The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-20

had taken another road, he believed
they ware yet to pass that point, hut
that he had no gort of objection to
religious service IN any event. The
elder. tslsred and shook his finger AZ
him, TO which he only replied. We'll
I'm afraid you are little too pie
yioue. .hatu an
The elder got out hia Bisio and
hymn book and proceeded to find ap
propriate selections from each for the
OCCASION. H had Just done this to
his satisfaction and was about to
line ont the hymn when they heard
tho thud OF hoofS coming rapidly IN
their direction. In a minute or so the
darby who had been sent for the food
appeared, coming 40 fast az his mule
could go. his eyes bursting out of their
sockets. the mule in lather. AS he
came within earshot he shouted to
them 10 run, that the whole Yankee
army vas behind him. Down went
the Bible and hymn book. and the late
religious assembly speedily dissolved
itself In every direction---the sole sur
yiVor being tho old soldier whose sim
lister remarks had bsen 40 severely re-
buked. He laid hold upon the fright
ened negro, raped him over the head
With his crntch and ordered him to
hitch his horse to the buggy and help
him into IT, This done. the negro also
took TO the adjacent swamp. while
the veteran drove himaelf up to the
friends house who had been keeping
them posted" The yard was full OF
sherman's soldiers, who helped him
out OF the buggy and into the house,
but took HE horse Hare he remained
for several days. during which the
mighty host marched by. leaving
rear guard 10 bring UP stragslers.
These were still a.. the house when.
looking down the road. they ospied
a soldier In blue coming along with
another man in tow, evidently pris-
oner. He had on his head an ancient
beaver with the crown smashed In, on
MS body an army overcoat with half
of one Of the tails burned off. and his
trousers stuffed in high boots about
four sizes too large for him. A stub.
bly, beard OF a weeks growth adorned
HIS face. and altogether he was one OF
the most villainous looking creatures
imaginable Our old soldier had great
difficulty In recognizing In this object
tho respected elder who proposed a
prayer-meeting on that bright Sab
bath morning. but he finally made him
Ses' 80 NAti osoi CpSluIiie anu
the terribly detected expression OF his
face were too much for the veterans
rlsiblcs. Tho old gentleman was final
~ realeased and allowed to return
home.
The Camden. people sent many OF
their belongings away when the raid
ers werc coming. but unfortunately
they wero carried In tho same direc-
ton that the army took. and hence
! many valuables were lost My very
slender wardrobe shared the general
tate. and when got back after the
raid was compelled to go to bed and
stay there while my clothing went to
be washed | recall the fact that from
end after that date until the spring
vegetables began 10 come in our prip-
clpal means OF subsistence were cow
peas and pumpkins. cooked without salt
or bacon, varied by sweet potatoes and
corn bread. also Saitless. Thus the
weeks wore on until near the end OF
March. when i received letter from
father telling me to come to him at
Richmond
A day or two after Sherman had
evacuated the town. my friend who
was with mo the day his army entered
II found II necessary to visit his plan
tation, and asked me to so with him.
We went TO a ferry about seven miles
from the town, but found that the
ferry-boat had disappeared. We
whooped until negro appeared on the
other aide and informed us that he had
q very leaky batteau. in which we
might get across IL we kept baling out
while ha padded. We offered him So
craft over, to which nc consented. BY
= "a va crn ha Suo ,
half filled with water that had leaked
In. and we found on examination that
II was constructed OF green planks.
with visible cracks between. through
which the water poured. AS / could
swim and my friend could not, 1t was
agreed that j should go FIRST. I un.
saddled my marc andS led her into tbs
water. taking scat near the bow
and holding the reins close to the bit
30 as to let her swim alongside. The
river was In food and the current very
swift. but we pushed off, the negro
padding and my friend watching the
rather risky voyage. We goS along
very we'll except that we drifted down
stream considerably until We reached
a point within forty yards OF the far
thor shore. noticed that my END oil
the boat Was getting too high out OF
the water, out ali my attenG1on waf
centred on the swimming mare and the
EFFORT to keep her away from he boat
AS we swept into an eddy I heard ar
exclamation from the nesxN and. look.
ing around. saw his end OF the boa,
alowly sinking, while my end stuck nj
moro unpleasantly than ever. saw
that tho boat was preparing to slide
out from under us. and turned thu
marc loose. with her head towards the
shore. said: ''old man, can 70,
swim ?-
He said: no. massa. can't swim /,
lick"
! said: Look out for yourself. cater
hold OF the boatas got out, and DON
let go. You can't drown as long al
you hold to the boat, and the curren
will sweep you ashore further down"
There was no time Tor more.
lleapcd into the water with all my cloth
| Ing on, my pistol and my boots, ant
struck out for the nearest tree. whel
got there ! looked to see what hal
become OF the negro. The boat ha
turned completely over, and he wa
clinging to the bottom The curren
swept him against willow that grew
l OFT horiyontally from thas hapl-f.on,