Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-27

quietly and Without disturbing anyone
I got my prisoner into into my dog
tent ard told him TO lie down and wait
| then took his black hat and blouse,
slipped up 10 another tent where the
occupants were asleep and quietly es-
changed them for an old gray SLOUGH
and a gray jacket With these ] got
back without discovery and ll~d out
my prisoner 1 knew IT wou.d'Lc inn
possible to dodge the sentfies With any-
body clad In blue. although che re we're
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 II
would be almost impossible to see any
one who wore them creeping but few
yards away. When | returned told
my Yankee friend 10 get up and come
along as quietly as possible. Stepping
through the camp Of the North Caro-
linlahs, we got into the shadow OF the
slope OF the hill, and crept down into
the dry bed of a narrow creek which
was oyerhung with bushes. Caution
ing my companion TO be careful. we
crcpt on our hands and knees fully 200
yards along the creek, passing within
ten or fifteen steps OF three sentries.
The little rivulet ended Ia a larger
branch not 90 feet away from where
had stood when captured him. was
al 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 beforc). 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 ugain when
there Is no such thing as war
81 don't remember what said In re-
Spouse, but when let go OF his hand
and crept back 20 camp ! somehow
went with feeling thntI had bid good
by to my own brother.
Il never saw or heard of my Nank'
during the war, but often thought Of
him. When the wan closed at Appo-
mattox was a captain, and went home
after my parole a broken man. The
old farm had run down from neglect,
and my old parents were Ia need. BY
energy and economy in time sue
ceeded in clearing the old homestead
Of debt and building up our fortunes.
II was years before / could breathe the
free air OF independence.
Ten years ago / concluded TO take
trip out west. My eldest son, Henry.
who had worked faithfully. accom-
panied me. IL 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 large rancho build
, ing, with the usual string Of stables
and little houses about Il. We arrive,
at the rancho gate, where an old, griz
gled herder or cowboy invited us in
after we had explained our situation.
u "'Who is the owner of the rancheT
inquired.
"Alaj Henry Vance, sir, and he will
DO glad to entertain you, gentlemen,
, was the reply.
= "The name somehow struck me ms 10
= miliar, but 1 had known so man.
: Vances that thought but little of II.
can hour OF so later, while seatel
at dinner with the major and his fam
: lily, his good wife happened to remark
"'You are a Virginiau, sir, ar
: yon9'
\ eyes, madam, we live In sight of th
Blue mountains, in what consider tn
: prettiest part Of the old state
"'The major often talks Of that par
Of Virginia. she replied. lie served 4
the union army under Mcclellan AM
= Grant. You look like a soldier yourself
sir. Were you one, may I ask?'
, at was, madam; a soldier for tn
lost cause, and served during the wa
under Lee and Jackson replied.
u "Tndeedl Did you bear the gentle
~ man, majorY she Intercepted
"'Were you there2' inquired, no'
Z deeply interested, although not in th
y least anticipating what was coming
= eyes, l was. and one night, the on
y after the second days battle. Will
y wandering about IN search Of som'
thing to eat, got outside our lines an
IS was taken prisoner by young eonfe'
crate Tdette-'
II "'Whatl' 1 exclaimed, rising TO IN
feet, struck with establishment. 70
=, are not the young Ohio soldier I too
10 that night, and afterward slipped OF
Of our camp back within his own lines
'e "Afy host had risen and stood starin
=. at me with establishment. blended wit
II anxiety, on his frank counteuanc
> Can II be possible said he, his volt
l fairly quivering, that the man ] ha'
~ most wanted and leastexpecied ever
see, stands before me2 THINK Coo
"a my friend. that once more can loo
q into your face and thank YOU" Mary
addressing his wife, Kitty llatii'
~ This gentleman, Capt Raines, is Il
II man of whom l have so often talke
IN He was the confederate soldier boy vi
pc gave me, n half-starved enemy. all h
,H rnffoue and aftqrxvnrA ran the risk