Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-02-25

fewl sparks blowing across the roadbed,
we knew that we had located him. and
climbing through the fence into the
fielh we took to the wet grass until we
had passed far beyond. his dangerous
neikhborhood.
Iby the time I reached the bridge
VIII IRE l had been captured the moon
ha6| risen. A pile Of dead horses marked
the|place where had been taken. On
the third day Of my captivity had seen
my ylbrass I2 Founders 60 back past the
hospital and had been told that they
hat remained between the pickets until
all but one Of the "a team horses had
beeb shot down. The moonlight was not
quite strong enough to enable US to see
theface Of our compass, so We captured
a fitefiy and turned him loose under the
elaks, taking care to shake mp his phos-
pho kescence as occasion required.
II must have been about Q O'Clock In
the morning when we lay down for
slee b ON the high ground within sound
of Ehe river. We awoke at sunrise and
stu,ted across the open fields for the
ford. Just before entering the water we
weie alarmed by a man shouting and
runhing toward us. He was far away on
theIsido Hill. and he was evidently beck
onihg to us. We were taking no chances
and scrambled through the shallow ford
and| made OF on the other side as fast rs
I c,|nld hobble. At Macon we afterward
mel this officer, who at the time was on
a shout with squadron Of Federal cav
alr,I and knew by our method OF loco
mobon that we were escaping prisoners.
We could no longer travel safely by
day so we soon found admirable cover
in b swampy thicket, where we lay
comfortably munching our corn bread
and waiting for night. We were so near
a House that we could hear voices and
fails thrashing grain ON the barn floor.
On,e little dog discovered us but. in
stea|d If barking. he ran away with his
tai between his legs. In the afternoon
a cbid, drizzling rain set In and con-
tinl|ed to fall all night. We met wag-
ON liter We started on the road, but we
easily avoided il by turning into the
wo, IDS. The clay road was slippery and
grek worse under the steady downpour
OF he rain. My knee, too, began to
sws bl with inflammation, and the time
can|e, before we had gone many miles,
wh,|n 1t was impossible for me to go
farther. and we lay down on the ground
in the wood. at least slept from sheer
exhaustion, but in the morning my con-
ditibn was so much worse that II was
agoby to stand up.
What should we do? Before us ut %
little distance we saw small brown
hon BE, and as my companion preferred
TO s. ny with me we quickly decided to
thr, Wv ourselves upon the mercy OF the
family. Women are more merciful than
meiI. and these women, who had been
the recipients Of many favors from the
YM kee cavalry picke,s, gave us shelter
nc ehce. Mrs. Brandon and her daugh-
ters were ut breakfast. The good old
woiban dressed and bandaged my swol-
len knee and gave us nice, warm
breakfast, while they kept careful
lookout that nobody should surprise us
As boon as we had eaten they took us up
to al half story chamber under the shin
pleJ Of the roof. In the corner was a
bed and acting upon Mrs. Brandon s
id,Ice and confident in her protection
we loon divested ourselves Of our wet
otLes and took long, refreshing sleep.
We remained here several days, most
hosbitably entertained. kept the bed,
butlHadley was about the chamber dur
ing Ithe day. Our meals were brought up
10 rs, we were supplied with books, and
the kris sometimes came and read to
us. lone night Lieutenant Hadley. with
nv bonsent, as ! desired him TO save
himself. started for Kelly's ford, but
the hight was so dark and the way so
diffIult that he returned after u short
absince, preserring to cast his lot III
with me.
Cine morning we were both lying In
bedl The stairway came up through an
opeling in the center of the room. Be-
yonh it ON the floor was pile of ears
OF cbrn. We heard the door open at the
fool Of the flight. We heard the tread OF
beaky boots ON the stairs, accompanied
by ,He rattle OF spurs and the clank OF a
sabIr. The black wool hat Of Cort Bran
donI adorned with yellow worsted cord
and dItassels, appeared above the landing.
and| gradually the entire figure OF the
am,lzed cavalryman came into view.
Each day Mrs. Brandon's son, who rode
with company Of partisan raiders, had
wished the house for corn, and possibly
he Mad taken his meals in the room be-
lowl Each day she had taken care to
suptly him with corn, and on this occa-
siod she did her best to keep him below
staiEs. He was big. awkward boy and
rec,lrded rs with speechless stare as
we hy quietly in bed. he kept himself
at safe distance, fumbling his side
arml, until his mother appeared and
explbined the embarrassing situation.
Cord promised his mother before leaving
that he would tell nobody of our pres
encd in the house, but on the next day
he chime again and with him a hard fea-
tureh cavalryman, who examined my
condition and consented to allow rs an
othdF day on condition Lieutenant Had
ley would give his parole.
Blight and early next morning their
horses were at the door, with an extra
one for me 10 ride. Mrs Brandon gave
eacll of us beautiful blue overcoat OF
Uncle Sans make, of which she had a
good store. All her hospitality was CIV
en- Without the expectation of any re-
warh, but having SEQ greenback left
waslnot disposed to be outdone in gen.
eroslty. So We set forth with empty
pockets, Lieutenant Hadley walking in
fronk Of the horses.
| Iii the afternoon We were delivered to
the authorities Of General Longstreet
field hospital, which consisted OF a con-
greshtion Of dingy tents pitched at ran.
donI ON the hillside. was quartered
undlr mildewed canvas, and Lieuten'
ant Hadley slept that night at my side.
Whs|n we awoke in the morning, we dis
coydred that some epterprisiDg Confed'
eratb had dug under the tent and confis
catch my forage cap, leaving an old gray
one fin place of it.
there parted with Lieutenant Had
lev! ,!who is now grave judge on the
Indiana bench. I had for few days
tent mate in the person Of a wounded
Confederate soldier. After his Cheerful
combany was Withdrawn the days pass
ed Jeariiy, waiting for the three meals
of lried bacon and hot biscuits. Al