The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1900-06-06

my regiment was now me profile
: presented to my mind. | could u,
escape byway OF Vicksburg, and, (,
t anything | knew to the contrary, tt
a banks OF the GaZoo might be ia posse
3 slon OF the Confederates and their We
9 sells Instead OF Union gunboats migt
r oe patrolling the river.
Just at this juncture q scoutin
| party OF Union troops from one OF ou
, gunboats appeared upon the seen,
Among the number | was delighted I
, see my boon cOmrade and tent mate
John Douglas, who gre cted me with
warmth and enthusiasm which did nc
require the evidence of fearful eyes |
convince me Of their earnestness.
My dear fellow he exclaimed
his face aglow with surprise and plea
sure. Il thought you had gone to tn
land OF shades, and here | lind you b
the side Of beautiful girl ir an Area
dian paradise which seems to hav,
arisen by magic amid the swamps an,
oayous OF the Gazoo river. | let YOU
family know Of your disappearance
and my fears rs to your safety. Nov
you can let them know that my fear,
were grouudless and that you are still
living and ready to fight for the Union
unless,' he continued laughing, 'th,
beautiful Confederate who just now
left your company has converted you
TO the cause OF her people,
While we were absorbed in our
greetings, Aunt Dinah, domestic OF
the household, came hurriedly toward
us from the opposite side CT the farm
Seeing me, she rushed forward and ex-
claimed eXcitedly:
'Massa, massa Do Confeds are
coming shua-a whole regiment. Iouse
habe time yet to 'scape, il youah lebe
now
Though doubling the accuracy OF
the faithful creatures account, 80 far
as the strength OF the enemy was con
cerned, we deemed it prudent TO avoid
encounter with them, il possible, as
our party numbered but D.
" sought Olympia aud badc her a
fearful, heartbreaking farewell, con-
solng her with the promise that |
would return to her after the war.
This promise | faithfully performed.
We were married and have lived for
over thirty years in the cottage where
she nurseu me.
AS we reached the causeway there
on the verge Of the rising ground
leading to the nearest Of the cause
ways, we saw the Confederates rapidly
approaching and in such mbcrs that
there WAS no possibility OF our coping
with them. SO we rushed along at our
utmost speed, our progress be ing much
impcded by interlacing vines, which
in some places had fallen across the
track and in others hung from the
trees just low enough to entangle our
heads in their meshes.
AS we reached the causeway there
was no indication OF the enemy, and
we began to hope that they had not
discovered the route we took. We did
not slacken our speed, however, and
when we had covered most OF the dis
tance to the river we saw them follow
ing at full speed. Henccforth it WAS a
race in which the stakes were death
or captivity and safety. AS our lead
ing files had reached the bank OF the
rivcr Confederate bullet, fired AT
long range, hit mo in the leg, and
fell helpless into the bushes by the
wayside. Our mou thea fired volley
At the foe, which did some execution
and checked their advance.
"SoOn after fell John Douglas was
by my side and raised me to my feet.
1t WAS impossible for me to walk or
even to stand alone, and begged him
to leave me to my fate and save him
self from capture or perhaps death.
listening TO my remonstrances for
picked me up in mis- power
iul arms ana bore mo to the bank of
the river. Oar comrades who in the
hurry OF boarding their boat had not
probably missed US, were now beyond
haillng distance. Fruitful in re
sources, my companion rushed to a
part OF the bank where he saw u plank
and, returning at once, placed me on it
in the water. Attempting to go on it
he found it would not bear us
both, 80 he gave the plank vigorous
push and said
"'Try to paddle in the direction Of
the gunboat. They will soon see you
and come to your rescue. | can swim"
Following his advice and using my
hands as paddles, | had made some
progress toward the vessel when saw
a row boat coming to our rescue. My
heroic, self-sacrilicing friend still kept
me company. The boat approached
nearer and nearer until she was only
two lengths away. Then turned and
looked for my friend, and | saw his
head disappear beneath the water.
threw myself from the plank into the
water in an agony OF despair, wishing
to share the fate OF my comrade, but
was soon rescued and taken into the
boat.
Can you wonder now" he con-
tinued, while tears tiowed down his
pale checks, that | cast Hover
wreath on the dark waters OF the
Yazoo on Memorial day 2"