The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-01-02

would never carry me off prisoner,
and that I would risk forty shots at
forty PAGES before it was done, /
knew in my desperation something
would happen soon. just as I again
came near the big gate that was left q
little ajar. and making my last request
for some ono to loan me bride. I
turned the horse quickly, throwing
the horse between me and my captor,
sprang through .ha gate aud a Few
bounds placed the house between me
and the Yankees. I Isprang over the
first fence and running as swiftly as
an eagle in its fight, or jack rabbit
with a Pack of grey hounds behind
him, I was soon over another fence,
and then in skirt Of woods overlook
ing the house aud road near by. L
have often thought made the quick
est time on record, reaching that little
patch of forest. and without i, scratch.
halted for moment and was watch
ing through rail fence the move.
ments of the enemy around tho house.
Th5 nriug OF small arms and the
screaming Of the. children with the
aqueeling Of the pigs, and all other
noises combined, made it heart.ren1-
ing, but the searching Of the house
throughout and the out houses, with
threats to burn up the place, did not
bring me forth. I was non. .comatibus
up treeo. But 1 was not yet safe. I
was at this point near the road lead
ing from Joncsboro to the old mill, so
near that I could hear the names Of
the men Of Kilpatrick's federal raid
era. One was quarreling with another
about his pocket knife, and lively
time they were having as the artillery
ratified down the hill. knew that q.
fight or skirmish would soon follow,
for General Ross, with his Texas Con-
federate cavalry, was pushing the
raiders in brisk way. This yo;nt
80 near the mill being splendid
foragiDg territory, was the worry place
for halt and fight. 1t was timo
for me to act again, and act quickly.
l could hear their men deploying and
forming the battle line near me. I
found an oak tree near at hand with
grape vines and foliage for a hiding
place, and as nimbly as squirrel
was soon up the tree and hid in its
branches. I had limb for seat
and hugged the body Of the tree to
keep in position. Now, at this dis
tancc FROM the scene Of action I con-
cluded | was just about as comforta-
Bile as o man riding rail. Soon the
skirmishing opened up lively, but 1
held my position. Some shelling was
done by light battery placed in the
road by our cavalry, and the limbs Of
the trees, rs the balls would strike
them near NE, were disturbed consid-
erably. Underneath my tree rode one
OF the raiders, and near by their line
OF skirmishcrs was placed, protected
by fence; aud kept continual skir-
mish fire on us. After looking and
Watching for another chance for escape
by parting the vines and viewing the
landscape Ger, I noticel company of
our cavalry moving slowly and cauti-
ously along country road, and al
though uncertain as to whether they
were Confeds or Yanks, made up my
mind to make another effort to escape.
Aslipped down the tree cautiously as
Icould. picked up my old army blan-
ket that was covered in the leaves,
and just as was getting in position
again for the run the enemy opened
upon me from their skiTmish line,
knocking up the leaves all around me
as | sped through the woods. Out Of
breath I headed for this cavalry,
which proved to be our own men. I
urged thcm to move on the enemy at
once. [ was fighting mad. I was
certain we could capture all on that
side Of the creek. They refused,
however, aid had me to report to Gen
eral Ross in person; and hero joined
the cavalry for one day.
In the afternoon as we pursued the
enemy along the main road toward
McDonough, Ga, short distance the
other side of Lees mill, We pushed
the federal cavalry SO closely that a
stand was again made and pretty
stubborn fight followed. I was back
in the rear with my old worn out army
horse that / had picked up by the
roadside, with other dismountcd men,
holding the horses while our men who
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