The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-02
A THRILLING EPISODE OF
THE CONFEDERATE WAR.
Running the Blockade when the War was Over.

Intention then being to get over tc
Maryland In that direction, en- route
to Now York. This plan OF mine was
frustrated by stanton's expedition. 1t
was on the fourth day while journey.
ing along that the sound of distant
guns, which proved to be the shelling
from tho gunboats on the Rappahan-
mock. burst suddenly upon the still air
OF the bright spring morning. We
learned further that all tho boats that
had boen in use for crossing were
seized or hidden away. To mo, there
fore, this means of exit was closed.
That night we found shelter in O lone
ly farm house. Our host was an old
gentleman dwelling alone with his
faithful negro servants. Going over
the complicated situation together that
evening, before wrapping up In our
blankets on the floor, we decided that
here we should have to part and shift
for ourselves. My friends elected to
remain and watch their opportunities,
while determined to GO across coun-
try to the Chesapeake Bay, and try
my luck by the eastern shore. had
some sixty or seventy miles, l was told,
to get over to do this, and started the
next morning alone and on foot to take
my chances of reaching Europe. How
ever, l got an unexpected lift, such as
1t was, for part Of this tramp. It wac
at country store, at cross roads,
where towards sunset I stopped for a
short rest, that 1 managed to get q
horse after much difficulty. Poor
beast, did not gather from the man
who sold It to me how unfit it WAS, or l
would never have taken is away.
What funny store that was, have
ntto0
some Of Bret Harte's descriptions,
whore business seemed to give way to
gossip and the chief neglecting, appar-
emily, all notion Of profit sought only
to be the cheerful host to the daily
freQuenters. The sun was about an
hour high whom rode sway into paths
unknown to me. The company con-
gregated on the piazza to see me of.
can see the picture nov .s they
waved their hands In token OF good
luck. The only road instructions I
could get were 30 start on q certain
branch OF the fork, and after that to
keep my eyes well to the front for the
Northern cavalry scouts that wore
securing the country.
must have been Uorn under q lucky
star, for escaped any such interrup.
tion. But Oh, the loneliness OF this
ride Not q person did meet to speak
to. passed by the charred ruins Of
more than ono deserted village that
marked the raids through thia land.
often wished az | rode along that I
might be back with my comrades in
the fold,
After many q weary milo | csme at
last IN tho night upon O hollow, whore
party, whore party who proved 10
be good Southern friends, were taking
their meal by tho roadside under shei.
ter OF their wagon; in the rain. On
one sice there vas ELL and OF tho
opposite bank the homo of the miller,
After looked after my horse who, lao
far, had borno mo 90 bravely, Joined
the party had so luckily met. Nv
refuge that night was the mill. It
was the only ohelter It's owner could
give mo. The negro boy who showed
mo to 3 is, my bed room, to my sur.
prise and annoyance locked mo In at
once, and that without any light. @ On
my remonstraGirg with him through
ter'a orders, as the raiders had always
set Are TO the mills of any one mo had
sheltered Confederates, and this ono
was the only mill left. I had noslced
before the lantern was withdrawn tn at
there was only one window, and that
opened on the mill stream, but the
boy was gone and there was no room
for further argument. So picked out
@ meal bag for a pillow and slept the
sleep OF weariness, not even needing
the rats (my usual abomination) until
l was reused at break of dsy, and
turned out to push on in rain ard mud,
walking. by the wagon, leading ny
horse who was utterly worn out, and
who died later On the road.
1t took nearly two moro days of this
trudging to reach the Chesapeake. our
daily experiences being much the same
You can we'll imagine that my toilet
had been sor ely disarranged by all this
exposure. 80 that I was scarcely pre-.
eentable In polite society. Certainly I
wac not In state to pass unnoticed
among the masbers Of the Northern
towns had still to pass through, and
this was an important matter II I was
TO got safely to the end. Had 1t not
been for the cordial and warm recep.
tion given to me- In most lovely home
In Gloucester, l feel convinced
should never have succeeded further.
spent several days with this charming
Virginia family, tho gentleman and
his wife, with their two daughters, do
Ing all TO make my stay with them
delightful. The advice OF my host
who Interested hlmself very greatly Ia
furthoring my plans, proved most val
uable; and tho rest and the general
renovation set mo once moro on my
feet. Il WAS with true regret that
bid them goodbye, to find my way tc
the shore, end take sail across the bay
Tho unexpected seemed always tt
happen, 90 at the shore was delighted
to find very old friend waiting, like
myself, to get across. Captain j., alst
Marylander In tho Confederate army
had lost his leg at Antietam, and Will,
o pridoner OF war had had this replaced
by .seel one Of most ingenious device
This had become rusty and worn II
subsequent campaigning altar his OK
change; and he was going on leave t,
his original maker Ia Philadelphia t.
get now one, that he might be read,
for duty on the next campaign. w
did not find 1t an easy matter to get
passage even now, for boats wer,
ssoarce, and 1t was not until late II
march that we got away. There wer,
! ioar OF as In 9 canoe, commonly calico