The National tribune., 1902-04-10

of the Savannah pen indicated that if no
for the purpose of exchange, it was to &c
still farther away from Gen. Sherman
army. which was in all probability dc
stined at no very far distant day to cal
at Savannah.
We were taken through the main stree1
of Savannah, not very strongly guarded
/ had determined, if opportunity offered
10 make my escape while passing through
the city. | communicated this fact TO Il
comrade who had been one of my mess,
who replied that he would join me in the
effort. Johnny Gordon, of an Ohio regl-
ment. was my comrades name. What
few people there were in the city were
upon the sidewalks to witness our leave
taking, and these were mostly old men,
negro women, etc.
As we came to the corner of street
where stood a One-stOry grocery, the door
being open, | gave the tip to Johnny. We
walked deliberately forth, passed through
some people standing on the sidewalk, en-.
tered the store, passed to the rear ana
through another door which opened INTO
backyard inclosed by high board fence.
We quickly scaled the fence and ran
through long alley, kept away from the
travelled streets, and at last brought UP
in a portion of the city where the gas
works We're located, and where the poor
class of people resided, as was evident
from the many shanties. we now became
satisfied that we We're not followed.
Taking good breathing spell, we COM
menced to look around the suburbs of
Savannah for a boarding place. The city
was indeed deSolate. A few old negro
men and q few women were all that were
left Every available man, white and
black, and even young boys, were In the
service. COnScriptiOn had truly robbed
f'the cradle and the grave" for last des-
perate effort on the part of the Confed-
eracy. Our eyes caught sight however,
of one apparently able-bOdied man stand
ing in front of his shanty. We approach
ed him, and | became spokesman. After
passing the preliminary acts of civility, l
touched upon the subject of the war, as
to its being so prolonged and so many
heart-aches connected with it, etc. soon
found that he. too, was tired of IT, al
though he was not subject to active serv-
ice from some severe injury which eX-
empted him, but that he was, neverthe-
less, doing duty for the COnfederates by
way of watching at the COmmissiary
building in the city at night. His conver-
sation bespoke his nationality to be Irish.
l was fearful that mine bespoke the
Yankee. and | changed my tactics as well
as i could by getting in right smart,
81 reckon" "yo-uns' and ''we-uns, and
other peculiar expressions of the South
ern people.
We were invited into the shanty. and it
being about the dinner hour we accepted
an invitation to be seated at the table and
partake of goats milk sweet potatoes and
cornbread-a trio of the substantial
articles then in common use In the South.
We did justice to them all, and in con-
Yersation at the table we aScertained the
- - hll ~glI
him that we had been in Confederate
hospital long time; that it being crowded
we had secured permission to find place
outside until ordered to the regiment, all
of which was inconsistent and l feared
he would suspect we were escaped prison.
ers.
HIDING IN SAVANNAH.
| finally decided to tell the truth and
see if | could not work upon his sympathy.
! said: ''Mr Ray, ! have not told you
truly as 10 our being here, but will do
go, hoping that you will favor us as you
would hope to be favored under like cir
cumstances. We agree" | said, about
the probable early termination of the war,
and / predict that not many days will
elapse before Savannah will be again I'M
der the Stars and Stripes, as Sherman
has left Atlanta and is, undoubtedly, well
on his way toward this place as his next
point. 1OTuUH anu i nave DttH
In prison long time, and we are tired and
sick and half starved. If you will give
US a place in your house or barn where
we can be secure. we will see you well
rewarded for II. If Sherman does not
capture this place within two months, if
you no longer wish TO keep us, we will try
TO get along as well as we can some other
way"
noticed the great interest apparently
taken by Mrs. Ray. Pity seemed to beam
from her kindly eyes. Ray and his wife
consulted in another room a short
time, when, to our great surprise, they
returned and agreed to take us in. He
asked us 10 follow him through the back
door, and then we entered the gate of
high board fence; within this fence was
a twO-stOry barn about 12xi6 feet. We
entered the barn, whereupon Ray COM
mcnced climbing to the second story, We
following. In the farther corner was con-
siderable hay. Ray pulled it back, dis
closing a large wooden box with a door
TO it. He opened the door and we saw a
boy OF perhaps II years.
Who is this?" l questioned.
''Ah, that's me boy, and only for him
we would not think Of taking you"
well, what is he in here for?' / asked.
''They conscripted him. he replied, "and
they will never get him as long as his
father can help it."
well" l said, "if they find your boy
secreted here by you, after being con
scripted, they would shoot you, would
they not?'
Sure, an they would thin
"Well," said l, you might as well die
for three Of us as for one We will. how
ever, take great care, Mr.. Ray, that yon
will not have to be shot. We can keep
quiet here"
Ray appreciated the joke as TO his DOS
sibly becoming martyr for three as well
as one, and went below. assuring US that
we would he attended TO with due care
His boy was oyerjoyed at receiving com.
pany, and said that now the time would
not seem so long. He had been secretcd
In this place for nearly two months, he
Informed US. Gordon and ] were over
9oyed at our success at escape so far.
1t was now December and we hoped
soon 10 hear from the advance of Gen.
Sherman's army. We questioned Ray
each day as TO the latest news from army
movements, but for several DAYS there
seemed nothing important. Gen. Hardec
had command of the Confederate army al
this place. There were about G0.O00 sol.
dIers under him, besides Wheeler'S cav.
airy. Hardee was a Regular Army Off
Ger, and author Of "Hardee's Tactics
an officer who received his education al
West Point, and q man of experience and
skill in handling troops 1t was evident
from the massing Of such large force a,
this point, that Sherman was expected to
make Savannah his next place Of attack
and, If successful, the Confederate arms
would be so far pushed into the small,
END OF the funnel that it must get out, il