The National tribune., 1900-06-28
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
BACK TO OUR LINES.
The Narrative of How a Comrade Missed
AndersonYiIle.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: / was {
private in Co. b, 7th ILL.,; enlisted Feb. 3
1863. The 7th was mounted infantry a
the time. 1t was camped at Pulaski
Tenn. We were sent to Florence, Ala, t.
watch the movement of Forests cavalry
about April 1. The regiment was divided
One detachment was at Florence; the
other detachment camped at Sweetwater
three miles from Florence.
| We had picket post six miles from
campat Mussel Shoals Ferry on the Tennes
see River, which we guarded closely, we
on one side of the river and the Johnnies
on the other. This went along for some
time, but on the night of May 2 our pickets
were surprised and captured about 2 O'Clock
| in the morning. Then the crossing of the
Johnnies began, and if it had not been for
| the escape of one of the boys the whole regi-
ment would have been captured; but he got
to Florence just at daylight and gave the
alarm. Our Colonel thought he could get
the regiment to the ferry in time to keep
| them from crossing. We were hurried off
in that direction, but about halfway met
them coming. My company and Co. c
were in advance and deployed as skirmish-
ers at the edge of an old field, with orders to
hold the fence, but later were ordered back
across the field to where our horses had
been left. To our surprise our horses were
gone and we were surrounded by a brigade
of Johnnies, and the only thing was to sur
render or be shot down.
l will not attempt to give an account Of
the escape Of the balance of the regiment;
l will leave that for some comrade who was
in the retreat; but they got out all right, for
six weeks afterwards l joined them at
Athens, Ala.
New, to return to my situation as pris-
oner. We ewere all rounded up in a group and
relieved of all we had--hats, shoes and
coats. AS l was the smallest was able to
keep my shoes and trousers, as they were too
small for the rebs; but my hat gave place
to one of different style, and the worse for
wear.
After this we fell into line, were marched
to the river and run across, where we formed
the acquaintance of Gen. Roddy, a bri-
gade commander in Forests army.
We were told that we would be taken to
Tuscumbia and there be exchanged, and if
any of us had valuableS about us, if we
would turn them over to the commanding
officer, they would be returned upon our ex
change. 1 turned over all l had, which
S3.75 in silver. Some of the other boys
turned over their valuables, such as money,
and watches, and l think they shared the
same fate as my things, for l never saw
them again.
Then we took up the march for South
ern prison. The first night we camped in
house with chimney to it; the following
morning one of the boys ,crept up that
chimney and we went off, and left him
there. | think his name was Horton. He
was deserter from the rebel army. The
next night we stopped at a little town, the
name of which has slipped my memory.
While here all hope of being exchanged
fed. We were told that we must go to
Tuscaloosa, for we could not be exchanged
at Tuscumhia. l thought that catch to
keep the boys from trying to get away, SO
made up my mind to get away at the first
opportunity; preferred death to Anderson
vile. From Tuscaloosa we started to
Tupelo, Miss. When within six miles of
Tupelo we came to Bear Creek, crossed, and
We're put into a negro cabin for the night.
There were 50 of us crowded into this small
cabin.
While in conversation with the guard l
learned that Bear Creek emptied into the
Tennessee River at Eastport, about 100
miles from there, so ! determined to take
up new line of march that very night.
did not go to sleep, but watched the guards |
closer than they watched me. |
There were two doors TO the cabin, with a |
guard at each. After the third relief OBJ
served they were getting careless. We had |
built fire in the house. One of the guards
fell asleep at his post. Then the other one
moved his chair close to the fire, and was
also soon in the land of nod.
l shifted my position and moved nearer
the door, then lay down in such position
that could reach the latch without getting
up. | watched the guard until was sure
OF his being asleep. | then pulled the door
open, turned around and slid out on my
back, pulled the door shut and made for
the woods, only short distance in the rear
Of the house. There / thought was safe
for the time. To my dismay it was so dark
| could not tell which way to go. stopped
to listen, and could hear the water in the
creek to my right. | started OH, guided by
the sound Of the water. had not gone far
when voice called:
"Who are you|
replied: "Who are you?"
Il am Billy Jones, OF Co. c." came the
reply. Then l told him l was Martin, of
Co. 3.
After exchanging details OF our escape.
he told me he had a sister living 80 miles
from Eastport. We decided TO go there,
rest up, secure citizens clothes, and try to
reach our gunboats at Clifton, Tenn, he
being better acquainted with the country
than |, it being my first trip to those parts.
It being so dark, we concluded to stop
until daybreak, then TO make the best time
we could in the early morning. We
travelled until about o'clock next morning
then hid. We were in sight of a house.
About noon Jones said he was very hungry,
and proposed we go to that house and get |
think we had better wait till dark; then, if |
discovered, we would have the advantage of
darkness? But the pangs of hunger had
full control of him. | kept him until about |
3 o o'clock; then he said he would go if | did |
not; he was not going to starve. So | told
him if he was going to risk it l would go |
with him
On reaching the house we found a man |
and woman. We made our wants known, |
and were supplied with cornbread and |
which We relshed very much |
On being invited Jones went into the house,
but | told the lady would eat my food on |
the porch. She gave it to me. When
about half through eating it | heard dogs
bark in the front yard. Stepping to the
corner OF the house, saw II or ID Johnnies
at the gate; Jumped back, called to Jones,
and started for the brush, $50 yards distant.
Just imagine how fast ran. Just as |
reached the fence l heard the command to
halt. On getting over the fence | found
myself in a dense growth of young pine, so
thick ] could not see 20 feet. My first
thought was to find safe place to hide till
dark, which was not far off. l did not go
far before finding two large logs. Icrawled
between them, pulled some leaves over me
and lay there. l heard the rebels hunting
me. f5
Not knowing what had become of Jones,
made my plans for through trip Clifton,
so decided TO stay where | was until mid
night; thinking they would watch for me
until late.
After midnight, returning to Bear Creek
as guide, l resumed my journey, this
beng my second day; travelled until well
up III the day, when saw a negro working