The Southern herald., 1899-04-21

e
tent and told him TO lie down and wait.
then took bis black hat and blouse,
slipped up 10 another tent where the
occupants were asleep and quietly ex-
changed them for an old gray sloueh
and a gray jacket. With these I got
back without discovery and fitted out
my prisoner. | knew it would be i'm
possible to dodge the sentries with any
body clad in blue. although there were
many sf our own soldiers at that time
who were By necessity compelled to
wear any color they could ge; Our
dirty gray was so near the coloi If the
dead leaves aud the grSund that il
would be almost impossible to see any
one who wore them creeping but a few
yards away. When l returned | told
my Yankee friend to get up and come
along as quietly as possible. Stepping
through the camp Of the North Caro-
linians, we got into the shadow Of the
slope of the hill, and crept down into
the dry bed of narrow creek which
was overhung with bushes. Caution
ing my companion TO be careful, we
erept on our hands and knees fully 200
yards along the creek, passing within
ten OF fifteen steps of three sentries.
The little rivulet ended in a larger
branch not so feet away from where |
had stood when captured him. twas
at this point where the utmost caution
had to be used. After a few minutes
we succeeded in getting around the vi
dette.
"'God bless you, Frank 1--WE had ex-
changed names long before). 4 will
never forget you, and my mother and
sister, who shall know of this, will re-
member you as the best friend they
ever had, although they never knew
you. ! hope we will meet again when
there is no such thing as war;
II don't remember what / said in re-
sponse, but when let go of his hand
and crept back TO camp l somehow
went with a feeling that had bid good
by TO my own brother,
II never saw or heard Of my 'Yank'
during the war, but often thought Of
him. When the war closed at Apo
mattox | was a captain, and went home
after my parole broken man. The
old farm had run down from neglect,
and my old parents were in need. By
energy and economy l in time sue
ceeded in clearing the old homeItead
of debt and building up our fortunes.
1t was years before l could breathe the
free air of independence.
"Ten years ago concluded to take
a trip out west. My eldest son, Henry,
who had worked faithfully, accom-
panied me. 1t was in the spring that
we started. While crossing a broad
prairie in one of our new western states
our engine jumped the track many
miles from the nearest station TO which
we could apply for help. We were in
formed that at least seven hours would
elapse before assistance could possibly
reach us. About three miles 10 the
south we could see a large rancho build
ing, with the usual string of stables
and little houses about it. We arrived
at the rancho gate, where an old, griz-
gled herder or cowboy invited us in,
after we had explained our situation.
"'Who is the owner of the rancheY
inquired.
Maj. Henry Vance, sir, and he will
be glad 30 entertain you, gentlemen
was the reply.
"The name somehow struck me as IA
miliar, but l had known so many
Vances that thought but little oft.
"An hour or so later, while seated
at dinner with the major and his fam
lily, his good wife happened to remark:
"'You are Virginian, sir, are
your
"'Yes, madam, we live in sight of the
Blue mountains, in what l consider the
prettiest part Of the old state
"'The major often talks of that part
Of Virginia, she replied. He served in
the union army under Mcclellan and
Grant. You look like soldier yourself,
sir. Were you one, may ask?'
"'I was, madam; a soldier for the
lost cause, and I served during the war
under Lee and Jackson, replied.
"Tndeed! Did you hear the gentle
man, major| she interrogated.
"'Were you there?' inquired, now
deeply interested, although not in the
least anticipating what was coming.
"'Yes, l was, and one night, the one
after the second days battle, while
wandering about in search of some
thing to eat, got outside our lines and
was taken prisoner by young confed-
crate vidette-'
What exclaimed, rising to my
feet, struck with astonishment. You
are not The young Ohio soldier took
that night. and afterward slipped out
Of our camp back within his own lines?'
"My host had risen and stood staring
at me with astonishment, blended with
anxiety, on his frank countenance.
Can it be possible said he, his voice
fairly quivering, that the man l have
most wanted and least expected ever to
see, stands before me? Thank God!
my friend, that once more can look
into your face and thank you" Mary!'
addressing his wife, Kitty! Hattie!
This gentleman, Capt. Raines, is the
man of whom have so often talked.
He was theconfederate soldier boy who
gave me, half-starved enemy, all his
rations, and afterward ran the risk of
his life at the hands Of his friend! by
conducting Inc through his camp back
into my own lines. He is the man
would'rather see than any other man
on earth
"By this. time everybody was excited.
Mrs. Vance and both the girls were
shaking my hand and embracing me as
affectionately as they could have done