Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-03-10
CAPTURE and ESCAPE.
By Lieutenant ". b. SHELTON.
copyright, 1896, by American Press Assocts'
toni
CHAPTER ".


CHAPTER w.
The Goth Of November, 1864, seems
TO have been Tuesday, and ON that day
we walked ont Of Camp Sorghum, leav-
ing Byers and Dorr looking at Us. We
got to the Lexington pike after remain
ing in hiding until IL was quite dark
and marched steadily west until II
O'Clock. The remains Of fire blowing
about ON the road in front Of us brought
us TO q halt, and q brief examination
convinced us that We were confronting
a picket post, which we tried to flank,
but were thwarted by the swampy ma
ture of the ground. We tramped back
for mile and took left hand road,
which we found so indistinct in the
darkness that we halted and lay down.
We started again before daylight and
travelled three miles before camping for
the day. We made our first breakfast OF
corn bread and water.
From that time and through the
month Of December we were wanderers
Oh the face Of the earth. As my mind
reverts to this long, eventful journey
am more than ever convinced that
merciful forgetfulness has condensed the
story as no art Of mine could do, blot
ting out much that was of minor impor-
tance and leaving the salient points
fresh and perhaps more vivid from fre-
quent telling Tho sentiment of the
night marches, the sounds we heard and
the very smell Of the woods remain aft
or dates and even men are forgotten. /
remember yiyidly how Sill and !. with
our blankets over our shoulders and
stats 10 feel the way, would be silently
struggling for the Lead hour after hour.
with Lamson rolling after US on the
ruad. remember the dreary barking Of
the dogs and the importance we some
times attached 10 their voices, the up
land cotton fields, where We struck tho
bursting balls with our sticks in revenge
upon our enemies. and the droning
wheels. spinning in the early night, the
hours Of silence and toll that followed.
and the shrill growing Of the cocks, her
aids Of the day, admonishing Us to choose
our wood or swamp.
After walking all night we soon fell
into the habit of sleeping three or four
bours, when we arose and strengthened
our hiding place Then We made a
breakfast Of whatever We might have in
our haversacks, and all three Of us took
a smoke in turn from Sill's brier root
pipe. In the afternoon, if all looked
safe. we INDUCED III anoth~r sleep On
one occasion our camp was so cold that
we trod ring in the snow and spent a
good part Of the day trotting around 1t
to keep warm.
On the evening Of Dec. 2. after lying
in the woods all day, we were out Of
provisions, and hearing the stroke OF an
ak l skulked from tree to tree until |
espied negro. / made known our
wants, and the man conducted US TO a
camp of charcoal burners. Leaving US
here, no set ont with horse and cart
to drive to a neighboring plantation TO
procure us provisions. He was gone a
long time, and as we grew inpatient at
the delay pious old patriarch among
tho burners instituted a prayer meeting
for our benefit and to express the exuber-
ance Of his JOY that 1.-THE Marser Lin
co II sojers is done come, an de ole man
gwine t'get to die in dc land o Canaan
yet Bress do Lord!" 1t was u solemn
and picturesque scene Us we knelt on
carpet Of pine needles, under the tall
forest trees. in the smoke and the warmth
Of the smoldering coal pits, and listened
to the expressions Of the simple faith Of
these patient bondsmeD. waiting to be
set free in "de Lords" good time.
While We were thus engaged the pro-
vision cart arrived with precious little
in it. As has often happened before.
after the longest grace came the shortest
meat. A dried goat ham and few
small sweet potatoes, rolling about on
the bottom Of the cart, composed all the
food supply the Jealous negro had been
able to procure.
We carried the goat ham all night,
and OH the following day, having made
our camp deep in an almost impenetra-
BILE dry swamp, we prepared to cook it,
building the only fire we allowed our
selves between Columbia and the noun
tains. Alas! Our prize, which was as
light as cork, was riddled with worm
holes and filed with red dust.
One wintry night when our road lay
between Greenville Court House on the
north and Pickens Court House Oh the
south our trio came to halt at the foot
of q guidepost that marked the inter
section Of three roads. We climbed the
post and tried to decipher the letters.
Sill was for taking the right hand road,
and pleaded for the left. Lamson re-
fused to settle the dispute, and we final
" agreed to proceed to the right until
we could find somebody to give us def
mite information. A mile or two around
this turn we reached farmhouse stand
ing close to the road. Lamson and I
lay down in the grove opposite while
Sill made his way toward the light OF q
cabin in the rear Of the house.
1t was close upon midnight, and all
was dark in and about the main house.
In due time negro stole ont OF the
front gate and led Us under the shadow
of q hedge to side window Of the cab
in, where we clambered in, to find Sill
seated before the bright fire watching
the sweet potatoes roasting in the ashes
and the pot Of barley coffee steaming on
the Goals. Before we had finished our
supper the rain and sleet were beating
against the windows, and ID was decid-
ed to conceal us in the barn until the
following night. Accordingly We were
conducted up ON to the highest NOV,
close under the roof, and left to sleep
ON the soft cornshucks 70 the music q
the hail ON the shingles
Secure as this retreat seemed. when
the negro brought us our early break
fast he insisted upon burying ~ three
feet under the fodder. foS fear the chill
dren might come up there 10 play. In
which case we might lie very still and
let them romp over us at will The
cracks In the siding gave Us air and
light enough 10 study map Of the Car
slinss torn from Mitchel's Atlas. which
had come with our breakfast. besides
. good view II the house over the way.
We were promised . luxurious sup
per TO be- served st the quarters before
we started The short winter Q day drew
on TO early darkpess. and no ons came
TO take us out Of our pit In the stalka
Seven O'Clock came, and so'clock came.