The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-12

in the most important points of our Southern country, we found ourselves in few days divested of almost every strong hold and scarcely the vestige of an army to check his mad career. la vain We turned our anxious eyes to Lee and his veterans in this trying hour, but alas! the ''Authorities' deem- ed the country's salvation was hing
 ed" on the safety of Richmond, which
 must stand though all else fall. An! that the folly of such a policy could not have been exploded in time to have saved our bleeding country.
 Notwithstanding the state of affairs was indeed upon the verge of dissolu tion yet the people wearied not in we'll doing and officers. true to their natural propensities, issued orders" as brisk ly as in former days when Victory poised upon our standards. About this
 time. November 18th, the writer was ordered to Richmond on business matters" and accordingly left camp dur ring the. melee of excitement. It was almost impossible to obtain a convey ance as everything from an ox-cart up to a fine carriage was in requisition, laden with its freight of terrified hu- manity flying before Shermans dread full army. Deeming the chances of es- cape on horseback better than any other mode. mounted my charger and proceeded to Fayetteville. Riding through the woods to avoid the strag- gling rearguard of Sherman had safe lv arrived within the suburbs of the town and was on the point of congrat- ulating myself on the fortunate escape when several ladies in a house nearby waved their hands at me, indicating retreat. No sooner had my noble chargers head been turned than out rushed twenty or thirty Tanks. yelling at "Johnnic Reb." to surrender" which however fell upon needless ears. for Johnnie Reb' was determin- ed once to see what virtue there was in running. So putting whip and spur to my gallant Forrest on we flew OCT hill and dale. through the woods. over fences. never stopping, with blue coats" at our heels. After the chase of an hour or so. Tank, find ing distance gaining on him drew off leaving Johnnie Reb." master of the field" Stopping a moment to blow. this humble servant could scarcely rec ognize the tattered trembling looking culprit before you, and not until after clapping his hands to his head and stroking the genuine hair was he as- Sured that 1t was not Gllpln dSdii, DuI the veritable Adam himself. Thinking the most secluded route was the best for the health of one who lad ecently undergone such a violent shock to his nervous system, therefore resolved to continue a woodsman and after many a winding route of heightened. tedious ness long drawn out, finally succeeded in reaching a point of safety on the Atlanta and West Point Railroad. Forced to wait till the storm of excite ment abated I did not proceed to Rich mOnd until November 30th and then was delayed several days owing to the railroad having been cut in numerous places by Sherman's forces.
 Reaching the famous metropolis De- cember Sth, at rather an unfaVorable period soon after a series of over whelming disasters. perhaps was one cause of its presenting sOmbre. cheer less appearance to a. strangers eye. The weather moreover seemed to par take of the general gloom. and storm clouds scudding the inky horizon anon sent down showers of sleet and snow. It was intensely cold. and not spark of fire" could be obtained at any price. This was cold comfort to a Southern