The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-04-17
Copyrighted 1912 by Frank A. Hub.
BILE. Yakima, Wash.)
CHAPTER VII.

then gradually made demonstrations
similar to troops marching, getting
louder and more of 1t nearing the
ceived the challenge, Halt! We were
now strung out a quarter of a mile.
The first in line gave his command,
halt-the second farther back, halt;
the third still farther in the rear the
same, and so on until we could
scarcely hear the last man. 1t
sounded like a regiment marching
And when the answer to the chal-
lenge was given by Capt. Meany
whose coarse, rough voice answer
ed to the command, "Who comes
there!' His answer, The advance
of Sherman army" Forward"
! Forward" Each comrade COM
mander repeating the command,
Forward"
All we could discern was a quick
rustic at the bridge gathering their
accoutrements and dashing away
down along the river bank. We had
by our ruse captured their bridge,
baggage and stores, which consisted
of little hoe cake in a dilapidated
haversack.
That we were not il a district
where they had trailing hounds was
known to us from information gained
through the darkies on our back
course. We decided after a consid-
erably controversy that upon their
discovery of our bare footprints in
the mud on the approach to the
bridge, they would understand our
ruse and would be certain to sum-
mon every available person to join
in the hunt for escaped Yankees.
Crossing the bridge and walking
mile on the muddy road, making
our trail very plain, we gradually
turned towards the timber on our
left and after reaching the brush,
carefully, we returned to the bridge,
leaving no distinguishable evidence
of our march over the fallen leaves,
passing under it through the water
and coming up the bank some two
hundred feet to the right We found
a thicket near the bank where we
could watch the bridge. Here We
slept till morning.
Durbrow had a small chunk of
corn bread in his sack which would
provide food for the time being
at least sustain life for "a hours, lit
tie less than the ration we some
times received in Libby for that
length of time.
1t would be uninteresting to the
reader were | to record every little
event that occurred along our route.
More especially that of obtaining
food, which was first of Importance
in this struggle for liberty. But
will say, we were very well provided
for, such as it was, mostly corn
bread furnished by the slaves, the
black men and the loyal union man
or woman, until we reached the
North Carolina mountains.
To be sure some days we would
become weak for want of food but
seldom of long duration until in the
mountains.
/ have endeavored in this narrative
to publish the most important and
perilous circumstances contining my
words to the exact conditions at al
times where some of less interest
might probably detract and grow
> tiresome.
The rays from the warm sun the
next morning made us feel quite
cheerful; and that We had accom-
plished so many miles successfully
each comrade in comparatively gooC
, health, and again this was far pref
cradle to our remaining as prisoners
even though at times we suffered 81
much. The great hope we entertain
! ed, the liberty that would be oul
= reward, were We successful, gave Il!
strength, energy and daring tha
2 might be lessened under any Other
= circumstances.
4. There were times when we became
5 irritable, peevish and contrary in
Y our deliberations, as to the bes
I course to pursue, and will call to the
mind of my comrades who were
I with me in this distress, where tive
A actually fought, but restored to each
other their comradeship in tears.
- 1t was but a little while after VIZ
awoke when seven men on horses
made their appearance near the op
posite approach, examined oul
tracks, crossed the bridge and disap
peared on our trail.
We felt confident it would Leaf
them on towards the mountains
Therefore, we would remain in oul
4 hiding place until night, giving then
an opportunity to get far ahead OF
= the course they naturally would sup
. pose we had gone, as the direction
I was nearer to our outposts than an,
other through the Carolnas from
{ where We came.
k In the middle of the afternoon WI
y heard COW bell. Nearer it cam,
and to our surprise from the sam,
: direction in which we had come. Oh
y peering through the bushes, our 10.
h was great, as an aged black maj
: walking in our tracks, making clos
observations at every bush until il
o front of our seclusion, looking
a squarely at our thicket. We partet
the bushes so that he could see us
: Every feature of his fact lit up witt
r a joyous smile as he rang the GOV
bell furiously. He gave signs of hi
S deafness. Presently on top of tn
! bank came his wife, who in a loy
/, tone explained that her husband wa
Of enaanh Inn