourselves upon reach
| ing home once more undetected, when
a boy came out of the shadows by the
roadside, and the congratulations were
postponed. "An officer and six soldiers
were in town-had arrived on the 10. 20
boat, arrested two of our friends, and
were securing the place for use. No
one knew where we were, and the Fed
eral officer was angry over the delay,
for his orders were to take the early
boat with his prisoners for Cincinnati' y
| The messenger from our watchful Sis
ter Anne ended with the gratuitous
opinion
IF yer kin give 'em the slip tonight
yer'n be safe again for a while, any
how; fer they has to take the five o.
clock boat
| For short time we sat in the buggy
and wondered what we would better
do. The houses of two Confederates
were in reach, but their position was
too well defined to render their homes
a safe asylum. We dared not venture
through the town for fear of being
seen, SO concluded to retrace our steps
and spend the remaining hours in the
country.
An hour later we were costly slowed
| away, we hoped for the night, in a small
stable quarter of a mile from the
road, and quite as far from any other
building. 1t had once been the home
of valuable horse, but was now stand
ing empty and idle. Vandal hands had
torn away the door and shutters, and
many of the boards and shingles were
loosened, and ready to fall by the aid
of those considerate allies, wind and
time. After a little reconnoitering-
for in those days a man scarcely enter
ed his own home without tive had
climbed up into the loft, and to our