The Lamar register., 1898-02-26
SOLDIERS GAINED LIBERTY IN
A PECULIAR MANNER.
whore the Idea Came from--A Littie
Piece of Newspaper Floating on the
Surface of n stream Cav. one of the
Men the Suggestion

/ Ing party OF our peOpte nAu "nA6 nAeAe
be called a very narraw escape from
an involuntary trip to Richmond as
prisoners remarked a sergeant OF the
9th Pennsylvania cavalry, who, win
other eHliSted men. was relating his
experiences to a Philadelphia Times re
porter. you see" said he. I'VE had
been sent out by Gen. Bayard TO see
what the enemy were doing We num-
bered ali told thirty-six men. under the
command Of lieutenant. and our in
strrctions were TO so as far as the OLD
warehouses on the river below U.S. nnd
shen return the way we had gone.
Everything went right until about
O'Clock; we hadn't seen any OF the
enemy and were marching TO camp
again. when the lieutenant Thought
he'd see what was in house over on
our right When we arrived at the
house we found no one AZ home but
an old woman. two young girls. and
half dozen female slaves. We dis
mounted and asked for something TO
eat. There wasn't mouthtul OF any
ching In the house: the women were
fed by son-in-law over by Port Con-
way. There wasn't a horse or other
animal 10 be seen about the whole
place.
"Are there no men about asked
the lieutenant
Not one replled the lady with dig
nifty They are all in the confederate
army. II you are after them you'll
have to go where they are 20 find them
Thanks, Iaughingly replied the
lieutenant. we have no particular wish
to so on the other side OF the river at
present
Perhaps you may go, said the
lady. without any desire
I'VE mounted and were soon on our
way 10 Port Conway, distant about SIX
miles As we rode along ! thought
over what the lady had said. Did she
mean threat or was It only woman's
talk rode up 20 the lieutenant and
was Just about to mention the thing 10
him when from a elump OF bushes there
sounded such a shout as had never
heard before Our men were scattered
over about half a mile OF road and
there was no chance to get them to-
gether; as II was. don't believe any
effort was made. for each man seemed
to be taking care OF himself As
pulled up I saw about a dnEen John
nies making toward me.
] Surrender. you Yankee -. or
1 we'll till you full Of holes could do
nothing. so thought discretion the bet
ter part OF valor and pulled up where
Btood.
'Dismounti. cried big fsllow. aim
| ing his gun at me.
| Il dIsmounted and was led into the
woods. whore found number OF our
men who had been previously captured.
| There was another sergeant beside my
self and asked him how many there
were OF us He told me that nine had
been captured with him We did not
halt long in the woods, but were soon
taken over the river. there to wait
| until the others came In. Only three
men were left to guard us, but ns
we were without arms that was quite
| enough. While we were sitting on the
river bank bemoaning our fate I no
| tIced a little piece OF newspaper float
| ing on the surface OF the water. I
| played with II awhile. then drew II
forth. Glad to DO anything to pass the
time sat down and looked il over,
Down in one corner read the story
Of a woman throwing vitriol into an
others eyes.
when you have given up in despair
when nothing but rebel prison stands