The National tribune., 1899-04-27
pRIS0N-pEN
AND SWAMP.
Massachusetts Cavalryman's
Escape and Attempt to Reach
the Union Lines.
BY VIM. 2. LAWRENCE,
Sergeant, Co. III, I'd Mass. Cav.

Feeling that South Carolina was gettin
too hot TO hold me in satcty. / resolved t
cross the river to Georgia, if possible. Th
first plantation | came to | hunted up tn
negro-quarters and soon found man.
asked him if he could not put me across th
river, after telling him who | was and villa
hal happened. He replied: ''I's berry sorry
Boss, but the boats is all done took up on d
riber," and then, stopping to think minute
he added: "Dar is a boat at Browns Ferry
but you better not trust dat niger. l dom
know whether he be yo' frien' for sure
Take his boat and put yoursef across, den le
de boat go"
1 tEoaght that was good advice, and al
once resolved TO follow it. / asked him how
far it was He said he thought it was "1s
mile sure" l had already travelled about
two miles, but there was no help for it.
felt must make it and cross the river before
morning. had two large sweet potatoes in
my laversack, and so did not forage any that
night but after getting directions where to
turn off fIom the main road to reach Browns
Ferry, started on.
passed through Martins Bluff about mid
night, but did not reach the ferry until the
break of day. After turning off the main
road and taking the ferry road ! found tha,
on one side of the road there was tall
grass, and as there had been n heavy dew
falling it was very wet. l left the road and
waded in the grass until came TO the river,
thinking that the hounds would not follow
my track through the wet grass, and conse-
quently l got dripping wet. The ferrybOat
was moored to the landing, and n little dory
was tied up to the shore close by; but was
so exhausted by my nights exertions that
was unfit to put myself across the river, SO
sought a hiding-place for the day.
! followed the banks of the river for about
half mile and camped. / gathered some
wood, but when l attempted to light my
fire found that my matches were wet. l
took out my tinder-horn flint and steel, but
the finder was also wet and the sparks from
the flint would not ignite the tinder; so had
to give up the fire. l had but two sweet po-
tatoes and thought if could catch fish they
would 90 pretty well together raw. / got cut
my tshline, cnt pole, took grub out OF 4
rotten log, baited my hook, and commenced
totish. Everything seemed to 60 wrong that
day, and soon my hook got fast on 4 snag.
broke the line trying to eXtricate it, and
threw the pole into the river. l wrung out
my clothes. ate the potatoes, lay down, and
was soon sound asleep.
then in high fever and stiff and sore l
was alarmed at my condition, and realized
that | must have assistance, or l might die in
the swamp. l cIawled along the bank to-
ward the ferry, and soon heard someone
choppiBg wood. l believed it must be a
slave, and commenced crawling towards the
sound, and was presently gratifed by the
sight OF negro, who was doing the chopping.
He proved to be the ferryman; but there was
no help for it, so l told him who was and
what l wanted. He said, "Well. Boss, you
struck the right man dis time" and pro-
posed to take me 10 the Clubhouse, where
could lie down on cotton-bale until tile
white folks had gone TO bed, when he would
come for me and take me TO his cabin until
near morning, when he would put me across
the river, find me good hiding place and
care for ME until l was able to travel or
until some of Sherman's men should come
along.
He got me on to my feet, and with his
assistance | soon reached the Clubhouse. He
took my canteen, saying he would soon be
back with it filled with cold spring water,
and left me. 1t was not long before he
returned, bringing not only the wafer, but
some cornbread and a good-sized piece of
boiled pork. l talked to him for q few
minutes, when he left, promising to come for
me when the white folks had gone to bed.
l lay there burning with fever. l could not
eat, but soon drank up the water
At 10 O'Clock he came and asked me il
there was anything wanted before going to
the cabin. told him if he could bring me
another canteenful Of cold water, l would