The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30

quently SAW scouting parties patrolins
the country, no doubt for the Jail fugi
tives.
1--WE crossed the Chattahoochee, Oct
90, on rails tied together with bark
From the house where We left Mason
and ate breakfast in the kitchen, We
! were six days almost without food, ex-
cept nuts. On the seventh day we
caught goose and ate it raw, and on
| the same day found few ears Of corn
left III the field by the huskers This
lasted until day or so after, when we
found n tree Of apples which had not
been gathered, probably because OF their
worthiessness. Bat they tasted good to
us, and we filled mp on them, and carried
away all we could.
Fortunately for US, the same day we
discovered drove Of young hogs in the
woods. | hid behind tree with club,
and Brown tolied a confding pig up
near me, by biting off bits of apple and
tossing them to it. backing up. mean
time, until the young porker came with
in reach of my stick, when | murdered
| it.
1--WE split it up with knife we had
aade from piece of thin iron from a
shovel handle, which iron we had sharp
! ened by rubbing ii on a stone. That
night we found where some men had
been clearing and burning, and we had
a feast Of cooked pork, without season
ing, but we enjoyed it without complaint
for, except the goose and corn, we had
eaten only FIVE meals in q days. The
pig lasted us until we reached the Hia-
vase River, near the corner Of North
Carolina.
This was an intolerably rough coun-
try, and we travelled hard for four days,
and only gained eight miles, during
which time we saw no one, either to mo-
lest us or let US alone, and We were
tramping along pretty bravely. We
were crossing little old clearing, which
had a deserted appearance, when We
came unexpectedly and suddenly out in
front of log house, where two men
stood on the porch.
"Ihey saw us, and it was TOO late for
US TO dodge, 50 We tried to appear in
different, and went UP and asked if we
could get dinner. We told them we
were rebel soldiers who had been on
the sick list, and were trying to get back
TO our regiment. They said we could
have dinner, and as we sat down 10 eat,
the woman Of the house, who seemed to
be the mother Of the two men, eyed US
pretty closely. She was very talkative,
and if was not long before she accused
US OF being Yanks
TO make quite a long story short,
we soon found each other out They
were loyal, true people, who fed and
secreted us and sent us on to other
friends, who in turn helped us to others,
and so on, until we arrived at Somerset,
KY, about Nov. %, from which place
We reached Louisville, and from there
by railroad TO Nashville, near which
place our cid comrades and regiment
lay, and where the boys received us with
three times three and a tiger. Thus
ended our adventures"
JOHN L. PoRTER's ACCOUNT.
John R. Porter. formerly of Wood County,
but now residing in Prairie County, Ark
publishes the following account of his adj
ventures from the lime the train left Mari
eta until he was imprisoned in Chattanooga:
Through some mistake or negligence of
the hotel porter we were not called in time
Tor the train, as 1t left quite early, although
we arrived at the depot In time to see the
train before it was out of sight. We gazed
inteDtly until the smoke of the iron horse
disappeared IN the morning twilight. /
Cannot describe my feelings at that moment
glanced at Han kins, who appeared to
be as much bewlidered az myself There
we we're in the heart of the Confederacy,
Knowing that If we were suspected OF any
thing wrong death would be our portion
We could hardly make up our minds how to
meet the emergency, as We had to be very
careful not to make any move that would
create suspicion.
Then we leisurely etrolled about the
town, expecting every moment TO hear Of the
capture of the train. Nor did we have to
wait long, for the news soon reached the
town that train had been captured at Big
ShaBty, while the passengers and crew were
at breakfast, and it was done SO quickly
and easily that they could not imagine who
| did the deed, or what 1t meant. Soon every
| thing was wild with excitement, and the
/ town was throDged with excited rebels,
waiting to hear further Developments re-
! garding the wild train, as il was termed.
| Hawkins and i concluded TO skip out, one
at time, though keeping sight of each
other, and make our way TO tbs country I'M
molested, II possible. In this we succeeded,
and after reaching pece Of woods We came
together, Congratulated ourselves upon our
success thus lar, but hat 10 do next we
hardly knew.
We felt certain that the chances for our
getting away, IN the present state Of excite
ment, We're not the best, and after much
, hesitation and doabt we determined 10 ga
to Big Shanty or Camp Mcdonald, rs it wa:
a rebel camp OF instruction, and Join the
rebel army, and thus be enabled to make our
! escape, when sent 10 the front, 10y DESERVING
a picket-post or taking the first opportunity
that might offer for escape in any way. W.
Camp Mcdonald about shutdown, think ni
perhaps that by this time the excitement
would be somewhat subsidized.
JOINING THE REBEL ARMY.
eve came in sight Of the town late IN the
day, and marched into camp and reported a