Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-03-13
A BRILLIANT
STORY OF
THE WAR
SERGEANT JOHN II. ROBINSON.
CONTINUED from yesterday

While at Mrs. Coles would often
look into the mirror to see IL could
detect any resemblance between
Robinson the prisoner and Robin
son the free man. but could see
none whatever that thou hit could
be recognized by any OF the hos
pital people.
The next night was conducted to
a house crowded with people. who
had assembled to see the rebel sol
der. and l was greeted with many
hand shakes and expressions of good
wishes for my future welfare. on
leaving this place l was conducted
to boarding house on Fayette
street, kept by a widow Harrison.
remained there until the next night;
did not go to the dining room. but
had my meals brought to my room.
Three federal soldiers boarded at
this house. l registered as Henry
Nj. Saunders. York county. Pennsyl-
vania. having been previously post
ed generally in regard to the people
day several persons. both ladies ana
gentlemen. came to see me: they
would examine the register Tor my
nam and would ask to see me.
would always have them brought TO
my room. No one that I met knew
my real name except the families of
Mrs. Bennett and Mrs. Cole was
always introduced as Mr.. Saunders,
from Virginia. did not know but
that some one might hear my name
called, that might have heard of
man by the name of Robinson es-
Gaping; might have seen an an
nouncement in the papers, and for
this reason / called myself Saun-
ders. even when with my friends.
and they knew no better except the
two families above mentioned. The
next night / was conducted to Nc
Gees Hotel near Washington Juno
tion, and was handed waybiu
which read after this wise: Take
the Washington train at three forty
five in the morning: on arriving AT
Washington go to the PENNSYLVANIA
mouse on street, get your break
fast, Immediately after .
viii drive up and call for passen gers
for Bryantown and other stations on
the route. You will get off at Bry-
antown, distance of about 35 miles
from Washington" / was also given
letter to hand to one Thomas Bar
bin, on my arrival at Bryantown.
with the statement that he would
understand 1t. / read this letter
but could find nothing in 1t that
would inform him anything aboul
me- but l suppose that there
some mark that / failed to see or
understand but which he under
stood. The letter was on this wise
Mr. Thomas Hardin, Bryantown.
Maryland. Mr.. III. NJ Saunders. of
baltimore, is out looking after the
tobacco crop in your section Of the
country. VIII you be so kind as to
cite him to tobacco ,srowers of your
vicinity" I handed the note to Mr.
Hardin and after reading It, we had
a private talk in which he told me
to go to the hotel and stay until he
couId get n chance to send me across
the Potomac. remained there
about two weeks, and during the
time was made acquainted with one
Mr.. Alexander, who was a blockade
runner between Baltimore and Rich
mond. Mr.. Hardin made arrange
ments with Mr.. Alexander to take
me across the Potomac, but before
this arrangement could be perfected
the Eighth regiment of Illinois Cav.
airy were sent into that section on
detached service which greatly de.
layed my arrangements in getting
away But at last the time came for
another movement and left Bry-
antown in the morning on my way
to a little village. called Newport.
where me met to arrange for the
crossing, and went TO where Mr..
Alexander had his skim a mile or
more from Newport
From some cause Mr.. Alexander
failed to get the goods he was ex-
pecting, and so had to come back
and myself and boat crew. which
consisted OF three others. making
seven in all. He had his skin about
the head of ti1ewater in small
creek. After arriving at the skin
we had to wait until nearly twelve
o'clock for the tide to come up. and
became very restless and started be-
fore the tide did come, ran on a
sand bar now and then and would
have to get out and prize of. After
going this way probably a mile. we
met the tide and had no more trou-
bic. Daylight coming on us within
three miles OF the Potomac and
knowing we could not cross then. we
landed and pulled our boat out on
the bank and covered IL with green
brush, and then went up through a
field to a grove on an upland and
there spent the day About a hall
hrtffF hrr rrs. 3.