The National tribune., 1901-04-11

leaped over, and continued our progress
until we came to the range of hills, al
most mountains, lying between the Carter
Valley and the Valley of the Holston.
AT the foot of these hills we turned our
horses adrift and entered the forest-clad
hills atoot. We lost no time in pushing
forward, and it was astonishing how lit
tle our wounds and pains counted now.
A little while before we were certain that
neither of us, as prisoners, would be able
- walk along a straight road on a night
march, but the existing situation was diff
ferent. We We're now in pursuit of life,
liberty and happiness" and we Jumped
into the fOrest-clad mountains without
remembering that we had an ache or a
pain, and in a darkness as black as
coal mine at midnight we plunged for
ward all night.
Many times we found places in the
mountains quite impossible, but we
fanked such places by Il detour to the
right or left and the next days sun found
miliar Holston Valley spread out before
US.
1t had now been nearly 40 hours since
either of us had tasted food, and all of
| this time we had been under great strain,
but we suffered more from thirst than
from hunger. We did not deem it pru-
dent to continue our journey by daylight,
IL. w
found a sequestered grove of cedars on
top of the range Of hills, where we spent
the entire day, taking turns at sleeping
one watching while the other refreshed
himself with sleep.
At dusk, being almost fanished for
water, we continued our march, and soon
found n valley wherein was a little noun
tain stream, where we had the longest
and best drink of water either of us ever
had
We continued our journey that night,
skirting along the Holston Valley road,
not walking along the middle OF the road,
but keeping inside the fence line, ready
to take to the brush. Late that night we
came to a cabin on the roadside where
Carr had at one time stood picket The
| cabin, Carr said. was inhabited by a
Union woman, with several children. We
decided to stop and ask for food. At our
knock the upper half of the door was
opened and the woman cf the house met
us. We explained that we were Union
soldiers and escaped prisoners in need of
food.
The woman invited US into the house
where she blew into fame the dying
embers on the hearth and soon provided
us with bread and meat, of which we ate
freely after being nearly 60 hours with
out food, and at the wOman's urgent re-
quest we filed our pockets with rations
for tomorrow. l have since dined at
DelmOnico's famous restaurant In New
York City, but not with either the appetite
or full satisfaction as at this widows cabin
in the Holston Valley.
We continued our journey all through
this night and tiptoed through the village
of Rogersville about O'Clock in the morn
ing, fortunately without meeting a per-
son. After passing through Rogersville
we unexpectedly ran upon two men. We
did not have time to escape, and walked
right up to them face to face. We were
prepared to put up fight or foot race,
as circumstances might determine; but
the strangers turned out TO be negroes,
who expressed their qualification at being
able to help us along.
Daylight being near at hand, we deemed
it best to seek cover. We stopped at the
house of Col. Netherland, a weil-known
vile, where we were cared for by Col.
Netherland, Mrs. Netherland, and Mrs.
Kneeland. Just before dark, under the
guidance of mountain pilot" we We're
taken through byways and obscure paths
to the residence of John Blevins, another
wellknOwn Union man. We now began
to feel that we were out of the woods.
As We came to Mr.. Blevins's home, foot
sore and weary, Mrs. Pace. a daughter
of Mr.. Blevins, met us at the front porch.
-Four of FIVE steps led up this porch, and
I was so exhausted that found difficulty
in getting up these steps. Mrs. Pace,
seeing my battered condition, came down
the steps, and putting her arm around me
helped ME up the steps and into the house.
AS we entered the front door she walked
me over to q sideboard starding in the
wide hall and poured out and mixed for