The Forrest City times., 1899-03-17


ing my relief.
Johnnie said my prisoner. as we
walked toward camp, will they send me
to Libby. do you think?'
Keep quiet replied, and follow
me. Don't open your lips to any body
you may meet. I'll do the best | can
for YOU 81
I'VE got inside the lines without
question past a sentry who knew me.
and then through the camp of North
Carolina regiment to my own company.
Quietly and without disturbing anyone
i got my prisoner into into my dog
tent and told him to lie down and wait.
then took his black hat and blouse.
slipped up to another tent where the
occupants were asleep and quietly ex-
changed them for an old gray slouch
and a gray jacket. With these L got
back without discovery and fitted out
my prisoner. l knew it would be i'm
possible to dodge the sentres with any-
body clad in blue. although there were
many of our own soldiers at that time
who were by necessity compelled to
wear any color they could get. Our
dirty gray was so near the color of the
dead leaves and the ground that it
would be almost impossible to see any
one who wore them creeping but few
yards away. When / 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 a narrow creek which
was overhung with bushes. Caution
ing my companion to be careful, we
crept on our hands and knees fully 200
yards along the creek, passing within
ten or fifteen steps of three sentries.
The little rivulet ended in a larger
branch not so feet away from where /
had stood when l captured him. 1t was
at this point where the utmost caution
had to be used. After few minutes
we succeeded in getting around the vi
dette.
God bless you, Frank 1--WE had ex-
changed names long before). L 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 somehow
went with a feeling that had bid good
by to my own brother.
Il never saw or heard of my 'Yank'
during the war, but l often thought of
him. When the war closed at Apo
mattox was captain, and went home
after my parole broken man. The
and my old parents were in need. BY
energy and economy | in time sue
ceeded in clearing the old homestead
of debt and building up Our fortunes.
1t was years before | could breathe the
free air of independence.
Ten years ago l concluded to take
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 TO the
south we could see 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 rancho? /
inquired.
Maj. Henry Vance, sir, and he will
be glad to 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 of it.
"An hour or so later, while seated
at dinner with the major and his fam
lily, his good wife happened to remark:
"'You are a Virginian, sir, are
your
"'Yes, madam, we live in sight of the
Blue mountains, in what 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. We're you one, may | ask?'
"'I was, madam; soldier for the
lost cause, and served during the war
under Lee and Jackson replied.
"Indeed! 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, / 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