The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-02-18

nat hOANAe tN'|AAN p
and o'clock We heard terrific fir
ing OF artillery in southwesterly
direction This was the fight be-
tween a part OF Gen A. T. Hills
corps and Hancock's in Hanover. be
tween Hewlett's and Neil's We
then waited until about nine o clock
p. m. and leaving the two prisoners
we had captured killing the hog
with Burruss and Loving. We three
started for Bowling Green, walk
ing quietly through the fields, the
moon was shining brightly and wheI
within half a mile. Of Bowling Green
we entered a plantation road lead
ing through some old artillery
camps; suddenly just before us. not
twenty feet distant. there was a
bright flash and fire of a gun. the
ball whistling very near our heads.
Ii came from a vidette which we
could see plainly, and who i'm
mediately turned his horse and
rode back to his reserve. My COM
rades came up and very quickly We
decided what to do suggested
that We run ahead for hundred
or so yards and hide in the bushes
and walt Developments This We
did When sc approached this vi
dette / was in front,my comrades TO
the rear; they heard a command to
halt which | did not hear; they
stopped and l continued right up TO
the man. who was in the shade Of
d tree and could not be seen al a
distance When we advanced and
concealed ourselves We soon heard
the tramp of horses coming 10
investigate the little episode.
We could hear the officers distinct
ly talking and giving commands cit
may be imagined that our hearts
were humping audibly) The OFF,
Ger. who had with him at least 20
men. told the yidette who had caus-
ed the alarm in the camp that he
was a cowardly dog and had seen
nothing. but this man contended
that he had seen he supposed the
head OF a column OF troops. AFTER
some cursing and swearing two
men we're placed as yidettes nearly
opposite where we were concealed
and as soon as these soldiers re-
turned to their quarters we arose ana
moved off throgh the woods toward
nv own dwelling in the edge OF
village. about three hundred yarus
from the main thoroughfare to Mil
ford The field between my house
and rho road was filled with bag
gage. wagoners. wagons ana olhe'
attendants. We approached my
house from the rear and saw some
tents in the lawn some flty yaruS
from the house and some guards
walking beat in front OF these
tents. We wished to get as much
Inflammation as we could ana.
of course wanted to see my WIFE
whom had not seen for several
months The rear door OF the
house was fastened, so we crep'
under the shade OF the house 10
the front door, and turning the COZ
ner OF the house to the iroht saw
nv wife (this was about / cloch
in the night then, OF course d
voung woman. and her l4-year-oiu
sister (now Mrs. julia boswell OF
Taylorsville. Va sitting i'll 'l'
door. As soon as my vile recos-
nized me she started to scream >
tbinking that | was prisoner anu
mn, two comrades had me in charge.
Co with subdued commands Vi
..Husb :, "hush." | convinced her
thar was no prisoner and tha'
wa we're scouting for Information
Her three little children were :"
the house asleep, artless, ihhoce ..s
ond Ignorant OF the great eVents
thor Going on in our country. NY
lie informed me not 10 so ii'O
tho house. but to leave al 0ne.
was co anxious 10 go in ana si..
Les n the little innocents' Du,
Ala not She told US that ue"e sa .,
Ward was occupying the nearest 'V ~
~ the ward She could not tell u
~ the movements OF the troopS'
%. ,hot If seemed to her that INC
-, GRID was moving down 10
- Milford. | asked her II 81
oonId Give us anything to eat On" ailS
Ia me of the great deVasla'loI
~ straplers had committed oelOIo
cen Ward made his heauquai IN
in the yard that she hau ho'. -
IN the house; that all mad Deeh . .S
ON except little corn lheal cbo
oho had saved in her apron. ouI
Pa ne that if we would go pScA
20 .he house and hide in the PUSHES 's
oho would cook a cake OF corho i'.',.
and bring it to US. Then MI, '' snv
nan an experienced scout anu opr
eaid he would 90 up INTO .he Len
90 Tho village and on TO the ma" az
" r II road and get all OF .no
w. sarroation that he could ana
, lnD - ne and that if he did 10.
lut I'LL Nv daylight we might Know
mat he could not. AshoS 80 near
won't TO the rear OF the nous nous Or
and old icehouse, cohceaIeu onts
~ ,1%r and awaited deveiopi'e a.bo
Seiv VILE we waited my VIE wnU
10 wood in the house 10 cS So
hau u" vent into her little garu .,o
WIN n,,Ied no an arm full OF ht. as
ana Pui 18th which her early peas
slch'' .t"ck carried them into VI.
nc and baked a nice anu NV NV
noTo Of corn bread, and WIN atiIlet
cSN ,,,It in one hand and tne S n.ha,
OF MN M bread in it in the oln ,,
Nv" do,,n to where we were -
came 80 che was calling pls,
. .ns ,, as II she were caillhg "a the
p's GOOD Il Thus she brough. 10 lave
.c leeu an =, milk and told us TO leS''
Dreau ,,t Inu and bowl in the prusn a,.
/ I"I I;ssed her goodbye ana sae Ate
Co. the house. We remalheu' short
T the bread and milk ana IN Ia and
. .ro Mr. Liverman returned al
.lule - ,bat he had obtained a.,
toiu u ,oformation required ne, me-
; after he ate what we iei' iO'
= 1about day-break). Tuesday nl p,,ns
, inc we started to return. mo'i4 -
IT, ouick walk and run down -
tho wsttanony. the bugles AM
/ drums of the enemy were 1nv.
sounding the reveillee. ana o LIN,
inc IN where Burruss and LoVint
: were guarding the two prisoners %'
halted long enough for me. 10 au
: minister the following oath TO the
| prisoners upon a testament Whlcl
carried along: you do soiemnly
swear before Almighty GOD aho
these witnesses that you Will no.
take ND arms against the Cohleo'
crate States again. or in any way