The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1900-11-22


stragg1ers from the ranks of the army
AS we stood quietly by the roadside
waiting for the last of a long line OF
wagons. horses and men to pass, We
We're spied by the captain of the com
pany which had been detailed to act as
the rear guard that particular day
Fall in here, you fellows he called out
NO struggling allowed Our lieuten
ant promptly replied: I'll be RESPONSE
BILE for these men, captain, and bring
them in all right. They are not able to
travel now.'
The captain acQuiesced In the ar.
rangement, and We were left to our
own devices. AS soon as the army had
disappeared in the distance we struck
out away from the road toward the in.
terror, in search Of something with
which to appease our hunger. The
houses along the road had empty cup.
boards, a fact which we we'll knew.
After we had covered about three miles
we came to the brow of hill which
overlooked a beautiful valley. As we
glanced down into the valley we noted
that it looked rich and fertile, and ac-
cordingly we lost no time in making
the descent We could see a white resi-
dence good distance away: also grist
mill nearby, and long millrace leading
to it. a creek wound its way tortuous-
ly down the vaLey, and soon became OBJ
scured by the dense foliage along its
banks. 1t was indeed a landscape fit
for the brush of a great artist. We
were not. however, in the art business,
but in the more prosaic and enjoyable
occupation Of trying to get hold of some
grub In a short time we were at the
residence of the proprietor of the mill.
whose name we afterward learned was
Russell. We were agreeably surprised
to observe seated on the large front
porch an attractive and benevolent
looking young woman of about 16.
'As we drew near she rose and come
to meet us. saying in low tone of
voice: L know you are Union soldiers,
and l have come to warn you. Father
is rebel, although too old to enlist in
the war. He is this very minute enter
tanning rebel captain and six of his
men down there by the spring house
They have liquor and are drinking free
ly. so l hope you will not go around to
the other side of the house where they
might see you. My mother and l are
Union sympathizers. and would not like
to have you captured We thanked the
young woman for her kindness, and
told her that we We're desperately hun
cry and must have something TO eat
pretty soon. My father and his friends
will soon be returning TO the house.
the girl said. for mother is now getting
dinner ready for them. The guns be-
longing TO the other rebel soldiers are
stacked near the door which faces the
spring house. You men are all well
armed, so l will just carry their guns
around to this porch, where they can't
get them. aud then you will be safe
The girl disappeared and In a few
moments returned carrying gun in
each hand. Her mother saw what she
was doing and proceeded to lend her
daughter a hand with the result that
in short order the dangerous weapons
We're on our side of the fence We now
had the> drop on the Johnnie Rebs. but
so long as they conducted
themselves properly. not 10 molest
them. Being ourselves absent without
leave, we did not care to bother with
prisoners. and. on the other hand. we
did not like the idea of being captured.
as that would cause us to be reported
as absent without leave and eventually
recorded as deserters. When Mrs Rus
sell announced that dinner was ready
the old gentleman and his companions
came marching slowly up the path from
the spring house. We took a position
from which we could readily see them
as they advanced toward the house
They looked pretty warm set for us
to tackle. All of the men wore uni
forms of dirty gray in color and
seemed under the. influence of liquor.
As they stepped on to the back porch
we marched in at one door of the din
ing room and they in at the other. You
should have seen how those JohnnieS
stared at us. They We're fairly stricken
selves confronted by band of Yankees.
Look here. captain said our lieuten-
ant, we have certainly got the drop on
you this time, and you had better just
make the best of it, BY this time we
were all seated at the table, and after
1 long pause the rebel captain rose
slowly and. reaching his hand across
he table TO our lieutenant. said in a
way: I certainly don't un-
this. 1t is a great surprise to
ne and my men. But even though we
ire enemies in warfare. let us be friends
or the time being-at least until we do
Justice to the rations these good peo-
Die have so kindly prepared for us
I'VE heartily agreed to the arrange
nent, and sat at table, eating and
Thinking, talking and laughing. as If
Ne were all the best of friends. When
We had satisfied our voracious appetites
he two parties filed out of the dining
'oom in the same manner that they en-
cred. Our party was sitting on the
ront porch discussing the situation and
he best way out of 1t. when the Con-
ederate captain put his head out of the
loor and politely asked us if he and his
nen might have their guns back again.
ipon receiving their promise not to at
empt to take lis prisoners we let them
iave their weapons, whereupOn they
ook their departure at once.
We We're holding a council of war
n regard to the probability of the rebels