Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-10

ton about the road to the mountains,
except that we were to go back TO the
point Of disagreement of the night be-
fore and proceed by the left hand fork.
The following footnote from The Cen
tury Magazine Of October, 1890. shows
how lastingly our presence impressed
the negroes;
Major Sill contributes evidence OF
the impression our trio made upon one
at least of the pickaninnies who looked
OH in the moonlight by o photograph
of Sill and Lamson taken on their ar
rival at Chattanooga before divesting
themselves Of the rags worn through
out the long journey. Years after
ward Major Sill gave one Of these pic
lures to Wallace Bruce Of Florida, now
United States consul Mt Glasgow. In the
winter Of 1852 Mr.. Bruce at his
Florida home was showing the photo
graph to his family when it caught the
eye Of q colored servant, who exclaim-
ed: "Oh, Massa Bruce, know those
gen men. My father and mother hid
'em in massa's barn at Pickensville and
fed 'em. There was three OF 'em. saw
EN-" This servant was child scarcely
10 wears old in 1854 and could only
have seen rs while we were eating our
supper in the barn door. and that in the
uncertain moonlight Yet more than 20
years thereafter he greeted the photo
graph Of the ragged Yankee officers with
a fash of recognition.
Quoting again from The Century
Long experience in night marching had
taught ~ extreme caution. We had adj
yanced along the new road but short
way when we were startled by the bark
ing u house dog. Apprehending that
something was moving in front Of us,
We instantly withdrew into the woods.
We had scarcely hidden ourselves when
two cayalrymen passed along. driving
before them prisoner. Aware that IL
was high time 10 betake ourselves 10 the
crossroads and describe wide circle
around the military station at Pickens-
vile, we first sought information. A
ray Of light was visible from hut III
the woods, and believing from its hum
BILE appearance that it sheltered friends
my companions lay down in conceal
ment while / advanced 10 reconnoiter. L
gained the side Of the house. and look
ing through crack in the boards saw,
to my horror, soldier lying on his
back before the fire and playing with
dog. stole back with redoubled care.
Thoroughly alarmed by the dangers we
had already encountered, We decided to
abandon the roads. "
Dec. 10 We were on the Walhaila
road, and we came TO road closed by
gate and turning straight away into the
fiat woods, in just the way We were
travelling 1t was SO late that we judged
we could use it with safety. across
region that bid fair to be boggy TO right
and left, and with that intent we clam
bered over the gate and set forward in
high spirits.
Hist! Do you see that light"
Torches in front. Moving figures and
dogs. As we had often done before. we
fell back into the woods and ensconced
ourselves behind convenient trees. On
came the torch bearers, who proved to
be three shrewd lads on hunting ex-
pedition. When the dogs came upon our
trail, they set up a cry and were yelp-
ing about Us in "a minute, compelling rs
10 come forth, which we did with our
blankets over our shoulders. Who were
WEI Why, three members OF Major
Blanks battalion at Pickensville. And
what was il to themf
What about them blue breechesF
said one youngster in the background.
We faced the boys down and swore by
the stars and bars that we belonged to
the majors command and bade them go
home 10 their mothers, while we leisure
" walked off up the road. Fearing the
dogs, we soon edged into the woods and
took 10 our heels. We ran through the
streams and out of our way to find a
quagmire. We plunged over the hills
and down into the valleys. When we
heard the dogs far away behind us, We
rubbed our feet well with the resinous
needles Of the pine and tore away again
over hill and dale, running with relish
born Of the condition We had gained by
exposure and high feeding.
About this time we first heard OF the
loyal people in Cashiers valley. ON the
east slope Of the Blue Ridge, but high
up among the peaks. We were given
minute directions on the road leading
into the settlement and how to recog-
nize the house Of old Tom Hancock as
we'll as how TO avoid that OF Black Jim
Mckinney. Negro George piloted us up
trail leading to the old stage road.
We met George at Oconee on Sunday,
Dec. IS, and IL must have been the
morning Of the 10Th that, after toiling
up among the huge powders, some OF
them above our heads, and once below
the surface Of the washed out stage road,
we were aroused by the storm as de-
scribed in The Century:
Lying down before morning, high
up ON the side Of the mountain, we fell
asleep, to be awakened by thunder and
lightning and 10 find torrents OF bail
and sleet beating upon our blankets
Chilled TO the bone, We ventured to
build small fire in a secluded place.
After dark and before abandoning our
camp we gathered quantities of wood,
stacking it upon the fire, which, when
we left il, was a wild tower Of flame
lighting up the whole mountain side IN
the direction we had come and seeming
in some sort To atone for long success
sion Of shivering days IN freless biv-
ouac. We followed the same stage road
through the scattering settlement of
Cashiers valley in jackson county. NC "
At 2 O'Clock in the morning We came
upon twin cabins q hewn logs standing
in a grove st the right a the road. just
where We expected 20 find them. having
already passed what We believed o. b.
the hut u Black Jim. q unssyOry re
nowp.
Old Tom Hanccck and his morganaiic
wife had been sleeping before cur ar
rival on q bed spread 'iPon the hoor b.
fore the fireplace. Tom mad only % draw
ON bis boots and the old woman D. don
her sunbonnet 90 be in full regAlls. and
they could wake up afterwaud The bid
a Il.