Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-03

Quietly aud without disturbing anyone
got my prisoner into into my dog
4 tent AID 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 eN-
changed them for an old gray SLOUGH
and a gray jacket. With these got
back without discovery and fitted oui
my prisoner. | knew It would be I'M
possible to dodge the sentries with any
body clad in blue although there were
many of our own soldiers at that lime
who were by necessity compelled To
wear any color they could get. Our
dirty gray was so near the color Of ia,
dead leaves and the ground that it
would be almost impossible TO see any
enc 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 narrow creek which
was cverhung with bushes. Caution
ing my companion 20 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 riyulet ended in larger
J branch not so feet away from where
had stood when captured him. 1t was
at this point where the utmost caution
had 10 be used. After a few minutes
we succeeded in getting around the Vi
dette.
"'God bless you, Frank 1--WE had ex-
r changed names long before). 4 will
never forget you, and my mother and
4 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
b there is no such thing as war.
~ don't remember what said in re-
spouse. but when let go Of his hand
and crept back 10 camp l somehow
went with feeling that had bid good
by TO my own brother.
81 never saw or heard OF my Nank'
during the war, but often thought OF
him. When the war closed at Apo
2 mattox was q captain, and went home
7 after my parole q broken man. The
J old farm had run down from neglect
g and my old parents were in need. BY
energy and economy l in time sue
cceded in clearing the old homestead
, Of debt and building up our fortunes
= It was years before ] could breathe the
I, free air of independence.
= Ten years ago l concluded to TAXI
. trip out west My eldestson Henry
who had worked faithfully, accom-
= panied me- 1t was in the spring tina
u we started. While crossing broa'
prairie in one of our new western state
- our engine jumped the track man,
- miles from the nearest station 10 whicI
~ we could apply for help. We were IN
formed that at least seven hours woul
elapse before assistance could possibl
- reach us. About three miles to ID
- south we could see large rancho build
DC ing, with the usual string of stable
and little houses about 1t. We arrive
J" at the rancho gate, where an old, grii
gled herder or cowboy invited us il
es after we had explained our situation.
.u' "'Who is the owner Of the rancheY
sc inquired.
g. "'Maj. Henry Vance, sir, and he wi
ei be glad to entertain You. gentlemen
was the reply.
"The name somehow struck me rs {
~ miliar. but I had known so mar
~ Vances that thought but little Of it,.
80 IAN hour or so later, while seai'
y at dinner with the major and his "a.
~ ~ lily, his good wife happened to remarl
~ "'You are a Nirginian. sir, a
w., we your
~ Eyes, madam. we live in sight of q
~, Blue mountains, in what consider Il
liS prettiest part Of the old state
W "'The major often talks of that pa
" of Virginia, she replied Tie served
the union army under Mcclellan al
nc Grant. You look like a soldier yourse
sir. Were You one. may askT
az was, madam; soldier for 1
= lost cause. and served during the W
under Lee and Jackson replied.
'ur "'Iudeedl Did you hear The gent
"' man. major?' she Intercepted.
"'Werc you there?' inquired. ~
on deeply interested. although not in I
'u' least anticipating what was coming
80 eyes. | was, and one night. the o
ny after the second days battle. VIII
" wandering about in search Of son
sn thing TO eat, got outside our lines a
"'S was taken prisoner by a young conf
crate vidette--'
on WHAT I exclaimed, rising 10 ]
q feet. struck with astouishmen' Y
iel. are not the young Ohio soldier TO
'no that night. and afterward slipped {
Of our camp back within his own line
ne "My host had risen and stood start
O. at me with astonishmeut. blended "
'o'l anxiety. on his frank couuteuan
rs Can it be possible said he. his 70
va, fairly quivering, that the man 1t
Ola most wanted and least expected ever
see. stands before me? Thank CO
ted my friend that I once more can Il
g q into your face and thank YOU" Mar
? addressing his wife Kitty! Hast
and This gentleman. Capt. Rames. is
nm man Of whom I have so often talk
cen Tie was the confederate soldier hoy "
ime gave me. half-starved enemy. all
uCh r,tf,,e opJ offarvvorO ran tho ricf