The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04

CARNEY "HELD Up."
cealed myself in the bushes all day.
| tramped all the next night, and about day
break reached the vicinity of Citizens Mills
on the road from HARDWOOD Church to Kei-
| ly's Ford. | thought l was near enough to
the Union pickets to be out of danger, unless
! l should accidentally meet rebel scout
| Yet, kept in the cover Of the woods as
much as possible, but while walking along a
bridle-paih and eating some chinquapips
had gathered on the way, the first thing
knew was looking down five carbine bar
rels, and the rebels shouted at me:
Haiti Surrender! UnbuckIe that
| belt! Don't touch that pistol!'
"They took me right down a steep hill
and away from the road, where they stripped
me of all portions Of my clothing that they
| thought better than theirs. Now, had in
the lining of my boot paper on which /
had sketched some plans that could be I'M
derstood only by myself, and l also had
copies of Richmond newspapers. Accounted
for the Richmond papers by saying that I
had been on visit to a brother of mine,
| who belonged to The 4th Pa. Cav, and who
| was on picket. and that my brother had
traded newspapers with rebel pickets over
the river
But, unfortunately, the men who had
captured me were rebel scouts, and as they
did not want to return to their camp for a
few days and BESIDES as they did not wish
to be bothered with guarding prisoner two
of them said they were determined to shoot
me then and there. Lucky for me, how
ever one OF the scouts, by name Esom, who
lived near Bealton Station, said that he
would take charge of me and see that was
safely landed in Libby Prison.
'All these men had been raised in that
vicinity, and were well posted about all the
roads and bridle-paths, and after debating
awhile as to whether / should be killed, they
took Inc to the house Of man with whom
they We're well acquainted and called for
something to eat. | began to think my
time had come, because the old man and his
daughter joined in with those of the scouts
who thought | ought to be shot
Esom pleaded my cause as well as he could,
but was overruled by the others, who con-
demned me to die as soon as they got what
they wanted in the house-ihat is, some
thing 10 eat.
In the meantime, the old man, Stratton,
said that he would be my executioner, and
that as he was too old to serve in the ranks,
he could serve his country by killing Yam
kee prisoner, and thus show his loyalty to
the Confederate Government. Not only did
Stratton say he wanted 10 shoot me, but his
daughter said she wanted to be present when
the shooting was done.
"Of course, by this time had made up my
mind that this was case of root hog or
die and it can well be imagined that | did
a great deal of rapid thinking. Well, they
all sat down to their hoecake and mackerel,
and l was told to take back seat in a chair
by the window. OF course, rs I was con-
demned to be shot as soon as they had eaten,
it was not thought best to waste any Con-
federaie victuals on me. About this time I
noticed pail of water near the window and
gourd hanging on a nail above it, so l rose
TO my feet and said l wanted drink of
water.
started for the pail, and at once jumped
through the window, and then, of course, /
struck out as fast as | could for the woods.
They fired some bullets after me, but kept
on running, though one bullet made flesh
wound under my right arm. You can easily
imagine that had hard time of it that
night in the woods in my bare feet, but /
succeeded in reaching the river and cross
ing it at Kelly's Ford. / travelled on until my
leet became SO sore that stopped at the first
house / came to, and made up my mind TO
risk the chances, because it was almost i'm
possible for me TO get any farther.
GOOD luck was on my side, for the man
who lived in the house was q preacher, and
he took me in and fed me. His name was
James Brennan, and his wife, God bless her.
made me pair of cloth shoes that would be
easy for my sore feet. These good people
concealed me until they could get word TO
Gen. Buford. Mr.. Brennan said that some
of Gen. Buiords men used to come to his
wheatstack nearly every day to get feed for
their horses, and that he would watch for
them and make report about me. He did
so, and soon aiterward was taken to Head
quarters in an ambulance, where / made o.
full report of all that had discovered.
After | recovered 50 as to be round again
party of US went over TO visit my old friend
Stratton, the man who wanted the Job of
shooting me. This time circumstances had
changed and Siratton was very friendly, but
said no had nothing to eat. However, we
did not believe him, so we hunted around
and found plenty of victuals. and we also
found his son-in-law, who belonged to the
rebel army.
Somehow or other his buildings all
caught fire and burned down, and it remains
mystery to this day how those buildings
caught lire, especially when so many people
We're about. James Brennan if alive. still
lives near KelIy's Ford, and his address is
Culpeper, Culpeper County, Va"
This is the story OF Arson B. Carney,
given without attempt at establishment,
and many other hazardous adventures of
Knight, Edward A. Carney, and Of Nc
Eneany, Myers, Hatch, Dodd and Phelps
might be related.-H. nj. CoBuRN, Togus.
Me.