The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-05-17

J''N -
taken. He held back in the miry road
till the explosive breathing and soggy
tramping of the horses in front died out,
then he turned to the left, in which di-
rection lay Stone river and his destina-
ton.
The fields were nearly as miry as the
roads, and when he reached a stretch
of cedar jungle the branches were so
stiff with ice and the trunks Of the trees
So close together that he was forced to
dismount. AS he could travel better on
foot he took the saddle and bride off
his horse and left the jaded creature to
shift for himself.
After this Snow lost all sense of di-
rection, and after passing the scrub ce.
dars he waited, hoping to hear the grand
rounds challenged, for although uncer-
tain as to his whereabouts he was salts
fled that he was not far from the Con-
federate picket line, beyond which and
not more than 100 yards away at some
points he was sure the Union pickets
would be found.
Wet to the skin and with the rain
IL lOOLlh5 VII llo S1OUliOo, AO WalGSo lOI
what to him seemed hours. At length
his anxiety was relieved by hearing the
command, not so yards away:
"Halt! Who goes thar"
"Grand rounds!" was the response.
"Dismount, grand rounds, advance
and give the countersign.
Snow heard the splash of the officers
faot ho 1oa1od f0 ko
the murmur of voices, followed by the
tramping of horses. They came so close
that he had to step back to che timber
to avoid being trampled ON. AS soon as
they had gone on he heard another chal-
lenge in the far distance, and in the
direction, as he believed, of the Union
lines
He moved on again, this time with
the greatest caution. The roar of the
wind and the rattle of the rain on the
icy ground favored his purpose. Now
and then he halted with his hand on the
stock of his pistol, but beyond the ree
eedina challenges on the Confederate
side, that seemed to be echoed on that
of the Union, he heard nothing to ex-
SAtO 11O pdsSCu 81 OlOS0 W lu0
picket who was the first to challenge
that he could hear his smothered oaths
as he hVgged his musket and paced back
and forth on his post to keep his blood
from freezing.
At length Snow found himself to be
in what was neutral ground, but he still
kept on, hoping every minute to be
baIta6 bx,a TTpiop woo
describably black night, the rain had
beaten out the campfires along both
lines, but he kept moving. At length,
in his laundering, he came upon barn
that argued the proximity of a dwelling
house. He felt very sure that he was
pow within the Onion lines, and SO he
decided to remain under shelter till day
light.
He found the door of the building
open and walked in. He could tell By
the rustling sound that there was a lot
Of dry fodder scattered over the floor.
Intending to make bed and lie down,
he began gathering up the fodder, when
he stumbled against man. Then he
felt himself seized, and hoarse voice
''Are you Union or rebel?"
The intonation as we'll as the word
"rebel" convinced Snow that he was
in the presence of friend, so he re-
piled:
u was in the rebel service, but ! am
now trying to make my way through to
my friends. What is your regiment?'
''The Seventy seventh Pennsylva-
mia, was the response.
"Thank God, l have reached my
friendsl' said Snow
Fhe Fennsylvanlan was not satisfied
till Snow had handed over his pistol;
then he accounted for his own presence
there by saying that he had been wound
ed in the head ard stunned near this
barn shortly before dark, and that as
soon as he recovered consciousness he
made his way to the building to await
daylight.