The National tribune., 1898-01-20

had never met Lieut.. DAVIDSON idce I
face, but he had seen me around during tn
sitting Of the court-martial before mentioned
and. owing to a fancied resemblance of on
of the guerTillas TO myself. he conceived tn
idea that was one OF the party who had cap
tured ard robbed him. In fact, one of then
was about my size and age. and did resemble
me in some respects, SO 1T was but natura
for him to conclude that | had turned guer
rila since my escape
By the tine he reached the Yankee camp h,
had worked himself into towering rage anC
went Immediately to my father, whom he
accused OF harbOring a guerrilla, and pro
ceoded to empty the vials of his wrath
on his head in language more forcible than
chaste and uttering the most direful threat:
OF vengeance against my absent and innocent
self
Ny sister. who was always spokesman
when the Yankees were about, endeavored
TO pacify him and convince him of his error,
acknowledging that was Confederate sol
der. but assuring him that | never could be
guilty of bushwhacking. She employed all
her persuasive powers. but to no purpose.
The more she talked the madden he got,
and after TRADE of threats he said: :"
know he is one of the guerrillas, and I'll
have him as sure as he lives and I'll bring
him right here and hang him before your
eyes,p
BY this time her mettle was somewhat
aroused, and finally she replied: Lieut.
Davidson. if you will persist in believing
what / know to be untrue, | can't help 1t:
but | have one consolation, you'll have to
catch him before you hang him. She then
turned and left him. closing the door behind
her
Luckily for me the Lieutenant and | never
met, but he missed one opportunity, at least,
of making coed his thlelt: for shortly after
the above occurrence, he, with squad of
soldiers. while on a scout, stopped at "A certain
house for warmth one night about midnight.
] Happened TO occupy one room in the same
house. but he MAS not aware of it. and hav-
ing no inclination to figure as the principal
actor in a hanging . bee" kept in the dark
y. - left If living. ] have 10 doubt he
stiii Seiieves | was one of the guerrillas and
has never forgiven me for the loss of his
vauables and soldiers accouteTments.
After my return 10 my brothers it was
necessary for me to he more watchful than
before for owing To the bolGness Of the
guerTillas. the Yankees were raiding in larger
squads: whole companies and sometimes regi-
Inents were securing the country daily in
search of gueTilas and COntederates like
myself
/ could often see and hear them as they
passed near where / was hid in tree-top, or
crouched behind loo. which kept me in a
constant state OF anxiety and dread 10 and
Pink had taken TO the swamps on the other
side of the creek. where they thought they
would be less liable TO be captured, leaving me
alone To add to my troubles | received a
message from my sister, advising me of the
threats of Lieut. Davidson, and admOnishng
me TO be ever on the alert So ] went deeper
into the timber and changed localities daily
fearing that some one would disclose my
hiding place. or guide the Yankees to me.
lin the South, during the war; all who be-
longed to the Union army were called
- yankees. y so have adhered TO the custom
throughout this narrative.
The days wore away slowly, and in my SOL
ftude | had abundant time to think about
what should have done. censuring myselffor
not going ON with Lieut. Chandler instead
Of being caught in "A predicament from which
1 could SEQ 30 way to extricate myself 1t
was very lonely camping out " all by N.Y.
self day after dag. and but for the recreation
ENJOYED in my evening calls on the girls in
the immediate vicinity it would have been
almost intolerable.
There Was one young lady an old aequaint-
nnc, iwil0Ia 4 was particularly anxious to see
but rs Size lived On a public thorou.hiaie and
several mIles nearer the camps | had not mp
t. ihis time veHturcd TO call on her. One
afternoon ] determined To take the risk
assuming that the Yankees would not Ice 20
far from camps after dark. and accordingly
started timing myself a. ! thought 80 as 10
get there about dark. slipping cautiously
thr' ugh the woods aud snticipaiinga delight
ful eNci.ing with Miss Josie; but owing To tie
thick clouds which obscured the sun | had mis-
calculated the time of day. and found mysslf
Bear Mr.. Edwafiiss house long before night
that time a heavy snow, for that lat-
tude. WIS falling aud ;he night thl,atened TO
be very disaefeeaJIe. which / considered all
the more favorable for me. for surely 30 seii,i-
BILE Yankee would be eight miles IRON camps
on such in evening IN country infested
with gueTrIiias, who were ALWAYS watching
for an opportunity To pOuncc upon small
squads who might stray away from their
commands.
80 without waiting for the shades of night
30 conceal me from foes. imaginary or real
i walked INTO the road IN front of Mr. Ea-
warGs's house. and TO my surprise saw ID
or ga horses htched to the fence which
/ had not before observed owing to the
thick timber from which | had just emerged
j scanned the horses and trappings closely.
and while debating the question whether TO
i i
recognized one OF the men as Burt HAYS the
noted guerrilla chieftain
They were all dressed in blue but as the
guerT1las often wore blue still thought they
were Hays's men, and although / felt no
sympathy with their mode warfare / had
no hesi,ancy in going among them, and walk
ing TO the front gate, was Just in the net of
raising the latch when / got good view of
several who were standing not two rods from
me.
Yankees" ] said almost loud enough
for them to hear me. Softly lowering the
latch. ] turned and. keeping the horses be-
tween me and them, walked up the road
about 30 yards.
was very much tempted to mount one of
the horses and "skedaddle" but on re1ec-
ton nay better judgment aGmonshed me that
1t would place me in a dilemma. for if they
were liayss men ! would have TO hide out
from both guerIillas and Yankees, and if they
were Yankees they would have q charge Of
demonstrating against me, i'm addition TO I.ient
Daydson's charge OF nay being guerrilla
after all this passed through my mind. and
having attracted ~ attention 80 far. I i,.lt
somewhat treasured, and said 10 myseli:
''Pshawi Here | am running away from
Hays's men. Ill not 20 step farther till /
find out who they are"
flin bipo nm on tiaa f.poa 7 -.