The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-04-25

OOnleueTdte anu tOiu tneln ene ma
passed up the road not half an hour
before toward her home. They didn't
stop TO look for here here, but went
right on, expecting to get her."
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 journey TO Union territory.
They could never In the world find
their way through the wilderness that
lay between them and the northern
states.
| Miss Green offered to pilot them.
They discussed several routes OF tray
ell, one being to go down the James
river to Fortress Monroe, held by the
Federal army; another 10 travel by
the peninsula to the same point and
third TO pursue northeastern
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. IL they
went by the peninsula. since IL was
narrow, IL they were stopped or pur-
sued they would be pent in. She
therefore recommended the route 10
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 it over
her left shoulder. Before dawn she
stopped at the house OF Union man
which she had had I'm 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 n 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 IL any one ap-
Preached. But negro hut was In war
tines the safest hiding place for an
escaped Union prisoner of war. and
E)sts Of Uncle Sans boys ayailed
themselves OF these retreats. When
night fell they started again. without
q supply of provisions but with their
cst as guide over a strip of territory
Win which Miss Green was not fami-
1 r..
But the next night. partly through
her own knowledge and partly by
knowledge acquired by inquiry-for
Mss Green was not i'm 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 a raft on
which TO float Themselves. IL was
ready by evening and as soon MS the
darkness fell they started. propelling
themselves with fat 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 IL 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 a good outlook
and food OF JOY sprang up In their
hearts. They saw her wave.
/ will tell the rest OF the story as
was mentioned in my Introduction in
the words, of the secretary OF wars as
sistant
zone day Mr.. Lincoln sent for me
TO come to the White House. MY boy
said he, there is letter | would like
to have you look at picked up the
letter and found 1t was from General
Dix conveying the information that
several Federal prisoners had escaped
from Libby prison with the aid of Alb
bic Green, woman famous during
the war. The letter also said that as
the fact of Abbie's assistance TO es.
capped Federal prisoners was well
known she had been Obliged to fee
from Richmond and was on her way
to Washington on the dag of truce
boat. Now. my boy said the presi-
dent. I don't know what should saw