The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-10

He took us in our back room, where be
had already began to cut . iiole in the floor
in the corner with hatchet and chisel. We
finished the Job and went down, took large
rope that lay there and made ladder of it
to 10 up and down. We burst in one of the
heads of tarrel and found it contained
strip. We started a wholesale business,
sent ont agents To nunt up sales and others
to deliver goods. We procured q pail hold
ing eight or 10 quarts, and sold molasses at
% cents in silver or greenbacks, or $50 in
Confederate for a pailful. After selling
about ID or 90 palfuls we refused to take
any more rebel money, as it was worthless
and nearly bankrupted our firm, for we had
about 81 ZOO on hand.
After refusing Confederate our sales be-
came very small, as the class of people we
sold to had very few greenbacks or silver.
There was also lot of corn in bags, and onr
agents canvassed the city for corn. At last
they found purchaser AT 81 per bag. These
bags were too heavy for us to tote, SO we en-
ployed our servants in the evening to de.
liver the corn. While delivering the fifth
or sixth bag they were stopped by the patrol
guard and questioned as TO what they had
and how they came by it. They were
brought back by the guards, and were COM
pclleu 10 TetuIH tHOst tHSy bdu uc'i'oiOu.
This caused the closing of the hole and a
guard being stationed in the cellar. we
concluded to quit business in Macon, so
we left the city the next day. By this time
the railroad was repaired, and we received
marching orders.
We promised to take our darkies with us,
and to fulfill our promise was our next nm
dertaking. We loaded them with our bag
s,ora o,,J or rod for fha ro,1rnad When wa
arrived there the train was waiting. 1t was
a reg ular passenger train. The order came,
"All aboard!" We mounted double quick,
our mess taking the rear car. When the
conductor made his rounds for tickets he
passed us by, bat when he came to the dark
les he asked for tickets. / informed him
that those negroes were sent with us to
attend to the sick" This was satisfactory,
and he passed on.
We lay over day in Atlanta, then took
different road. The same excuse answered
on this road, and also after changing cars at
Greensboro. We arrived safely at Augusta,
where we lay over for a few days. We lett
Augusta by the Savannah River on some
thing they called a flat-bottomed steamboat.
When we came to the landing at Augusta
there was the old craft, with a plank TO the
shore. Our darkies were stopped by the
Captain and told TO go back. l told the
Captain who they were and what they were
for, hut he waxld not listen. So we stepped
aside and babe farewell to orr darkies. and
consoled ourselves with the thought that
most of the families in the South had to do
the same.
Our trip down the Savannah was dreary
one. We saw nothing but swamps and
alligaiors. Some of the boys had muskets,
and amused themselves by shooting at tile
aliigafors. We came very close to some OF
them, as the river was very narrow TOR a
long distance. They appeared to be very
tame and would not move until shot at.
We landed safe at Savannah, whence we
were taken to Hilton Head Island, to Fort
ress Monroe, to Annapolis where we dotted
the gray and donned the blue. From Ann
apolis we went to Washington, d. c., and TO
Harrisburg, Pa, where we we're mustered
out on our arrival, June 10, 1865. We had
to lay over at Camp Curtin for about two
weeks, until we received our discharges
had served Uncle Sam from April 90, 1861
One morning as / walked to the city, met
man dressed in suit of black broadcloth,
frock-coa that reached below his knees
and broad-rimmed cowboy hat. When we
met / turned aside, so did he. ! turned to
the other side, and SO did he. 1 looked up
at him. Then he spoke: Hello, Mike;
what's the matter with yOu?" 1t was
James Oren. my partner, who had escaped
| with me the first time. We had been parted
at Irwinsville, Ga. Had he been in rags
would have known him at first sight, but
! not in that suit of broadcloih.
He took me to his bro hers residence
where we had a good dinner and a long
sociable talk.
/ had had no correspondence with my
| parents for about Is months, and had no
seen them for about four years. After hat
my discharge / started for home with tn,
intention of surprising my parents.
stepped right into the house without warn
| ing and was surprised to see two old ladies
and one young miss sitting at table.
did not know any Of them. After looking
amazed for awhile / inquired whether Mr.
Holman did not live there. They informed
me that be did not. That he had removed
down near the railroad, but did not know
where. This changed the surprise.
/ knew my father had been emplyed a
the iron-works, 50 / struck for that place
J / met boy at the door of the machne-shOI
and inquired if John Holman was workin,
| there. He answered he was, and took M
| in. And the first man / met was my Cap
tain, Lewis Maish, who had been captured
with me at Petersburg, Va. Then / wa
taken TO my father.
The boy was my brother, whom / had no
seen for over four years. and was only abOu
niEe years old when / last saw hun. The
took me home, which was close by, an,
there / met my mother and sister and
smaller brother. 1t was a happy meeting
MICHAEL HERMAN, Co. G, 10Th, and c.
3, 18th Pa, York, Pa.