Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-07-21


panions making for the rear as rapidly
as possible tried to follow but my an
tagonist objected and 1 could see
prospective Libby before me. We were
parlying with our bayonets, and, be-
coming desperate, I made lunge at
the southerner, at the same time let
ting go of my musket. While he was
recovering himself sprang away, but
he was too quick for me. With one
jump his hand was on my shoulder,
and surrender, Yank!" was yelled
into my ear.
OF course there was nothing else to
do and complied My captor swung
me around to start to the rear when
his eye caught sight of little ma
sonic emblem l had pinned to my
blouse.
You, Yank," he said, placing his
hand upon the little emblem.
Ireplied with slight motion which
he quickly answered, and then faced
me towards our own lines again.
Now, Yank, git," he cried, at the
same time giving me shove towards
our lines.
1t is needless to say that improved
the opportunity to git" and was
soon with what was left of the COM
mand in a sheltered position awaiting
further developments. While talking
over the adventures of the day one of
the boys asked:
Sergeant, how did you get away
from that big reb? thought he had
you fixed"
'Well," 1 replied, "it takes two to
make bargain of that kind"
Another year of the war had passed,
and many changes had taken place.
The federal armies had been victori-
GUS; Lee and Johnson had surrendered,
and their men had returned home.
had been wounded and spent part of
the year in the hospital, and found on
recovering that had been promoted
to lieutenancy in another regiment.
My new command had been ordered
TO Texas, and in July, 1865, was
with the regiment in Victoria in that
state.
The men from the disbanded armies
of Lee and Johnson, whose homes
were in Texas, We're making their way
across the country to them in large
numbers. Many of these men were
being picked up in compliance with
orders issued on account of a rumor
stating that large numbers of confed-
crates, singly and in small detach-
ments, were making their way into
Mexico with confederate states prop
erty. In fact, it was understood that
whole confederate battery had
crossed the Rio Grande and entered
the service of Maximilian.
~, of L.,
we had received orders to detain every
man found with confederate property
until the authorities became satisfied
that it was all right, and he had no in
tention of crossing the border.
The men were detained in what we
called the "bull pen," and it became
my duty one day, as officer of the
guard, to take charge of this 'pen.
At this time there were perhaps
twenty or thirty men confined in our
crude prison. Some We're released
and others brought in every day.
Many whose homes We're in the vicin-
ity would be vouched for by their
friends as soon as they were satisfied,
and their stay would be short. But
those who had no friends near, did
not find it so easy to satisfy the au-
thorities
On this day, as was passing through
the place, noticed one man looking
very respondent He did not mix
with the others, and he seemed to
have no acquaintance with any of his
fellow-prisoners. passed him sever
al times, always making some com.
monplace remark, to which he re-
sponded. BY the time my tour of duty
was nearly over / became quite inter
ested in this particular prisoner and
engaged him in conversation.
i found he had served in the army OF
northern Virginia, SO we began dis
cussing the campaign that ended al
Appomattox. ] soon bee, me satisfied
that had seen him before and as we
were talking about the Wilderness and
Spottsylvania battles it suddenly oc-
Cured to me that he was my captor OF
the year before.
said 4