The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-06
their horses they ca,loped off and joined the

TO De as SnOrt rs they were III Tue CouiSueidut
army.
AS soon as the Yankees got out Of sight
ate hurried dinner and struck Decline for
the nearest thcket, where l stayed until
night, and even then was almost afraid to
venture in. After supper | went to neigh
boris house where two other rebels 10
Hamm and Pink Hendrix were stopping,
and we made arrangements to lie out i'll the
thicket together during the day and come in
at night.
The first day out we saw several squads
passing, and could hear them shooting
chickens and turkeys at the neighboring
houses all day. At times the firing was like
skirmish, and reminded us of the picket
fighting in the Georgia campaign.
We lay out this way for several days, but
it became monotonous. We slept so much In
daytime we could not sleep at night, and we
began planning some means of entertainment
for the long Winter nights
When suggestion was made to get all
the boys and girls in the neighborhood to
meet at certain house and have party
it met with the unanimous approval OF both
sexes
The first night we had FIVE couples, and
enjoyed ourselves so much, we decided to
continue the meetings indefinitely, going
first to one house, then to another. Being
10 or IL miles from camps, and quite dis
lance from the public roads, we had but
little fear of the Yankees making raids at
night, though as a matter of caution we
usually kept picket on the lookout, whose
duty it was to report any suspicious noises or
movements that might be observed.
We had no dancing at our parties" but
played classification I" and kissing plays,
and the more kissing the better the boys
liked it. The girls were more liberal with
their kisses during war times than they are
now, or if not, they are more sly about it ;
! for we old fellows seldom see or hear any
thing of the kind these days
We continued our parties almost every
night, scarcely ever breaking up before day
light; for we had nothing TO do but to sleep
| all day, and l presume the girls also took
maps at home, or they could not have stood
the loss OF so much sleep.
As conjectured, the Yankees did not make
any night raids, and we were not interrupted
in our social gatherings; but every day we
could see and hear the enemy from our hiding
places, as they rode along the little country
roads, going from house to house, and oc-
casionally capturing some unfortunate rebel.
When the Federais went into camps at
Gravelly Springs Gen. Hatch made his Head
quarters in my father';, house, where ne re-
manned till the last of January Or lst of
February, 1865; when ne was ordered to
move his division to PASSPORT, Is miles be-
low, on the Tennessee River. He left a safe
guard at our house, who proved to be an
intelligent gentleman, and the family soon
became very much attached to him.
Shortly afterwards my sister told him con-
| fdentially that she had a rebel brother
sl... and
| he at once began to persuade her to have me
come home, assuring her that he would take
care of ME ard that should not be molested.
She had so much confidence in Charlie that
she was finally induced to make the trip out
to my brothers, and when she told her GRAND,
very positively refused to 90. She pleaded
with me, arguing that it was the safest for
me; that our army bad gone to North Caro-
lima, and all that section of the country was
in possession of the enemy; that it was an
utter impossiblity for ME to get to any Con-
federate command, and. besides, if remained
where was / would be sure to be captured;
but / still refused to go, and she went back
home very much disappointed.
About week afterwards she came again,
this time accompanied by Charlie 1.-THE guard),
and when | came in from the 9 thieket " at
night, / was somewhat surprised, but was
introduced to our visitor and in snort time
we were as friendly as old acquaintance.
After supper we all sat around the fire we
had no lamps and candies those days., having
a very pleasant time, not dreaming of any
intrusion from Yanks or Johnnes, when about
8 O'Clock the door was pushed gently open
and we saw big army pistol pointed right
into the crowd. We could see only the pistol
and the arm that held it, the rest of the body
being hid in the darkness. Before we could
even conjecture as to what it meant gruff
voice said:
Come out o. there"
/ had been so accustomed to look out for
the Yankees that my first thought was / was
prisoner this time sure enough, and, rising
from my chair, | started toward the door.
The same voice commanded:
Go back; it's the other fellow we want :"
We understood at once then that they were
guerrilIas after Charlie, and / kept moving
toward them, trying to explain why he was
there; that he was unarmed, etc; but they
| presented their pistols at my head and COM
manded me TO go back in such language that
thought it best to obey
Charlie walked out, followed by all Of us,
and while this was going on some of the gang
had bridled the horses and led them out We
were confronted by a squad Of as rough and
uDprinciped men as ever disgraced the Con-
| federate cause.
OF course we were very much distressed
and begged for Charlie, but they would listen
to nothing; then my sister pleaded for the
horse (which was her own, but in vain
They drove US back into the house at the
point of the pistol, made US shut the door,
and told us they would leave guard, and
the first one who peeped out would get the
top of his head shot off,
So We remained in suspense, expecting
every moment to hear the murderous pistol
put an end TO Charlie The few minutes of
waiting was almost uncomfortable The friend
who had taken the risk in our behalf WAS
perhaps being murdered by the viest wretches
who ever wore the trappfngs OF a soldier
cowardly bushwhackers who were under the
ban OF both armies, and would have robbed
and murdered NE if anything could have
| been gained by it.
| 1t seemed like a long time, but in reality
could not have been more than 10 minutes,
when the door was pushed open and Charlie
| bounded in, minus hat, boots, and pocket
book. We felt very much relieved, and re-
ioiced that the affair had turned out no
worse, but realized that he was in predica-
nt-baieheaded, barefooted, horsefess and
IL miles from camp.
| TO be continued)
|
| How Gen. Polk Died.
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