Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1912-02-03


Captain Porter told Miss Green the
story OF his and his companions es-
cape from Libby, intimating that get
ting out OF the prison was easier than
making a journey to Union territory.
They could never In the world ind
their way through the wilderness that
lay between them and the northern
states.
Miss Green offered to pilot them.
They discussed several routes of trav-
Ell, one being to go down the James
river to Fortress Monroe, held by the
Federal army; another to travel by
the peninsula to the same point and
a third to pursue a northeasterly
course to the mouth of the Potomac.
Miss Green told them that the James
river at points was guarded by the
Confederates and they would find
difficulty in going from Confederate
territory to Union fortress. II they
went by the peninsula, since 1t was
narrow, If they were stopped or pur-
sued they would be pent in. She
therefore recommended the route to
the mouth of the Potomac.
After resting all day and receiving
what provisions they would need in
the immediate future they started the
same night. Passing over the battle
fields that had been fought over by
Lee and Mcclellan during the seven
days fighting around Richmond, they
passed through fields and woods, guild
ed by the girl, who knew well the ter
ritory near the Confederate capital
Afterward she directed her course
from the north star, keeping IL over
her left shoulder. Before dawn she
stopped at the house Of Union man
which she had had in mind for the
first relay. She went into the house,
while the men took to the barn. AT
nightfall they started again, having
been provided with fresh supply OF
provisions. Fortunately most Of the
night was clear, and their compass
star was visible, but before dawn the
sky became overcast, and, coming
upon a negro hut, the girl approached
it, and finding the occupants sympa-
thetic the party entered the cabin and
went to sleep on the floor.
The next day the colored owner Of
their retreat kept watch from morning
till night to warn them If any one APP
preached. But a negro hut was in war
times the safest hiding place for an
escaped Union prisoner of war, and
hosts of Uncle Sans boys awaited
themselves of these retreats. When
night fell they started again, without
a supply of provisions but with their
host as guide over a strip of territory
%
far.
But the next night, partly through
her own knowledge and partly by
knowledge acquired by inquiry-for
Miss Green was not In the same dan
ger as her companions-she led them
to the York river, where they appro-
priated boat for crossing and the Sec
ond night after that reached the Rap
pahannock. Here they did not meet
with the same luck as at the York, and
during the day instead of sleeping,
were obliged to construct raft ON
which to float themselves. 1t was
ready by evening, and as soon as the
darkness fell they started, propelling
themselves with fiat pieces Of board
they had picked up. Though the dis
lance from their starting point to the
Potomac was but sixty miles, nearly
a week passed before they approached
its shore. 1t was not only debatable
ground for the armies. but most of the
white people living on both the Mary
land and Virginia shores were Confed-
crates. The river itself was dominated
by the Federal government.
At dawn on the sixth day after their
departure, the contour of the coun-
try indicating that the. river was but
short distance ahead, Miss Green
went forward while the men kept
back. If she saw the river she was to
drop her handkerchief. If the Confed-
crate flag was visible she was to hold
the handkerchief suspended In her
left hand. If she saw the stars and
stripes she was to wave. They watch
ed her till she reached an eminence
where she could get good outlook.
and flood Of joy sprang up In their
hearts. They saw her wave.
I will tell the rest of the story as
was mentioned in my introduction In
the words of the secretary of wars as
sistant
'Oue udy h1r. BeuI luz Iuo
to come to the White House. My boy
said he, there is a letter I would like
to have you look at picked up the
letter and found It was from General
Dix, conveying the information that
several Federal prisoners had escaped
from Libby prison with the aid Of ABB
bic Green, a woman famous during
the war. The letter also said that as
the fact of Abbie's assistance to, es-
capped Federal prisoners was we'll
known she had been obliged to fee
from Richmond and was on her way
to Washington on the flag Of truce
boat. Now, my boy said the presi-
dent, 4 don't know what should say
to any rascal who would steal TINT
letter and have bill passed through
congress to grant $4,000 to the relief
Of Abbie Green
IL stole the letter, and the next day
both branches of congress passed the
bill to grant $4,000 to Abbie Green.
The following morning Honest Abe
sent for me again. Il told you did
not know what / should say he said,
with twinkle in his eye, to the ras-
cal who would steal that letter and
have congress act on 1t. Now I've