Year: 1870

structed by telling two trees across the
lriver near together and laying on these
some rails from u neighboring fence. |
This only served for the passage of in-
fantry, the cavalry having forded the
stream at another point.
My horse, going with great speed,
was halfway across this precarious
bridge before he began to get into diff
| fculty The rails were wet and slip
| perry, and turned easily and he began to
! 90 through, first with his fore feet and
then his hind, and then commenced a
terrible struggle. immediately COM
pretended the difficulty, and feeling
that it would be impossible for the horse
into the river, sprang from his back
upon the slippery rails, thinking to es-
cape on foot to the woods beyond; but
nv foot had no sooner struck the rails
than slipped and fell hcadlong over
the bridge into the roaring, rushing riv-
er, fifteen feet below.


! / think I must have sunk to the bot
tom but came up again, and struck
out with all my strength. The river
was narrow, and I was good swimmer
but l was caught at Disadvantage
| My heavy coat and poncho, and heavy
boots, belt and pistol SO incumbered
me that I could with difficulty keep my
head above water. Add to this the
swiftness of the stream, and the fact
that was severely wounded. so could
use but one arm, and my situation was
certainly desperate.


had scarcely come to the top of the
water before down came my horse
through the bridge bringing with him
large quantity of rails I had, how
ever, foated little down stream, SO as
to be beyond reach Of these.


The obstacles were more than I could
overcome and / went down q second
time, the swift current meanwhile car
rying me rapidly down stream. Again
/ struggled to the top and caught my
breath, and as / came up my right hand
grasped something solid, and held me
up. 1t was floating rail from the
bridge and it saved my life. By the aid
Of three or four of these rails, that /
caught and put together. finally worked
my way slowly to the opposite bank,
and once more crawled out on terra FIR
ma, but completely exhausted.


The Rebels halted at the bridge, and
probably witnessed the catastrophe, as
tar as the dim starlight would enable
them to do. They no doubt thought
was drowned, though the scoundrels
fired several pistol shots into the liver
below the bridge.


1 knew they would not give up the
chase, and my first thought was to en-
deavor to get my horse, find the road,
and try to reach camp.


While sitting on the bank resting,
had time to examine my wound, or rath-
er to ascertain it's location with my
right-hand I found the ball had en-
tered my shoulder and passed entirely
through; my shirt was soaked with
blood, and it was still running in
streams down my back and breast. The
position CT the wound was such that
could not wrap it up with anything that
l had, SO l was forced to let it bleed.


AS soon as I had caught breath suffi-
cient. ] crawled along through the
bushes up stream. hoping TO discover
my horse. I had had gone but few
yard when, to my astonishment and de.
light came upon him, quietly feeding
upon the bank. The faithful animal ut
tered low nicker as approached as If
recognizing me. 1 felt rejoiced, for it
appeared as if life and salty were again
within reach. These pleasant thoughts
were dispelled, however in moment
No sooner had my horse given utterance
|
heard the bushes crack few yards be-
yond, and low voice said Here 8
his horse now: we'll get the scoundr ell
yet, if he is not drowned and in a mo
ment more the horse was in Rebel hands
while 1 retraced my steps as rapidly as
possible. | was determined to run any
risk rather than be captured. The story
of Andersonville and Libby had been
told in our camps, and | had register
ed q solemn vow, as he'd most of my
companions, that we would die rather
fall into their hands.


must have walked down the river bank
nearly a mile, when 1 began to grow weak
and faint from fatigue and loss of blood. My
wound began to grow very painful; and | was
compelled to sit down fallen tree and
rest. / knew that the road turned down the
river, as 1 had found it in one place; and
hoped l might. by following down the river
come upon some outpost of our army.


AS I was sitting on the log, saw q
light glimm Ell ing through the trees still
farther down tue sire am. This was q
joyful discovery. I could not think
otherwise than that this was one OF our
picket posts if so, was safe, If not
but would soon know. / staggered to
my feet, and half crawled and half walk
cd toward the light. / was somewhat
disappointed to find that it was not our
picket, but that it proceeded from a
cabin located n ear the road, and in the
midst of small clearing.


AS neared the low fence around the
house, two large savage dogs sprang out
and tried hard to make me believe they
would tear me in pieces, but they did
not come outside the fence. I had de-
termined to arouse the inmate and get
assistance if possible, we'll knowing that
in my present condition, must soon
perish without some aid


The savage barking of the dogs soon
brought to the door q tall, gaunt speci-
men Of q backwoodsman, dressed only
in his night-shirt. I could see him very