The National tribune., 1899-11-30

We had reached the porch near the corner
of the house Roark and Reedy made a
dash for liberty.
Quick as thought they dashed around
the corner of the house, leaped over low
fence. and started across and open field
towards a wood about 200 yards away.
The guards were on the alert, and four
of them dashed around the corner after
them, getting in plain view of them just
as they were leaping the fence. | stepped
10 the corner just in time to see each guard
place his gun to his shoulder, take delibel-
ate aim, and fire. For moment | held
my breath, for l fully expected TO see the
boys both fall, as they were not more than
% yards from them; but, strange 10 say,
neither one of them was touched, and had
they continued it is possible that they
might have reached the wood and escaped.
While the guards were reloading they
might have gotten beyond their reach;
but they both stopped, turned around,
and came back. We then went into break
fast, while the guards stood in the room
and at the door. We ate but little: in fact,
Roark and Reedy, after their excitement.
ate nothing. and when we We're through,
Wood had brought and prepared lot OF
ropes with which to tie us. He said it was
Is miles to Rogersville, and they would
have to take US down there, and perhaps
it would be best to tie us, and then We
would be sure not to get away.
A guard was ready to tie each of the other
three men, and Wood came TO me and
slipped a moose over one hand. l held my
other hand from him, and said: 'Sir, this
is cruel. Why do you tie us? You are
towards, or you would not treat helpless
prisoners in this way" Looking me nthe
eye, he hesitated. and said:
IF you will pledge your word of honor
not to try to make your escape, We will not
tie you"
"As for myself" said I, Il will make no
pledge. You would not believe me if did.
Do as you please"
In the meantime he had slipped the rope
from my hand, and after private con-
sultation with the Officer of the Guard,
they decided not to tie us.
By this time Woods horse had been
brought and saddled, and was standing with
the horses of the soldiers, ready to start.
We were ordered to go in front; they mount
ed their horses and rode close behind us,
ana our tramp O1 10 miles began.
We did fairly we'll for the first three or
four miles, but our feet were sore and bis
tered, and they crowded us so closely that
We soon began to fag. They would not
allow us to go to the foot bridges that
spanned the little streams, prepared for
pedestrians, but forced us to wade all the
streams in front of their horses, and We
We're soon wet to out bodies; and to add
still further to our suffering, in the after
noon wet, heavy snow began TO fall.
We were almost given out, and, had been
permitted to have done so, would have
lain down on the snow by the roadside
and remained there till death relieved me.
Slowly and painfully We dragged our
selves along, with the horses of the soldiers
almost tramping us, till, just as darkness
began to settle down upon us, we reached
Rogersville.
IN JAIL AT RoGERSVILLE.
We went straight to the Jail, and Wood
instructed the jailor what disposition
to make of us. He ordered him to put us in
a cell, and keep us there until the proper
authorities from Knoxville should send
for and take us down there for court-mar-
tial. He accompanied us upstairs, the
Tailor unlocked the cell door, and we walked
in as directed, the door swung back in its
place, and the great iron bolt clicked be-
hind us. They then turned and left us in
darkness, without ray of light penetrating
the dismal gloom.
The cell, as | remember it, looking back
through the intervening years, was about
six by eight feet, and contained nothing
save the cold bare floor. We had eaten
nothing since morning, and were wet all
over, having, as before stated, waded all
the streams on our journey, and been
exposed all afternoon to the wet snow,
which at this time was about four inches
deep.
We lay down on the floor or sat and
leaned with our backs against the cold
iron grating to rest. There was no one Of
us who felt like talking. We were too
tired and hungry; but after while the
jailor came up, bringing US some supper
1t consisted of warm corn bread. fried
bacon, and water. We were so hungry
We had no complaint to make at the bill Of
fare, and ate all he gave us.
After We mad finished our meal, we
passed back to him through the iron graf
ing the tinware from which we had eaten
our supper. He picked up his light and
disappeared down the stairway, leaving
us again in total darkness.
o, the horrors and suffering Of that
night
We were so cold it seemed that we would
certainly freeze. We could not lie down,
but kept moving around all night. One of
the boys had grown melancholy He said
we would never get out of this trouble;
they would court-martial US; we could
make no defense; would be found guilty,
and that meant death.
That is true" said l, "but tell YOU
We Will not be court-martialed. If the
Confederate Government should court
martial and shoot all its deserters, it would
decimate the army. II can not afford TO.
They might possibly, for policy sake.
make an example of some one, and we
might be the ones, but ] believe I will vet
make my escape to the Union army Just
how am TO get out of this don't know,
but believe there is some way out"
As the boys were feeling so despondent.
tried 10 cheer them up. did not express
10 them my own feelings, for nv mental
anguish as well as my physical suffering
was terrible. AS / would stand and gaze
into the black darkness that enveloped
me II seemed that my very brain was whirl-
ing. and ] would cling to the cold iron
grating for support
deep into that darkness peering long |
stood there wandering fparipn.