Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-05-07

house. and this would 60 the rounds
among the oneiRhbors. These stories
may Ssem : little doubtful, but they
are nevertheless true. These were
things that the south could not make.
and an traffic In the north was cut oil
and had been for over three years.
On the 9th We left this LedfOrd's
and after going some little distance
spent the rest OF the day and night
with the other LedfOrd, and on the
18th we started ON our journey again
with Kit LediOrd, a lad oil about y
years as refugee and guide, though
the latter we did not need. We had
heard OF eleven more escaped prisoners
over In another valley, SO we went over
to where they were, and found them
very tired and fOOtsOre. They had got
out Of Camp Sorghum some time after
we did. but they travelled much faster
and with not half the interesting pleas
ure that we had. There were too many
OF them, but In our party there was
just the right number TO get around
easily and extract what little fun there
might be in the business.
We found young Zachary here also,
one Of the young men we had slept
with in Cashiers valley some two
weeks before. He wanted to come
with US, but not having his fathers
consent we would not take him. In
Guiding three refugees our party now
numbered sixteen. We then moved
along as fast as our sore feet would al
low, making some thirteen miles, and
towards night going into vacant
house TO sleep. The boys did not all
have blankets, and rs it was very cold
We could not sleep much, 80 we con-
cluded to continue our march until
morning and tnen try and sleep through
the day when it would be warner. We
marched four miles and camped in the
woods. where we slept until night.
Resuming our journey we fianked the
town Of Murphey and came to the Hia-
wassa river. We awakened the ferry
man. who took US across. We paid him
a little rebel money and our thanks,
which was worth about rs much AS the
money. The ferryman told us that q
man BY the name OF Blythe would give
as something to eat. We awakened
him and he gave us all he had, which
would have been enough for three o.
four. but did not 90 far for so many
We marched u little further and went
into another vacant house by the road
side. but could not sleep much. In the
morning We found the ground covered
with six inches Of snow, unusual FOL
this country. We marched the RES
OF the day. aud At night came to q lit
tie village. Here the citizens distrib
uted us around to different houses
Page, Marshal and myself In one house
They gave us q good supper. WeapOl
Ogized some for our ragged and dirt,
condition, and told our hostess that i
she would give us a couple OF quilt'
we would sleep on the floor and no
soil or pOllute the beds. She remarked
that the sheets were easier WASHED
than the quilts, so we piled into bed
| the best we have had for years.
1t was fortunate for us that we wer'
getting towards home, for in the morn
| ing the thermometer registered at zero
They said 1t was never so cold Their,
| before this. We were now in UniOi
territory, and only nine miles to Swee
| Water, . station on the Chattanoog,
| & Knoxville railroad. In going there
we found the road very circuitou
around low bottom land, SO we tool
across the bottom, and while doing Thu
| we saw the first Union picket post
mile or so to the left OF US, and to oul
surprise they let us pass in without be
| ing questioned. We arrived at tn,
station ut 2 o'clock p. M, Jan. l, 1865
finding the place guarded by com
pany OF Union soldiers. The captain
In command asked us how We go
around the picket post. We told hin
that we fanked them, that we SAY
them, and they US. He sent out an
other party and had them come in
when they were probably censured.
We waited at the station until abou
4 o'clock, when the passenger trail
came along. We made rush to &c
aboard. but here we were. snubbed, III,
| first snubbing We had received for
good while. A guard stood on eacl
platform, and it was his duty to let n
one on unless they had pass an
ticket. These We did not have. w
had courage aud perseverance,, an
enough Of it to get us on the platform
Captain Page, who WAS generally know
10 have his own way, pushed the guar
to one eide and went In, the rest Of u
following. Still, there was n
one to blame. The guar
was only doing his duty, an
when the conductor came around "
told him our old story that had no,
been repeated over u hundred time,
This was equal to \ pass to Knoxville
where we arrived about dark, and RI
ported TO the post commander VIII
gave us supper, once again ut the e,
pense Of the United States government,
and at bed time put ns In the soldier,
hospital and gave us each nice littl
cot To steep on. But We were so elatt,
and light hearted over our succesaft
escape and prospects OF soon being .
home that We could not sleep mucl
The joys Of 3 year had come TO us.
The next morning he gave us an en-
tire new suit Of blue soldiers clOthe,
but before discarding our old ones "
put them on and went up town
search Of photographer. No carava
in passing through the streets woul
have excited any more curiosity tina
We did. There we're twelve Of us VIII
had our pictures taken in group, 10,
of our party for some reason or Otht
not being with us. This picture ca
a