Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-03-29

Carolina regiment to my OVID company
Quietly and without disturbing anyone
! got my prisoner into into my dog
tent and told him to lie down aud wait
! then took his black hat and blouse
slipped up 10 another tent where the
occupants were asleep and quietly ex-
changed them for an old gray SLOUGH
and a gray jacket. With these | got
back without discovery and fitted out
my prisoner. / knew it would be i'm
possible TO dodge the sentries with any
body clad in blue. although there were
| 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 it
would be almost impossible to see any
one who wore them creeping but few
/ yards away. When | returned I told
my Yankee friend TO get up and come
| along as quietly as possible. Stepping
through the camp Of the North Caro-
| linians, we got into The shadow of the
slope OF the hill, and crept down into
the dry bed OF narrow creek which
was overhung with bushes. Caution
ing my companion 10 be careful, we
crept on our hands and knees fully 200
yards along the creek, passing within
ten oT fifteen steps of three sentries.
The little rivulet ended in a larger
branch not so feet away from where /
had stood when l captured him. Il was
at this point where the utmost caution
had 10 be used. After a few minutes
we succeeded in getting around the vi
dette
"'God bless you, Frank 1--WE had ex-
changed names long before). j 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 again when
there is no such thing as war
81 don't remember what l said ia re-
spouse, but when / let go OF bis hand
and crept back TO camp l somehow
went with a feeling that l had bid good
by to my own brother.
AN'NA 80 " VI az a. u VI Al ann
Turing the war, but l often thought Of
lin. When the war closed at Apo
nattox l was a captain, and went home
fiber my parole q broken man. The
Id farm had run down from neglect,
nd my old parents were in need. BY
Mercy and economy / in time sue
eeded in clearing the old homestead
f debt and building up our fortunes.
3 was years before / could breathe the :
rec air OF independence.
"Ten years ago l concluded to take
trip out west. My eldest son, Henry,
tho had worked faithfully, accom-
anied me. 1t was in the spring that 4
e started. While crossing a broad l
rairie in one Of our new western states I
ur engine jumped the track many
lilies from the nearest station to which q
e could apply for help. We were in q
rmed that at least seven hours would
apse before assistance could possibly Z
.ach us. About three miles TO the :.
'uth we could see large rancho build
e, with the usual string of stables
I'd little houses about II. We arrived -.
the rancho gate, where an old, griz- n
cd herder or cowboy invited us in, -
ter we had explained our situation. -
IS Who is the owner of the rancheP l =,
quired.
Maj. Henry Vance, sir, and he will Il
glad to entertain you, gentlemen ~,
IS the reply. ~
THE name somehow struck me as ia NJ
liar, but had known so many n,
lnces that thought but little of it. \
AN hour or so later, while seated "a
dinner with the major and his fam ii
?, his good wife happened to remark: &C
:" You are a Virginian, sir, are OF
IA" N,
I" Yes, madam, we live in sight of the III
ne mountains, in what l consider the r.
ettieSt part of the old state o.,
- The major often talks of that part rs
Virginia, she replied. He served in b,
e union army under Mcclellan and r,
ant, You look like a soldier yourself, to
D. Were you one, may ask?'
= I was, madam; a soldier for the
st cause, and served during the war
der Lee and Jackson, replied. -,
'lndeedl Did you hear the gentle -
IN, major?' she Intercepted -
Were you there?' inquired, now -
eply interested, although not in the -
lst anticipating what was coming.
u Yes, l was, and one night, the one -,
ter the second days battle, while
about in search Of some
ing to eat got outside our lines and -
Is taken prisoner by young confed- :
ate vidette- :
'Whatl' l exclaimed, rising to my
It, struck with establishment. You
e not the young Ohio soldier I took
at night, and afterward slipped out
our camp back within his own linesY'
My host had risen and stood staring
me with establishment. blended with
Xiety, on his frank countenance.
IN it be possible said ne, his voice
rly quivering, that the man have
'st wanted and least expected ever to
2, stands before me? Thank Godl
: friend. that once more can look
% your face and thank you" Mary!'
dressing his wife sKittvt Uattipf