diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/50970.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/50970.txt | 5383 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 5383 deletions
diff --git a/old/50970.txt b/old/50970.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 8e24cec..0000000 --- a/old/50970.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5383 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of An Account of the Escape of Six Federal -Soldiers from Prison at Danville, Va., by William Henry Newlin - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: An Account of the Escape of Six Federal Soldiers from Prison at Danville, Va. - -Author: William Henry Newlin - -Release Date: January 19, 2016 [EBook #50970] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE ESCAPE OF *** - - - - -Produced by Christopher Wright and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - - - - - - - - - AN ACCOUNT - OF THE - ESCAPE OF SIX FEDERAL SOLDIERS - FROM PRISON AT DANVILLE, VA.: - THEIR TRAVELS BY NIGHT - THROUGH - THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY TO THE UNION PICKETS - AT GAULEY BRIDGE, WEST VIRGINIA, - IN THE WINTER OF 1863-64. - - BY - - W. H. NEWLIN, - _Lieutenant Seventy-Third Illinois Volunteers_. - - CINCINNATI: - WESTERN METHODIST BOOK CONCERN PRINT. - 1887. - - - - - Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, - BY W. H. NEWLIN, - In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. - - - - -PREFACE. - - -The account contained in these pages was first written in 1866. Its -publication was delayed in the hope that we should learn something of -our two comrades who were left behind. After revising and abridging it -somewhat, it is presented to the reader in its present form. We were -compelled to rely on memory in preserving for publication the incidents -here narrated, as while on our trip we had neither pencil nor paper. -That reliance, however, was not in vain, as the scenes through which -we passed, though here poorly portrayed, are of a character not easily -forgotten. They are indelibly enstamped on the memory, and it seems -each year as it passes renders the recollection of them more vivid and -distinct. It is not needful to state the motives which prompted this -compilation. Much of the same character has been written and published, -but as this differs in one essential particular, at least, from all -that has yet appeared, we hope that fact will form a sufficient excuse -for introducing it to the public. - - W. H. N. - - - - -This Narrative DULY AUTHENTICATED by SWORN STATEMENTS of Two Comrades -who were on the Escape, is on file in Pension Claim, No. 352,023. - -[Illustration: After Seventeen Years Inquiry.] - -From all the information ever obtained touching the fate of first -comrade left behind, the _reasonable_ conclusion is that he PERISHED -at or near the place where we left him, his remains being found and -decently buried near Blue Ridge Mountain. Whatever his _fate_ may have -been, it was _self_ decreed. His reasons for preferring to be left -alone were satisfactory to him, and were not _all_ disclosed to us. -One explanation of this last rather singular circumstance may be found -in the fact that the comrade was an Englishman, and had been in this -country but a few weeks before enlisting. - -How much we should like to see the old "darky" to whom we said, "Put -your ear to the string-hole," and on his compliance with the request -we pronounced the word "_Yankees_." (See page 60.) "I'll git my -trowserloons on." - -In the case of leaving the second comrade, as described on pages -72-76, there was no option or time for deliberation. The exigencies of -the hour compelled a separation. Mr. Tripp succeeded in escaping the -notice of our pursuers, though hid in their immediate vicinity, and -hearing their talk enumerating reasons for their failure to "_take us -in_." After several days and nights of wandering and hiding, and of -varied and interesting experience, Mr. Tripp was recaptured, sent to -Richmond, kept there until September, 1864, was paroled, exchanged, and -discharged. He is now living near Burlington, Kansas. - -John F. Wood died June 20, 1864, "of wounds received in action." -Referring to this, Sutherland, in a letter written not long since, -says: "What a pity Wood had to die so soon after escaping prison. But -he might have died a slow and miserable death at Andersonville had he -not escaped." - -Sutherland is living in Michigan, near Eagle Station. Smith resides -at Dundee, same state. Mr. Smith very narrowly escaped drowning at -Craig's Creek. Mr. Sutherland's opportune landing on the opposite bank -of the rushing stream barely in time to extend to Smith a helping hand -is all that saved him. In addition to all others, we had the perils by -"_Bogus Yankees_" to encounter or avoid. We _risked_ our lives to save -them, and saving them we _risked_ them again and again for our country. -Having been captured in our third battle, by escaping, at least two of -us, added to the three, thirteen more. But all this was better than -Andersonville. We _might_ have been numbered among the MARTYRS of the -nineteenth century. "I would not make that trip again," said Smith, -"for the whole state of Michigan," adding "unless I had to." - - DANVILLE, ILL., November 27, 1885. W. H. N. - - - - -INTRODUCTION. - - -In those "stirring times," during the late war, when powder, and ball, -and the bayonet were the orders of the day, an escape from prison -and a secret, hidden march through the Confederacy, was accounted an -exciting, as well as a very lucky event. Even at this day, accounts of -such are not stale, but possess a thrilling interest, especially to -those who participated in them and to their friends. Our journey over -mountain and valley, over hill and dale, and across rivers, branches, -and rivulets almost innumerable, was accomplished mostly in the night -time. - -We had neither map nor compass to guide us. The north star alone served -us in shaping our course, and very often it was concealed by ominous -clouds. We took many needless steps, and made many needless and weary -miles in consequence of lack of knowledge of the country and of the -course we were steering. Sometimes the desolate hour of Winter's -midnight found us far from the public highway, and almost inextricably -involved in the brush and tangled mazes of the forest. At such times, -being almost at our wit's end, we would try to advance on a "bee line" -until the open country or some road was reached. - -At one time, when much bewildered in the shadowy woods, in night -time, we began to despair of success. We sat down to contemplate our -condition and our cheerless prospect. Had an enemy been approaching -us we could have well-nigh welcomed him, so he brought deliverance. -At length the stillness and thick darkness of the night made our -loneliness oppressive, and we groped on. Soon we found a road, and -realized that the "darkest hour is just before day." - -Knoxville, East Tennessee, was the point at which we first aimed, but -on nearing the line of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad we -learned Longstreet's forces were in Bull's Gap. We then bore northward. - -On first setting out on our trip we were extremely cautious. During -the first nights and days, after starting, we talked only in whispers. -We passed houses with the utmost care, as dogs were at almost every -house, and their acuteness in discovering our presence was astonishing, -in view of the caution we exercised. Early in our trip, one night near -eleven o'clock, as we were nearing a house, a dog barked savagely at -us. Instantly the front door opened, and by the light of a fire in the -fire-place we saw a woman in her night clothing, watching us pass. -Late one night, after midnight, we met a citizen on the road. He was -on horseback, moving slowly along. He gave the road, at the same time -checking his horse slightly. When he had passed by, the way he made -his horse scamper was lively, to say the least. "He must be after the -doctor, the way he goes," observed Trippe. "He took sick mi'ty sudden," -rejoined Wood. "The sight of us at this time is enough to make him -sick," put in a third. We were walking in Indian file, and had our -blankets drawn loosely over our shoulders and dragging almost on the -ground. Doubtless we were scary looking objects, especially as Smith -had his bed-quilt hung over him. Thinking the man had possibly gone for -re-enforcements with which to "gobble" us, we hurried forward. - -The night of our discovery of the cavalry horses, being much wearied, -and feeling we were going to be "hard pressed" for food, we climbed -into a corn field to hunt for corn that might have been left on the -stalks. Each of our party followed two rows across the field and two -back, but not a "nubbin" could be found. Not finding a grain of corn on -two dozen rows, and the corn blades being also gone, we concluded, as -Taylor observed, "They gather their nubbins clean in the Confederacy." -"Yes," added Wood, "they can't hold out much longer." - -Another night, at a late hour, after Taylor and Trippe had fallen by -the way, when in Craig or Alleghany county, we reached a point where -the road we were traveling crossed a pike. On reaching the pike we -halted, and a disagreement arose among us as to the course we should -take. We quarreled, words ran high, and we seemed to have forgotten -our safety depended on secrecy, as there was no lack of emphasis in -what we had to say. At last Sutherland ended the dispute by saying -to me, "Let's go on." We started immediately, leaving Smith and Wood -muttering. For more than an hour we steadily pursued our course, when, -discovering it was nearly day, we halted in the woods, near the road -side, to see if our comrades were coming up. Soon they came along the -road, and one of them said, "They'd better not advance too far without -support." "Yes," said Sutherland, "we are waiting for the reserves to -come up." Soon after we were hid for the day. - -The Union people, the hardy mountaineers of Virginia, or those of them -with whom we came in contact, rendered us valuable assistance. Without -their aid, indeed, and the aid of the negroes, we could hardly have -escaped through the almost barren country of the enemy, especially in -the inclement season. We have heard from David Hepler, James Huffman, -and Mrs. Mann since the war closed. In a letter from Hepler, received -not long since, he says: "I have not forgotten the time I came to you -in the woods and found you all asleep." - -We copy one of Huffman's letters in part. It was dated November 11, -1867: "As to information concerning your fellow-prisoner that was lost -the evening you came to my house, it was not the Botetourt Guards that -fired on your squad. It was the furnace company. I saw a lady, living -near the furnace, who saw the men returning. They said they neither -killed nor captured any of your squad. As to Paxton, he is living yet; -so are the people that had the boy hid under the bed." - -Our latest information respecting Trippe is a report that he was -recaptured, taken back, and shot as an example. Of Taylor, nothing has -ever been heard, by us at least, and our painful conjecture is that he -never reached the lines. Of our three comrades who reached the lines, -Smith and Sutherland are living in Michigan, and Wood is supposed to -be a resident of the Key-stone State. Smith, of the Fourth Michigan -Cavalry, was present at the capture of the Confederate President, -Jefferson Davis. - - - - -A STORY OF THE WAR. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - CAPTURE--PRISON AT RICHMOND--AT DANVILLE--SMALL-POX--HOSPITAL - AND CONVALESCENT CAMP--WARD-MASTER AND NURSES--ESCAPE PROM - THE GUARDS--TRAIN OF CARS--FOILED AT SEVEN-MILE FERRY--NARROW - ESCAPE--HIDING IN CAROLINA--CROSSING DAN RIVER--SINGING AND - DANCING--EATING AT MIDNIGHT--SABBATH DAY RETREAT--PROVISION - EXHAUSTED--EFFORT TO PROCURE SUPPLIES--ITS FAILURE--HARD - MARCHING--HUNGER AT MIDNIGHT--HIDING PLACE--WASHINGTON'S - BIRTHDAY--SLEEP. - - -The writer hereof was among the prisoners captured by the enemy in -the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia, September 20, 1863. Others of the -regiment to which I belonged also fell into the enemy's hands. As we -had served together through all the vicissitudes of a soldier's life in -the camp, on the march, and in battle, we resolved to remain together, -and stand by each other as prisoners as long as circumstances would -permit. On the day after the battle, September 21st, we were placed -on board the cars at Tunnel Hill, and sent under a strong guard, by -a circuitous route, through Georgia and the Carolinas, to Richmond, -Virginia. We arrived in Richmond on September 29th, eight days having -been occupied in the transfer of prisoners from the battle-field. -We remained in Richmond through the month of October, and until -November 14, 1863, when we were removed to Danville, Virginia, which -is south-west of Richmond about one hundred and fifty miles, in -Pittsylvania county. The transfer was by rail, and each member of our -squad succeeded in getting aboard the same car. Near noon of November -15th we reached Danville, and were immediately introduced to our new -quarters. Our squad was allotted a space on the second floor of -Prison No. 2, a large frame building, where it remained unbroken until -December 15, 1863. - -A short time previous to this date the small-pox had made its -appearance among the prisoners. On December 14th I was taken sick, the -usual symptoms of small-pox appearing in my case; and on the 15th I -was examined by the Confederate surgeon and sent to the hospital, in -company with three other patients from other prisons in the vicinity. - -As I here separate from the six persons with whom I had been associated -since my capture, and with whom so much discomfort and inconvenience -and so many privations had been borne, I here give their names. They -were John Hesser and John North, of Company A, Seventy-Third Illinois -Infantry Volunteers, and James Kilpatrick, of Company B; Enoch P. -Brown, John Thornton, and William Ellis, of Company C. They were all -of the same regiment with myself, and the three last named were of the -same company. The two first named and myself were all of our squad -that lived through the term of imprisonment. My term, however, did -not last as long as that of the others, as the following pages will -show. If my information is correct James Kilpatrick died as a prisoner -under parole early in 1865, at Wilmington, North Carolina. E. P. Brown -and John Thornton died at Andersonville, Georgia, in September, 1864. -Brown died on the first anniversary of his capture, September 20th, -and Thornton died a few days before. William Ellis died at Charleston, -South Carolina, near the close of the year 1864. Hesser and North were -among the last of the Andersonville prisoners that were exchanged and -sent North. - -On arriving at the small-pox hospital I was placed on a bunk in Ward -No. 1. I kept in-doors for the space of five or six days, at the end of -which time I was classed among the convalescents. On or about December -22d, three convalescents, of whom I was one, accompanied by only one -guard, went into the woods on the right bank of Dan River, in quest -of persimmons. We went some distance into the country, probably four -miles, and secured a quantity of persimmons, which we distributed to -the patients in Ward No. 1 on our return to it in the evening. While -out on this ramble through the woods, guarded by only one person, I -was favorably impressed with the notion of attempting an escape from -the Confederates at some future time, when strength would permit. The -idea was suggested to my mind by the carelessness of the guard, who -more than once set his gun against trees and wandered some distance -from it. - -About Christmas a row of eight wall tents was put up on the hospital -grounds, to be used as quarters for convalescents. I was one of eight -persons assigned to tent No. 1, and, as I was a non-commissioned -officer, the hospital steward placed me in charge of the sixty-four -men occupying the eight tents. It is needless to recite here what -the duties were that belonged to my position, but I discharged them -as faithfully as I could, so as to keep out of the prison-house in -Danville as long as possible. - -Sometime in the month of January, 1864, the nurses in each of the -three wards of the hospital escaped from the guards, and started for -our lines. This necessitated another detail of nurses for the wards, -and the detail was made from among the convalescents. The hospital -steward did me the favor to appoint me as ward-master of Ward No. -1, giving me the privilege of selecting those who were to assist me -as nurses in the ward. I selected those with whom I had become most -intimately acquainted as convalescents. Lucien B. Smith, of Company F, -Fourth Michigan Cavalry; William Sutherland, of Company H, Sixteenth -United States Infantry; Watson C. Trippe, of Company H, Fifteenth -United States Infantry, and John F. Wood, of Company G, Twenty-Sixth -Ohio Infantry, were the persons selected. After a short time, Robert -G. Taylor, of Company G, Second Massachusetts Cavalry, was added to -our force of nurses, to make the burden of labor in the ward a little -lighter on us. We attended the patients in Ward No. 1 day after day, -and night after night, as well as we could with the scanty supplies of -medicine and food furnished by the Confederates, until the night of -February 19, 1864. Very many of our fellow-prisoners came under our -care while we were acting the part of nurses. Many of them died, and -we saw their bodies carted away to the burying-ground and deposited in -their last earthly resting places. - -By the 12th of February the small-pox had begun to abate. As a -consequence, the convalescent camp and Ward No. 3 were discontinued. A -day or two later and Ward No. 2 was cleared of patients and its doors -closed. Those who had been attending as nurses were returned to prison. -Two weeks, or three at most, could hardly elapse before the hospital -would be entirely broken up. In this event we should be returned to the -dreary prisons in Danville, whence escape was scarcely possible. To -be kept in prison many months, perhaps until death alone should bring -release, was an unwelcome prospect, and we looked upon it with feelings -of dread. We had friends and comrades among the prisoners, whom we -disliked to leave behind us, but as our presence with them could do -neither them nor us any good, we determined to improve the first -opportunity of attempting an escape from the Confederates, and avoid -the prison entirely. - -February 19, 1864, was a cool day for lower Virginia, and we would -have deferred our escape for a few nights had we not luckily and -accidentally ascertained that we should be sent into prison on the -morning of the 20th. Our careful, though hasty, preparations for -slipping off from the guards were accordingly commenced just before -dark on the evening of February 19th. Before entering upon the detailed -account of our escape and subsequent trip to the Union lines, it -will be requisite to describe briefly the hospital buildings and -surroundings. - -The hospital was situated one mile south-west of Danville, on the right -bank of Dan River. The river runs in a north-east course, consequently -the hospital was on the south of it. There were three wards at the -hospital, each capable of accommodating fifty patients. The wards were -numbered one, two, and three. There were also a cook-house, a steward's -office, and a dead-house. These buildings were constructed of undressed -pine lumber. Ward No. 1 was located on the top of a high round hill; -near its south-east corner, and almost adjoining it was the cook-house. -A few steps north of the ward, and equidistant from its eastern and -western extremities, stood the steward's office. At the west end of -the ward was the dead-house. About one hundred yards south-west of the -dead-house Ward No. 2 was situated, on the hill-side. At the foot of -the hill, nearly one hundred yards south-west of Ward No. 2, stood -Ward No. 3. Directly east of Ward No. 2, and south of Ward No. 1, was -the row of tents which had been used by convalescents. Still further -east, at the foot of the hill, was a considerable branch, coursing its -way northward to Dan River. Just across the branch, on its right bank, -was a large wall tent, in and near which all the clothes washing for -the hospital was done. The persons detailed to do the washing slept -in the tent. The Confederate surgeon in charge of the hospital had -his quarters in Tent No. 1 of the row of tents formerly occupied by -convalescents. His tent was nearest the cook-house and Ward No. 1. -The tent we occupied, when not on duty in the ward, stood just south -of the surgeon's tent, and so near it that the ropes supporting it -interlocked or crossed those which supported the surgeon's tent. In -Ward No. 1 was the receptacle or place of deposit for all clothing -that had been washed. Quite a lot of clothing, belonging in part to -patients in the different wards, but mainly to the unfortunate ones who -had died, was stored away for the use and benefit of those who might -be insufficiently clothed. Wards No. 1 and 3 had been whitewashed, but -Ward No. 2, which had been put up between them, at a subsequent date, -was not. - -Near Ward No. 3, at the base of the hill, was a spring of water, -from which the hospital was supplied. Between the wards and other -hospital buildings, and all about over the hill-sides, stood tall and -straight pines. To the north of the hospital, about three-quarters of -a mile distant, was Dan River, with its swift, noisy waters, hedged -in by steep, rugged banks. To the south-east and south were cleared -lands, traversed by a branch and its tributaries. Still farther south -were heavy woods, with one point of timber projecting some distance -northward, into the cleared land toward the hospital. - -During the afternoon of February 19th, William Sutherland and myself -were wheeling wood on a wheelbarrow from Ward No. 3 to Ward No. 1. -Having to wheel it up hill it was a wearisome task, and we occasionally -stopped for rest. Near four o'clock in the evening, while resting about -half-way up the hill-side, Sutherland said to me, "It looks to me very -much as if this hospital would be broken up soon." I agreed with him -in his opinion, and remarked that our lease of time at the hospital -was growing short. After a little further conversation, we resolved to -consult with the other nurses on the propriety of attempting an escape, -and get them to set out with us for our lines on the next night. - -In less than an hour's time we had finished our task of wheeling wood, -and were resting on our bunks in the tent. Before either of us had -met with our comrades, Smith, who was off duty that evening, came to -us and informed us he had something to tell us that we would not like -to hear. We told him to acquaint us with his news, however unwelcome -it might be. We readily conjectured what it was that so interested -Smith, and our conjecture proved correct. He had overheard some of the -guards in their talking, and had learned that it was the purpose of -the Confederates to send us to prison in the morning. This news did -not surprise us, and we were heartily pleased to learn the intentions -of the Confederates, although they were not of an amicable nature. We -resolved to prevent, if possible, the carrying of these intentions into -effect. Smith was then told of the resolution we had formed an hour -before to set out on the next night for the Union lines. The sun had -already disappeared behind the hills. We knew our fate if we remained -at the hospital until its light should again break forth in the east. -Our purpose to attempt at least, even if we did not succeed, to leave -the hospital, the sick, the Confederate guards, and the Danville -prisons that night was immediately and firmly fixed. - -Our preparations were at once commenced. We were obliged to exercise -the utmost caution in all our movements, as a few of the guards were -standing about over the hospital grounds; some of them were in the -cook-house. We wished by no word, or look, or act of ours, to lead them -to suspect our purpose of eluding them and striking for liberty. - -Smith left Sutherland and me in the tent and joined Trippe, Taylor, and -Wood, who were on duty in the ward. Smith soon found an opportunity -of conferring with his associates, and telling them of the meditated -escape. Taylor and Wood were anxious to join it, but Trippe, who had -but recently recovered from the small-pox, was distrustful of his -strength; and as he had once before escaped, and got some fifty miles -away, only to be recaptured and brought back, he did not so readily -sanction the project. The nurses who were on duty in the ward now, -assisted by Smith, gave their exclusive attention to the sick; they -were even more attentive than usual. No one would have suspected from -their conduct that they would ever forsake the sick ones under their -care. - -Just before dark Sutherland suggested the propriety of determining on -a place of rendezvous for our party after the guards were passed, as -it was certain we could not all pass out at once without being seen. -I stepped outside the tent, and walked leisurely up hill, and stood -near the south end of the cook-house. Directly south of me, about a -mile distant, was a prominent point of timber, projecting northward -from the main body toward the hospital. This point of timber seemed -suitable for the purposes of a rendezvous, and on returning to the -tent I directed Sutherland's attention to it. He concurred with me as -to the fitness of the place for a rendezvous, and went to the ward to -call the attention of Smith, Trippe, Taylor, and Wood to it. As it was -important that our party should fix in the mind the place of rendezvous -before it was too dark to see, those who were engaged in the ward came -out, one at a time, and glanced across at the point of timber. By so -doing misunderstanding and delay, at the critical moment, would be -prevented. While Trippe was out taking a look he noticed two or three -guards approaching him. He walked on down hill in the direction of the -wash-house, as if going after clean bed-clothes or other clothing for -patients. - -Near eight o'clock, P. M., Sutherland sought an interview with the -cook, but found the Rebels had not yet left the cook-house for their -own quarters; so he quietly withdrew from the room. The cook--who of -course was one of our own men--followed him to the door and asked if -any thing was wanted. As the Rebels were within hearing, Sutherland -answered, "There is a man in the ward who would like to have a little -soup, but I guess he can get along without it. If he must have some," -continued Sutherland, "I will come back and let you know." - -"All right," answered the cook. - -Soon after the guards went to their quarters, which were situated near -the guard line, but little more than a quarter of a mile distant, -south-west of the cook-house. The cook was again sought by Sutherland, -and this time he was found alone, and just ready to retire for the -night. Sutherland lost no time in making his business known to him. -Six haversacks, the best that could be found in the deposit for clean -clothing, were delivered to the cook, who agreed to fill them with the -best provision the cook-house at the time afforded. Sutherland then -busied himself in selecting clothing for our party from the deposit of -clothing that had been washed and stored away. When he had selected the -number of garments required he carried them down to our tent. He and I -then took off the clothing we had long worn, and put on entirely clean -suits. We then went to the ward and relieved our four associates, who -immediately went down to our tent and put on clean suits also. The six -haversacks, which were filled with the best provisions the cook could -provide, were brought to the tent from the cook-house. - -Near eleven o'clock, P. M., our arrangements for leaving were about -complete, or as nearly so as was possible with the means at command. -Taylor, Sutherland, and Wood, each had an overcoat and blanket; Smith -had an overcoat and a large bed-quilt. Trippe and I each had a blanket; -we had no overcoats, but we wore an extra shirt and blouse apiece. -For our feet we provided the best shoes that could be found about the -hospital, and took pains to secure long and strong strings for them. -During our attendance in the ward, patients about dying, or near death, -had in several instances presented the nurses with their overcoats. -These overcoats had been sold by the nurses to the guards for -Confederate scrip. In this way we had obtained near two hundred dollars -in scrip to carry with us on our journey. Taylor had a watch which was -in time-keeping order. He also had a canteen. Smith had a half-moon -tin bucket, which held about three quarts. The only knives we had were -made of sheet-iron. - -We had watched in the ward, and perfected our arrangements for leaving -by turns, until near midnight. A little after eleven o'clock we waked -up two or three of the stoutest patients in the ward, and told them -our departure was near at hand, and that they must watch in the ward -for us, and keep the lights burning until morning. We then bid them -good-by, cast a last glance over the sick, and closed the door of the -ward behind us for the last time. We repaired immediately to our tent -and completed our final preparations for the trip. - -As our tent was near that of the Rebel surgeon we were obliged to carry -on our conversation in a low tone. We put out blankets in a convenient -shape for carrying, and made every thing ready for starting. It was -settled, in the first place, that we should slip out from the hospital -grounds two at a time. Which two should go first was the next question -that came up for decision. Six small sticks were prepared, and we drew -cuts. These sticks were of three different lengths, and the two who -held the short ones were to pass out first. The two who held the sticks -next shortest were to follow in a given time, and the two holding -the longest sticks, in due time, were to bring up the rear. When the -drawing was over Sutherland and I held the short sticks. - -As time was precious we placed our haversacks and blankets under our -arms and stepped outside the tent. We stood a moment at the tent door, -listening for the voices or footsteps of the guards. No sound fell upon -our ears save that of the wind blowing through the tops of the tall -pine-trees. On starting we went to the top of the hill and stopped -at the south-east corner of the cook-house, where we again listened -intently, but heard nothing. The moon, which had been shining at -intervals since night-fall, had become partially obscured by floating -vapor clouds. We kept our haversacks and blankets under our arms in -such a shape as to imitate closely a bundle of clothing. We then -walked slowly down the hill toward the wash-house. We followed the -path leading to the wash-house until we reached the branch. Instead of -crossing the branch on the foot-log we turned to our right and went -directly up stream, stepping sometimes on the ice and breaking it. We -kept close to the bluff, and stooped slightly, so that it screened -us from the west. To our left, on the east of the branch, was a flat -or bottom, covered with pine shrubs and other bushes, which hid us -from view in that direction. Unless the sentinel on duty had happened -to be near the branch while we were passing, we could scarcely have -done otherwise than escape unseen. At length we had proceeded, with -much caution, a sufficient distance in the direction of our appointed -rendezvous to feel light-hearted and secure. We pushed forward rapidly, -crossed two rail-fences and gained the shelter of the woods, where we -were to await the coming of Smith and Taylor, who had held the sticks -of medium length at the drawing a few moments before. Sutherland and I -laid our haversacks and blankets aside, and quietly, though anxiously, -awaited their approach. - -While waiting, after the anxiety and excitement of the moment had -somewhat subsided, we found the weather quite cold. Our whiskers became -stiff and whitened with frost, and the winds penetrated our clothing. -The moon shone out brightly. The sky was without a cloud. Those which -had partially covered it, only a few moments before, had cleared -entirely away. Our patience was severely tried, as our comrades, so -anxiously expected, had not joined us. On getting quite cold in the -breezes of the wintery midnight, we danced about on our feet, and -extended our arms to quicken the circulation of the blood, and get -ourselves warm. In this manner we passed some two or three minutes, -when we stood still to listen for the coming of Smith and Taylor. -We listened anxiously, but the sound of their welcome footsteps did -not greet our ears. "Can it be that they have been caught?" we asked -ourselves. - -"If they have been caught the Rebels will soon miss us, and be on the -alert, searching for us," said Sutherland. - -"Perhaps we had better be off then," I answered. - -We listened a moment longer, but heard nothing. We then gathered our -haversacks and blankets, and started westward through the woods. We had -gone but a few steps before we heard the noise of persons climbing the -fence. We halted and remained perfectly still, as we were not sure -the rebels were not on our trail. Soon we could distinguish the forms -of two persons in the moonlight. They were moving toward the point of -timber we had just left. We now knew they were Smith and Taylor, and -soon had the pleasure of hearing our names called in low, subdued tones -by their familiar voices. Our whereabouts was soon made known to them, -and they were soon with us. Smith and Taylor wished to know why we had -not stopped in the point of timber, as agreed upon. We told them we had -stopped there, had waited some time for them, and had given them up as -lost, and then started on our journey alone, getting as far as that -before hearing them. - -We had not long to wait for Wood and Trippe. They had followed Smith -and Taylor more closely than the latter had followed Sutherland and -myself. When Trippe and Wood had joined us, we introduced ourselves as -Federals, and late nurses at the small-pox hospital near Danville, Va. -As the squads of two each had formed a junction, our party of six was -ready to move. - -After adjusting our haversacks and blankets about us, so that we -could easily carry them, we set out through the woods in a westerly -direction. In the woods we found that the snow which had fallen a few -days before had not melted. We disliked to walk on it, as we left a -distinct trail behind. We pushed on, however, and soon struck a wagon -road, from which the snow had either blown off or melted away. It was -not a public road, but was used merely as a timber road, to get out of -the woods with loads of rails and wood. Its surface was very hard and -gravelly, and we followed it a mile or two in a southerly direction -without leaving many distinct foot-prints. - -The railroad leading from Danville, Va., to Greensboro, N. C., was soon -reached, and we followed it in a south-west course: we walked on the -ties, and made very good time. Soon we had reached a part of the road -which ran over a high grading. On hearing a distant rumbling noise in -the south, we judged there was a train of cars coming. In a few minutes -more we saw the head-light on the engine as it came around the curve -made necessary by the hills. We quickly slipped down the side of the -grading into the bushes, and watched the train as it passed. But one -person on the train was visible to us, and that was a man standing at -the door of the last car with a lantern in his hand. - -On regaining the top of the grade, we resumed our travels, walking on -the ties as before. We followed the railroad until we had gone about -five miles from our starting-point, when we came to a wagon road, which -crossed the railroad at right angles. This road had the appearance of -being much traveled; by turning to our right and following it, we went -north-west--the direction we wished to go. As we passed a house near -the road side, Trippe recognized the place as one he had seen when out -before, making his first attempt to escape. He also knew the road we -were following would lead us to the Seven-mile Ferry. This ferry was -so called from the fact of its being seven miles up Dan River from -Danville. We wished to gain the left or northern bank of Dan River -before daybreak, if possible, and we pushed on eagerly and rapidly. -The road was smooth. Its white sandy surface could be plainly seen. -Dense woods, with thick bushy undergrowth, closely lined it on either -side. The hill leading down to the ferry was at length reached. It was -a long, but not a steep hill. The road as it led us down the hill-side -was meandering in its course. - -When we were but little more than half-way down hill, the thought -that there might be a guard at the ferry happened to suggest itself -to Trippe's mind. He proposed that we should retire into the brush -near the road side, and wait until he should go on toward the ferry -and reconnoiter. We assented to this proposal, and went a dozen steps -or more from the road and halted. Trippe went on down hill alone. He -was gone several minutes, a half hour almost it seemed to us in our -restless anxiety and concern. We became impatient for his return, and -quitting our places in the brush, walked down hill on the road. Near -the foot of the hill we saw Trippe slowly retreating from the ferry. -He had seen us, and removing the cap from his head, was excitedly -motioning for us to halt. We stopped immediately, and kept still. -Trippe also stopped, and turned around, looking anxiously toward the -ferry. He looked only for a moment, and then quietly rejoined us where -we had been waiting. He whispered to us, saying, "Let's go back up -hill." We turned about, and walked silently up the road. No word was -spoken until we had reached the hill-top. It was to us a moment of deep -and thrilling interest and expectancy. - -[Illustration: "FOILED AT SEVEN-MILE FERRY."--PAGE 20.] - -On reaching the upland we halted at the road side, and Trippe reported -the discoveries he had made at the ferry. He had gone very cautiously -down hill, and had soon stood where he could see the river plainly, -and also the ferry-boat. He had stood perfectly still until he had -assured himself that no guard was near. He could see nothing but the -forest-trees, the river, and the ferry-boat, in the light of the -brightly shining moon, which made the frost and waters sparkle. He -could hear no sound, save those of the swiftly running waters, and -these amply sufficed to drown any noise he himself might make. He -turned around and started back to us, to beckon us forward. Almost at -the same instant he heard a noise. Thinking he might have trodden on -a stick and broken it, thus making the noise himself, he proceeded -half a dozen steps further; when, still hearing something, he stopped, -and again looked in the direction of the ferry. A little to the right -of it, in the edge of the woods, he saw the sparks of a fire flying -upward. He watched the fire closely, and it sent up a blaze which shed -light far around. One Butternut cavalryman was first seen to stir the -fire, and then add fuel to it. Soon three others got up from their bed -and warmed themselves. Trippe stood still, and watched them, until -they laid down and covered themselves in their bed. He then silently -withdrew, feeling sure he had not been heard or seen. As he did so, -the horses of the cavalrymen neighed, and pawed the ground, as if -manifesting uneasiness. As we were sure the Confederates were not aware -of our presence, we felt glad we had escaped so well. Our escape was a -narrow one, however; had we arrived at the ferry ten minutes sooner, we -should most certainly have been recaptured. - -Our disappointment in not getting across the river at the ferry was -great, as we could make no progress in the direction we wished to go -until we had gained its northern bank. We consulted briefly as to the -course we should pursue; and soon determined to retrace our steps until -we should find another road, or some path that would lead us up the -river. We started. As the weather was cold and morning approaching, we -hurried on. An obscure road, leading off in a south-west direction, -was soon found. We changed our course, and followed it. It led by some -plantation houses. We left the road and houses some distance to our -right, as we did not wish to alarm the dogs and set them to barking. - -On returning to the road, we followed it directly up the river until -we had traveled five or six miles, from Seven-mile Ferry. It became -evident that day-break was at hand. A safe hiding-place for the day -next engaged our attention, and we halted. It was first determined that -one of our number should go a quarter of a mile further up the road, -to see if any houses were near in that direction. Sutherland went some -distance ahead, and on returning reported none. As we had passed but -one house since falling back from the ferry, we judged we were some -distance from any human habitation. The query then arose, shall we hide -in the open woods on our left, or in the inclosed woods on our right? -After a short parley, we concluded to secrete ourselves in the inclosed -woods. We could then get to the river without having the road to cross. -Any parties of cavalrymen that might be out scouring the country, were -also less likely to come across us in our retreat. Accordingly we -crossed the rail-fence, and left it and the road directly behind us. We -worked our way through the thickets of brush and briers until we were -fully a quarter of a mile from the road, in the direction of the river. -On a spot of ground entirely surrounded by pine-trees and bushes we -made our bed, and, lying down, soon fell asleep. - -The weather being quite cold in the early morning, we waked up at -sunrise, on account of cold feet and general discomfort of body. -Trippe got up and took a partial survey of the adjacent woods. He -went northward, still further from the road we had left at day-break, -and found an open space where we could make our bed in the sunshine. -To this open space, which was covered over with tall dead grass, we -moved our haversacks and bedding. As we wished to rest well during the -day, we took pains to make a good bed. Quite a lot of dead grass and -leaves was first gathered. On the grass and leaves we spread the four -overcoats belonging to our party. On the overcoats we spread Smith's -bed quilt. Our caps, haversacks, and blouses were used as pillows, and -our five blankets were used as covering. In this manner we usually -made our bed all through our trip, varying it, of course, according -to circumstances. Having completed our bed, we laid ourselves down to -rest, and slept comfortably until late in the day. We made it a rule -for each of our party to sleep as much as desired during the day. We -did not require one of our number to keep awake as a watch for the -others during the day. If we had done so, we, of course, would have -watched by turns. The propriety of so doing was often discussed, but -we generally deemed it safest to have no watch, as the person watching -would have to sit or stand up, and would thus expose himself to the -danger of being seen by somebody who might be passing, and so lead to -our recapture. - -It was near four o'clock in the afternoon of February 20th, when we -aroused ourselves from our first slumber as refugees from prison. We -got up and went down into a hollow near us, where there was running -water, and washed our faces. After combing our hair, we opened our -haversacks, and were about commencing to eat, when we discovered that -our corn-bread was frozen. Our matches--of which we had two small -boxes--which we had luckily procured some two weeks before, now came -in good play, as it was needful to have a small fire in order to thaw -our bread. We secured a small lot of dry pine limbs and twigs, and -built a fire in the hollow sufficient for our purposes; and soon we had -dispatched our first meal since leaving Ward No. 1. After finishing our -meal, we put our blankets and other baggage in traveling order. As it -was too early to set out, we engaged in conversation, laying plans and -expedients for effecting a crossing of the river. We resolved to put -ourselves across Dan River that night, or on the following day, at -almost any risk. As a final preparation for the night's marching, we -each secured a stout stick or cane. One of the boys alleged our canes -would be needed in case of attack. Taylor had a very large cane for a -man of his size. On being spoken to concerning it, he remarked that he -was going to cross the river on it. The evening wore away. The king of -day having sunk below the western horizon, we began to look for the -moon, whose light was to shine upon our pathway. It had not appeared -above the horizon; soon afterward, however, the moon arose, and began -shedding light. We felt a kind of loneliness on leaving the place which -had sheltered us during the day. - -As Danville, Virginia, was within one mile of the southern boundary of -the State, and as we were at least thirteen miles south-west of that -place, we knew we were in the friendly brush and thickets of North -Carolina. On setting out, instead of going directly back to the road, -we traveled parallel with it for more than a mile. We then changed -our course and went back to it, thinking it late enough to travel it -without meeting any one. We had gone but a few miles on the road, and -passed but one house, when the noise of the river assured us it was not -far off. We then left the road and sought the banks of the stream. We -crossed an old field, in which we found much mud and water. The walking -was slavish and wearisome, as the wet, clayey soil adhered to our -shoes. The snow, which had recently melted, had swollen the branches. -We found it necessary to cross a branch or almost go back on our -trail. By means of a fence, a water gate, and some rails, we succeeded -in crossing it without much difficulty. It required time and close -watching, however. - -On leaving the branch behind us we climbed a fence and entered -the woods. These woods were dense, and there was a thick, brushy -undergrowth, which greatly impeded our progress. We found it impossible -to go directly to the river. It was quite dark, for, although the moon -was shining brightly, its light penetrated the heavy woods imperfectly. -From the incessant roar of waters we judged we were near the river; -but we struggled on through vines and thickets for a full half-hour -longer. It was not a great while until we could see, ahead of us, quite -an opening; it was the course of the river through the forests. We -pressed on and soon stood upon the bank, against which dashed the angry -waters. Huge pieces of ice were borne swiftly down the swollen stream. -We had thought of constructing a raft of poles and rails, lashing them -together with bark and vines; but such materials were not at hand, and -the condition of the river forbade the attempt at crossing on a raft. -We longed to get across the river, but the prospect seemed all but -hopeless. - -We pushed on up stream, hoping to find suitable materials for building -a raft and a place where the condition of the river would admit of -launching it. We had gone a mile or more without discovering any means -by which we could cross the stream; still we did not despair; hope -continued to struggle against reality. We must get across the river -that night, we thought, or venture too far and risk too much to-morrow. -The current of water became more rapid and impetuous as we advanced; -the roar of the river sounded much louder than before, and our chances -of getting across did not seem to improve. We soon came to a drift of -logs, slabs, and rails, but owing to the condition of the stream, the -quantities of ice and other obstructions in it, we concluded it would -be time and labor lost to make a raft and attempt a crossing there. Our -resolution to follow on up stream, keeping close to the water's edge -until morning, was then fixed. If we failed to find a canoe or other -means of crossing before that time we were then to resort to other -measures to get us out of our difficulties. - -After our minds were fully made up as to the course we should pursue -we traveled about two and a half or three miles, when Sutherland -and I, who were considerably in advance, espied a canoe fastened -to the shore-with a chain and padlock. We were almost overjoyed at -the discovery. We could not wait for our associates to come up, but -followed back down stream to meet them. They were soon informed that we -had found a canoe, but they were almost incredulous. In a few minutes, -however, all doubts were removed, as they beheld with their own eyes -the object of our anxious and careful search. We felt as jubilant and -hopeful as if deliverance from all our troubles was just at hand; but, -in the excitement of the moment, we did not forget to exercise caution. -It was evident the canoe had not been used for several days; the oar -was lying in it, frozen in the ice, which had thawed but little; the -ice near the middle of the canoe, where the oar was lying, was about -three inches thick. In loosening the oar and breaking the chain which -secured the canoe, much noise would be made. It was necessary to have -two or three rails or poles. Smith and I went out some distance from -the river to procure them, and to see if any house was near. We found -an old orchard, inclosed by a dilapidated fence. On the southern -borders of the orchard we found two log huts, but they were old and -tenantless. - -We returned to the river carrying with us three or four stout rails. As -we were satisfied we should not be heard we set to work regardless of -the noise we made. We found the canoe was locked or fastened in a large -slab of ice, which extended beyond it into the swift water. We first -used our sheet-iron knives and some sharp-pointed and sharp-cornered -rocks, and loosened the canoe from its icy bed. A passage-way for the -canoe was next broken through the ice to the current of the stream. We -then took our stoutest rail and broke the chain by prying on it. I took -a rail and placed myself in the end of the canoe farthest out from the -shore. Our haversacks, coats, and blankets were then placed in it, and -Trippe and Taylor came aboard. Trippe, with the oar in hand, launched -us out into the river. We found a swiftly rushing current, and were -compelled to row up stream. We kept bearing to our right, however, and -soon came in contact with the ice, which extended out from the opposite -bank. I took my rail and began breaking the ice. Soon I had broken -a narrow passage-way for the canoe, into which we thrust it, and it -became steady. I kept on breaking the ice and pushing the pieces aside. -The canoe was pushed nearer and nearer the bank. Soon I could reach the -low branches of a tree, which stood near the water's brink. I held on -to the boughs of the tree, and walked ashore on the ice. Taylor and I -removed our baggage from the canoe to the bank. Trippe went to bring -over our three comrades, who had been patiently waiting and watching. -He found some difficulty in entering the passage way as he neared the -bank upon which they stood. In due time our party was safely landed on -the shore, for which we had been anxiously striving the best part of -two nights. - -The first great obstacle to our journey was surmounted. We felt freer -and safer. We were several miles from Danville--at least twenty. It was -past midnight. The sky above us was perfectly clear. The moon was high -in the heavens, and sent down rays of silvery light. Northward, in the -direction we wished to travel, the country appeared clear of timber, -and we had hopes of finding a good road before going a great distance. -When we were ready to leave the river this question arose: what shall -we do with our canoe--tie it up or allow it to float down the river? -We felt gratefully, even tenderly toward it. It had done us a great -service. We concluded to lash it fast to the tree, whose branches hung -low upon the bank. We did so; and left it and the river behind us. - -We pushed due northward across the cleared fields. Some houses were -soon discernible in the moonlight, not far ahead of us. Turning a -little to the left, we soon reached a point directly west of the -houses. We heard much noise, and stopped to see if we could make out -what it meant. We approached a few steps nearer, and heard singing -and dancing. We thought it late for such exercises; but as it was -Saturday night all was explained, that night being known in Carolina -as negroes' night. As we had provisions enough for a meal or two, we -did not interrupt the exercises, or make our presence known to the -negroes. Nor did we tarry long, as we had no time to lose. We were in -Carolina, and had many miles to travel and many weary marches to make -through a bleak mountain country before our escape was made good. Our -circuit around the houses was continued at a safe distance, until we -struck a road running south-east and north-west. We turned to our left -and followed the road north-west a little more than a mile. As we felt -somewhat hungry, we halted among some bushes at the road side and eat -a few pieces of corn-bread. After eating, we pushed on, feeling much -refreshed. In a short time we came to a cross-road, when we changed -our course and went due north. In that direction we traveled until -day-break. A safe hiding-place for the day was next in order, and we -set about finding it. We went into the woods some distance to the -left of the road, where we found quite a cluster of cedar bushes, in -the midst of which we thought we could safely spend the Sabbath day, -February 21st. Our bed was at once made and we gladly laid ourselves -down to slumber soundly. - -It was near three o'clock in the evening when we awoke. On looking -about us in all directions, and seeing nobody, we got up. We ventured -to a branch, nearly a hundred yards distant, and washed our faces. The -canteen and bucket were filled with water and brought near where we -had been sleeping. Our toilet was completed by combing our hair, after -which we sat down and eat the last of our provisions. How we should -procure another supply became the subject of discussion. Various plans -were proposed; one of which we determined to try. If it failed we were, -of course, to resort to another. The late hours of the evening were -passed in adverting to the good fortune which had attended us so far on -the trip. The possibilities and probabilities of the future were also -alluded to. - -As we became deeply interested in our talk the time passed quickly. The -tall forest-trees cast long shadows over us. The sun was disappearing -in the west. The sky was cloudless. Our preparations for the third -night of travel were complete. Soon after dusk we emerged from our -hiding place, and in due time were upon the road. Our rest during the -day had been refreshing, and we walked briskly forward. We passed -one house early in the night. It was too early, we thought, to try -our plan for procuring food, and the appearance of the house and its -surroundings did not justify the belief that the occupants had any -food to spare. So we passed on. Near ten o'clock we came to another -house on our left. It was near the road, not more than twenty yards -distant. From appearances all inside were asleep. At least no light was -visible, and silence reigned. At most of the houses we had passed, -the dogs had barked at us. It was not so at this one. We went a few -yards beyond the house and halted in the road. Five of us were to lie -in wait, while the sixth went forth on the errand of necessity. Which -one of us should go upon the errand was a question for decision. It was -decided by drawing cuts. Taylor was chosen to attempt the experiment. -Taylor's overcoat was of a light-gray color, and had once belonged to -a Confederate soldier. Smith's cap was also of "secesh" antecedents. -Taylor donned them both, and was to play the Confederate soldier on -furlough. He was to go to the front door of the house and knock. When -the door was opened to him, if he was asked to come in he was to -decline on the pretext of not having time. He was then to apply for -something to eat, enough for himself and two comrades a supper that -night and breakfast the next morning, which would suffice for one meal -for our party. He was to insist on immediate compliance to the request -on the plea that he and his comrades were hungry and obliged to march -all night. If asked why so? he was to answer that they had been home on -furlough, that their time was nearly out, and that they must report to -the company by a certain time--we had anticipated many questions that -we judged would be asked, and had answers to suit. - -After we had drilled Taylor for a few minutes at the road side, and -found him to be a hungry soldier, with nothing Confederate about him -except his overcoat and cap, he started to the house. Our eyes followed -him as long as he could be seen. We then retired from the road to -the fence and waited about twenty minutes, until Taylor returned and -made report. He entered the yard in front of the house and approached -the door. Before reaching the door his heart suddenly failed of its -purpose. He felt himself unequal to the emergency. He immediately -turned to his left to examine a smoke-house or other out-house, in -which he hoped to find something that would do to eat. The door was -securely fastened, which fact caused him to suspect there were some -provisions inside. The house was constructed of round logs, and Taylor -reached his arm through the space between them to see if he could -feel any meat. He examined carefully on each side, but his arm was -too short. He could feel nothing. In the mean time, his attention was -attracted to another out-building, and he went to examine it. He passed -the dwelling, leaving it between him and the road. His search was still -unfruitful. - -While examining the second out-house he noticed a stable or shed about -sixty yards distant. By going to it he would be still farther from -the dwelling, and he would feel safer while prosecuting his search. -As a last resort before going to the dwelling, he visited the stable -in the hope of finding some corn, upon which we would have subsisted -in preference to running too great a risk in procuring more palatable -food. He could find no corn in the stable, nor grain of any kind. -There was some hay or straw, and a lot of corn-blades tied in bundles. -In a shed adjoining the stable were six or seven horses feeding on -corn-blades. Taylor was impressed with the idea that they were cavalry -horses, and on farther examination a saddle or rig for each of the -horses was found. He then determined not to visit the dwelling at -all, as it was certain there was half a dozen or more men, perhaps -cavalry-men, inside of it, sheltering for the night. He then quietly -rejoined us at the road side. We had run a great risk; our escape had -been narrow. Had Taylor gone half a dozen steps nearer the house he -would have walked on some plank or slabs in front of the door; his -footfalls might have been heard by those inside, and his presence -become known. It was manifest that good fortune was still a companion -of our journey. Had the plan we had devised been followed our recapture -would certainly have ensued. - -It was yet early in the night--near eleven o'clock--and we determined -to put several miles between those cavalry-men and our stopping-place -in the morning. Before starting, however, we held a short parley as to -the propriety of taking the horses and riding them until day-break. -On the question of taking the horses our party was about equally -divided. The views of those who opposed the project prevailed. The -chief objection to it was the great and necessary risk, at the time, -in getting the horses to the road without disturbing their owners, -and that in case we were retaken, and found guilty of horse-stealing -or other depredations, it might go hard with us. By the light of the -moon we discovered we had made numerous foot-prints in the road. We -could not obliterate them without taking time, and leaving even plainer -traces behind us. So we walked backward several yards on the road. -On the north of the road were open woods. We stepped aside from the -road a few yards and walked parallel with it, face foremost, through -the woods, where we could make no tracks. On going about a mile we -crossed to the opposite side of the road. In so doing we went south, -but left tracks in the road as though we had gone north. We walked -rapidly through the woods near the road until we had gone another mile, -which brought us to fields. As the walking was not good in the fields -on account of the moist clay, we took the road and hurried forward. -At short intervals we went on the double-quick. By midnight we had -traveled ten or eleven miles. More than one-third of the distance had -been gone over since we had found the cavalry horses. Our speed had -been accelerated by that discovery. We were much wearied, and halted -at a fence near the road side to rest. We were hungry, and would have -eaten something, but our haversacks were empty, and hanging loosely at -our side. Our rest was brief, but sufficiently long to stiffen our knee -and ankle joints. - -Our journey was resumed, and we trudged on slowly at first, but soon -increased our speed. There were but few houses near the road, and these -we passed with cautious steps. A second attempt to get rations was not -made that night, as we were fearful of making a second failure, and -losing time besides. We resolved to wait until the morrow, and trust -to luck or Providence to feed us. The road improved as we advanced, -and we made good progress. It bore a little north of west. On crossing -a branch we halted and took up some water in our half-moon tin-bucket -and drank freely. We then filled our canteen and bucket with water and -carried it with us. We were exceedingly tired, and did not wish to -take the time and trouble to look out for a hiding-place convenient to -water. The gray light of morning was faintly appearing in the east, -and we knew our journeying must cease for a time. Our sense of hunger -had subsided, or been overcome by weariness. We left the road and went -some distance south of it into a heavy forest. When nearly a mile from -the road we halted, and quickly spread our bed upon the ground. We then -sank wearily to rest, and were sleeping soundly before sunrise. - -It was on the morning of February 22d that we had thus sought repose in -the wintery forest of Virginia. We had got out of Carolina soon after -crossing Dan River, and had traveled almost due northward until we -passed Martinsville, Henry county, Virginia. We passed about two miles -to the right of Martinsville, and then bore a little west of north. -On February 22d we were hid not many miles--probably not more than a -night's march--from the southern boundary of Franklin county, Virginia. -It was the anniversary of Washington's birth. We remembered the fact, -and revered the memory of Washington, although his native State had -tendered us a very poor and meager hospitality, and was treating us -shabbily. The forest of Virginia, however, protected us from her own -and our country's enemies. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - SLEEP DISTURBED--NOISE IN THE WOODS--ITS CAUSE--NEGROES FURNISH - FOOD--WE HIDE NEAR THE TRAIL--HOUNDS AND HORSEMEN--EXCITEMENT OF - THE CHASE--WE BUY A QUANTITY OF PROVISIONS--OUR OBLIGATIONS--ON THE - HIGHWAY IN DAYLIGHT--UNDER DIFFICULTIES--WOOD CHOPPER--WOMAN AND - DOGS--WE PASS ROCKY MOUNT C. H.--INSECURE HIDING-PLACE--CHANGE OF - BASE--WE COME ACROSS A CITIZEN--HE TAKES STEPS TO CATCH US, BUT IS TOO - SLOW--OUR FLIGHT--OUR ESCAPE--RUN INTO A WAGON TRAIN--HID AWAY--MAKING - MUSH--SNOW--SORE FEET AND LAMENESS--TAYLOR FALLS BEHIND--TAYLOR LEFT - ALONE--HIS CONDITION. - - -When the sun was nearly an hour high, we were aroused from our slumbers -by a loud and incessant racket in the woods. We did not uncover our -heads at first. A squad of cavalry-men was the first thing of which we -thought, but on uncovering our heads and raising up on our elbows, we -found it, was the noise of wood choppers that had disturbed us. We -looked all around us, but could see nobody. The chopping continued, -and from the noise we judged several axes were being used. We at once -concluded that a party of negroes were at work not far from us, and -that we would have an opportunity of procuring supplies. The prospect -pleased us. Had we known our conclusion was correct we should have been -in an ecstasy of gratitude. - -About one hundred yards south of us was a high ridge extending east -and west. East of us, about seventy yards distant, was another ridge -or spur putting out due northward from the main ridge. We judged from -the sounds that the wood choppers were east of us and the ridge last -described. By consent of our party, Sutherland and I got out of bed -and walked eastwardly to the ridge, striking it not far from the point -where it was lost in the level ground. We then crept along on our hands -and feet, keeping close together so that we could talk to each other -and be understood without speaking loudly. Soon we got around the point -of the ridge to a thicket of brush, where we halted. We could see the -colored folks at work, plying their axes vigorously. We waited and -watched anxiously a few minutes, to see if any whites were with them. -We saw none, and were glad of it; we returned to our comrades and made -report. We were in a blissful state of mind, and comforted ourselves on -the cheering prospect before us. Our feelings no doubt were similar to -those of weary travelers in the desert on approaching an oasis. - -Our determination to consult with the negroes, and make overtures for -food and such other assistance as they could give, was soon made. It -was agreed that Sutherland and I should go upon this delicate mission. -We went, and soon reached the point from which we had watched the -negroes before. We again watched them closely, and assuring ourselves -that no whites were near, we emerged from the thicket, and walked -briskly toward them. As we approached one of the negroes noticed us. -He immediately called the attention of the others to us. Instantly all -chopping ceased, and quiet succeeded. At the same moment we halted, -and Sutherland put his hand to his mouth and asked if any whites were -about? The negro nearest us answered, "No, sah; massa was heah dis -mornin', but he done gone home now." We then advanced to the fires, -around which the negroes had collected to the number of ten or a dozen, -large and small. Our wants were immediately made known to them. They -were quite willing, even anxious to respond to our call for food. They -offered to divide with us at noon, when "missus" brought their dinner -out. We told them they would not have enough to spare, as there were -six of us, and we were very hungry. The oldest negro or "boss hand," as -he was called, then sent one of the younger ones to bring us something -to eat. The negroes were all deeply interested in us, and were anxious -to learn where our four comrades were hid. We told them, and inquired -if that was a safe place. We were informed it was safe enough, but -there was a better place south of it, across the ridge. We told the -boss we would cross the ridge and look out a good hiding-place. He -promised to bring our dinner to us as soon as it was brought to him -where he was at work. - -Sutherland and I then returned to our comrades and informed them it -would not be long until we should have something to eat. In accordance -with the advice received from our colored friends we gathered our -things and moved across the ridge. We had passed the summit of the -ridge and were going down its southern declivity when we came to a -bench or level place, where we concluded to stop and make our bed. We -had intended to go to the level ground near the base of the ridge, but -on reaching the bench we knew of no reason why we should not stop there -for the remainder of the day. We made our bed anew, and then washed our -hands and faces, using the water from our bucket and canteen for that -purpose. We then seated ourselves upon our bed, and quietly awaited the -approach of the "boss" with our dinner. We had waited a short time, -probably a half hour, when we saw him with a large bucket in hand -near the base of the ridge hunting for us. One of our party rolled a -small stone down hill toward him to let him know where we were. He -soon discovered us, and climbed the hill-side, and delivered to us our -dinner. We began eating immediately, and found we had been bountifully -provided for. A bucket full of eatables, consisting of fried ham, fried -eggs, boiled beans, and corn-dodgers, was furnished us. We had a keen -relish for such fare, and devoured it all. When we had finished eating, -the negro took his bucket and returned to his work; first telling us he -would see us again in the evening. Our appetites were fully satisfied, -and we covered ourselves in our bed and went to sleep. - -We had slept but a short time before our rest was disturbed by a -considerable noise. It was the noise of cavalry-men, without doubt, -we thought, or of horses running at their utmost speed. We uncovered -our heads and raised them slightly. On looking southward we saw two -hounds pass near the base of the ridge. They ran swiftly, and were -hot in pursuit of game. They were closely followed by three or four -white citizens on horseback. The hounds and horsemen were soon out of -hearing, and we felt greatly relieved. Just then the excitement of -the chase was not agreeable to us. We were heartily glad we were not -the objects of pursuit. Had we gone to the level ground, at the base -of the ridge, before halting, as was at first intended, we would most -likely have placed ourselves directly on the trail. The result to us in -that case would have been unfortunate. As our hiding-place was on the -steep side of the ridge, almost surrounded by small trees and brush, we -thought it a safe one, and again gave ourselves over to rest. We slept -well until late in the day. When we awoke the first object almost which -met our vision was our colored benefactor sitting near us whittling a -stick. He informed us we should have another meal at dusk. We told him -any thing good to eat would be acceptable to us, and place us under -lasting obligations to those who furnished it. We told him, too, that -we had some Confederate money, and would buy as much provisions as he -could deliver to us at dark, if it was not more than we could carry. He -promised to see if we could be supplied, and told us to come up where -they were at work after sunset. - -As the day was already far spent, we began to fit up for another -night's journey. On completing our preparations, we waited a few -minutes longer for the sun to disappear in the west. Soon it had shed -its last ray over us for the day, and we picked up our things and -started from our retreat. By the twilight we made our way through the -woods to the place where the negroes had been at work during the day. -Just before dark we reached them. They had ceased from their labors -and were expecting us. Some fruit pies fried in grease were furnished -us for supper. While we were eating, the negroes asked what kind of -provisions we could carry most of, or most conveniently. We told them -we could do best on meat, salt, and meal. Two or three of them then -went to bring us a supply of those articles. In due time they returned -with a ham of meat, a little salt, half a bushel of meal, and half a -dozen corn-dodgers. Wood had with him a clean pillow-slip, brought from -the hospital. In it we put the corn-meal. The ham was cut in pieces and -put in our haversacks. The salt was carried by one of our party in a -blouse pocket. - -On setting out we had the corn-dodgers, for which there was no room -in our haversacks; and as, on account of their size, we could not -get them into our blouse pockets without breaking them, we carried -them in our hands until midnight. The ham had cost the negroes three -dollars a pound, and it weighed twelve pounds and a half. We paid -them thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents for it in Confederate -shin-plaster. For the meal, salt, corn-bread, and what we had eaten -during the day, we gave them twenty-two dollars and fifty cents. We -paid them sixty dollars in all. It was not necessary, they did not -exact it, but we had the scrip and were made no poorer by parting with -it. It was current there at the time, and was much below par in the -country we hoped to reach ere long. - -We conversed briefly with the colored people before leaving them. We -learned from them that we had traveled twenty-three miles the previous -night, and that it was about forty miles to Rocky Mount Court-House, -in Franklin county. It was growing late. The moon had risen, and was -advancing in its course. Every hour of the night was precious to us and -must be improved. We expressed to our benefactors our obligations. We -thanked them heartily and sincerely. We told them they had no idea of -the value of the service they had performed. It was a service to us; it -was also a service to the cause in which we had struggled and suffered -much. We could not pay them adequately, but hoped in the end they would -have their reward in the results of the war. - -We bade them good-night and left them, and sought the road immediately; -on reaching it we could but contrast our feelings with those we had -experienced on leaving it early in the morning. Our minds were at -perfect ease on the question of supplies, as our pillow-slip was full, -our haversacks were full, and each of us had a corn-dodger in his hand -besides. We thought we should make a long stride toward our lines -before our supplies should be exhausted. The meal in the pillow-slip -was carried by turns. As we had eaten a great deal during the day we -did not feel like walking rapidly. We put in the whole time, however, -until after midnight, when we stopped to rest and eat some bread. A few -minutes' rest sufficed, and we resumed our travels. - -As no incident in our travels particularly interesting, or worthy of -record, transpired for two or three nights or days, we pass on to -the events of a subsequent date. We will say, first, that during the -interval of time over which we pass without noting every circumstance -of our journey, we were very cautious. In the night-time, while -passing houses near the road, we maintained the strictest silence. We -walked carefully, and even then the dogs often discovered us, and made -the night dismal with their howling. We made it a rule not to allow -daylight to find us upon the road; but before we go much farther in -our narrative we will give an instance in which it did so find us. The -first rays of the sun generally shone upon us in our bed asleep. During -our waking hours in day-time, when hid in the lonely woods, we were -careful not to talk, or laugh out boisterously, knowing the liability -to be heard at a distance. We did not stand up or walk about a great -deal. When we had supplies there was no occasion to incur risks, or -purposely come in contact with any persons, black or white. We always -hid, if possible, where water would be convenient to us. We had fire in -day-time with which to broil our meat and make mush. During the day we -prepared our midnight lunch. When we were in a secure retreat for the -day we generally prepared a quantity of mush, for fear our hiding-place -next day would be in a place too much exposed to admit of fire or -smoke. In all our movements we tried to exercise the utmost caution. -As the distance between us and our prison became greater we became, if -possible, more cautious. The farther we got from prison the greater -would be our disappointment in being caught and taken back. - -The early morning of February 24th found us upon the road, which led -through an open country. Cleared and fenceless lands bordered it on -either side. We pushed on, in the hope of reaching woods, until broad -daylight. At length the rays of the rising sun began to illuminate the -face of Nature. We were then obliged to leave the public highway. The -road had led us northward the last two nights, and still led us in that -direction. We looked to our right, where the lands were hilly or a -little broken. We went in that direction, thinking we could hide behind -a knoll, or rising ground. Soon we gained a point or crest, from which -the ground sloped gently to the east. A hundred yards or more ahead -of us we saw the tops of scattering trees projecting above a bluff. -We pressed on, and soon stood upon a precipice, and looked beyond it, -over a narrow wooded valley. We clambered half-way down the precipice -to hide among the rocks. We had laid our blankets, haversacks, and bag -of meal aside. We were going to make our bed, but found the space in -which we stood was not large enough for all of us. We would be hampered -by the rocks. Smith and I had unrolled our blankets; Sutherland, Wood, -Trippe, and Taylor had gone a little farther down among the rocks to -find more room. About the same time we saw a smoke rising through the -trees in the valley. We were sure a house was there, although we could -not see it. It was south-east of us, apparently half a mile distant. - -We were about beginning the preparations for our daily rest when the -noise of an ax resounded in our ears. The noise was so unexpected and -so near us that we were startled, and at first looked around wildly, -and in amaze. We soon recovered from the shock of astonishment and -surprise, and peered cautiously around the rocks and looked below us. -Not more than a hundred yards from us, in the woods near the base of -the precipice, we saw a single white man wielding his ax. His dog was -near him. On account of the dog we lay low. If he had got a glimpse of -us his master would have become aware of our presence. We could not -make our bed; we could do nothing but keep still. Smith and I had near -us all the blankets, and all the provisions belonging to our party. -Our comrades were about thirty feet below us, almost under us. Smith -ventured to drop their blankets to them, after which we all kept quiet. -We slept but little. As long as the ax was used we felt no fear of -being seen by the man, but every half hour we peered out from the rocks -to see if the dog was near him. - -About noon, or a little later, the man ceased chopping. We thought we -should have a short respite while the man went to dinner, and would -embrace that opportunity to eat our own. We looked out to see him -leaving. We were greatly disappointed. A woman--his wife perhaps--had -brought his dinner to him, and he was eating. She was accompanied by -another dog. The two dogs then pranced and prowled about in the woods, -and we watched them closely. We were fearful they would go around, and -get above and behind us, but they did not do so. We were in a very -restless and impatient mood; each moment seemed an hour almost. We -would have parted with jewels, if we had possessed them, to have been -away from there. When the man had finished eating, the woman took her -bucket and went away, followed by the dogs. We were highly pleased -to know the dogs were gone, for they had annoyed us greatly. The man -resumed his toil unconscious of our presence. As he chopped almost -incessantly, and could, therefore, look around but little, we felt -a little safer. Smith and I opened our haversacks and took out some -meat. We cut off a few thin slices and sprinkled them with meal. On raw -meat and meal we made our dinner. While eating, Smith and I exhibited -ourselves to our comrades below us. They looked up wishfully, and -signified their desire to eat. As Smith and I had all the commissary -stores we continued eating, to tantalize our comrades. At length we -put some meal and a chunk of meat in a haversack and dropped it to them. - -The day had been a long one to us. Our rest had not been refreshing. -We were in constant apprehension and suspense. The loss of sleep and -comfort, in consequence of having no bed, had its effect upon our -bodies. We felt chilled and sore, and we longed for the approach of -night. Near four o'clock, P. M., the wood chopper ceased from toil -and went off with his ax on his shoulder. Erelong the sun went down, -and, as soon as we got every thing ready, we climbed the precipice -and went directly to the road. Early in the night we found we were -about entering the suburbs of a town. It was Rocky Mount Court-House, -Franklin county. We approached it on a road which bore a little west -of north. We fell back a few paces and began our circuit around the -place. On leaving the road we first climbed a fence and went across the -corner of an inclosed tract of timber lands. We then climbed a second -fence and entered open fields, in which we continued until the road -north-west of the place was reached. In making our circuit we were -guided by the lights in the town, which were yet burning. Near midnight -we halted and eat some meal and meat, upon which, with an occasional -swallow of water, we made a respectable supper. - -On the morning of February 25th, as on the previous morning, we were -in an open country. At daylight we looked ahead of us on the road, but -saw no woods. A house, however, was discernible in the distance. As we -dared not pass it, we left the road which had been leading us westward. -South of the road, about half a mile, we saw a space of ground covered -over with numerous rocks, large and small. To it we directed our steps, -in the hope that the rocks would afford us shelter for the day. We -soon reached the place, but did not much like it, and were loath to -remain in its inadequate protection. But as the sun was up, we could -not look for a better or more secure hiding-place without incurring -even greater risks than there would be in making our bed, and keeping -it during the day, where we were. We cleared the small rocks from a -space sufficiently large for our bed and spread it upon the ground. We -then lay down to sleep. Our heads were near the base of a large rock -which was between us and the road we had left a few moments before, -and it hid us from view in that direction. To our right and left and -at our feet were many rocks of smaller size, which partially concealed -us as long as we lay low. On lying down we looked all around us, but -scarcely a tree or bush was visible. Nothing but a waste of barren -ground with an undulating and rocky surface could be seen. South of us, -perhaps a little west, and nearly a mile distant, was higher ground. -Beyond and above it, a few of the topmost branches of the tallest trees -projected. The chief feature of the country immediately surrounding us -was barrenness and nakedness. We could not resist the impression that -our hiding-place was poorly chosen. A feeling of insecurity crept over -us. The primeval forest of Virginia, with only the exception of the -previous day, had hitherto protected us from the view of the rebellious -citizens of the State. Near three hours of undisturbed repose was -granted us. - -Near ten o'clock, A. M., we were awakened by a clattering noise. Taylor -looked out cautiously and discovered it was made by a wagon passing -over a stony road. It was not on the road we had left in the morning, -but on one just west of us, which crossed or intersected it. It was -nearly two hundred yards from us. The man in the wagon was driving -north-east, having come on the road from the south-west. On stopping in -the morning we had not noticed the road, as the surface of the ground -was a little broken, and many rocks and knolls intervened between it -and ourselves. It had washed and worn considerably below the level -of the ground. On finding we were so near a public highway, we felt -uneasy, and still more dissatisfied with our hiding-place. We did not -leave it yet, however, as the wagon had passed on out of hearing. - -We again essayed to sleep. We fell into a kind of dozing sleep, from -which we were soon aroused by the hum of voices. We looked westward and -saw several persons, mostly women and children, walking on the road. -They were a great while passing, it seemed to us, and were disposed to -loiter by the way. We felt in an exceedingly disagreeable and unsafe -position. At length the hum of voices died away and we tried to feel -at ease, but could not. Very soon another rattling on the stony road -disturbed our equanimity and patience. We looked and saw a cart on the -road driven by a negro. It was a one-horse concern, and was followed -by a white man on horseback. We judged we were not far from town, -and resolved to flee our hiding-place, for fear some strollers, or -home guards, or somebody should come upon us and report us, and take -measures to recapture us. - -We waited and watched until nearly noon, when, concluding there -would be no passing on the road, we put our things in convenient -shape for our first day-time traveling. Just as we had completed our -preparations, we looked westward and northward to see if any persons -were upon the road. We saw none. We immediately started southward, -bearing slightly to our left. We did not run, but walked rapidly, -without looking behind us. When we had gone about a mile, we reached -a point from which we could look down an inclined plane into woods. -We halted and looked all around us, but saw no one. We judged we had -not been seen, and deemed our movement a successful one. We were glad -to see woods once more, and pushed on until we stood in the midst of -forest-trees. - -We sat down on a large rock to rest and watch awhile. We were on a -wooded hill-side, which sloped gently to the south-west. Trippe got -up from his seat and went in a south-east course on the hill-side, to -look for a place in which to hide. He was gone some time, and we became -impatient for his return. We did not wish to leave the place where he -had left us until he came back, as he would not know where to find -us. Nearly a half hour passed before we saw Trippe returning. He was -walking slowly and hesitatingly. He occasionally looked back in the -direction he had gone. Before he reached us we discovered something -wrong had happened; or if nothing wrong, something at least which we -would rather had not transpired. - -Trippe was vexed and almost spiritless. He had been recaptured once, -and now he thought his time had come to be caught again and taken back -to prison. He told us the cause of his discouragement. He had gone -south-east of us, an eighth of a mile, or more, along the hill-side. -He had turned directly south to go down hill, when he saw a man clad -in "butternut" coming up hill. Trippe thought, and hoped, he had not -been noticed by the citizen, and stood still to see if he would pass. -The citizen came on up hill. His foot slipped, and he caught hold of -a little tree to keep from falling. In getting around and above the -tree his head turned slightly, and he noticed Trippe, about twenty -steps from him. As soon as he recovered from his surprise he approached -Trippe, and asked what he was doing there. Trippe said he was just -looking through the woods a little. Other questions were asked, and -answered by each party. Trippe tried at first to equivocate, but found -it useless, as his uniform was plainly that of a Federal soldier. He -told the citizen he had been a prisoner at Danville, and with others -was trying to make his way to the Union lines. He also told him where -we were, and how many there were of us in all. The citizen feigned -sympathy with Trippe, and expressed a hope that he would get home all -right. Trippe had very little faith in him. He advised Trippe not to -fight any more against the South, and at the same time offered his -hand. Trippe took the hand in his own with not the slightest confidence -in its possessor. The Rebel pledged to Trippe his word and honor not to -lay a straw in his path, and immediately turned and went directly back -on his trail. Trippe watched him, and soon saw that he hurried himself, -as if suddenly imbued with a new purpose. - -When Trippe related the circumstance to us we became intent on getting -away from there, as quickly and as far as possible. We placed no -reliance in the promise of the Confederate not to lay a straw in -our path, but thought he would take measures to interpose greater -obstacles in the way of our progress. Our things being already in -compact marching order, we started immediately. The meal in the -pillow-slip, though not heavy, being more than two-thirds used, was all -the surplus thing we had to carry. All else was in our haversacks. We -went south-east, and soon reached the spot where the citizen had been -encountered by Trippe. We then turned to our right and went south-west. -On reaching the base of the ridge we found we would emerge from the -woods and cross cleared lands, in a narrow valley, or change our -course. There was no time for debate, and we pushed ahead. - -Near the outskirts of the woods two little boys and a little girl were -playing. As we passed, the largest boy cried out, "Uncle Jim has gone -for the guards to catch you uns with." We hurried forward, scarcely -taking time to thank the children for the information. If we had to -be hunted we were glad to know it. A short distance ahead of us was a -house. We passed near it, leaving it a little to our right. When we -were just opposite the house, a woman came to the door and exhorted us -to hurry. She said her brother-in-law was a "mean man," and had gone to -report us to the home guards. As time was gold to us just then, we did -not halt, but heeded the exhortation so earnestly given. As we crossed -the branch which traversed the narrow valley we heard the woman say her -husband had been killed in the war. She talked on, but we were soon out -of hearing. - -As we approached the upland, on the opposite side of the valley, we -began to think about obscuring our trail. We noticed where a hollow, or -ravine, entered the valley from the wooded hill-side. We got into the -hollow and followed on its rocky bed, where we made no tracks, until we -got some distance into the woods. A portion of the time we went on the -double-quick, and sometimes, when on level ground or going down hill, -we went even more rapidly. It was two o'clock, or a little later in the -day, when we first halted to listen for "Uncle Jim" and his guards. We -did not hear them, nor did we wish to; so we pressed on. We had so far -traveled three miles or more, mostly in a western direction. - -A point had been reached from which we could look across fields and -open country in all directions, except south, south-west, and east--the -course we should take in retracing our steps. As we did not wish to -cross fields, or go back on our trail, we turned southward. In that -direction we proceeded until we had gone over a mile, when we turned -to our right, and again pushed rapidly westward, through a heavy wood. -Soon we came to a branch of clear running water. As we were tired we -concluded we would wade in the water, following the stream down, and -thus obscure our trail. As we had made tracks in the wet soil near the -branch on approaching it, we pushed on across it, going some distance -until the solid ground was reached. We then got back to the branch, -walking on scattering rocks, sticks, and logs, so as to leave no traces -behind us. If the guards were on our trail, we hoped, when they reached -the branch, they would cross it, and push on westward as speedily as -possible. - -We followed down stream in a south-west course for more than a mile. -When in the water we traveled at a moderate gait, as the branch -traversed a very narrow, thickly wooded valley, and we could not be -seen at a distance. A point on the branch was at length reached where a -road crossed it. The road had the appearance of being traveled a great -deal, and we looked up and down it to see if any body could be seen. -On seeing no one we crossed to the south of the road, still wading in -the water. After getting a short distance into the woods, south of the -road, we left the branch and pushed rapidly westward. Our feet had -become wet, and we resorted to brisk walking to get our socks dry. -We would have taken time to take our socks off and wring the water -from them, but, should the guards come upon us, we did not wish to be -barefooted. - -Our flight was continued until sunset. We had intended traveling on a -line parallel with the road, but found it necessary to bear southward -occasionally to avoid crossing open fields. When the sun had gone -down we called a halt. The country was very rough and broken where we -halted; heavy woods and brushy undergrowth were all around us on all -the hill-sides. We took refuge in a thicket, near a considerable bluff. -No sounds of pursuers could be heard; every thing was still. We rested -well, and slept a little. Our feet were worsted by the wetting they -had received and our subsequent rapid walking. On a few scraps of meat -dipped in meal we made a scanty supper. We dared not build a fire after -dark or we would have made some mush and taken a fuller meal. - -Before the moon arose it was very dark. We waited half an hour or -more for its appearance above the horizon. At length its light shone -dimly through the woods. The sky was a little clouded and the woods -were dense, but the moon served to guide us upon our course, if its -light did shine imperfectly and at intervals. We gathered our things -and started. We steered northward. When obliged to turn aside, or -vary from that course, we varied to the west. Many difficulties beset -us. Our hurried march in the day had considerably taxed our powers of -endurance; our rest at dark was brief, only, long enough for our limbs -to stiffen; our feet were sore; we were hungry; our hasty meal at dark -had not sufficed. It was the first we had eaten since midnight of the -night before, on getting around Rocky Mount Court-House. The country -was hilly; we got over and down one hill only to begin the ascent of -another; the woods were dark, and logs and brush obstructed our pathway -and impeded our progress. We persevered, however, and pressed on. One -of our party went in advance and pushed the brush aside; the other five -of us followed just behind him, in "close order." - -Fully an hour passed before we emerged from the brush and woods into -more open ground. We climbed a fence and crossed a field. On getting -out of the field we struck a road running east and west. We followed -it at a moderate gait until we had gone a mile, when we reached a -cross-road. We then turned to our right and went due north. On going -two miles or more we called a halt. We were much fatigued; nearly worn -down, in fact, and, besides, we were faint and hungry. The road we -were following seemed not to be much traveled. We had passed no house -since dark. We had stopped on the road, where it was winding along the -side of a ridge, which was heavily wooded. We determined to look for a -retreat where we could rest awhile, build a fire, and make some mush. -We left the road and went up hill west of it. Soon we gained the top -of the hill or ridge. We then went down the hill on its western slope, -and in the bushes near the foot of it we halted. The noise of rippling -or running waters could be distinctly heard. Two of our party took our -canteen and bucket and went to fill them. While they were gone we -built a fire. A blanket was unrolled and spread on the bushes above the -fire to partially conceal its light. Our bucket was then made three -times full of mush. Small, thin slices and bits of meat were cut off -and put in the mush as it was cooking. Soon our hunger was appeased, -and our weariness hung not so heavily upon us. We put up our things, -scattered our fire, sought the road, and resumed our journey. - -Near midnight, and just after we had crossed a branch, we were startled -by hearing a solitary shot in the woods. We immediately halted. -Seemingly the sound of the shot came from a point not very far ahead -of us, but some distance to our left. Our first conjecture was that we -were in the vicinity of a cavalry bivouac. Two or three of our party -thought the home guards had been posted on the roads, and were about to -hem us in. There was no time to be lost in parleying, and we determined -to go on slowly and slyly. Before going two hundred yards we came to -a turn in the road. The road had been leading us northward, but on -going around the turn it led us west. We again halted, thinking it was -possible there was a guard on the road, as it led in the direction -from whence the sound of the shot had proceeded. Trippe proposed going -on a few paces to see. He did so. We followed him at the distance of -fifty or sixty paces. In this way we advanced fully half a mile, when -we reached a point where the road passed between fields. Trippe waited -until we came up, when he pronounced the road clear, as far as pickets -were concerned. - -We then pushed on, and discovered we were about passing a house on the -left of the road. We checked our speed and passed the house with care -and celerity. When we had got about twenty steps beyond the house, -and just as we were becoming careless again, the dogs began a lively -barking. We proceeded a dozen steps further when we noticed the sparks -of a fire flying upward. The fire was about twenty steps ahead of us, -on the left of the road. It was near the corner of the rail-fence, -where the lane terminated. We stopped instantly, but said nothing. We -watched the fire closely for a moment. The dogs kept up their howling. -In the light of the fire, which soon blazed up, we distinctly saw -several covered wagons ahead of us near the road side. We knew, or -thought at least, that we were about running into a supply train. We -hardly knew what to do. The dogs continued barking furiously, and -would soon arouse somebody, to see what disturbed them. We could not -go forward, as the guards, or teamsters, with the train would discover -us. We did not wish to go back by the house, as there was danger of -being observed by persons within, or about it. There was no time for -deliberation. We climbed the rail-fence to our right on the north of -the road. We were careful not to make any noise; although the dogs made -hubbub enough to drown any noise we should make. - -We had left tracks on the road, and found on getting into the field -that its surface was moist and impressible. We determined to make a -trail that would mislead any person who might have the curiosity to -follow us. On reaching a point in the field about a quarter of a mile -due north of the road we turned east. In that direction we traveled -half a mile. We then turned south and crossed the fence at the corner -of the field. On getting into the road we followed it east nearly a -quarter of a mile, when we went some distance in a south-east course. -By so doing we got into thick woods where the ground was covered with -leaves, where we could leave only very indistinct traces behind us. -We then turned and traveled directly west, keeping parallel with the -road, and a little more than a quarter of a mile south of it. The dogs -at the house still kept up their howling; and as the train and those -with it were just at hand, we kept off at a safe distance. The shot we -had heard an hour before, we judged had been fired by some one with the -train. - -When we had gone far enough, in a western direction, to reach a point -directly south of the house, where the dogs were still barking, we bore -considerably to our right, and went north-west. We continued in that -direction until we struck the road some distance west of the wagon -train. After going something more than a mile further on the road, in -a direction a little north of west, we halted. It lacked an hour or -more of being daylight, but as we were very tired, having traveled -many miles in the last twenty-four hours, we determined to look out -for a secure hiding-place for the day. We accordingly left the road -and penetrated some distance into the woods on the north of it. Just -after crossing a small branch we halted, and made our preparations for -a refreshing sleep. We fell into a sound slumber immediately on lying -down on our bed. - -About mid-day we awoke and found ourselves very stiff and sore all -over. We felt very little like moving about. We had pulled off our -shoes on lying down, and on getting up we found our feet were so very -sore that we could hardly get them on again. The sky was overcast with -clouds, threatening snow. Our stock of provisions was getting very -low, and other circumstances seemed to conspire in making the woods -around us and the prospect before us quite cheerless. That we had not -fallen into the hands of the home guards was the only circumstance -that afforded us consolation. After getting our shoes on, we set about -building a fire. We went to the branch near us and washed our hands -and faces; afterward feeling some better. Our vessels were filled with -water at the branch, to be used in making mush. When we had dispatched -our dinner we had some meal left, also a little salt, but no meat. -The meal was emptied from the pillow-slip and made into mush, which, -with the exception of the last bucket full made, was put into the -pillow-slip. The last mush made was left in the bucket. When the mush -became cold it sliced off nicely, and was ready for our midnight meal. - -Shortly after noon one of our party wandered out northward from our -hiding-place some distance, and spied a man engaged in plowing in an -old field. It was early in the season, we thought, for plowing, but as -we had seen plowing near Danville in January, we knew it was nothing -unusual for that country. Sutherland and I went out and lay close to -the fence which inclosed the field, to watch the man who was plowing, -and see if we could determine whether he was white or black. It so -happened that he did not plow on out to the fence near which we were -hid, as a strip of sod or grass land intervened between him and the -fence. We were somewhat disappointed, as we could not make out at that -distance whether the man was white or black. If we had been assured he -was a black man, we would have made an effort to procure more food. - -Near the close of the day we went to the branch and bathed our feet -thoroughly, hoping, if it did not improve them, it would keep them from -getting sorer than they were already. We then lay down and slept about -an hour, and on waking we found that our blankets and the ground were -covered with snow to the depth of an inch. We got up and shook the -snow from our blankets, and put every thing in order for the night's -marching. Awhile before sunset the snow ceased falling, the clouds -began to clear away, and the weather was perceptibly cooler. No clouds -obscured the sun as it shed its last rays over us for the day, and sank -from view in the west. - -Just at dark we left our hiding-place and went directly to the road. -It was quite dark, as the moon had not appeared; but as our feet were -sore, we could only advance slowly any how, and we pushed on. In the -road, where there were no leaves, the snow had melted, making the -walking slippery and slavish. When the moon arose we walked at the -side of the road, and got along some better. Early in the night Taylor -began to fall behind. Sore feet, we judged, was the cause of his slow -progress. He fell behind several times, and we waited as often for him -to come up. We asked him no questions, only supposing that his feet -were sorer than our own. About ten o'clock, or a little later in the -night, we struck a pike running north-east and south-west. The road we -had been following did not cross it. As we had to change our course, -and as Taylor was some distance behind, we waited for him to catch up. -When he had caught up we waited awhile longer for him to rest. - -On renewing our travels we followed the pike in a north-east course -toward Lynchburg. Before going very far on the pike, we passed one -house on the left. We went nearly half a mile beyond the house, when -we discovered an obscure road leading westward. We changed our course, -as we wished to reach and cross the Blue Ridge Mountains as soon as -possible. Taylor had kept up with us while following the pike, but -again fell behind on leaving it. The road was a poor one. Its clay -surface had been considerably moistened by the melting snow, late in -the day and early in the night. Before midnight the mud began freezing, -and it stuck tenaciously to our shoes. The country was rough and -broken, and the road led us over a succession of ridges and hollows. -In breaking the frozen crust of mud our feet were continually slipping -backward or forward, or sideways, as we went up and down the hills, -making our march extremely fatiguing and wearisome. We were obliged -to keep the road on account of the trees, logs, and brush near it on -either side. Our way, however, was plain before us, as the road looked -black in contrast with the snowy woods. - -We trudged on in the difficult and lonely way, and, though our progress -was slow, Taylor had fallen far behind. Near midnight we were on the -point of stopping to eat some mush, but concluded to move on slowly -for awhile, and give Taylor a chance to catch up with us or gain on -us. We slackened our pace considerably, and, on going half a mile, we -halted at the road side. Taylor had not caught up with us, neither was -he in sight or hearing. We sat on a log, and waited patiently for his -approach. Several minutes passed while we were waiting. We took the -mush from our bucket and cut it in slices ready for eating. While so -doing Taylor came dragging himself along the road. We called to him, -and he turned aside to join us in the woods. He was lame and weary. -On reaching us he sank almost exhausted to the ground, sitting in the -snow and placing his back against the log upon which we sat. We made no -inquiries of Taylor as to the cause of his lameness, supposing he could -not tell us more than we knew already. - -One or two observations were made respecting the bad condition of the -road, after which we began eating our midnight lunch. When we had -finished eating we gathered our things and started. Trippe and I were -ahead, and had reached the road and gone on it a few steps. Wood and -Sutherland were closely following us. Sutherland looked back and saw -Smith coming, but did not see Taylor. Sutherland then asked, "Smith, -where is Taylor? an't he coming?" Smith answered, "I thought he was -following me;" and then looked behind and called aloud, "Come on, -Taylor." Smith not understanding Taylor's reply, went back to him. On -being asked why he had not started, Taylor said he was unable to go any -farther, as his broken leg had failed him. Smith at once called to us -to come back to the place where Taylor was. We did so. It was painfully -apparent that he could go no farther that night. We learned for the -first time that he had been wounded in the leg, and had one of its -bones broken. He was not a Chickamauga prisoner, but had been wounded -and captured at or near Leesburg, Virginia, in a cavalry engagement, -early in July, 1863, at the time of the battles of Gettysburg, -Pennsylvania. During our four or five weeks' association with him it so -happened we had not learned of his wound. - -We at once concluded that our travels for that night were at an end, -and began looking around for a place in which to lie over until the -following night. When Taylor heard our determination he objected, -saying he felt sure he would not be able to travel by the following -night, and might not be able to renew the journey for a week. He would -not consent that we should remain with him until the next night, unless -he knew he would be able to go on with us by that time. We insisted on -waiting with him as long as that, as we should lose only three hours' -time by so doing. Taylor still objected, saying he would not detain us -a single hour, and if we failed in reaching the lines, it should not be -laid to his charge. We determined to remain, when Taylor assured us he -could not travel for at least three or four nights, and was unwilling -to feel himself responsible for the consequences that might ensue -from so long a detention of our party. We then offered to divide our -party, to leave two with Taylor, and let the other three go on. But he -objected to this proposal also, saying he would not delay a single one -of us, and probably be the cause, immediate or remote, of the return -of that one to prison. He would rather take his chances of ultimately -reaching the lines alone, and feel clear of responsibility for any -accident or disaster that might overtake us than to do otherwise. - -[Illustration: "LEFT ALONE."--PAGE 53.] - -We had offered fairly, as we thought, and concluding Taylor knew -the nature and extent of his disability much better than we did, we -determined to leave the case to him. If he said remain, we would -cheerfully do so; or if he said for us to go on and leave him behind, -we would do that regretfully. Taylor then said for us to lose no -time on his account, but to push on to the Union lines, and make our -escape good. It required but a few moments to arrange for resuming -our journey, and to advise Taylor as to the best course to pursue; -to say to him the parting good-by, and leave him behind. The mush in -the pillow-slip, all the provisions we had, except a little salt, was -then taken out and divided into six parts. The largest part was given -to Taylor. The other five parts were put in our haversacks. Nearly or -quite half of the scrip on hand was given him, as he was going to tarry -awhile in the Confederacy, and might use it to advantage. A portion of -the salt was also given him. The canteen which had been used by our -party so far on the trip, and which belonged to Taylor, was left with -him. He had a watch and a supply of scrip to barter for food, or for -the services of a guide, to conduct him to the lines, or both. With -these, and with his canteen and haversack, we left him alone in the -woods, wrapped in his overcoat and blanket. It was a sad and melancholy -scene we witnessed in parting from Taylor. It was painful and trying -to us to shake his hand, and say to him "good-by." Our feelings -were similar to those occasioned by the fall of a comrade on the -battle-field. We had left Taylor, and were getting into the road when -we heard him say, "Company G, 2d Massachusetts Cavalry," giving his -address, and asking us to write to him if we reached the lines. We each -of us then gave him the name of the company and regiment to which we -respectively belonged, so that he might write to us if he got through -all right. - -The substance of the advice we gave to Taylor was to remain where he -was until daylight, at which time he could move to a better or more -secure hiding-place, if able to do so, where he could command a view -of the road, and see persons that might pass upon it. The first negro, -or party of negroes, he saw passing, if no whites were with them, he -was to hail, and beckon them to him and make his condition known, -and get them to harbor him, or take him to some house where he could -be harbored until he was able to renew his journey. If he saw no -person pass during the day, he was to go in the evening in search of a -habitation where assistance might be given him. When able to travel, -he was to secure, if possible, the services of a guide, to conduct him -to some point within or in the vicinity of the pickets or outposts of -our army. He could reward his guide, if fortunate enough to secure one, -with his watch and Confederate money. - -It was the night of Friday, February 26, 1864, that we left Taylor -behind. We left him within six miles of the Blue Ridge Mountain, at a -point between eighty and one hundred miles south-west of Lynchburg, -Va., and nearly three miles west of the pike leading to that place. We -must have left him somewhere near the boundary line between Franklin -and Bedford counties, Va., in the north-west corner of one, or in the -south-east corner of the other. If it was trying to us to part with -Taylor and leave him, it must have put his resolution and self-denial -to a severe test to persist in being left alone in his crippled and -almost helpless condition. On stopping he was warm, as the road was -bad, and he had exerted himself to catch up with us. By sitting down -in the snow, he cooled suddenly, and his lame leg became stiff and -useless. His condition was critical and unenviable, as he was unable -to move about with ease or comfort, and his supply of food was small -in quantity and poor in quality. No house was near him. We had not -passed a house since leaving the pike. The weather was cold, as the -snow and mud was freezing. He was in a bleak mountain country alone. No -friend was near him. We had been his friends and comrades, and were his -friends still, but had forsaken him. His prospect was cheerless. His -desponding heart had little on which to predicate a hope. He dreaded -to meet a man of his own color, for fear of meeting an enemy, and in -the mountain districts the blacks were few. The woods around him were -dreary, although the ground was covered with snow, and the moon shone -brightly. The trees with their leafless branches and skeleton shadows -could be dimly seen, but were poor companions for a maimed and wearied -traveler in an enemy's land. It was a touching, but a necessary or -unavoidable incident of our journey to leave Taylor behind in the -Winter, and in the wilderness, as a lonely and solitary sentinel in the -silent watches of the night. But we could do no better, as our supply -of provisions was nearly exhausted, and we could not recruit it, or -seek assistance for him without jeopardizing his safety as well as our -own. So we left him to whatever fate might fall to him in the merciful -dispensation of Providence. - -I have never heard from or of Taylor to this date, December, 1869. -Whether he got able to travel, and succeeded in making his escape from -the Confederacy, or whether he was recaptured and returned to prison, -is not known to me. He may have perished from starvation where we left -him, on account of inability to get away from there. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - PROVISIONS GONE--CROSS THE BLUE RIDGE--SECURING FOOD--GOING THROUGH - BIG LICK--RAIN AND DARKNESS--WE ARE COMPELLED TO SEEK SHELTER--LYING - OVER--THE TOBACCO--ITS OWNER--MORE FOOD LAID IN--UP THE VALLEY--STRIKE - FOR THE ALLEGHANIES--DIFFICULT TRAVELING--ROUGH COUNTRY--WE REACH A - STREAM--TOO WEARY TO FORD--FALL BACK TO HIDE--MAKING OUR BED--FALL - ASLEEP. - - -Having parted with Taylor, our travels were resumed through the later -hours of the night. Once or twice in traveling the distance of four, or -four and a half miles, we almost concluded to return to him, but feared -disaster might come upon us if we turned back. It soon became evident -that daybreak was at hand, but we proceeded a mile farther before -turning into the woods. The sun was just rising when we began making -our bed, for the 27th of February, in a place surrounded by woods and -brush. On lying down we fell asleep. We awoke about the middle of the -afternoon. Shortly after arousing from our slumbers, we eat the last -of our mush. A little salt was all we had left of the supplies we had -received from our negro friends in Henry county. When, where, and how -our next supply of food should be secured we did not know. We judged we -should cross the mountain during the approaching night, and determined -to give ourselves no concern on the score of rations until the valley -on the other side was reached. - -The sad event of the previous night formed the subject of our -conversation for the evening. "It wouldn't surprise me a bit," said -Wood, "if Taylor should beat us to the lines yet." - -"He may," said Trippe, "if he lives through the first night or two, -does well, and is lucky enough to secure the services of a good guide -to take him through by the short cuts." - -"Our lines will be down this way some of these days," said Smith. - -"The only difficulty with Taylor," remarked Trippe, "will be in -avoiding Rebel citizens and finding a true Union friend to care for him -a few days." - -"He must have nothing to do with any body but a negro," said -Sutherland, "or he's a goner." "Boys," he continued, "supposing it -should become necessary for us to separate into two squads, how'll we -divide?" - -"Draw cuts," answered Wood. - -"If it should become necessary for us to separate," remarked Trippe, -"it will most likely be under such circumstances as will forbid drawing -cuts." - -"Yes, boys," answered Wood, "we'll have to draw cuts now, and have the -thing understood." - -Five small sticks were accordingly prepared. They were of two different -lengths. It being understood how the division should stand, we drew -cuts. It was decided that Smith, Wood, and Sutherland should go in one -direction, while Trippe and I should go in another. We determined, -however, never to separate unless no other alternative would answer, -and to push on and endeavor to reach our lines together. - -At sunset we began arranging our things for journeying. As soon as it -was dark we sought the road, and on reaching it we heard voices. We -retired a few paces into the bushes and waited until a half dozen or -more persons, mostly if not all colored, had passed by. "Now, boys," -whispered Wood, as the women and children were passing, "here is a -good chance to get something to eat." But we had decided to cross -the mountains before looking after food, and allowed the opportunity -to pass. We then set out on our ninth night of travel, and had gone -but little more than a mile when we came to a considerable branch. -We crossed it with but little trouble, and soon after passed near a -house on the road whose occupants had not retired for the night. We -got by the house without attracting attention, or at least without -exciting curiosity. On following the road a little further, we found -it commenced its winding ascent of the mountain, passing through a -gap near the boundary line between Franklin and Bedford counties, Va. -We had heard before leaving prison that the Blue Ridge Mountains were -infested with bush-whackers. We had a wholesome dread of these, and -advanced cautiously up the road, hoping, if there were any, we should -hear or see them before they should hear or see us. - -In little more than an hour's time we reached the highest point in -the gap, over which the road passed. We met with no one to dispute -our progress, and the descent of the western slope was immediately -commenced. We had followed the road but a short distance down the -mountain-side, when, on making a turn in the road, we saw a light -ahead, apparently about one hundred yards distant from us. Judging it -to be the light of a torch, or small fire, we halted, and, on doing so, -we heard voices engaged in conversation. Trippe at once proposed going -ahead alone a few yards to see what might be seen. We consented, and he -did so. A few minutes of intense anxiety to us passed, as we imagined -the reports concerning bush-whackers were about to be verified. Before -Trippe returned we heard a door shut, the fire or light at the same -time disappearing. We then knew there was a house, or hut of some kind, -near the road, not far from us; but of the number and character of its -occupants we were not so well informed. - -On coming back to us Trippe reported a house down there, and the -light we had seen was the light of a fire in the house. Trippe said, -further, that some one was just leaving the house, and, as soon as that -person had started off down the road, the conversation ceased, and the -door of the house was closed. We waited a few minutes for the folks in -the house to get to sleep, and for the person on the road ahead of us -to get out of our way, when we again started forward. On coming to the -house we found it a very small one, situated within a few steps of the -road. Passing it without discovery, we slowly walked on, and in due -time reached the valley below. - -Near the foot or base of the ridge was what appeared to be a -considerable stream of water; but on reaching it we found it to be -more wide than deep. We went a short distance down stream and found -four foot logs, from sixteen to twenty feet long, extending across -the stream. On these we crossed, and on reaching the opposite side we -halted for awhile to rest before proceeding to the road. - -"If we only had some meat and bread," said Smith, "now would be a good -time to eat it." - -"This would be a good place, too," added Sutherland, "as water is -handy." - -"I guess we wouldn't be particular as to the place," observed Smith, -"if we only had something to eat." - -Being reminded of the fact that we were out of rations we resolved -to try our luck at the first house that came in our way. We were not -long in reaching one, probably not more than half an hour. As we had -crossed the mountain without difficulty; as we felt glad we had not -met with guerrillas--felt considerably hungry, and were, withal, -much emboldened, we were not overcautious in our movements. Each of -our party of five entered the yard through the gate in front, and on -reaching the house--an old two-story frame house, unpainted--we rapped -violently at the front door. There was no answer from within. We called -and rapped repeatedly, but with the same results. We then passed around -the house to its south side, where we found another door. Sutherland -knocked loudly on it, but no response came. He then put his mouth to -the string-hole and asked, "Is any body at home?" - -A man inside answered, in a tone of voice indicating fright, "I guess -there's somebody about." - -"Why don't you get up, then?" asked Sutherland. "Nobody's going to hurt -you." - -"What do you want?" inquired the man. - -"We want something to eat, and want you to get up and set about getting -it forthwith," said Sutherland. He refused to even get out of bed, -whereupon Sutherland demanded, "Shall we burst your door down?" and -Wood added, "and come in and burst your noggin?" - -The man said, "That rests with you," and inquired, "Who are you, and -where are you going?" - -"We are soldiers going to Rocky Mount Court-House," Sutherland answered. - -"Go on over the mountain, and you will be fed in the morning," returned -the man. - -Preferring to risk our chances at the next house to doing any very rash -or violent acts, we left this one, telling the man he showed a very -poor quality of patriotism. - -"If it was any other time, if it twas daylight, I might do something -for you." - -"We don't have to stand picket in the night-time; we don't have to -march, skirmish, and frequently fight in the night-time, I suppose?" -retorted Sutherland, in a very unamiable voice. - -"And skedaddle in the night-time from such rusty Butternuts as you -are," added Smith, in a tone just loud enough not to be heard by the -man, as we were withdrawing from the yard. - -We passed out of the yard through the gate to the road as quickly as -we could, intending to hurry on our way. As Sutherland closed the gate -he threatened the man with, "We shall report you when we get to Rocky -Mount, mark that." - -On starting forward on the road Wood observed, "We commenced too heavy -on the gentleman: we got him so badly scared he didn't know what to do, -or how to do it." - -We kept up our conversation, dwelling chiefly on the causes, real and -supposed, of our failure in procuring food, and of the method to be -resorted to in supplying our necessities. It was agreed that Wood and -I should try our hands at the next house. It was after midnight, and -should we not reach the next house soon we decided not to disturb its -inmates, as we must have time to get out of reach after so doing before -hiding for the day. - -In a few moments we halted in front of a house on the south of the -road at a distance of sixty or seventy yards from it. Wood and I -entered the yard and approached a door in the one-story part of the -house, supposing the darkies slept there. On knocking slightly at -the door, and hearing no answer, we jerked the latch string once or -twice. A voice inside--which was undoubtedly that of an elderly white -person--remonstrated strongly against being disturbed at so late an -hour. Wood seeing the smoke-house a few steps to his left, went to -examine it, and proceeded from thence to the yard south of the house. - -At the same time I stepped upon the porch in front of the two-story -part of the house, and walked on it until I discovered a pair of steps -or stairs. On going up the steps I found the porch had a second story -also. Just at the top of the steps was a doorway to the second story of -the main building. I found the door fastened, when I called out, asking -if any one was inside. A voice, plainly that of a negro, answered there -was. I told him to get up, and come out doors, as there were some folks -at the road who would like very much to see him. The negro declined, -saying, "You can't come dat game on dis chile: Ise not coming out dar." - -"Get out of bed and come to the string hole," said I, "I want to speak -to you." He did so, when I said, "Put your ear to the string-hole." -He complied; and in a loud, distinct whisper, I pronounced the word -"Yankees." As soon as the negro could draw on his clothing, the bar of -the door came down and he and I descended the steps into the yard. - -On seeing us, Wood approached, saying to the negro, "Where did you come -from?" - -"Ise from Knoxville," was the answer. - -"But just now, where did you come from just now?" asked Wood. - -"From up in the loft," was the negro's reply. - -"Come out to the road, old fellow," said I, "there's some more Yankees -out there." - -"Lord, massa! golly! dat so?" ejaculated the astonished negro. - -We then went to the road accompanied by the negro. On rejoining Trippe, -Smith, and Sutherland, at the point where we had left them, the last -named, on seeing the negro, remarked, "You don't expect us to eat that -fellow, do you?" - -We lost no time in telling the negro what was wanting; that we were -hungry and had no provisions. The negro said the cellar and smoke-house -were locked, and the old master had the keys. We asked him how soon he -could get something for us to eat. He replied, "In the mornin', 'fore -massa and mistress gits up." - -"How about the keys; don't the whites get up and unlock?" - -"No, sah; we gits de keys, onfastens, and gits breakfast 'fore de white -folks gits out o' bed," replied the negro. - -On ascertaining beyond doubt that provisions would be furnished us in -the morning, we had the negro conduct us to a safe hiding-place for -the day, which was near at hand. He took us to a secure retreat in -the midst of a large grove of heavy oak timber situated about a mile -from the house, on the north of the road. In all directions from our -hiding-place for the day--Sunday, February 28th--were open fields. -The woods or grove we were in covered three or four hundred acres of -land. Our camp for the day was close to a rivulet, and was immediately -surrounded by tall dead grass; and a little further from us were -numerous small trees and bushes. The negro told us he would fetch us -breakfast by ten o'clock, and then hurried home. - -It was an hour or more before day when we made our usual preparations -for sleep. Soon after lying down we were lost in slumber. Near nine -o'clock, A. M., we awoke from our slumbers and got up and washed our -faces at the rivulet. Our toilet completed, we had not long to wait for -the appearance of our negro friend, with a small basket of eatables, a -pitcher of milk, and a mug of molasses. We fared sumptuously on wheat -cakes, fried bacon, potatoes, molasses, and milk. When we had finished -our meal the negro took the molasses and milk pitchers in his basket -and went homeward. While eating we learned from the negro that we were -in Roanoke county, and that the nearest town on the road we expected -to travel was Big Lick, a station on the East Tennessee and Virginia -Railroad. - -Shortly after noon the negro came out and talked quite a while with -us. He wished to know when we would have another meal brought out. We -expressed our willingness to receive another meal at any time before -sunset. We asked the negro how much provision he could furnish us to -carry with us. He replied that he had not a good chance in day-time to -get at the meat, flour, and potatoes, without being seen by his master -or mistress, and at night he had no chance at all to secure any thing, -as the cellar and smoke-house were always locked at dark by the whites, -who kept the keys until morning. - -The man on whose provision we were subsisting was named Schooler, or -Schuyler. Being an original secessionist, he left Knoxville, Tennessee, -and settled in Roanoke county, Virginia, where he would be less -troubled with Federal troops. The negro had also lived in Knoxville, -and had before seen Yankee soldiers. When he left us he went home, and -soon returned with another supply of food for our present consumption. -While we were eating, the negro informed us that Schooler, his master, -had seen the man at whose house we had attempted to get rations on the -previous night. The man told Schooler of the demonstrations we had made -at his house before leaving it to go on over the mountain. Schooler in -turn told the man that he, too, had been interrupted during the night, -but the disturbers of his sleep had done no harm, and gone on, he knew -not where. - -Our supper finished, we had an understanding with the negro as to the -place where we should receive the corn and meat. He then left us, and -we rolled up our blankets and made other needful preparations for our -tenth night's travel. Just at dark we started for the point designated -to receive what provisions our negro host could provide for us. As we -found him there with the corn and meat, we were not long delayed. We -were told it was seven miles to Big Lick, and that Salem Court-House -was nine miles west of that place. I gave the negro one of my blouses -as a slight compensation for his services to us, and as a token of -remembrance. We thanked the negro heartily for befriending us in -the hour of need, and then put the corn, which was shelled, in our -haversacks, and the meat in our pillow-slip, and started for the road, -accompanied that far by the negro. - -On reaching the road we bade our negro friend farewell and left him. -We found the road better than we expected, and pushed forward rapidly, -hoping to get around Big Lick by midnight. We had thought of bearing -to our right and passing east of the place. As soon as we thought we -had gone six miles we saw a few small houses not far ahead of us, and -concluded to pass them before commencing our circuit around the town. -When we were just opposite the first house, Wood supposed it to be -the domicile of a negro family, and went to the door, opened it, and -asked how far it was to Big Lick. "You are there now," was the answer -given. Closing the door without asking any more questions, Wood hastily -rejoined us at the road. - -On finding we were in town we pushed on through it, walking silently -and briskly. Near the railroad depot we halted, and after consulting -briefly concluded to leave the road, so as to elude pursuers, fearing -the man we had inquired of might be a white Rebel, and might collect -a party to look after us in the morning. After leaving the road we -reached in a few minutes' time the railroad bridge. We passed under -the bridge, walking partly in the waters of the little stream which -it spanned until we gained the woods north of the railroad. We then -traveled due northward until the sky became cloudy, when it grew much -darker, and we found great difficulty in making our way through strange -woods, with no road to guide us. - -Before morning it began raining, and the night became black and dismal -in its last hours. We could scarcely proceed, but we kept on the move. -Just at daylight we came to a road running east and west. It seemed to -be a very public one. As it was raining hard we thought we should not -be seen, and we crossed the road and pushed on northward something more -than a mile, when we halted in the midst of a considerable forest of -pines. Through this forest was a string of rail-fence, and as it was -raining hard, so that we could not make our bed down on the ground, we -placed rails across from one panel to another, on which we sat with our -coats and blankets disposed about us so as to shed the water off as -much as possible. In this manner we occupied two corners of the fence; -three of us in one corner and two in the other. - -Near noon we were compelled by the severity of the storm to seek -shelter. We started and kept close to the fence on its north side, -going in an easterly direction. In a few minutes we came to another -fence, running north through open fields. We changed our course, and -followed it until we came to a branch running in a south-east course. -As the ground was much lower near the branch we could follow it and -at the same time be screened from view. Soon we came in sight of a -lone building to our left a short distance, in the edge of the woods. -We went directly to it, and found it to be a tobacco-house. In it we -found shelter from the rain, as the roof was good. We then took off our -coats and blankets, and wrung the water from them. As there was a lot -of corn-blades tied in bundles stacked in one corner of the room, we -soon had a good resting-place. A small lot of tobacco leaves, hanging -above our heads, soon attracted our attention, when the following -conversation took place: - -"There's some tobacco," said Smith. "I'll bet there will be somebody -out here before night to look at it." - -"Not while it rains this way," said Trippe. - -"Well, let them come," said Wood, "it belongs to nobody but a darkie, -any how." - -"And when he comes out here we'll only have him to furnish us with more -rations," said Sutherland. - -"I'm only afraid he won't come," added Trippe. - -There was no floor in the tobacco-house, and we cleared the corn-blades -and straw from the center and built a fire. For fuel we used tobacco -sticks, of which there was a large quantity piled up in a corner of -the building. After burning enough sticks to make sufficient coals -and ashes for the purpose, we went to parching corn. This we did by -scattering the corn near the fire and raking hot ashes and coals over -it. When the corn was parched sufficiently, we raked it from the ashes -with small sticks. After eating all we wished of parched corn and -broiled meat, we parched a lot of corn for future use. - -The rain continued falling, and the day was far spent, when we came to -the conclusion we should be compelled to lie over for the approaching -night--February 29th. At dark we stretched our blankets on sticks -around the fire, for the twofold purpose of drying them and concealing -the fire. Soon we were obliged to allow the fire to go down, as its -light shone against the roof and through the cracks of the building -between the logs. We had seen but one house during the evening from -where we were, and that was away some distance to the north of us. But -for fear somebody would be passing, and see the light of our fire, and -thus discover us, and publish the fact of our presence in the vicinity, -we put it out entirely. Becoming reconciled to the necessity of -stopping over for the night and following day, we thought we would make -the best of it, and rest, and recuperate as much as possible in that -time. So, taking time and pains, and a goodly quantity of corn-blades, -we made us a good bed. A roof over our heads and the pelting rain-storm -without were conducive to sleep, and the night was passed in quiet and -repose. - -We waked up shortly after daylight in the morning, but did not get -out of bed until about eight o'clock, A. M. The rain had ceased, but -clouds still overspread the sky, causing us to feel doubtful about -getting off even that night. We went out one at a time to the pools -of water, and washed our hands and faces. Soon after we built a fire -and began parching corn, and broiling meat for breakfast and dinner. -While thus engaged, Sutherland, looking through a crack between logs, -espied an old negro approaching. As he was alone he gave us no concern, -and we were not averse to his coming. Approaching nearer and nearer -the building, the old negro finally came upon our trail and noticed -our tracks. He followed them a few steps, when, discovering they led -to the tobacco-house, he came to a halt. He watched the house closely -for a moment or two, when hearing or seeing us, he turned to go back. -Sutherland opened the door and said, "Hullo, old man! that'll never do; -come in here, we'll not hurt you." - -The old man turned about, and after further entreaty approached the -house and entered it. He had come out to examine his tobacco. He was -well stricken in years, being ninety years of age, having children, -grandchildren, and great grandchildren. On account of his age he was -slow of speech and comprehension. We had trouble in getting him to -understand who and what we were, and the situation in which we were -placed. He did not seem, at first, to correctly understand the meaning -of the term Yankee, but soon came to it, inquiring, "Is you uns some of -them fellers that's penned up in the 'backer-houses in Richmond?" We -answered that we were. We found it necessary to impress on his mind the -necessity of keeping secret from the whites the fact of our presence -in the country. Our need of procuring provisions from time to time was -also explained to the old man. We urged the old man to either bring -or send us some meat of some kind, if nothing else, and to have it at -the tobacco-house by sunset. He promised to do so, and shortly after -examining and arranging his tobacco, he went slowly on his way home. -We finished our breakfast, and continued parching corn for awhile. A -little before noon we laid-ourselves down, and slept until about three -o'clock in the evening. - -On getting up we finished parching corn, and then all the provisions -we had with us were ready for eating. When we first got up the sky was -partially clear, and by sunset it was cloudless. Just after sunset -the old negro arrived with some six or eight pounds of meat, mostly -boiled beef, the remainder being a small piece of side meat. A couple -of corn-dodgers were also furnished us, which we set apart for our -midnight meal. Having got our baggage, quartermaster and commissary -stores, ready for the trip, we expressed our obligations to the aged -negro who had befriended us, and bade him good-by. He then started -home, and soon after we set out on our eleventh night's journey, March -1, 1864. - -Finding the ground soft and well saturated with water, we thought we -should do well if we trudged through eight or ten miles that night. -On reaching the road, which had been pointed out to us by the negro, -we found the walking much better than we expected, as the water -could not so easily penetrate its hard surface. In a short time we -passed the house where lived the owner of the plantation to which the -tobacco-house in which we had been sheltering belonged. The house was -near the road, and the lights in it were burning brightly. While we -were passing the house the dogs began a lively barking, and kept it up -until we had gone some distance, and crossed a creek, when we heard no -more of them. Near midnight we halted at the road side amid a cluster -of small trees, and eat some beef and corn-bread. - -We soon resumed our travels. As we could not walk very rapidly, owing -to the condition of the road, we put in the whole time until day-break, -so that we could have it to say that we were at least eight or ten -miles nearer our goal than when setting out. The road we were traveling -bore northward in its general direction, but as the country on either -side was covered with unfenced woods, it frequently deviated from its -general course. At length day-break came, and we went to the left of -the road in search of a secure hiding-place for the day, March 2, 1864. - -The distance gone over during the night had not been more than eleven -miles, or twelve at the furthest, but we were that distance further -north, which was a gratifying feature of the night's journey. The -ground being yet very damp, we were compelled to seek an open space in -which to make our bed, and a quantity of brush and leaves on which to -make it, so that our bedding should not get damp or muddy. A suitable -hiding-place having been found, we collected leaves and brush from the -adjacent woods, and made our bed on them, and retired to sleep for the -day. We went about a mile from the road before locating our camp. It -was further than may have been necessary, as the road was not a very -public one, judging from appearances, and the country was very sparsely -settled. - -Some time in the evening we awoke and got up, finding the sky clear, -and the weather mild for the time of year. We found we had not stopped -convenient to water, but on looking around a little we found water not -far off sufficient for our needs. As we had no use for fire we built -none, but made a meal on parched corn and beef, and quietly awaited -the approach of night. The evening was spent in conversation, dwelling -chiefly on our trip, past and prospective. We talked of things that -had taken place, which, if we had them to do over again, we should do -differently; of some fork of the road or cross-road, where, if we were -only there again, we would take a different course. Sometimes we would -imagine certain things to happen us, and decide in our minds what we -should do, should the event actually transpire. Our minds seemed always -occupied, either with thoughts and reflections on the journey, so far -as completed, or with plans and expedients for the journey yet before -us. - -At dark our luggage was fitted up in readiness for starting out on the -twelfth night of our travels, being the thirteenth night out. In a half -hour's time we were on the road, wending our way northward. We found -the road had improved under the day's sunshine, and we were enabled to -make better progress than we had made on the previous night. On coming -to a cross-road near midnight we stopped a few minutes to eat a little -and consult as to the course to take, north or west. It was evident -that, no matter which course we took, we should soon reach the first -ranges of the Alleghany Mountains. As we had previously determined -to travel in day-time across the ridges, gorges, valleys, and barren -wastes of those mountains, we thought we would turn west and reverse, -as soon as possible, the order of our times of sleep and travel, -sleeping at night and traveling in day-time. We accordingly turned our -faces to the west. By so doing we did not reach the mountains as soon -as we should have done had we continued in the northward course. - -We spent another night and day, March 3, 1864, in the valley between -the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains. Nothing deserving of particular -notice transpired during that day. An hour or more before day, on the -early morning of March 4th, we came to a considerable stream, washing -the base of one of the principal ridges of the Alleghanies. We had -been traveling the greater part of the night over a very rough and -hilly road, and were getting tired and sleepy. As we expected to begin -traveling in day-time over the mountains on the day then approaching, -in accordance with our previous programme, we determined not to cross -the stream that night, or morning rather, and followed the road back -a short distance to where the woods bordered it on the south. We then -left the road and entered the woods, going in a south-east course a -little more than a half mile. In a spot surrounded by small trees and -bushes, where the surface of the ground was covered with rock large and -small, we halted for the day, March 4th. We cleared the rocks from a -small space, sufficiently large for our bed. We then made it and went -to rest for a few hours. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - AWAKENED--WATCHING IN AMBUSH--AVERILL'S CAVALRY--WOMAN MAKING - SUGAR--WE SEE MEN DRESSED IN BLUE--DECEIVING THE WOMAN--CHANGE OF - BASE--MISLEADING PURSUERS--WE EAT LAST OF OUR SUPPLIES--START OUT IN - DAY-TIME IN ACCORDANCE WITH AGREEMENT--OUR DISCOVERY--OUR PURSUIT--OUR - FLIGHT--TRIPPE FAILS--HE FALLS BY THE WAY--REBELS THREATEN--OUR SPEED - OUR SAFETY--TRIPPE'S PROBABLE FATE. - - -Near nine o'clock, A. M., March 4th, we were awakened by the rumbling -noise of a wagon running over a rough and stony road not far to the -east of us. We supposed this road intersected the one we had been -traveling during the night, but we had not noticed the point of -intersection. On finding we were near a road upon which persons would -be passing during the day Smith cautiously ventured in the direction -of the road to a cluster of cedar bushes, from which, while concealed -from observation, he could see any one passing. Soon another wagon -was heard coming down the road. Smith watched in the bushes until the -wagon passed, when he returned to us, reporting that the wagon was a -common army wagon, and that the driver had on a blue overcoat. "Can -it be," said Smith, "that Averill's cavalry are on a raid through -here?" As we knew the Confederates wore blue coats whenever they got -possession of them we did not comfort ourselves with the hope that -Union troopers were in the vicinity. We rather concluded there was a -squad of Confederate military in the neighborhood, and thought best to -look about us a little. - -Smith, having been out east of us and taken a survey of the road -and adjacent woods, thought he would take a look to the south and -south-west of us. Keeping under cover of the brush as much as possible, -he went out south of us, intending to be gone only a few minutes. -Fully a half hour passed and Smith had not returned, and, finally, we -suspected something wrong, and quietly, though quickly, folded our -blankets and got ready for a "skedaddle." We did not, however, intend -changing our location before Smith returned, or until it was certain -he would not return at all, unless somebody else came upon us in our -present retreat. We had but a few minutes to wait before we saw Smith -approach from the south in a brisk, though cautious walk. - -"What does this mean?" asked Smith, on noticing we had torn up camp, -and were looking as though we were about ready to fly. - -"It means that we had given you up as lost or captured," answered -Trippe. - -"Well," said Smith, "I think it will be policy for us to shift from -this place." - -"We have been in momentary expectation of a summons to surrender," -added Trippe. - -Smith had gone south of our camp but little more than a quarter of a -mile. He was bearing considerably to the west, when he noticed to his -right, and just beyond a bluff or ledge, a smoke curling upward. Not -hearing or seeing any one, he walked up to the edge of the bluff and -looked over and saw a woman engaged in boiling sugar-water. As he was -endeavoring to gain the shelter of the bushes the woman noticed him -shying off and asked, "What are you afeared of?" - -"O nothing; only I was afraid you would be scared if you saw me," -answered Smith. - -While conversing briefly with the woman Smith found she thought it -nothing strange to have met a man dressed in blue. Just as he was on -the point of asking if there were Federal soldiers near he happened to -see four or five men approaching a log cabin, which was situated in the -center of a cleared space of ground. Two of the men were dressed in -blue; the others were clad in butternut. The cabin was quite a quarter -of a mile distant to the south-west. Smith observed to the woman, -"There is a company of soldiers not far from your house." - -This remark was made in such a tone and manner as led the woman to -believe that Smith was acquainted in the vicinity. As it was also half -inquisitive, the woman answered that there was a company of soldiers -not far off, and asked, "An't you one of 'em?" - -Having gained the information desired, and seeing the opportunity of -deceiving the woman, Smith replied, "Of course I am." - -"Well," said the woman, "I thought it curious if you wasn't." - -"O, yes," returned Smith, "I'm a soldier." - -As there was a horse tied to a tree near the woman having a man's -saddle on it, Smith expected a man--perhaps a soldier--would be there -presently, and started off, observing as he left, "Well, I must go back -to camp." - -On leaving the woman, Smith went in a direction contrary to that -which he expected to take on getting out of her sight. He soon after -approached our hiding-place from the south, as before mentioned. On -hearing Smith's narration of facts, as given above, we gathered our -things and started eastward. On reaching the road on which the wagons -had passed, we walked backward across it. We went through the woods -some distance further east, and then we turned north. We soon came to -the road over which we had passed during the night, and crossed it, -walking backward. We continued in a northern direction until we had -gone something more than a mile from the road, and had reached heavy -woods with a thick bushy undergrowth, in which we halted for awhile. -After a few moments' rest and consultation, we retraced our steps a -short distance to a branch we had crossed, and in it we washed our -hands and faces. We then eat the last of our provisions, and had -nothing left to carry with us to subsist on. - -Near three o'clock, P. M., having got every thing ready, we started on -our travels in daylight, in accordance with previous arrangement. We -made our way through the woods and brush with some difficulty, in a -western direction, until we had gone about a mile, when we noticed an -opening not far to our left, where the timber had been cleared away. We -approached this cleared land, in order to avoid the thickets of brush. -On reaching it, we saw a small log cabin in the edge of the woods, on -the opposite side of it. As we saw no one, we went along near the brush -and woods, going toward the stream we had encountered at day-break, -before we had found our place of refuge for the day. When within two -hundred yards of the stream, having gained a point directly north of -the cabin, we looked toward it, and saw a woman standing near its -south-west corner. As she was not looking at us, we judged she had not -noticed us, and as she was almost half a mile distant, we deemed it -unnecessary to change our course on her account. On reaching the bank -of the stream, and before going down to the water's brink, we again -looked toward the cabin, and saw that the woman was just disappearing. -Almost at the same instant we heard the loud, shrill, blast of a horn -or bugle. Not knowing for what purpose the bugle had been sounded, we -thought it boded us no good at least. When we reached the margin of the -stream we removed the shoes and socks from our feet, then putting our -shoes on, we waded the stream. Wood and Trippe had reached the opposite -bank, and Smith, Sutherland, and I were nearing it, when looking to -our left we saw a man on horseback coming down the road that passed -between the stream and the ridge of the mountain. He came toward us -rapidly until he saw us plainly, when he wheeled suddenly about, and -dashed back up the road with great speed. He was bare-headed, and when -he turned about in the road, displaying his long locks of hair, and -the cape of his overcoat, with its brass buttons glistening in the -sunlight, we at once realized our situation, and the necessity of -getting away from there as quickly as we could. We took time, however, -to put on our dry socks; then putting our shoes on, and lacing them -securely, we left the bank of the stream and the road directly in our -rear, and pushed up the mountain-side as rapidly as the nature of the -ground would permit. - -The ridge near its base was thickly covered over with pine and cedar -bushes, but as we neared its summit, the bushes were more scattering. -The side of the ridge was covered over with rocks, large and small, -and it was impossible to make a footprint on its stony surface. Near -the top of the ridge, and on its summit, were innumerable rocks of -large and massive size. Trippe having been recaptured once and sent -back to prison, was determined to avoid, if possible, the recurrence -of an event fraught with such calamitous consequences. On the first -appearance of danger he had hurried his preparations for leaving the -stream, and had started out in advance of the other four of us. We -only aimed to keep Trippe in view, and allow the distance between him -and ourselves to grow no greater. Trippe was within two hundred yards -of the summit of the ridge when he stopped to rest. As soon as we saw -he had halted, we did the same, although we were not much wearied. -But we wished to husband our strength as much as possible, knowing -we should be hunted and pursued. Smith, Sutherland, Wood, and I kept -near together, that we might consult each other as we hurried forward, -for we recognized the value and importance of concerted action in the -expected emergency. - -We had rested a very few minutes when we looked up the mountain and -saw Trippe hurrying to the top of it. Supposing from his extraordinary -exertions that he had seen pursuers from his more elevated position, -we cast a glance below us. At first glance we saw no one, but thought -we could see the tops of the bushes moving near the base of the ridge. -We watched for a moment only, and then saw five or six bare-headed -Butternut gentry appear in sight, as they emerged from the bushes, -about two hundred yards below us. They had guns, with bayonets -attached, but were minus their cartridge-boxes. We pushed ahead at a -moderate run for the top of the mountain, occasionally looking behind -us to see if the Rebels were gaining on us. On reaching the summit of -the ridge we followed it, as Trippe had, in a north-eastern direction. -Soon we came to a deep chasm, or gorge, through the top of the -mountain. On the sides of this chasm were many large rocks, and a few -scattering trees or bushes. Should our pursuers fire on us, we thought -we could make it very difficult for them to hit us, by constantly -dodging about, and disappearing behind the huge rocks. - -As Smith, Sutherland, Wood, and I were going down the south side -of the chasm, Trippe was hurrying with might and main up its north -side. Just as our pursuers reached the chasm, on its south side, we -gained the top of the ridge on the north of it. Should the Rebels all -commence to cross the chasm at once, we should be out of sight before -they got over; so they divided their squad, two remaining to watch our -movements, while the others crossed in pursuit of us. Just as we had -gained the top of the ridge north of the gorge, the two Rebels on the -south side of it cried out, "Halt! halt! you d--d Yankees, you, or -we'll shoot you." Having little fears of bullets at such long range, -and feeling sure they had but one round of ammunition with them, we -paid no attention to their threats. No shots were fired at us, but -threats to shoot were repeated as long as we were in hearing. - -Although we had hurried considerably, we discovered Trippe was out of -sight, and we increased our speed, as much to get a view of him as -to gain on our pursuers. We had gone but a few yards after so doing -before we came to Trippe lying on the ground, near a large crevice -or opening in a huge rock. He was completely exhausted, and unable -to speak or make himself understood. We scarcely halted on reaching -Trippe, as three or four of the Confederates had gained the top of the -ridge north of the gorge, and were yelling at us to halt and surrender. -They were not more than a hundred yards distant, but many rocks of -huge proportions intervened between them and ourselves. Trippe at this -moment motioned to us with both arms, and then began crawling into the -opening in the rock near him. What he wished us to do we did not know, -and had no opportunity of ascertaining, as we were obliged to flee for -our own safety. He attempted to speak but could not. - -We left Trippe to his fate, and hurried on without stopping, until we -were entirely out of hearing of the Rebels. When we were beyond the -immediate reach of the enemy, it was a question with us whether we -should pause for a few moments, to see if Trippe had escaped their -notice, or push ahead. We halted and listened for a few minutes, but -heard nothing. We concluded the enemy had found Trippe, and were now -looking among the rocks for us, and determined to push forward. We kept -on the top of the ridge for the distance of nearly two miles, when we -came to a gorge leading down the western slope of the mountain into the -valley. We followed down this gorge until we were fully half-way to -the valley. In a place entirely surrounded by cedar bushes, we halted -to rest. The sides of the gorge were high and rugged, and huge rocks -projected from them, and hung almost directly over our heads. No sound -fell upon our ears; not even of the wind gently blowing, or of running -water's low murmur. It was truly a place of solitude. The unfortunate -event of the evening, the loss of our comrade, made it doubly sad -and solitary to us. As we had made very few, if any, foot-prints, we -knew the enemy could not easily trace us; and though sorrowing and -dejected in spirit, we felt safe in the loneliness and seclusion of -the place. We felt deeply the loss we had sustained in our separation -from Trippe, as we had hitherto deferred to him in all the straits and -critical situations in which we had been placed. It was the second time -he had been recaptured--if really recaptured this time--and foiled in -his attempts to escape prison, and on that account we felt sorry for -him. We called to mind the reluctance manifested by him to starting -with us on the trip to the lines; also his great discouragement when -he came across the citizen in the woods, about ten days previously. -We conjectured the Rebels had certainly found Trippe. We conjectured, -too, that Trippe, in motioning to us, had intended to be understood as -directing us to hide, as he was doing; that the Rebels would question -him as to where the rest of us were, and that he would answer that we -were hid among the rocks somewhere near; that they would look for us, -and, failing to find us, would accuse him of deceiving and delaying -them in their pursuit of us until we were out of reach. Taking this -view of the matter we feared the Rebels would become exasperated at -Trippe, and would treat him cruelly, if they did not murder him. -Whatever the result of the fray might have been to Trippe, we knew we -were yet free. Knowing it was entirely beyond our power to rescue or -protect him, we sadly realized the extent of our loss, and began to -look out again for ourselves. - -To this date, February, 1870, I have never heard either from or of -Trippe, and know nothing as to his fate. He was about thirty-four -years of age, was a man of good judgment, and possessed many excellent -qualities of mind and heart. I think he had been at one time Orderly -Sergeant of his Company, Company H, 15th United States Infantry. He -enlisted at Columbus, Ohio, in the year 1861. He was never married. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - ACROSS RIDGE AND VALLEY--WE SEE NEW CASTLE IN THE DISTANCE--CHILDREN - SCARED--WOMEN AMAZED--WE VISIT THEM--THEY THINK WE ARE "SECESH"--WE - THINK THEY ARE "SECESH"--EACH PARTY MISTAKEN--ALL GOOD UNIONISTS--A - DESERTER HID UNDER THE BED--HE COMES FORTH--AT "JEEMES" HUFFMAN'S--HE - THINKS WE ARE CONFEDERATES--FINE SUPPER AT MIDNIGHT--WE ARE BEWILDERED - IN THE DARKNESS AND RAIN--DUCKED IN CRAIG'S CREEK--WE AVOID REBEL - RENDEZVOUS--HIDE IN THE MOUNTAINS--AT THE HOUSE OF A CONFEDERATE HOME - GUARD--HE IS SICK--PROVES TO BE A UNION MAN--ONE CORN-DODGER--HE SENDS - US TO ANOTHER UNION MAN--WE LOSE OUR WAY--PRECIOUS TIME LOST--WE - ARRIVE AT WM. PAXTON'S--SUPPER AT MIDNIGHT--AN OLD REBEL BADLY - FOOLED--PAXTON DIRECTS US TO ROBERT CHILDS'S--CHILDS NOT AT HOME--HIS - WIFE PRETENDS TO BE SECESH--SHE THINKS WE ARE SECESH--CHILDS COMES - HOME--HE VISITS US IN THE WOODS--HE IS A RABID SECESH--ADMITS WE - ARE UNIONISTS--BUT BELIEVES THE CONTRARY--THE MYSTERY ACCIDENTALLY - SOLVED--MRS. CHILDS A UNIONIST--MR. CHILDS A UNIONIST--THEY COME TO - KNOW WE ARE UNION SOLDIERS--GOOD FEELING--WE ARE FED--WE ARE SENT TO - DAVID HELPER--WE SEPARATE FROM CHILDS. - - -We rested in the gorge for the space of half an hour. Soon after -leaving it we reached the valley. We crossed the valley, and -immediately began the ascent of another ridge, and on gaining its -summit we could see a town in the distance to the west of us. We -ascertained, late in the day, that the town was New Castle, Craig -county, Virginia. We went down the mountain-side into another valley, -and then changed our course, and followed up the valley in a direction -a little east of north. In passing through a dense thicket we came to -a dilapidated rail-fence. We crossed the fence, and soon emerged from -the thicket into more open ground. We were bearing considerably to the -east, following around the thicket, when we suddenly came upon a hut. -Three or four children were at play near the door. They saw us and ran -into the house immediately, when two women appeared at the door and -gazed at us in apparent amazement. As it was growing late, the sun -having gone down, we knew the women could bring no harm upon us, and we -approached the humble dwelling and entered it without waiting for an -invitation. We took seats, and opened the conversation by telling the -women to set before us, on the table, what they had cooked, as we were -hungry, and had nothing to eat. The women complied, setting out a few -slices of cold boiled meat, a couple of corn-dodgers, and four bowls -of milk. We sat around the table and eat all that had been placed upon -it. After eating we told the women that was the first milk, with one -exception, we had drank for many months, and that was the first bread -we had eaten for two days. - -The women seemed very much astonished, and inquired who we were, and -where we were from. We told them we had been prisoners at Danville, -Virginia, and were now trying to make our way through the mountains to -the Union lines. They then apologized to us for the scantiness of the -meal they had given us, saying they thought we were Confederate guards -from New Castle. We also apologized to them for ordering them, in so -abrupt a manner, to set out supper for us, saying we thought they were -"Secesh." The women then called for "Jim" to come out from under the -bed. "Jim" immediately came forth. On our approach he had hid under -the bed, thinking we were Confederate home guards. Jim was a deserter -from Buckner's army in East Tennessee. We told these Unionists of the -event of the afternoon; of our being pursued, and of losing one of our -number in our flight. They seemed to manifest much anxiety on account -of the lost one, and asked us many questions concerning him. - -We inquired if there was any good Union man living in the valley of -whom we could procure provisions to carry with us. We were told that -"Jeemes" Huffman lived four miles up the branch, and could furnish us -with provisions. A path was pointed out to us that led up to Huffman's -house. Just at dusk we bid our Union friends "good evening" and set -out, intending to give Huffman a call. About half the distance had been -gone over when darkness fully set in. After dark our progress was much -slower in following the strange and devious pathway. Near nine o'clock, -P. M., we saw the light of a fire, shining dimly through Huffman's -window. We crossed a fence and followed the path a short distance up -the mountain-side to the house. The door was standing open, and we -entered and stood before Huffman and his wife. They were not a little -surprised, and seemed doubtful as to the manner in which they should -treat us. We were soon seated before the fire, however, and began to -acquaint Huffman with our condition and necessities. Having heard with -interest our narrative of the facts in our case the woman asked if we -would have supper. We answered in the affirmative, and she went to -work, and by ten o'clock, P. M., we sat down to a table bountifully -supplied with food. - -While eating we learned from Huffman that he lived two and a half miles -from New Castle, Craig county. We learned, also, that the home guards -at New Castle searched the premises of the mountaineers every two weeks -for deserters from the Confederate army. When we first entered the -house Huffman supposed we were home guards from New Castle, and the -hesitancy on his part to avow, at first, his Union sentiments, was the -result. Huffman said it had been two weeks since his house had been -searched, and he was in hourly expectation of the guards. As Huffman -was engaged in shelling corn, we asked of him the privilege of shelling -a few ears to carry with us to eat on the morrow. This favor was -readily granted, and some three or four dozens of Irish potatoes were -also furnished us. - -Near eleven o'clock on that night of March 4th we were ready to set -out again on our travels. Huffman gave us directions how to get across -Craig's Creek, and how to avoid a certain house, which he described, -where a Rebel family lived, and where the home guards sometimes -stopped, when out on their semi-monthly rounds. After bidding Huffman -and his wife good-night, we left them, and followed, as well as we -could, the directions we had received. It had become very dark and -cloudy, and before we reached Craig's Creek it began raining, and we -found it impossible to follow the directions Huffman had given us. But -we pushed on in the darkness, and in the course of an hour we reached -the stream. We found we were considerably off the track, having missed -the crossing Huffman had described. We spent half an hour or more in -wandering up and down the creek, looking carefully for the crossing, -but failed to find it. We spent another half hour in procuring a stout -staff, or stick, apiece, to be used in the stream while wading it. -Having supplied ourselves, we plunged into the waters of the creek, -steadying ourselves against the swift current with our sticks as best -we could. - -It was very dark, and the rain continued falling. To add to the -difficulty of crossing, we found that the bed or bottom of the creek -was very treacherous, being full of rocks and holes. We found the water -very cold, and the current strong and swift. We stumbled often, and -came near falling into the water, but finally got safely across, with a -thorough and cold wetting. All our clothing was wet, and dripping with -water, as we stood upon the bank. We took off our blouses and wrung the -water from them. After re-arranging our things, we set out again in a -northern direction, following up the valley. We found it necessary to -walk briskly before morning, in order to excite warmth of body to dry -our clothing. As we had not crossed the creek at the point where we had -expected to do so, we had avoided the house which was the rendezvous -of the Rebel guards. A road was soon reached, on which we walked with -much energy, and the clothing next our bodies soon became dry of the -dampening effects of the plunging and stumbling in Craig's Creek. -Daylight having broke upon us, we began looking for a hiding-place. -Owing to the ill luck attending our first day's travel, we were induced -to fall back on the old plan of lying by in day-time. As there were -home guards in the country, we thought we should feel safer in trusting -ourselves to the friendly shelter of the woods during the day. - -Day-break found us on the road where it passed between two high ridges -of mountains. There was no alternative but to hide far up in the side -of the ridge east of the road. We began the ascent of the ridge, and -were not long in gaining its summit; and on its eastern slope we halted -for the day, among the huge rocks. In a short time we cleared a space -sufficiently large for our bed. Our bedding was a little damp; but as -we had lost much sleep in the last twenty hours, that circumstance did -not hinder us from sleeping soundly. We slept until late in the day, -when we made a fire preparatory to parching corn and roasting potatoes. -We eat as much as we wished of the potatoes and corn, and finding we -did not much relish such fare, since the excellent though late supper -at Huffman's the night before, we determined to have something better -to eat the next day, if possible. We resolved that the first house -we came to, after setting out, should be the scene of an attempt, at -least, to get some provisions. The time of starting having arrived, -and all being in readiness, we crossed the summit of the ridge and -descended to the road in the valley. We walked leisurely along the -road, not wishing to reach the first house too early in the night. Near -nine o'clock we came to a house on our left, a short distance from us. -We heard music as we halted, and questioned the propriety of entering -the house; but finally concluded not to forego our resolution to try -our hand at procuring supplies. We crossed the rail-fence a few steps -from the house, and went to the door. We opened the door, entered the -house, and took seats without waiting to be asked to do so. Four or -five children were seated before the fire. The oldest, a boy about -fifteen years old, had been playing the violin. As we entered the house -the mother of the children stepped out the back door, but did not close -it entirely. The mother held the door slightly open, and listened to -what we had to say to the children. On finding we talked kindly, she -came into the room, and then we made known the object of our call at -such a time. The woman represented herself as being very poor, with -a sick husband and five children to provide for. She pointed to the -bed in the corner in which her husband lay. On looking, we saw the -unfortunate man, and conversed with him. We learned he had lost his -health while serving in the Confederate army under Buckner. On account -of disability, he had been discharged from service, and allowed to -return to his family. He now belonged to a home guard company. In the -course of the conversation, the sick man claimed he was really a Union -man, but had been obliged to yield to the pressure of public opinion, -and had been conscripted into the army. He now belonged to the home -guards, to keep from being again sent to the front. He said he would -gladly give us something to eat, but as it was beyond his ability to do -so, he could only direct us to a man who could provide for us. After -giving us particular directions how we should find the home of William -Paxton, he said no more. We bade the sick man and family "good-night," -and left the house. Before we had reached the fence, one of the -children opening the door called out to us to wait a minute. We waited, -and the boy brought us one corn-dodger. Taking it, we expressed our -thanks, and went on our way. - -On getting some distance from the house, we debated as to the propriety -of seeking Paxton's aid. We feared Paxton was a Rebel. It seemed -strange that a late follower of Buckner, and a Confederate home guard, -should give directions to escaping Federals; but as he had given us -bread from his limited supply and had told us just how to avoid and get -around a certain house where Confederate guards often met, we concluded -to follow his directions, if possible, and if we found things as -represented, we would go to Paxton's. - -It was seven miles to Paxton's house, which was situated on the road as -it passed over a mountain. After going some four miles on the road, we -came to the house where the Rebels congregated. It was near the road, -and lights shone from all the windows. We passed some distance south of -it, but near enough to hear the noise of revelry. At a point nearly -two miles west of this house, we should have gone on the mountain; -but owing to the indistinctness of the road, and the darkness of the -night, we missed our way. When we found we were off the right track, -we retraced our steps for over a mile. As it was near morning we began -a careful search for the point where the mountain road led off to the -left from the other, and found it just at day-break. We could now do -nothing but look out for a hiding-place for the day, Sunday, March 6th. - -According to the account of the sick man, we were hid but little more -than a mile from Paxton's abode. Our retreat for the day was close to -a spring, where we could wash and get water to drink. In the evening, -fearing ramblers would come to the spring, we moved further from it. -Having eaten our corn-dodger the preceding night, we were obliged to -resort for subsistence to the remnant of roasted potatoes and corn left -over from yesterday's fare. The day seemed long, but it wore away, and -we took up our line of march, near nine o'clock, P. M., for Paxton's -house. In less than two hour's time we came to a house answering the -description we had received. We passed through the gate in front and -approached the door. We rapped gently, and were invited by an old -man to come in. As we were being seated, one of our party asked the -old man if his name was Paxton. He answered that it was; and wished -to know how and where we had learned his name. We told him, and he -seemed much surprised, as our informant had been considered by him as -a disunionist. All had retired to sleep at Paxton's excepting himself. -We told him we wished something to eat, and he immediately called his -two daughters to get our supper for us. Paxton knew we were Federals, -and made no attempt to conceal his Union sentiments. While waiting -for supper, we conversed on war topics, on prison life, and our trip -since leaving prison. When supper was announced, we sat down to a -table bountifully supplied with food. While we were eating, an old man -stopped at Paxton's, who had been out from Fincastle, where he lived, -to take a woman to her home in the country. This new-comer did not seem -to notice us until we had finished supper and taken seats before the -fire. As I was sitting next him, he took hold of my pants at the knee, -and inquired rather roughly, "Where do you belong?" Not knowing what -answer to make, under the circumstances, to such a question, I merely -turned my head, and glanced at my three comrades, who in turn looked -immediately to the old man Paxton, who very quickly spoke up saying, -"They belong to the 22d, which you know is stationed at the bridge." -Paxton immediately added, "They have been home on furlough, their time -is up, and they are now on their way to the bridge." The old Fincastle -man seemed satisfied with Paxton's explanation. One of our party soon -after observed, as he was rising from his seat, "Well, boys, we must -be off now; we must put in an appearance at the bridge as soon as -possible." We then gathered our things and went out of the house. As we -passed out, Paxton was seating the Fincastle man at the supper table. -That done, he opened the door, and said to us, "Boys, you'll find it -cold traveling over the mountain to-night." - -"Yes," said Wood, laughing, "but we'll only walk the faster and get to -the bridge sooner." - -Paxton then came out, closing the door behind him. He told us the old -fellow at the supper table was a notorious Rebel. As Paxton wished to -get in the house as soon as possible, to attend to his Rebel guest, -thus keeping down suspicion, he told us where and how to find the house -of Robert Childs, who lived eleven miles from there. Childs, he said, -was a good Union man, and his wife was a true Union woman, who would be -glad to help us on our way. On getting over the mountain, and reaching -a point about seven miles from Paxton's, we were to turn to our right, -and go north four miles to another road, on which Childs lived. - -We then set out anew on the night's travel. In two hours' time we had -traveled, as we thought, about seven miles, and we called at a house -and inquired of a negro how far we were from the road leading north to -the mill. We were told it was half a mile east of there; and without -delay we hastened back on the road a short distance, and began looking -carefully for the turning off place. We soon found it, and also found -much difficulty ahead of us. The road, it seemed, was a new one, having -been cut but recently through a heavy wood. We made slow progress; -we stumbled often over stumps and rocks. The moon was shining, but -its light scarcely reached our pathway, as the dense woods closely -hedged it in. We trudged slowly on, and reached Childs's Mill before -day-break. The mill was near the point where the road we had been -following intersected another running east and west. Although it was -not yet day, we concluded to call on Childs at his house, tell him our -wants, and ask him to show us where we could stop for the day and be -safe. - -We halted opposite the house, and Sutherland went into the yard and -rapped at the door, but no answer came. He next attempted to raise -a window, but a woman's voice protested against it. Sutherland then -inquired if Childs was at home, and the woman answered that he was not. -The woman's tone of voice plainly indicated that she was considerably -frightened; so we determined to seek a hiding-place in the forest. -When we had found a suitable place, we made our bed and lay down on -it to sleep. Morning was faintly appearing when we lay down, and we -heard chickens crowing in the distance. In about two hours' time we -awoke, and found the sun shining brightly. We consulted briefly as to -what we should do, and determined that one of our party should go back -to Childs's house, to see if he had got home, and to get something to -eat, as we had brought nothing with us from Paxton's on account of the -presence of the Fincastle Rebel. Each of us was anxious to perform the -errand, and we drew cuts to see which of us should go upon it. It fell -to my lot, and I at once started. - -As it was early in the morning, I encountered no persons upon the road. -On reaching the house I rapped moderately at the door. Mrs. Childs -first looked at me through the window, and then admitted me. I first -told her I was one of those who had called at the house before day. I -then asked her if her husband had got home. She answered that he had -not. I asked when she expected him. She answered that he would be at -home by ten o'clock in the day. She then inquired what business we -were on, and what we wanted with her husband. I told her we had been -prisoners of war at Danville, and had been trying for over two weeks to -make our way through the Confederacy to the Federal forces. I told her -of our stopping at Paxton's, and of his directing us to Robert Childs. -At this Mrs. Childs seemed surprised, and remarked that Paxton would -better be in other business than giving aid to Federals. Mrs. Childs -talked very much like a Rebel, and though I could hardly understand the -situation, I felt no uneasiness. After further talking I asked her if -she could furnish us something to eat. She said she supposed she could, -but wasn't in the habit of feeding roving squads of soldiers. She then -asked me to sit up to the table and eat with her; but I declined, -telling her if she would allow me to carry a dishful to the woods, and -share it with my comrades, I would be thankful. Mrs. Childs and her -children eat their breakfast, while I sat by keeping up the talk with -her. Shortly after finishing her meal, Mrs. Childs gathered what she -had left on a large dish and gave it to me. I thanked her, and told -her there must be a mistake somewhere, as we had found things very -different from what Paxton had represented. - -"Paxton don't know every thing," said Mrs. Childs. - -"Time alone will settle the matter," said I. I told the woman where we -were hid, and asked her to send her husband to see us when he returned. -She answered that she would do so. - -"If you will," said I, "we shall have a friendly talk with him, do him -no harm, and send your dish back to you." - -I then returned to our retreat in the woods. On the way I felt, from -some cause, that Paxton was not mistaken in his opinion of Mrs. Childs, -and that some recent development had made necessary her avowal of -disunion sentiments. We found the provisions furnished by Mrs. Childs -very acceptable, whether she was a secessionist or not. After finishing -our meal we spent the time in conjecturing the cause of Mrs. Childs's -strange conduct, if she was really a Union woman. We became satisfied -that, for some reason yet to be explained, she had only pretended to be -a devotee of the Confederacy. - -Near noon Robert Childs came to us in the woods. He approached us with -extreme caution, and looked as if he would rather not see us. We talked -with him an hour or more. During the whole conversation he upheld the -Confederacy. He could not imagine how Paxton got the impression he was -a Union man or a disloyal citizen. We asked Childs if he should take -any steps to recapture us. He replied that he would do nothing either -to help or hinder us. To this we replied, that we could ask no more -from a "Secesh." He started home when we gave him the dish, and told -him we were grateful to his wife and to him for what we had received -from them. We urged Childs to call on us again before night. He said he -would if he had time, and then went homeward. - -Near four o'clock, P. M., he came out again to see us, and remained -with us until near sunset. The tenor of his conversation was the same -as in the morning. He had no word of encouragement to give us, and, of -course, offered us no assistance. It was growing late, and we began -getting ready to travel. We continued talking with Childs, however, and -Smith said to him, - -"I suppose you haven't reported us, have you?" - -"I've seen nobody to report to," he answered. - -"Hasn't any one been to mill?" inquired Smith. - -"O, one or two," answered Childs, "but they were in a hurry, and didn't -stay long?" - -"You didn't say any thing about us, then?" asked Wood. - -"I didn't say a word about you to any body," said Childs. - -Sutherland then said, "I'll be switched if I don't believe he is a -Union man after all." - -Childs manifesting some uneasiness, then said in an emphatic manner, -"Don't fool yourselves about that, boys." - -Sutherland then asked, "Did you ever see or hear of any Yankee -prisoners escaping through here before?" - -Childs said he had heard of a squad passing through about six weeks -before. - -"How many were there in the squad?" Smith inquired. - -"Only two, I believe," was the reply. - -"I'll bet," said Smith, "they were Davis and Tige; they left the -hospital about two months ago." - -Childs seemed to evince unusual interest in this remark of Smith's. -Sutherland then said, "I wonder where Davis and Tige are by this time?" - -"O, they've got through before now," I replied. - -"Unless they've been caught and sent back," added Sutherland. - -Childs then inquired rather anxiously who Davis and Tige were. We -told him who they were, where we had known them, and described them -particularly. Davis had been steward at the hospital near Danville, and -Tige had been a nurse. Childs then recanted his secession doctrines, -and confessed he was a Union man, and had harbored Davis and Tige for -three or four days. He also explained in full the reasons for his -conduct toward us in pretending to be a Rebel. - -It seems the Confederate commander in that district--General Echols, -I think it was--had adopted a plan of ascertaining who were aiding -Federal prisoners in their efforts to escape. He had dressed small -squads of his men in tattered Federal uniforms, armed them with weapons -concealed about their persons, and had sent them over the country to -such persons as were suspected of Unionism; to whom they would apply -for food and other assistance in making their way to the Union lines. -These squads were called "bogus Yankees" by the Union people, who -learned to keep continually on the guard against falling victims to -their deceptive practices. Many true Union citizens of the South were -made prisoners by the "bogus Yankees," taken from their homes, and -imprisoned at Richmond, Atlanta, and other points, for many months. - -Childs thought we were "bogus," and was glad enough to help us when -he found the contrary was true. Paxton had not yet learned of the -"bogus Yankees," and Childs had only been put on his guard a day or two -before by hearing of the arrest and carrying off in irons of one of his -Union friends, who had the misfortune to fall into the hands of the -impostors. Childs said he would take it upon himself to go and see his -friend Paxton, and warn him of the danger of playing into false hands. -Robert Childs, in treating us as he had, only thought he was evading -arrest and a hopeless imprisonment. He first assured himself of our -genuineness; then, knowing our actual need of assistance, he did not -withhold it. It was purely accidental--perhaps Providential--that our -real character became known to Childs. The allusion to Davis and Tige -was the merest accident in the world, but proved sufficiently powerful -to dispel the mystery we had been unable to solve. - -The day, March 7th, was drawing to its close. It was time for us to -resume our secret march. Before we set out Childs went to his house -and brought us enough provisions for one meal, which was all that we -required, as he then gave us particular directions as to how we should -find the house of David Hepler, another good Union man, only eight -miles away. We then parted with Childs, who had so recently proved our -friend, in a better mood than we had anticipated an hour before. We -were sorry we could remain no longer with him after he had found us -also true, and of the number in whom he could confide. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - "HAD NO HORNS LATELY"--WE REACH HEPLER'S--HE IS ON HIS GUARD--WE KNOW - HOW TO TAKE HIM--SUPPER AND LODGING--ADIEU TO HEPLER--WE GO TO LEWIS'S - HOUSE--LEWIS NOT AT HOME--TROUBLE AT LEWIS'S HOUSE--ITS OCCUPANTS - PROPOSE MAKING US PRISONERS--WE PROPOSE DIFFERENTLY--NEITHER PARTY - ACTS--ONE-SIDED MISUNDERSTANDING--AN UNDERSTANDING NOT ATTAINABLE--WE - RETURN TO HEPLER--HE DREADS TO SEE US--HE IS SOON ALL RIGHT AGAIN--HE - ASCERTAINS LEWIS'S FATE--IS UNABLE TO SECURE US A GUIDE--WE ARE - PRONOUNCED "SPURIOUS"--FINAL ADIEU TO HEPLER--WE RETURN TO LEWIS'S - HOUSE--GET PROVISION THERE AND SOMETHING MORE--FURTHER TRAVELS--OUR - MATCHES LOST--WE REACH GREENBRIER RIVER--COME UNEXPECTEDLY TO TWO - WOMEN--THEY SEND US TO MRS. MANN'S--WE BEST OURSELVES--VOLUNTEER GUIDE. - - -It was near sunset when we separated from Childs. Just before dark we -felt uncertain as to whether we had not got off the route to Hepler's. -As there was a house a short distance to our left, we concluded to -inquire the way, as we preferred risking a little to getting bewildered -in the darkness. We found one young woman and two older ones at the -house. On seeing us they seemed badly scared, and were about to forsake -their dwelling as we entered it, leaving us in full possession. After -some entreaty on our part, the young woman came in cautiously and -deferentially, and was followed by the older ones. Our inquiries were -principally addressed to the young woman, the older ones standing near -gazing in mute astonishment. In the course of the talk we had occasion -to acknowledge that we were Yankees, when one of the old women blurted -out, "I'd say! I thought they had horns." - -"We do have, sometimes," said Wood, "but not lately." - -On gaining the information desired, we resumed our journey. By eight -o'clock we had traversed the rough, broken country lying between -Childs's and Hepler's house. We found Hepler on the look out for false -Unionists; but as Childs had told us Davis and Tige had been befriended -by him--Hepler--we found no difficulty in proving our genuineness to -him. Near nine o'clock we took supper at Hepler's table, and after -a two hours' talk, we were comfortably lodged in his house. After -breakfasting the next morning, having got ready to set forth again on -our journey, we bade Hepler's family adieu, and he conducted us to -the top of a lofty range of mountains, at the base of which his house -stood. Having reached the highest elevation in the mountain, Hepler -pointed out to us another range upon which the home of William Lewis -was situated. The exact locality of Lewis's house was pointed out, -although we could scarcely see it, and were eight and a half miles -distant. Hepler told us we could go to Lewis's in day-time without much -risk, but it would be impossible for strangers to go over the route -by night. He also informed us that it was probable we could get Lewis -to guide us a portion of, if not all, the way to the Federal lines. -On hearing some further instructions to enable us to find our way -more easily, we bade our friend adieu, and left him. It was fully ten -o'clock in the day when we set out on our journey to Lewis's house. -We crossed two ridges, as many valleys, and many small rivulets of -the mountains before reaching our objective point. On commencing the -ascent of a third ridge, we found a path of which Hepler had spoken. -We then knew we were on the ridge upon which we would find the house of -a friend. We took the path as a guide, and followed its devious course. -When little more than half-way up the mountain side we met two men and -a woman and child. The men were on foot. The woman, with her child -in her arms, was on horseback. The largest man was carefully leading -the horse down the mountain path. No word was spoken at this meeting, -each party maintaining silence and casting suspicious glances at the -other. Soon after we gained the top of the ridge, and came in sight -of Lewis's house, situated in a bowl-shaped depression in the top of -the mountain. We did not wish to go to the house while it was yet day, -for fear of finding some Secessionist there, and thus placing Lewis as -well as ourselves in an embarrassing situation. We went aside from the -path nearly two hundred yards, and hid in the brush. We found we had -stopped in a place from which we could watch the house. Our position -also commanded a view of the path we had just left, and of persons that -might pass upon it. - -It was near four o'clock, P. M., when we halted. We kept our eyes at -intervals on the house and its immediate surroundings, but saw no -person during the evening. One dog, a calf, and a few chickens, were -the only living objects visible. The doors of the house were closed, -and we concluded Lewis and his family had gone from home; but as smoke -was issuing from the chimney, we hoped they would return by dark. We -feared the man we had met leading the horse was Lewis with his family, -going with a friend to make a visit. If so, we should be delayed, we -thought, in our journey, and be compelled to push on without seeing -him. We decided to wait until dark in our hiding-place, and see if -Lewis would return. Just after sunset the man we had met on the -mountain, leading the horse, went along the path to Lewis's premises. -He was leading a horse, and was accompanied by two other men, each -leading horses. They first put their horses in the stable and fed -them. They then chopped some wood at the wood-pile and carried it to -the house. Darkness came on, and we saw sparks flying from the chimney -top. Feelings of joyous gratitude heaved our bosoms as we felt certain -we should soon meet Lewis and enjoy the company and consolations -of a native thorough-bred Union man. We were destined to meet with -disappointment, however, and to experience difficulties from which a -mere allusion to Davis and Tige would not relieve us. - -In less than an hour after dark we left our position in the thicket and -went to the house. We knocked three times before we were told to come -in. With a show of reluctance on the part of the three men, we were -furnished seats near the fire. Wood, addressing the largest of the men, -asked, "Your name is Lewis, I suppose?" - -"No, but Lewis is a brother-in-law of mine," was the answer. - -"Well, this is Lewis's house, is it?" Wood asked. "We were told it was." - -"Where is Lewis?" inquired Sutherland. - -"I don't know," said the man, "he hasn't been at home for several days." - -"What's your name?" continued Sutherland. - -"My name is Hepler." - -"Are you akin to David Hepler?" Sutherland asked. - -"Yes, David Hepler is my father," replied the man, at the same time -turning very pale. - -Judging Hepler was fearful some great calamity had befallen his father -through the agency of "bogus Yankees," I said, "You think we are -Rebels," and Smith immediately added, "We have not harmed a hair of -your father's head." - -We assured Hepler we were real Union soldiers, honestly endeavoring to -make our way from prison to our lines. - -"I don't know so well about that," said Hepler, "but as for myself, I -belong to the Confederate army." - -We then told him we knew he belonged to the Confederate army, and knew, -too, that he was a Union man, having been informed of those facts -by his father. David Hepler had told us how his son, in the earlier -months of the war, had hid himself among the rocks and caverns of the -mountains for more than eighteen months, and how at last he was caught -by the Rebels and conscripted into the army. - -We spent some time, two hours at least, in trying to convince young -Hepler we were not "bogus," but all in vain. He said he knew what he -was, and supposed we knew what we were, and was going to have nothing -to do with Federal prisoners, unless it would be to catch them and take -them to Jim Crow's. As he spoke thus he directed our attention to a -stack of guns in the corner. - -"There's as many of us as there is of you," suggested Wood, "when it -comes to that." - -"Jim Crow's" was a small town a few miles distant, as we afterward -learned. - -We became satisfied that our efforts to procure assistance, or -derive information from young Hepler and his associates would prove -unavailing, as they refused to answer our questions as to the roads, -the streams, or the nature of the country west and north of us, and -refused us the shelter of the house until morning. We, however, -understood the situation perfectly, knowing that the only difficulty -with us was our inability to furnish satisfactory proof of our -genuineness as real "Yankees." Hepler having been absent in the -service, knew nothing of Davis and Tige, or of the aid his father had -rendered them, and our telling him of them was of no avail. We could -not establish our character as escaping Federals to the satisfaction of -those who, we knew, would have been our friends could we have done so, -but were compelled to leave them under the impression we were really -soldiers of the Confederacy. - -Near eleven o'clock that night, March 8th, we left the house of -Lewis not a little discomfited. Where we had expected assistance and -encouragement we met only with disappointment and defeat. We felt our -defeat more keenly in consequence of the certainty we felt that Hepler -and his associates would have been quite willing, even anxious, to -aid us on our way had they been assured beyond a doubt as to our real -character. - -[Illustration: "TROUBLE AT LEWIS'S HOUSE."--PAGE 93.] - -After we had gone out of the house we halted at the fence, a few steps -from the door, and consulted briefly as to the course to pursue. Our -situation was critical in the extreme. We were in Alleghany county, in -the midst of the rugged and barren mountains, where the country was -thinly inhabited. We had no supplies with us, as we had left David -Hepler's expecting to get food at Lewis's. We soon determined to return -to David Hepler's, tell him of the situation at Lewis's house, and see -if he could give us other directions to follow. Smith suggested that -young Hepler might be willing to go with us to his father if we should -wait until morning. Smith called to him to come out, saying, "We wish -to talk with you." - -Hepler did not come out; but on being called the third time he came to -the door and said, "Kill me in the house if you want to; I sha'n't come -out there to be killed." - -We were trying to assure him that we would do him no harm when he -closed the door in our faces and barred it. We then started away from -the house, going about a mile east of it. Near the mountain top we -halted until daylight of March 9th. The sky was overcast with clouds, -threatening rain, when we stopped, and we felt very much disheartened. -Our hopes were exultant before going to Lewis's house. We expected -to get assistance there, and possibly a guide to conduct us on our -way; but all had failed. We felt we had been turned empty away from -the house of a friend, and Nature it seemed was about to frown on -us. We came near regretting the start we had made from prison. One -consolation, however, was left us; if there was any change in our -prospects it would be for the better. - -We made preparations for sleep, but there was little sleep for us that -night. Before day rain commenced falling, and we were obliged to fold -our blankets, to keep them as dry as possible. We leaned against trees, -and so disposed our coats over our shoulders as to shed most of the -rain off until daylight. As soon as we could see our way plainly we set -out on our return to David Hepler's. We had a very disagreeable time -in walking over the mountains in a drenching rain shower. We reached -Hepler's just at twelve o'clock. We found him at home. He was very -much surprised, even astonished, at seeing us again. He even dreaded -to see us, as he at once concluded his time had come to surrender -himself a prisoner into the hands of sham Yankees, his country's worst -enemies. We soon explained to him the reason for our return, telling -him all that had transpired since separating from him the morning -before. He immediately conjectured that Lewis had fallen a victim to -"bogus Yankees," and said he would go to-morrow to see his son, with -whom we had met at Lewis's house, and ascertain what had become of him. -After taking dinner with Hepler's family we went some distance up the -mountain-side and hid ourselves among the rocks. The rain continued; -but we could not shelter under Hepler's roof, as it would not do, -either for Hepler or ourselves, to be found there by Rebel citizens. -Near night our suppers were brought to us by Hepler. Soon after dark -we took refuge from the storm in a small log hut near the road, which -passed through Hepler's premises. Early in the morning of March 10th -we breakfasted at Hepler's table, and soon after hid for the day among -the rocks of the mountains. At noon our dinner was brought to us by -Hepler's wife and daughter. - -At night Hepler brought our suppers out, and reported the information -he had received from his son concerning Lewis. As had been conjectured, -a squad of Confederates had called at Lewis's house, and solicited his -services as a guide to conduct them to the Union lines. As they were -dressed in blue, and represented themselves as Federal prisoners trying -to escape, Lewis consented to conduct them as far as Greenbrier River. -After the necessary preparations, he started with them from his house, -and, when only a few hundred yards away, these "bogus Yankees" suddenly -presented their revolvers and made him their prisoner. His captors -conducted him to White Sulphur Springs, and from that place he was -sent, in company with three or four others, under a strong guard, to -Richmond. - -David Hepler's son was a brother-in-law of Lewis. At the time we were -at Lewis's house, young Hepler and those with him had come there to -get the household goods belonging to the family, intending to carry -them over the mountain on horses the next morning. It was young Hepler, -with Lewis's wife and child, accompanied by another person, that we had -met on the mountain. Mrs. Lewis and her child, and the plunder, were -moved to her father's house, to remain during her husband's captivity, -or longer if he died. Had young Hepler known we were not "bogus," and -not trying to deceive him, we could have had all the provisions we -desired when at Lewis's house, and could have been sheltered there -until morning. But, unhappily, we had been unable to convince him of -our honesty of purpose, and as he was determined to avoid the calamity -which had befallen his brother-in-law, he felt obliged to deny us all -"aid and comfort." - -In the evening of March 10th the rain ceased and the weather became -cooler. On the morning of the 11th the mountains were covered with -snow. During the day the snow melted away, and the mountain streams -became swollen and almost impassable. While waiting for the waters to -subside, we mended our shoes and other clothing, and washed our shirts. -The pegs and other materials for cobbling were furnished by Hepler. We -parched a quantity of corn, to carry with us on going forth anew on our -journey. During our stay Hepler tried to procure a guide to conduct -us to the lines, but failed. One man whom he tried to enlist in our -behalf, although a good Union man, refused to have any thing to do with -us, alleging we would yet prove spurious. Hepler would have guided us -as far as the Greenbrier River, had not his aged parents, who were in a -feeble condition, been under his care. - -On the morning of March 12th we took leave of Hepler and his family. In -our most cheerless hour of adversity we had found with them a harboring -place. They befriended us when we were encompassed by enemies and -suspected by friends. During the days of rain and snow, and swollen -streams, we incurred a debt we can not easily repay. We are under -lasting obligations to them. Having been provided with sufficient food -to last us two days, we set out for the lines afresh. Hepler could send -us to no one who could direct us on our way, and we went westward until -we came to Lewis's house. We reached it before three o'clock in the -evening. We watched in its vicinity for over an hour, and saw no one; -not even the dog, the calf, or smoke curling from the chimney, could -be seen as when we had watched it before. We went to it, and finding -the doors securely fastened, we judged there was something inside -worth looking after. We thought we might get a supply of provisions -that would partially compensate us for the disappointment of our first -visit to the house. We entered it through the window, and levied on -all we could find that would do to eat. A small sack nearly full of -meal, a cup of salt, a part of a ham of meat and a ham of venison, were -obtained as the fruits of our seizure. We got out of the house with our -commissary stores, taking an iron pot with us, and went west about a -mile into a gorge through which ran a small stream of water. Here we -halted, built a fire, and made mush by the quantity. After eating to -our satisfaction, we had enough left for breakfast the next morning. By -ten o'clock that night we had made our arrangements for a comfortable -sleep. We rested well. - -With the first dawning of morning light on the 13th, Wood and -Sutherland returned to Lewis's house and got four case-knives, one for -each of our party, a file, and a tin cup. The file we thought would be -of use in loosening canoes or in opening smoke-houses as a last resort -in procuring food. We completed our preparations for the day's travel, -and were on our way shortly after sunrise. The country traversed was -very rough and mountainous, being little more than a barren waste. It -would have been impossible for us to have made our way over it in the -night-time. We saw no person during the day. When following high ridges -we occasionally saw huts and houses in the valley on either side below -us. Sometimes we could see smoke when the house or chimney from which -it came was concealed. Just after sunset we halted in a depression of -the ridge we had been following, prepared our suppers, and made ready -for the night's rest. As near as we could estimate, we had traveled -during the day about fourteen miles in a north-west course. The night -was passed in quiet sleep. - -On the morning of the 14th we awoke before day. On getting up we -rebuilt our fire, and hastily prepared our breakfast. Soon after we -were equipped for our day's journey. We were in excellent spirits. We -could but contrast our feelings with those we had experienced in the -early morning, after our signal disappointment at Lewis's house. Then -we were discouraged and baffled, now we were cheerful and hopeful. The -sky was clear, the air was pure and bracing, and we made good progress. -We traveled quite fifteen miles in a direction a little north of west, -over the ridges, valleys, and streams of the mountain districts. At -night we halted in the valley, where water was convenient. After making -a fire, we spent an hour or more in preparing and eating our suppers. -Our sleep during the night was refreshing. - -Before sunrise on the 15th we had finished our breakfast. Our -provisions were not yet exhausted, and there was no need of running -any risks in replenishing our stock. We traveled only about six -miles before discovering that the country became more open and more -thickly settled. It was prudent for us to go no further in day-time. -We accordingly looked about for a safe retreat for the residue of the -day. After finding a place in the woods in which we thought we could -trust ourselves, we devoted the greater part of the day to sleep, as -we expected to travel at night. Just at dark we were ready to move. -The first thing necessary on setting out was to find a road on which -to travel. Our journeyings of the past three days had been off the -roads, across mountains and valleys, in a rough, broken country, almost -inaccessible to travelers except on foot or on horseback. We found much -difficulty in finding a road that would lead us aright. We kept on the -move, however, taking care that our steps should be toward the goal we -wished to gain. - -A little after midnight we halted, as the sky became cloudy, and we -could not see our way plainly before us. We went some distance north -of the last road we had been following, and made our bed in the woods. -Very soon after lying down we fell asleep. On waking up on the morning -of the 16th, we found the ground covered with snow. Getting up we -found the air very cool. We set about collecting suitable material -for building a fire, but on searching for our matches we found we had -lost them. As it was too cool for comfort without briskly exercising -ourselves, we determined to set out in a northern direction. - -After getting our things in readiness we started through the woods. We -had proceeded but little more than a mile before we reached an open -space. In crossing it we noticed not far to our left, just beyond the -crest of a hill, a small log cabin. Smoke was issuing from the mud and -stick chimney and curling gently upward. After a moment's deliberation -we concluded we should hazard little in visiting the tenants of this -humble abode and warming at their fire. We did so, and found the two -women and one boy whom we found there to be friendly and disposed to -make us comfortable. While waiting half an hour for a warm breakfast -we learned we were in Greenbrier county, and within three miles of the -Greenbrier River. Having ascertained that the folks were Unionists, we -questioned them concerning the people in the surrounding country. We -learned that the Rebel element held sway and that the few Union people -were obliged to keep their sentiments to themselves. - -Breakfast over, we set out again on our travels. Before leaving the -cabin we discovered that snow had commenced falling. We had not gone -far until the large flakes almost blinded us as they fell. We felt -certain no one would be out on such a wintery day, and we thought we -should incur but little risk in pushing forward to the river. Near ten -o'clock we reached it, and began looking up and down the bank for a -canoe in which to cross. After the snow had almost ceased falling, we -were passing through a sugar-camp and came suddenly to two women, who -were turning the troughs over. As they had seen us plainly, we being -within a few yards of them when we first noticed them, we did not try -to avoid them. We approached nearer the women, and one of our party -made some observation on the state of the weather, and Sutherland -added, "It's a bad day to be out." One of the women, smiling, answered, -"I'll guess you are out a good piece from home." - -On being questioned further, we told the women who we were, where we -were from, and the point we were aiming to reach. They told us their -"men folks" were in the Kanawha Valley, which was within the Union -lines. We were not long in assuring ourselves that the women, as well -as their "men folks," were strong Unionists. We were invited to the -house. We accepted the invitation, and were soon seated before the -fire, where we remained for a few minutes. Just before noon the women -told us they were poor and unable to furnish us a meal, but Mrs. Mann, -who lived about a mile back from the river, was not only able, but -willing to keep us over until the following night, if we wished to stop -so long as that. The eldest woman had already gone to Mrs. Mann's to -see if any Secessionists were there. She soon returned, accompanied by -two of Mrs. Mann's little boys, who were to conduct us by an obscure -way to their mother's house. As no one was at Mrs. Mann's, we started -immediately to her house, her boys leading the way. These boys were -quite young--aged about nine and eleven years--but seemed to understand -perfectly the necessity of our keeping out of sight of the Rebels. - -We arrived at the house of Mrs. Mann by one o'clock. A little after two -o'clock we took dinner. The dinner reminded us of the days gone by, and -made us think we were almost home again. After dinner we conversed at -length with Mrs. Mann and her family, treating mainly of the war as it -affected the Union people of the South. Mrs. Mann had been despoiled -of much property during the war by Confederates; and soon after the -breaking out of hostilities her husband had been arrested because he -would not forsake his Union principles. He had been imprisoned at -Richmond, where, after lingering a few months, he died. - -In the evening a man was seen approaching the house. When he was near -enough to be recognized it was ascertained that he was a Rebel, and we -were sent upstairs forthwith, to remain there until he should leave. We -were detained nearly an hour upstairs, when the "Secesh" having taken -leave, we were permitted to come down, and were interrupted no more -that evening. - -A little after dark we had supper. Soon after supper we began our -preparations for setting forth on our way, but Mrs. Mann urged us -to stop until the following night. As we were considerably worn and -fatigued, we decided, after a short consultation, to do so. We passed -the night of March 16th in Mrs. Mann's haymow. We could not stop in the -house for the reason that a Rebel doctor from Frankfort was expected -there that night to see a sick child. On the morning of the 17th, -after the doctor had gone, we returned to the house for breakfast, and -remained there during the day. When any one was seen coming we went -upstairs, being very careful not to leave any caps behind to excite -inquiries. - -About four o'clock, P. M., a young man called at Mrs. Mann's, who -belonged to a Union family west of the river. He offered to conduct us, -after dark, to a man who would guide us some distance on our way, and -give us directions to follow which would lead us to Gauley River. We -eagerly accepted the offer. Our delay of twenty-four hours, it seemed, -was going to prove profitable. We had supper just at dark, and soon -after our preparations for the journey were complete. Our haversacks -were filled with food sufficient to last us two or three days. We -tendered our sincere thanks to Mrs. Mann and family for generous -treatment received, and bade them farewell. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - ARE GUIDED BY NIGHT TO ALDERMAN--ALDERMAN CONDUCTS US TWENTY MILES - NEXT DAY--GIVES US PLAIN DIRECTIONS--RETURNS HOME--WE FIND ALDERMAN'S - BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO PUTS US ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GAULEY RIVER--WE - FOLLOW DOWN GAULEY RIVER--PASS THROUGH SUMMERVILLE--COME IN CONTACT - WITH AN IRISHMAN--RECEIVE ADVICE FROM HIM AND FOLLOW IT--WE REACH - THE PICKETS AT GAULEY BRIDGE--WE RECUPERATE AT CAMP REYNOLDS--GO TO - CINCINNATI, OHIO--GO HOME ON FURLOUGH. - - -Our volunteer guide mounted his horse and started to the ford, some -distance up the river, to cross it, while we were conducted to a point -below, where there was a canoe, by Mrs. Mann's two boys. On reaching -the river, and being told by the boys to fasten the canoe to the -opposite shore, we said "good-by" to them, and set about crossing. -In about twenty minutes, after running aground two or three times, -and being compelled to get out into the water to set the canoe afloat -again, we landed on the opposite bank. After securing the canoe, we -took our shoes and socks off, drained the water from our shoes and -wrung our socks dry. We then put on our socks and shoes, and laced the -latter securely, and hastened to join our guide at the point previously -agreed upon. We were soon on the way, our guide on horseback going some -distance in advance on the road. In little more than an hour we reached -the home of our guide. We waited close by for a few minutes while he -put his horse away. He then conducted us on foot to a point within a -mile of James Alderman's house, and then he returned homeward. - -Following instructions we had received, we soon reached the house of -the man whose services as a guide we expected to secure to conduct us -on our journey. As we approached it the dogs set up a furious barking. -Mrs. Alderman soon succeeded in quieting the dogs, and we entered the -house. On seeing no one but the woman, we asked where Alderman was. -The woman said he wasn't at home, and she didn't know exactly where he -had gone. We made known our object in calling at such a late hour in -the night, it being near midnight. Mrs. Alderman was evidently alarmed -at our coming. She wished to know how we learned that Alderman lived -there. We told her a young man named Gillilan had piloted us to the -foot of the ridge, and directed us how to find the house. We told her -further that the young man had informed us her husband would conduct us -a portion of the way to the Union lines. The woman's fear seemed to be -allayed on hearing this, and she stepped out the door and called her -husband. Mr. Alderman soon made his appearance, but acted as if he was -not sure we were there on an honest errand. When his dogs commenced -barking he had hurried out of bed, and gone to the woods to secrete -himself--as he had often done before--from the Confederate guards, who -were on the watch for him to impress him into the service. Our business -was soon made known to Alderman, and he consented to conduct us as far -on our way as we could travel by four o'clock the next day. - -It was after midnight when we made our bed on the floor of Alderman's -cabin, to rest until the light of the 18th dawned. By sunrise we had -breakfasted, and were on the way, Mr. Alderman going ahead of us -several steps. Alderman carried his flint-lock gun with him, saying he -"might shoot something before he got back." We suggested the risk in -traveling by daylight, but Alderman said he would take us over a route -where we would be seen by none but good Union people. By one o'clock -we reached a house where lived a family named Ramsey. We took dinner -with them. Shortly after two o'clock we set out again on the way. One -of the Ramseys gave us a letter to be left at a point twenty miles east -of Gauley Bridge, known as the Twenty-mile House. By four o'clock we -had reached the small stream called Cherry Run, where we halted under a -temporary shed which had been erected by hunters for shelter. We had no -matches, and Alderman struck fire with his knife from the flint of his -gun and kindled a fire for us. After receiving from Alderman particular -directions how to find his brother-in-law's house, on the north side of -Gauley River, he left us, saying he "must be at home by midnight." - -We had traveled twenty miles, and had stopped for the night in a dense -forest, several miles from any house. In all directions from our -hiding-place the ground was deeply marked by narrow paths made by deer -going back and forth for water. We made our supper on the supplies -brought from Mrs. Mann's. We were in a place where we would not be -likely to be seen, and we kept our fire burning until late in the -night. Being surrounded by dense and darkening woods, with nothing to -break the almost perfect stillness of the night but the murmurs of the -little brook near us, we felt very lonely, more so than we had felt -before on our travels. By ten o'clock we were soundly sleeping. - -We awoke at the break of day on the morning of March 19th. We -breakfasted early and were on the way by sunrise. We had only to follow -down Cherry Run to its mouth at Cranberry Creek, and then follow down -Cranberry Creek until we came to a road crossing it and running on its -west side to Gauley River. The ford on Cranberry Creek was reached -before three o'clock in the evening. We secreted ourselves in the -woods south of the road and east of the creek until after dark, when we -could travel the road in safety. The greater part of the evening was -passed in sleep. On waking we snatched a hasty meal, and made ready -for further travels. Soon after dark we were on the way. In due time -we were wading Cranberry Creek at the ford, having first taken off -our shoes and socks. We found the water very cool, and a little more -than ankle deep. As soon as we got on our socks and shoes we set out -on the road for Gauley River. The road led to a ferry on the Gauley, -near the mouth of Cranberry Creek. It lacked nearly two hours of -daylight when we reached the ferry. We went up Gauley River until we -came to Cranberry Creek. We then partially stripped ourselves and waded -Cranberry Creek to its east side. We found the water much deeper and -the current stronger than when we had crossed it early in the night. - -After dressing ourselves, we went on up the river nearly a mile -further, and halted in the woods to await the dawn of day. We had not -long to wait. As soon as we could see our way we started on up the -river. Soon we noticed a smoke over the river, rising through the -woods, and a few more steps brought us to a point from which a house -could be seen. We gave two or three loud hallooes, and a man came out -of the house and toward the river. A few moments more and he was in -his canoe and half across the stream. As he neared the shore on which -we stood we asked, "Are you a brother-in-law to Alderman?" He said he -was, and we exclaimed, "All's right," with feelings of exultation. We -were soon set across, and the sun was just rising when we sat down to -breakfast. - -After breakfast we went to the woods north of the house and hid away -for the day, March 20th. At noon we returned to the house for dinner. -Our host stood in the yard while we were eating, to notify us of the -approach of any one, so we might slip into the brush adjoining the yard -and hide. We were not molested, however, and after making arrangements -with our host--whose name we can not now recall--to furnish us at our -hiding-place enough food for two or three meals, we left the house. -Just at sunset, according to arrangement, we received supplies. Our -host informed us that his house was forty-eight miles east of Gauley -Bridge, and twelve miles from Summerville, the county seat of Nicholas -county. We were also told that the road leading from the ferry ran -down Gauley River, through Summerville, and by the Twenty Mile House, -to Gauley Bridge, where the nearest Union pickets were posted. Our -things having been put in readiness, we started out just at dark on -our travels. In a half hour's time we were upon the road, and making -reasonable progress in a western direction. - -A little after midnight we reached the suburbs of Summerville. No -lights were anywhere to be seen. Every thing was still. We stopped -and listened carefully for a few moments, when, hearing nothing, we -advanced briskly through the town on the main road. We kept a keen -lookout on either side of us as we passed through the place. The town -seemed fully half burnt down. On reaching its western borders we again -halted and listened, but all was quiet as before. We supposed the place -might be, at least, a harboring place for scouts. On starting we pushed -forward rapidly, traveling four miles, if not more, by day-break. -During the last hours of the night the weather was quite cold, and the -early morning was frosty. - -At daylight, on the morning of the 21st, the road was leading us -through an open country. Ahead of us, over a half mile distant, were -woods, through which the road passed. We intended halting for the -day as soon as we gained the shelter of the woods, and we pushed on -briskly. Just ahead of us, inside an inclosure and beyond a turn of -the road, were a few scattering trees. Among the trees were two or -three hay-stacks. After getting around the turn of the road, and just -as we were leaving the stacks in our rear, we discovered an aged man -pitching hay to his sheep. As he was staring at us, we accosted him -with, "How are you, old fellow?" The old gentleman was an Irishman, -and it was only with close attention we could understand what he said. -We luckily found him strong in his attachment to the Union, and too -old, as he said, to change his principles. He evinced much interest -in our welfare, and readily answered all our inquiries. He told us -it was only twenty-eight and a half miles to Gauley Bridge, and that -Captain Ramsey's Union Scouts were patrolling the country between that -place and Summerville on both sides of Gauley River. He assured us it -would be perfectly safe to travel the road that day provided we did -not stop short of the pickets at night. Rebel citizens would make no -attempt to capture us in day-time, we were told, but should they see us -hiding for the night they would most likely collect a party and take us -prisoners. We decided, after consulting briefly, to push on, at least -to the woods, now only a quarter of a mile distant. As we started the -old man said, "Go on to the bridge, boys, and you'll be safe; don't -stop outside the pickets." We did not suspect the old man of intending -to get us into trouble, and his last injunction fully established our -faith in his Unionism. - -On reaching the woods we stepped aside from the road to consider -further upon the propriety of going on. We dreaded to be retaken on the -eve of entering the lines, and we determined to avoid such a calamity, -if possible. We had twenty-eight miles to travel before our safety -would be assured. Since we had already traveled twenty miles without -rest or sleep, the question was, Can we reach the picket-post by dark? -Our resolution to push on, and reach the goal for which we had been so -long striving, was soon formed. We immediately started, and in little -more than a half hour's time we came to a house on our right. As it -was near the road we went to it and asked for breakfast, thinking we -needed something in addition to what we had to strengthen us in view of -the journey to be accomplished that day. We were denied breakfast at -first, and had started away from the house. As we were passing out the -gate one of our party observed, "That's a pretty way to treat prisoners -that's been half starved." The old lady overheard the remark and called -us back. She first assured herself we were escaping prisoners, and then -set before us what she had cooked. She apologized for refusing at first -to give us a breakfast, saying she thought we were some of the scouts -from Gauley Bridge, who too frequently applied for meals. We were -informed it was not uncommon to see "blue coats" passing, which caused -us to feel less uneasiness, as we thought we should not be molested on -our way. - -On finishing our breakfast we set out again, having only five miles -to travel before reaching the Twenty Mile House. We arrived at the -place by ten o'clock. We called at the principal house and left the -letter we had brought from Greenbrier county. The lady to whom it was -addressed happened to be in the house, and was exceedingly well pleased -to receive it. Many questions were asked us concerning the affairs -and people in Greenbrier county, but as our information was limited -we could answer but few of them. After learning the time of day and -receiving a biscuit apiece, we went on our way. We had eight hours or -more in which to travel twenty miles, and we pressed on with exultant -hopes. The soles of our shoes had worn considerably, and were too thin -to afford adequate protection to our feet in walking over a stony road. -As a consequence our feet became very sore. Smith once concluded he -would be obliged to stop, and more than once fell far behind. On coming -to a stream of water, Sutherland, Wood, and I, while waiting for Smith -to catch up, removed our shoes and socks from our feet and waded it. We -found the cold water improved our feet wonderfully. Smith soon came up -in any thing but a pleasant mood, and was much disheartened besides. -He thought we "must be in a hurry, keeping so far ahead all the time." -We answered we were in no hurry, and Wood added, "We had forgot a -cavalry-man couldn't stand marching." We told Smith to pull off his -shoes and socks and wade the stream. He complied, but his feet were so -very sore he occupied several minutes in crossing. - -[Illustration: "OUT OF THE WOODS."--PAGE 107.] - -On getting our shoes on we again pushed forward slowly. At the first -house we came to after fording the stream, we inquired the distance -to Gauley Bridge. "Five miles and a half," was the answer given us. -The sun was more than two hours high, but now the journey seemed -more doubtful and difficult of accomplishment than the journey of -twenty-seven miles had seemed in the morning. We pressed on, however, -and in the course of an hour we met a man of whom we asked, "How -far is it to the pickets?" "Nearly three miles," was the reply. -Our feet were sore, our limbs were weary, but our flagging spirits -revived, and we persistently urged ourselves onward. The sun had -almost run its daily course. The distance to be gone over, before our -twenty-four-hour's march was accomplished, was gradually growing less. -At length the picket-guard was reached, and our goal won; but the sun -had gone down and the stars were appearing. As the twilight was passing -into night we approached the sentinel in the road who came out to meet -and welcome us. Giving each of us a hearty shake of the hand, he said, -"I know where you are from; will you have some coffee?" We replied that -we could not object, and were assured there was plenty of it at the -Company quarters. - -Although we were nearly worn down, almost exhausted, in fact, from -the effects of twenty-four hours of constant wakefulness and travel, -we felt an indescribable but silent ecstasy of joy and thankfulness -for our deliverance from the rigorous and pinching destitution of -Confederate prisons. But in the height and fullness of our heart-felt -rapture, we did not forget Taylor and Trippe, the early companions of -our journey. We thought it possible they had perished, but hoped they -had been more fortunate than ourselves. Very soon after passing the -pickets we went, in company with two or three soldiers of Companies -I and H, 5th Virginia Infantry, to their quarters in the old town of -Gauley Bridge, where supper, consisting of bread, meat, and coffee, was -provided us. After supper we visited Captain Dixon, of Company I, 5th -Virginia, in his quarters, he having sent for us. - -Companies I and H, 5th Virginia, under command of Captain Dixon, were -stationed at Gauley Bridge as an outpost from Camp Reynolds, which was -below the falls of the Kanawha. We remained at the quarters of Captain -Dixon during the night of March 21st. We did not retire for sleep until -a late hour. From Dixon we first heard the particulars of the battle of -Mission Ridge, in which our Companies had participated. We told Dixon -of the number and condition of the prisoners about Danville, and of -the strength and disposition of the Rebel garrison there. - -On March 22d we went to Camp Reynolds, where we remained two days, -during which time we were furnished by the soldiers and their officers -with entire suits of clean clothing. In the evening of March 23d -each of us wrote a letter to our respective homes, to let the folks -know we were alive, and once more within the Union lines. Our feet -having recovered from their soreness, we went next day, in company -with three or four soldiers who were going home on veteran furlough, -to Charleston, Virginia. On the 25th we got aboard a steamer, the -"Victress No. 2," and went down the Kanawha to Gallipolis, Ohio, -arriving there on the day following. On the 28th, having stopped over -Sabbath in Gallipolis, we boarded the steamer "C. T. Dumont," and went -down the river to Cincinnati. At ten o'clock, A. M., March 29th, we -landed at Cincinnati, and immediately reported at Post Head-Quarters, -Colonel Swayne, 99th Ohio, commanding. - -After a brief talk with Colonel Swayne, and other officers at -Head-Quarters, we were told to go to the Soldiers' Home and get our -dinners, and then return. We started, and had got but a few steps from -Head-Quarters when the sentinel at the door called out to us to come -back, that the Colonel wished to speak to us. Sutherland, Smith, and I -waited on the street, while Wood went to see what the Colonel wanted. -Swayne asked Wood if he would like a furlough, and Wood answered he -would. The remainder of our party were called in from the street, and -asked the same question, to which we answered in the affirmative. -Furloughs were immediately filled out, signed by the Post commander, -and forwarded to Columbus, Ohio, to be approved by General Heintzleman, -the department commander. We went to the Soldiers' Home, got our -dinners, and by two o'clock reported again at Head-Quarters, where we -received orders to report at Lytle Barracks. Each of us was furnished -with a pass good for five days and nights, giving us the freedom of the -city. - -On reaching Lytle Barracks we gave Colonel Swayne's order to the -Captain commanding. The order required him to admit us to the barracks; -to issue us the full allowance of rations; to issue us clothing, if -we desired it; and allow us to pass in and out at all times of day and -night until nine o'clock, P. M. On the afternoon of the 29th we made -out partial descriptive lists, and drew new clothing, a full suit each, -the next morning. On the 30th, after washing and dressing ourselves, we -went out into the city. On the morning of the 31st our furloughs came -from Columbus, approved. With our furloughs we received transportation -papers. Early in the day, Wood took the train and was off for his home -in Western Pennsylvania. Wood, although a resident of Pennsylvania, -had enlisted in the 26th Ohio Volunteers. Later in the day, Smith and -Sutherland left together for their homes in Michigan. On being left -alone of our party, I went to H. H. Hills's drug store, and remained -there over night with a friend, from whom I learned for the first time -of the sad losses my Company had sustained in battle at Chickamauga. On -April 1st I took breakfast at the Indiana House, and very soon after -was aboard the cars and homeward bound. I arrived home in Georgetown, -Illinois, Sunday evening, April 3, 1864, and found my letter written -at Camp Reynolds, Virginia, had not been received. My visit was -unexpected, and the first intimation my father and folks had received -for many weeks that I was yet alive, was when I entered the old home. -The letter came the next morning, April 4th. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - CONCLUSION--STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCE--WE BRING GLAD TIDINGS--ARE - HOSPITABLY TREATED--THE END. - - -As a conclusion to the foregoing imperfect sketches, we will briefly -narrate an incident which happened after our arrival within the lines. -On March 23d, at Camp Reynolds, while we were writing letters home, a -soldier named Gasper came into the quarters where we were. As soon as -we were at leisure he asked, - -"Are you the boys that came in from prison two days ago?" - -One of our party answered we were. Gasper then said he had just been -writing a letter to an old friend in Cincinnati, whose son was supposed -to have been killed at Chickamauga, and hearing we had been captured in -that battle, he thought he would inquire if we knew any person among -the prisoners named Jack Phillips. - -"Jack Phillips," repeated Smith, "certainly, I know him." - -"Is it possible!" said Gasper. - -"He was in the same prison with me, and in the same mess," said Smith. - -"He lived in Cincinnati, did he, and belonged to Company ---- ----- Regiment, Ohio Volunteers?" asked Gasper. (I have forgotten the -Company and Regiment to which Phillips belonged.) - -"Yes, sir," said Smith, "we are talking of the same Jack Phillips." -Smith went on, and described Phillips as to size, height, appearance, -and general characteristics. - -"Same fellow," said Gasper, "but his captain reports seeing him fall in -battle." - -"No doubt of that," said Smith, "I have heard Jack tell how he was -stunned by a ball grazing his forehead, cutting the skin, and leaving a -small scar after healing." - -"The captain said Jack's forehead was bleeding when he saw him fall," -remarked Gasper. - -Gasper concluded Smith's former fellow-prisoner and messmate was the -son of John Phillips, of Cincinnati, to whom he was just writing, and -said he would finish his letter by giving the old man the information -Smith had furnished concerning his son. Gasper then left us, but -returned in the course of an hour, saying he had not yet mailed his -letter. He wished us to promise to call on Mr. Phillips if we passed -through Cincinnati. We told him we did not know that Cincinnati would -lie in our route, but should we get there, in our travels, we would -call on Mr. Phillips if he would give us some clew as to where we -might find him. Gasper did not know the street on which Mr. Phillips -did business, but thought it was somewhere near the Public Landing. He -had also forgotten the street on which Mr. Phillips's residence was -situated. We, however, promised Gasper to inquire for Mr. Phillips -if we visited Cincinnati, and if we happened to learn either his -residence or place of business, to call on him and corroborate the -statements made in the letter to him. On leaving us Gasper said he -would put in a postscript, telling Mr. Phillips of us, and of our -promise to inquire for him if we visited Cincinnati. Gasper was seen -no more by us, and we gave but little thought to the errand with which -he had charged us, as we had no idea what route we should take in -rejoining our commands. - -It was the 30th of March, after we had dressed ourselves anew, -when Smith came to me in Lytle Barracks, saying, "Where's Wood and -Sutherland?" - -"Gone to the city," I answered. - -Smith then said, "Suppose we go into the city, look around, and make a -few inquiries for the old man Phillips." - -"Agreed," said I; "there is one chance in a thousand that we may find -him." - -We then went into the city, passing up one street and down another. -Wherever sight or curiosity led us we went. We had wandered over the -city, or a great portion of it, going into many shops and stores, with -scarcely a thought of Phillips; but at length we came to a corner from -which the river and many steam-boats lying at the wharves could be -seen. Smith stood still until I came up, when he said, "Here is the -Public Landing." - -"It looks much like it," I replied. - -Smith then asked, "Didn't that man at Camp Reynolds say that Phillips -did business near the Public Landing?" - -"I believe he did," said I, after reflecting. "Suppose we go in here -and inquire for him." - -We stepped in at the first door. It was a confectioner's establishment, -and there were several men in the room. We looked into the show-cases -and at other objects of interest, when presently all left the room -except one elderly looking man and ourselves. Just as the old man was -filling the stove with coal I approached him and asked, "Is there a -person doing business anywhere in this part of the city named John -Phillips?" As the old man set his coal bucket down he said, "My name -is John Phillips." It was the first inquiry we had made and would -have been the last, as we were anxious to get back to the barracks for -dinner. After our surprise had subsided somewhat the old gentleman -wished to know what we wanted. We told him of our promise to a man at -Camp Reynolds, Virginia, and asked if he had received a letter from a -man by the name of Gasper. He answered that he had not. After telling -him we had been prisoners of war, and had come into the lines at Gauley -Bridge about a week before, Smith went on to tell him all he knew about -"Jack Phillips" as a prisoner at Danville, Virginia. - -On hearing Smith's account of Jack, the old gentleman, bursting into -tears, said he had long since given his son up as dead, and could -hardly hope or believe he was yet alive; at least he should not tell -the news to his family, for fear the man we spoke of might be another -of the same name. Smith thought there could be no mistake, as it would -not be likely to happen that two of the same name should enlist in the -same regiment from the same city. "Strange things sometimes happen in -this world," observed Mr. Phillips. The old gentleman wished us to -eat some cakes and pies and drink some wine, of which there seemed to -be an abundance in the room. We consented, as it was noon, and would -save us a walk to the barracks for dinner. Just as we had finished -eating, a man entered the room holding several letters in his hand, two -of which he handed to Mr. Phillips. On opening the first letter Mr. -Phillips found it to be the one Gasper had written at Camp Reynolds, -Virginia. The coincidence caused Mr. Phillips to conclude his son must -yet be alive, and he determined to acquaint his family with the news -he had received. The letter coming to hand, telling about us, while we -were present to answer for ourselves, and our addressing our first, -last, and only inquiry for Mr. Phillips to Mr. Phillips himself, in a -great city, where there were thousands of people, seemed strange, and -forbade the suspicion that our report was untrue. Mr. Phillips invited -us to call on him each day during our stay in the city. We called on -him the next day, March 31st, which was our last day in Cincinnati. I -have since learned--though indirectly--that "Jack" afterward died as a -prisoner, either at Danville, Virginia, or Andersonville, Georgia. - - - - -Historical Memoranda. - -COMPANY "C," 73D REGIMENT ILLINOIS INFANTRY VOLUNTEERS. - -BY W. H. NEWLIN. - - -Enlistments in the company dated from July 12, 1862, to April 11, 1864. -One hundred and four names appear on the company roll. All members -who enlisted on or before July 23, 1862, were sworn in, the first -time, by John Newlin, J. P., in West's pasture, village of Georgetown, -Vermillion County, Ill. On the same day, July 23d, Patterson McNutt, -Mark D. Hawes, and Richard N. Davies, were elected captain, first and -second lieutenants respectively. - -July 24th, company transported in wagons from Georgetown to the "Y," a -point on the T. W. & W. R. R., near the site of Tilton. Taking the cars -at the "Y," company reached Camp Butler early next morning. - -By August 1st company organization was completed, by appointment of -the following named as sergeants: Tilmon D. Kyger, first sergeant; Wm. -R. Lawrence, second sergeant; David A. Smith, third sergeant; Wm. H. -Newlin, fourth sergeant; Robert B. Drake, fifth sergeant; and by the -following named as corporals, in their order: David McDonald, John -W. Smith, Carey A. Savage, Wm. M. Sheets, Samuel W. Sigler, Wm. O. -Underwood, John V. Don Carlos, William Henderson. Pleasant B. Huffman, -fifer; William B. Cowan, drummer; and Amacy M. Hasty, teamster. - -Time, at Camp Butler, was spent in drilling, guarding prisoners, -and other duty. Some pay and an installment of bounty was received -by each member of the company. Twenty-five dollars bounty was paid -by Vermillion County to each married man and ten dollars to each -unmarried man. To hasten the muster in of regiment, Company C loaned -to Company E--also enlisted in Vermillion County--fourteen men, all -but three of whom were re-transferred to C. Regiment was mustered into -United States service August 21, 1862. - -August 24th, left camp Butler, going by rail via Danville, Ill., -Lafayette Junction, Indianapolis, and Seymour, Ind., to Louisville, Ky. -Went into quarters at Camp Jaquess--named for our colonel--south-west -of the city. At this camp some guard duty was done, without arms, other -than clubs and revolvers; all the clubs and nearly all the revolvers -being soon discarded. - -About August 30th regiment was supplied with muskets--Austrian or -Belgium pattern--and ammunition for same. Muskets were of the _kicking_ -kind. From July 24th company had been in receipt of government rations, -and was becoming inured to service in this respect. - -September 1st or 2d moved to Camp Yates, three or four miles south-east -of the city. Other regiments were at this camp, and a Division was -formed, the Seventy-third and One Hundreth Illinois, and Seventy-ninth -and Eighty-eighth Indiana Regiments making one brigade, commanded by -Colonel Kirk. Lieutenant Hawes and Sergeant Lawrence were detailed for -duty at Kirk's head-quarters, and a very _ludicrous_ mistake was made, -in _supposing_ there were two vacancies created. Accordingly there was -an advance along the line; Davies being promoted first lieutenant, -as was thought; Orderly Kyger to second lieutenant; D. A. Smith to -orderly, and Corporal John W. Smith to second sergeant, the latter -being promoted over the writer. The joke fell heaviest on Kyger, as he -incurred the expense of the purchase of sword, belt and straps. J. W. -Smith resumed his place as corporal, much to the gratification of the -writer, who did not like the idea of being "jumped." - -Before the middle of September an inspection was ordered, requiring the -command to march to Louisville, taking all luggage, accompanied also by -wagon-train. The number and variety of articles thrown out of knapsacks -and train was _amazing_ to the _old_ soldiers. This inspection was for -the purpose of reducing luggage and baggage to articles of necessity. -Directly after this the defeat of Union forces at Richmond, Ky., -occurred. A rapid advance of a day's march was made by the command -to assist in covering the retreat of those forces. Following this -defeat came the invasion by Kirby Smith's Confederate forces, menacing -Cincinnati and Covington. To meet this emergency the command was -ordered at once to the latter place, going via Jeffersonville and -Seymour, Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio. The marching of the Seventy-third -in the streets of Cincinnati excited comment, and inquiry was made if -it was an old regiment. There was a fine engraving produced about this -time representing the regiment, marching in column, on to the pontoon -bridge. - -Fears of invasion subsiding, the command was ordered back to -Louisville, returning via Indianapolis. Buell's army having reached -Louisville, a general reorganization of all forces--old and new--took -place. The Forty-fourth and Seventy-third Illinois, and Second and -Fifteenth Missouri Regiments formed the Thirty-fifth Brigade, Eleventh -Division of reorganized army. - -Bragg's army, which had followed Buell's into Kentucky, was gathering -much strength and material in its march in the interior, and on October -1st the Union army was put in motion and started in pursuit. A dozen or -more members of the company were left sick at Louisville. Army caught -up with the enemy October 8th. Regiment was placed in and withdrawn -from an exposed position, just in the "nick of time," a position within -easy range of Confederate battery. Being withdrawn, as above, and -resuming position in main line, regiment was actively engaged in battle -of Perryville, nearly two hours, the casualties to Company C being as -follows: - - Josiah Cooper, wounded, Died Oct. 31, 1862. - Samuel Boen, wounded, - David W. Doop, wounded, Discharged Feb. 9, 1863. - John S. Long, wounded, Discharged Jan. 13, 1863, died. - Francis M. Stevens, wounded, Discharged Dec. 5, 1862. - Zimri Thornton, wounded, Died Oct. 30, 1862. - James E. Moore, wounded, Discharged March 17, 1863, lost foot. - John Murdock, Co. E, wounded, Died, Oct. 9, 1862. - -The last named enlisted in C, but had been one of the fourteen men -"loaned," as before mentioned. Several members of Company C, who had -been left at Louisville, came up Oct. 9th and 10th. - -Followed to Crab Orchard, marching from there, via Danville, Lebanon, -Bowling Green, and Mitchellsville, to Nashville, Tenn. At Bowling -Green, Rosecrans relieved Buell. Arrived at Nashville Nov. 7, 1862, -encamping first at Edgefield, then at Mill Creek. Nov. 20, 1862, Second -Lieutenant Richard N. Davies, resigned. Nov. 28th, First Lieutenant -Mark D. Hawes resigned. These resignations, the losses resulting from -the action at Perryville, the loss by death of the following named -members: Samuel W. Blackburn, John C. Sheets, Thomas Millholland, -Israel H. Morgan, John and Alex. Gerrard, and William Henderson; and -the following named discharged for disability: Thos. T. Ashmore, John -Trimble, and Wm. O. Underwood, discharged, Oct. 9, 1862, made a total -loss to company by Jan. 1, 1863, of eighteen men. Three of these, viz: -David W. Doop, John S. Long, and James E. Moore, were discharged after -Jan. 1st, on Feb. 9th, Jan. 13th, and March 17th, 1863, respectively. -Nov. 25, 1862, Kyger was mustered in as first lieutenant, and Dec. 6, -1862, Lawrence was mustered in as second lieutenant. - -Dec. 26, 1862, started on movement to Stone River. Regiment not -engaged until Dec. 31st, was then engaged fully one-third, and under -fire two-thirds of the day. Seventy-third was in Second Brigade, of -Sheridan's (Third) Division, Twentieth A. C., and associated with the -same regiments as before. The change in number of Brigade and Division -occurred when Rosecrans assumed command. At Stone River Company C -suffered casualties as follows: John Dye and James Yoho, killed; John -J. Halsted, wounded, discharged Feb. 23, 1863; three or four others -very slightly wounded, and Lieutenant Lawrence and Daniel Suycott, -captured. Lawrence and Suycott were exchanged in the following Spring, -returning to the Company in May. About Jan. 7, 1863, a detail from -company, Lieutenant Kyger in charge, sought the bodies of Dye and Yoho -and buried them. The writer saw both these men expire; they were near -together, and died at about the same time.[A] - -[A] NOTE.--The latter part of January, or early in February, the -company, in pursuance of general orders from Rosecrans, chose a man -whose name should be inscribed on a "roll of honor." Through some -unaccountable circumstance, or accident, or perhaps through compromise, -the choice fell on the writer hereof. Though conscious of having tried -to do my duty at Stone River, I knew this honor was undeserved; that -there were others more entitled to it. As the honor was bestowed by -comrades who had passed with me through the smoke and fire of that -eventful day I will cherish it to my dying hour as a precious legacy, -one that I would proudly transmit to my children if possible. Having -mentioned the foregoing, I must not fail to record another scrap of -history equally important in its outcome, as placing me under a weight -of obligation to the company. - -Some time in May, 1863, I was on picket duty as sergeant at outpost, -from which guards were sent out every two hours to relieve those on -the line. Guards at this outpost were expected to, and usually did, -turn out and present arms to the officer of the day, or other officer, -when he came around. On this particular day a cold, drizzling rain -was falling, and the officer wore a gum coat, concealing insignia -of office, or special duty. Four of the boys were pitching quoits -(horse-shoes), as a means of diversion, when the officer on horseback -was observed in the distance through woods. The quoit pitching ceased, -and the boys made ready to "take arms" and "fall in." But the horseman -either did not see, or pretended that he did not see the outpost, until -he got well past a point in our front, then quickly turning, dashed -upon us. As I was satisfied the officer was playing a "smart Aleck" -game, I had said to the boys, "never mind; pay no attention to him," -and only two or three turned out. Arriving at the outpost, reining his -steed, and bowing up his neck with a self-satisfied air, as though -he thought himself "autocrat of all the Russias," officer demanded, -"Where's the corporal or sergeant in charge?" I responded "Here." -Officer inquired my name, rank, and regiment. Noting the information -I gave him, officer rode away, without giving his name, or business, -as requested. The latter I learned next day on returning to camp. An -order from Sheridan had been received by the company commander to -"reduce Sergeant Wm. H. Newlin to the ranks; fill vacancy, etc." An -investigation was had; those who had been on duty with me the past -twenty-four hours and myself, were summoned, and all the facts were -stated. The general's order was complied with--that had to be done--and -an election was ordered to be held at nine o'clock next morning, to -fill vacancy thus created. The hour for election arrived, and as there -was no candidate against me I received a _unanimous_ vote, and was -elected--not appointed--to "fill vacancy." Division head-quarters was -notified, "Order complied with; Wm. H. Newlin reduced, and vacancy -filled." And that was the end of it, except that Lieutenant Kyger -cautioned all the boys not to say any thing about the matter in writing -home, adding, "What if news of that should get back to Georgetown?" -But I didn't care where the news went to, whether to Georgetown or -Damascus, so all the facts were given. - -Were in two different camps at Murfreesboro, first Bradley, then -Shafer--named for our brigade commander killed at Stone River. From -Jan. 1st to June 30th, 1863, inclusive, the company lost members as -follows, in addition to the three already noted, viz: - - John W. Smith, Discharged, Jan. 3, 1863, disability. - Carey A. Savage, Discharged, Feb. 6, 1863, disability. - John V. Don Carlos, Discharged, May 10, 1863, disability. - Enoch Braselton, Discharged, March 12, 1863, disability. - William Cook, Discharged, Jan. 28, 1863, disability. - Robert W. Cowan, Discharged, Feb. 9, 1863, disability. - Lawrence Dye, Discharged, Jan. 28, 1863, disability. - Benj. F. Edmonds, Discharged, Feb. 10, 1863, disability. - Wright Madden, Transferred to gun-boat service, April 16, 1863. - Jacob Martin, Died at Murfreesboro, Feb. 21, 1863. - William McEntyre, Died at Nashville, Jan. 15, 1863. - Thomas Elwood Madden, Discharged, Feb. 20, 1863, disability. - Joshua T. Nicholson, Died at Nashville, Jan. 18, 1863. - Christopher C. Shires, Discharged, May 28, 1863, disability. - John M. Thompson, Discharged, Feb. 20, 1863, disability. - James F. Williams, Discharged, March 26, 1863, disability. - George Miley, Died at Nashville, Feb. 3, 1863. - Robert B. Drake, Discharged, June 30, 1863, disability. - -In all, twenty-one men, making a total loss to July 1, 1863, of -thirty-nine men. - -Started June 23, 1863, on Chattanooga campaign. First injury to member -of Company was the wounding of Alex. C. Nicholson, at Fairfield. - -Followed on, passing Manchester and Estill Springs, wading Elk River, -and passing through Winchester to Cowan's Station. Halted at latter -place, July 3, 1863, hearing next day the news of Gettysburg and -Vicksburg. - -A few days later passed through Cumberland Tunnel, and on to Stevenson, -Alabama. At Stevenson there was a delay until Sept. 2d, when the -command pushed on to the Tennessee River, at Bridgeport, crossing on -the 3d, and going over Sand Mountain, and on down to Alpine, Georgia. -When company left Stevenson I remained, with others, in consequence of -chills, having had medicine prescribed for breaking same about August -30th. - -Captain Patterson McNutt resigned July 29, 1863, and First Lieutenant -Tilmon D. Kyger was mustered in as captain of company, Sept. 4th, -following.[B] - -[B] NOTE.--On morning, Sept. 3d, we followed company to Bridgeport, -arriving just as command was starting to cross the river. Being wearied -by the tramp, James T. Maudlin, Henderson Goodwin, William Martin, and -myself were again left in temporary hospital. Next morning, feeling -much refreshed, concluded to apply for passes to go on to company. We -were disappointed, myself in particular, as that date, Sept. 4, 1863, -marked the end of my twenty-first year. About noon, a long wagon train -began crossing the river, and while at dinner we conceived the idea -of getting across, under the guise of train guards. So, striking the -train at a little distance from the river, we distributed ourselves -at intervals, among the wagons, loading our luggage, except gun and -bayonet. The scheme worked; and on getting across, we repossessed -ourselves of our luggage, and passed ahead of the train. We diligently -pressed forward until sunset. We then located a camp, got roasting-ears -from a field to our right, an iron pot, and water at a house to our -left, and in due time feasted, chatted, and retired for the night, not -knowing how near we might be to enemies, or how far from friends. After -midnight a terrible racket, to our front, awakened and frightened us. -Imagining the commotion was produced by a dash of the enemy's cavalry, -we arose in great haste, scattered our fire, gathered our traps, and -hied us away to the brush. The disturbance ceased, our excitement -subsided, and we resumed our former position. After breakfast next -morning we started, and on going one-fourth of a mile we came to a -lot, of say three acres, in which were a dozen or more horses, colts, -and cows. Up to nearly noon at least, we attributed the racket to the -stock. Keeping steadily on, and not meeting or overtaking any troops -or trains, and the road showing less indications of any having passed, -we began to feel lonesome. Just before noon, after passing a house on -our left, we stopped, and sent one of our squad back to inquire if any -troops had passed that morning. Comrade soon returned with information -that a small body of cavalry had passed, going south, about two hours -before. Signs in the road, and on either side, seemed to confirm the -report, but as our scout had failed to ascertain the character of the -cavalry, he was sent for further information. In answer to question as -to whose, or what cavalry had passed, our man was told it was "we'rn." -Further inquiry established a probability that it was a detachment of -Roddy's Confederate cavalry. For certain reasons we did not go back -past the house, but kept straight ahead, as though it was our business -to overtake that detachment. Fifteen minutes later we were following -a road in an easterly direction. Going at a "quick" gait, and being -about to pass a bunch of pigs, averaging about sixty pounds weight, we -concluded we wouldn't pass all of them. It was very quickly done, as we -dare not fire a gun, or allow a pig to squeal much. The choice parts of -the pig were appropriated to our own special purposes. After dinner we -pursued our way, and soon discovered intersecting roads, and evidences -of the passage of troops and trains. Later our suspense was ended, and -before dark, of Sept. 6th, we had reached the company. - -The movement to Alpine, by Thomas' and McCook's corps, having forced -Bragg out of Chattanooga, next came the hard marching necessary to -concentrate the Union forces, before the reinforced enemy should turn -and crush Crittenden's corps. - -Arrived in vicinity of Chickamauga battlefield, late September 18th. -Got nearer next day; was under fire, but not engaged. - -Saturday night, September 19th, company furnished a corporal, R. J. -Hasty, and two or three guards for duty at Sheridan's head-quarters. -McCook, Crittenden, and other generals, were at head-quarters in -course of the night. Sheridan was restless and dissatisfied, and -altogether indications, as interpreted by our corporal and guards, -were unfavorable as to our prospects for to-morrow. Bradley's brigade -(Sheridan's third), had been very roughly used in the afternoon, and -his first and second brigades would probably "catch it" to-morrow. We -were in the second (Laibold's brigade.) The night was dark, the weather -was cool, and fire was forbidden. Our position was in heavy woods; the -noise and racket in our front, whether made by the enemy or by our own -troops, sounded and resounded terribly ominous in our ears. Daybreak -came, and with it orders to move; we were out of rations, or nearly -so, and not allowed time to draw a supply. Lytle persisted in drawing -rations for his (the first) brigade, notwithstanding orders to move -immediately. Moved two miles or more to the left; took position, and -awaited further orders. - -Before noon orders came, and we "went in." Of this memorable battle -history tells; it has been "fought over," and "wrote up," many times. -As within an hour from "going in," we had, with others, surrendered, -and passed to the rear of five lines, two ranks each, of Confederate -troops, we will not attempt a description of the small part of the -battle we witnessed. For the first time we viewed the situation amid -and to rear of the enemy. Doubt and uncertainty seemed to have place -among the Confederates, although they were advancing. Officers were -busy gathering up stragglers and hurrying them forward. Too many wanted -to guard prisoners. Swords were drawn, and wildly flourished, and much -ado made, probably because of the presence of so many "Yankees." Rope -lines and traces, and other rope rigging to artillery, and sorghum -stalks, sticking in haversacks of Bragg's men, attracted our attention. -We saw Gen. Longstreet with an immense escort following him. We saw -Gen. Hood lying under the fly of a tent, wounded; later he had his -leg taken off. After one o'clock enemy's right fell back, and our left -advanced. We saw several solid shot, skipping over the ground, which -had been sent by Crittenden's batteries. We had many companions in our -new and strange experience, and formed many new acquaintances, most -of them of short duration. Some fourteen hundred of Gen. Sheridan's -division, and many from other commands, had been collected in one -place. Hesser and North, of Company A, and Brown and myself, of Company -C, were one little squad of the Seventy-third that did not scatter -much. We encountered no other members of our regiment until reaching -Richmond. - -Up to this point we have given facts, in the history of the company, -of which we had personal knowledge. What few incidents or accidents -in its history, from Chickamauga up to opening of Atlanta campaign -here given are vouched for, my information touching the same being -derived from reliable sources. The losses sustained by company in -battle of Chickamauga were as follows: David A. Smith, Enoch Smith, -and Artemas Terrell, killed; Wm. R. Lawrence, John R. Burk, Henderson -Goodwin, Nathaniel Henderson, Henry C. Henderson, Austin Henderson, -Jehu Lewis (color bearer), and John Bostwick (discharged May 27, -1864), wounded; and all the following named were captured, viz: -Enoch P. Brown, Wm. H. Newlin, John R. Burk, Wm. F. Ellis, Austin -Henderson, and John Thornton. Of those that were captured, Burk and -Lewis were soon exchanged, being seriously wounded; Burk, however, -went to Richmond; losing an arm, he was discharged June 9, 1864. Lewis -was exchanged on battlefield. Austin Henderson was exchanged late in -1864. John Thornton, Enoch P. Brown, and William F. Ellis, died in -Andersonville prison, in order named: September 16th, 20th, and 23d, -1864, respectively. Number of Brown's grave, 9,350; Ellis', 9,703. -Number of Thornton's grave not given. Wm. H. Newlin was never either -paroled or exchanged. Nearly every member of company was struck by -balls, or fragments of shell, or trees, in some part of the body, -accoutrements, or clothing. At nightfall only three of the company were -present at call of the captain. During the night a dozen or more others -rallied upon this feeble remnant. Chickamauga was a dreadful strain -upon the strength and powers of endurance of the soldier, and September -20, 1863, is, and will ever be, a memorable day in our country's -history. By September 22d, some twenty or more of the company had -reached Chattanooga, and were beginning to assume at least a defensive -attitude. Early in September commissions for Lawrence and Smith, as -first and second lieutenants, respectively, were sent for, but neither -were ever mustered in on them; Lawrence resigning, November 24, 1863, -as second lieutenant, and Smith having met his fate as already noted. - -Following Chickamauga came the siege of Chattanooga, and with it very -scant supplies, and hard picket and forage duty. The "cracker line" -being often disturbed, and foraging not yielding, or "panning out" very -heavily, the supply of rations, provender, for man and beast, was far -short of ordinary demands. November 25th the battle of Missionary Ridge -occurred, in which Company C fortunately suffered very few casualties, -the most serious one being the wounding of Stephen Newlin. After -Missionary Ridge company and command went to the relief of Burnside at -Knoxville. On this winter campaign much hard marching and great fatigue -were endured. Some one or two, or more, of the company, not starting -with the command, followed up later with squads and detachments. In one -or more instances the enemy's cavalry attempted to "gobble up" these -squads. During its stay in East Tennessee, regiment encamped for a time -at Haworth's Mill, near New Market, and also at Lenoir's Station. From -latter place, it is said, some members of company made frequent visits -in the country east of river, and it is further alleged, one or more of -them got married. Dandridge, I believe, was the farthest point eastward -to which command penetrated in the Knoxville campaign. Capt. Kyger -was very sick at Knoxville, in course of winter, and on recovering -sufficiently was granted leave of absence. - -Winter breaking, and time for opening of the Atlanta campaign -approaching, the regiment returned to vicinity of Chattanooga, -encamping at Cleveland, at which point we rejoined it, on our return -from prison. April 11, 1864, Wm. R. Cook was mustered in, as a recruit -to company, being last name entered on company roll.[C] - -[C] NOTE.--Soon after capture were placed under a strong guard, our -partners, being Brown, Hesser, and North. Jos. C. Squires, an attachee, -before capture, of Gen. Rosecrans' staff, "stood in" with us a day or -so, until catching sight of Col. Von Strader. We dropped our extra -ammunition in Chickamauga Creek. Passed Ringgold, Sunday evening, about -eight o'clock. Four miles farther on, halted until morning. Arrived -at Tunnell Hill about noon, September 21st. A morsel of bacon issued -to each man, a piece four inches long, could have been drawn through -a half-inch augur hole, without squeezing out much grease. Boarded -railroad train about three o'clock, P. M., and started on tour of -Confederacy. Rode on top of car part of time; came near rolling off. -Reached Atlanta night of September 22d. Put up at Barracks. Next day -were marched past a clerk at a table; gave clerk our name, company -and regiment. Drew rations, September 24th. Started early; arrived -at Augusta before night. Bought a huge watermelon; all we could do -to carry it; cost fifty cents. Were guarded closely in court-house -enclosure. Got away with melon by calling neighbors. September 25th, -took an early train for Columbia. Cars crowded as usual; excitement -subsiding; novelty of trip wearing off. Reached Columbia morning of -26th. Were delayed three hours. Finally got started northward, the -direction we wanted to go, if we didn't stop too soon. Rode all day -up to three o'clock. Stopped at a little station near line between -the Carolinas. Lots of sweet potatoes on the platform; we let them -alone. Many people were there, mostly women, young and old. An old lady -delivered an off-hand address, giving advice to the "Yankees." She -wanted to know why we "couldn't let the South alone. We're not meddlin' -with your affairs. You all go back North and stay on your farms, and -in your factories, and work-shops. Yes, go back to your homes and -make shoes for us." Reached Charlotte late in the day. A few of the -boys got away, and trouble and delay were occasioned in getting them -to train again. Next day, Sunday, September 27th, arrived at Raleigh. -Were viewed by many people, mostly colored, while waiting. Got under -way again, traveled all night, arriving at Weldon next day. Dismounted -from cars; were guarded near railroad; drew rations. Invested one -dollar and a half in extras. Boarded train early on September 29th, and -dismounted no more until arriving at Richmond. Put up at Libby about -eleven o'clock the night of 29th. Paid Dick Turner twelve dollars next -day under protest. He said he would pay it back when we were paroled or -exchanged. Was never paroled or exchanged, so the twelve dollars ain't -due yet. Went to the Rosser (tobacco) house late on the 30th. We were -guided around to it. Stayed one night with Rosser, then went to Smith -and Pemberton houses, October 1st. On the way fell in with Ellis and -Thornton, of Company C. Stationary for quite a while; had a diversity -of pastime, read Testament, played checkers, fought vermin, but never -carried any rations over from one day to next. Kilpatrick--Jesse -D., not James, as we have it on page 10--joined our Seventy-third -delegation; his credentials were from Company B. Got our share of the -sugar. Stopped one night at Scott House; next day, November 14th, -took train for Danville, Va., arriving November 15th. Our delegation -generally agreed, worked and voted as a unit on all questions. -Consisting of seven members, we settled things among ourselves in -committee, before going to the full house. Attention was occupied a few -days considering a plan for a general break; plan never fully matured, -i. e. in the full house; killed in committee, no doubt. December 15th -we seceded, withdrew from prison No. 2, on account of small-pox, and -went to hospital. In time recovered, and was variously employed up to -February 19, 1864. Formed new acquaintances; organized a new alliance; -seceded again, the night of date last mentioned. - -In issue of _National Tribune_ of November 16, 1882, my comrade L. -B. Smith, criticises my narrative, in a manner complimentary to it, -however. He says, "Many important points are left out; all he has -written is true, and much more." Have supplied one of those "important -points" on page 4, the very _important_ one to comrade Smith. I refer -to his rescue, by Sutherland, from drowning in Craig's Creek. Another -interesting, if not "important point," left out, is that which includes -the proposal, from a mulatto girl of some fifteen Summers, that we -should leave Smith with herself and parents as a "hostage," security -that we, after getting through, would send a squad of cavalry after the -whole family. Other interesting points were some of our discussions -as to feasibility of things proposed, such as the taking of the -horses, the third night out; which road to take--this, that, or the -other; and the project of unearthing money said to be hid in a certain -portion of a river bank. Another important and interesting point in -Mr. Smith's life did not come within the compass of my narrative, -viz.: his standing guard for a few minutes over Mr. Jefferson Davis, -immediately after, or within a day or two of his capture. Mr. Smith -became twenty-one years old in February, 1864, while on our trip. The -cut--upper left corner--represents Smith as he appeared at about the -age of thirty years. Another interesting point was the management, -making a friend, by Sutherland, of Huffman's dog. So skillfully did -Sutherland get on the "good side" of the dog that he never barked -once, or gave his owner the slightest intimation or warning of our -approach. Comrade Sutherland, I believe, was connected, in or about, -the despatching of Maj. Ross' dog in Richmond. Mr. Sutherland is, and -has always been a farmer; is now fifty years old; cut--lower right -corner--represents him as he appeared probably ten years ago. Other -interesting points left out are those in the experience of comrade -Tripp, after his separation from our party, March 4, 1864. Did not -know until November, 1881, that Tripp had survived these experiences. -Visiting him last November I learned the particulars of his singular -and somewhat protracted wanderings after we left him. Want of space -forbids any thing like a record of them here. His loneliness, -immediately following his misfortune in being left, must have been -oppressive; hungry and foodless, the shades of night closing around him -amid those rugged mountains, his feelings can scarcely be imagined. -With reluctance and fear he called, hoping his recent companions, or -some belated pursuer, might hear him; but there was no answering voice, -nothing but distressing silence, and his disappointment was very great. -Mr. Tripp is now fifty-seven years old; cut--lower left corner--shows -him as he appeared for some months after his discharge in December, -1864. Wood and Taylor are accounted for on page 4. In Wood's case the -information is direct and official; he was about twenty-six years old -at time of his death. In Taylor's case the information is indirect and -circumstantial, but his fate is probably correctly indicated on page 4. -He was about twenty-seven years old at time we left him. - -The engravings herewith, "The Ferry Scene," and "Left Alone," are -reasonably accurate and true to the reality. "Out of the Woods" is -intended to represent the general idea of escape, our troubles behind, -our persevering, unremitting efforts ended, and our safety assured. -Though as uniting, bringing together, two or three separate scenes, -"Out of the Woods" is also a faithful picture. Conceding that Taylor's -fate, as the principal figure in "Left Alone," was that, which all the -information suggests, indescribably sad, and gloomy must have been -his last hour. Nothing of hope or comfort in his anticipations of the -future, his busy thoughts must have drifted away from his surroundings -and recent events, and sped across the sea, and dwelt upon his father -and mother there, who were ignorant of his fate. This brings us to the -events mentioned on page 109. At Georgetown, while on furlough, we met -Capt. Kyger and P. B. Huffman, of Company C. Furlough soon run out. -The rocks and hills about Georgetown seemed very small. Separated from -home and friends once more, and started in company with Huffman for the -front. This was in the latter part of April. Encountered my escaping -comrade Sutherland in Indianapolis, and accompanied him the greater -part of the way to Chattanooga. Arrived in camp at Cleveland, May 2, -1864, just at sunset. Had to talk nearly all night, and then get up -next morning and start on the Atlanta campaign. - -From June 30, 1863, to July 1, 1864, the total loss to company, from -all causes, was fourteen men, including Amos Bogue. Transferred to -Invalid corps, August 1, 1863; Clark B. Brant, discharged November 12, -1863; Merida Thornton and Aaron Willison, transferred to Invalid corps, -January 15th and February 1, 1864; James T. Slaughter, transferred -to V. R. C., May 1, 1864; Charles W. Cook, permanently detached as -blacksmith to Bat. G., First Mo. Art., August 26, 1863; and James -W. Trimble, transferred to V. R. C., April 10, 1864, the other seven -already noted; making a total loss to date of fifty-three men. - -Moved from Cleveland, May 3, 1864, with command, first brigade, -second division, fourth army corps. Under fire first time, on Atlanta -campaign, in the vicinity of Catoosa Springs, May 5. At Rocky Faced -Ridge, May 9th, was again under fire, but not engaged. Sharpshooters -from the regiment did good work here; Company C being represented by -John P. - -Jones, Alex. C. Nicholson, and James T. Maudlin. Was engaged at -Resaca, May 14th. Wm. D. Bales struck by piece of shell. Was engaged -at Adairsville, May 17th. Up to, and including Adairsville, Company -C was in my charge, there being no commissioned officer present. -On this date Capt. Kyger arrived at the front and took command of -company. At Kingston there was a delay of three or four days. Pursuant -to orders, all vacancies in line, and non-commissioned officers were -filled, or selections made with that object in view. May 22d, Company -C attended to this duty. The company was entitled to a lieutenant, -and an election was held. Candidates were voted for, for orderly -sergeant, with the understanding that the successful candidate should -be commissioned first lieutenant. Election resulted in my favor by -a small majority--four votes, I believe--which, considering all the -circumstances, my long absence, and the fact that my competitor had -been present all the time, was a No. 1 soldier, none better, I regarded -as extremely flattering, and was therefore very thankful for the -advancement. - -My commission was sent for; it bears date June 9, 1864. The list of -non-commissioned officers being filled, stood as follows: - - WM. M. SHEETS, orderly sergeant. - JAMES T. MAUDLIN, second sergeant. - JEHU LEWIS, third sergeant. - ROBERT J. HASTY, fourth sergeant. - ALEX. C. NICHOLSON, fifth sergeant. - WESLEY BISHOP, first corporal. - JONATHAN ELLIS, second corporal. - AUSTIN HENDERSON, third corporal. - SAMUEL HEWITT, fourth corporal. - ALFRED E. LEWIS, fifth corporal. - GEORGE W. MARTIN, sixth corporal. - STEPHEN NEWLIN, seventh corporal. - GEO. HOLLINGSWORTH, eighth corporal. - -It was at this time and place that A. E. Lewis notified Ellis of his -appointment as corporal; adding, "and your commission has gone on to -Washington for approval." All of the above were mustered out June -12, 1865. The list does not contain one of the original sergeants or -corporals; except that Orderly Sheets was one of the first corporals. - -Recommenced active operations about May 25th. June 18th John Braselton -was wounded. By June 25th the actions at Pine and Lost Mountains, -Dallas, New Hope Church, and preliminary battles before Kenesaw -Mountain had taken place, without inflicting serious damage to company. -Capt. Kyger was sick, a week or more, up to and including June 27th, -the day of the assault on Kenesaw. This assault was the first heavy -battle occurring after my muster in as lieutenant, and owing to the -formation of each regiment preparatory to the assault, and the absence -of my seniors, I was placed in command of two companies, C and H, -forming the third or middle division of regiment. Two lines, of two -ranks each, were in front of, and two lines, of two ranks each, were in -rear of companies C and H. Owing to nature of ground these companies -came off well, suffered less than any of the others. From point of -starting in, the ground sloped considerably to line immediately -without, or in front of the very elaborate, systematic obstructions in -front of enemy's works, and from this same line the ground covered by -these obstructions was gradually ascending to line of fortifications. -Pending the heaviest fire of enemy, companies C and H were on the -lowest ground, all the other companies, whether in front or rear, being -on higher ground, so that fire of enemy was comparatively harmless -to C and H, there being only four or five slight wounds received in -the two companies, and these inflicted while getting back to position -from which they started. Of the regiment, three were killed, and some -twelve or fifteen wounded. There were several cases of overheating, -the weather being extremely hot, and the assault, from some cause, not -being made as early as intended. The casualties to regiment, seeming so -few, in an assault of such magnitude, it is proper to state that number -of men in regiment that day, present for duty, did not exceed three -hundred. In our front, too, were very heavy earth-works, feebly manned; -but for the arrival of reinforcements we could have effected, at least, -a _temporary_ breach in the enemy's line. - -Early July 3d it was found that the enemy had fallen back. Followed -up immediately; regiment lost one man, killed, July 4th. There was a -delay of a week at the Chattahoochie River. Command took position, -near river, above Vining's Station. July 9th division marched to -Roswell; destroyed some mills or factories, and crossed and recrossed -the Chattahoochie while gone, returning on the 12th. Writer was not -with company on Roswell trip; but owing to depletion of strength was -favored; left behind in charge of regimental camp, and those who had -been excused from duty. July 13th, crossed Chattahoochie River on -pontoon bridge. While crossing, writer was taken sick, and was obliged -to drop behind soon after getting across the river. In attempting to -reach the upland and overtake company, was prostrated, the result of -over-heating or partial sun-stroke, and have no recollection whatever -of events occurring after the crossing of the Chattahoochie, up to the -crossing of Nance's Creek, July 18. There had, however, been a delay -at Buck's Head, and also a general inspection. Late on the 19th there -were two or three severe skirmishes along the line of Peach Tree Creek, -one of which approached the dignity of a battle, and several prisoners, -including a general officer, were captured by our forces. Crossed Peach -Tree Creek at ten o'clock, P. M., of the 19th. - -About noon, on the 20th, brigade was assigned position in line, and -hastily built slight breast-works of logs, limbs, and rails. This done, -was ordered to make reconnoisance to front. In execution of this order, -the enemy was found in force, and we came back at a double-quick, -to find our temporary works occupied by other troops. Took another -position, further to right, the Seventy-third holding the extreme -right of fourth corps. There was a gap of two hundred yards or more, -between right of fourth and left of twentieth corps; so the right of -Seventy-third was retired, swung back a little in order to cover this -gap. The battle immediately opened, giving no time for construction -of works, however slight, and continued about an hour, with two -casualties to Company C--William Martin and the writer, wounded. -Sampson McCool, of Company E, was also wounded. Sampson and William -McCool, and John Murdock, the latter killed at Perryville, being the -three loaned by Company C to Company E, that were never retransferred -to C. Of regiment, one man was killed, and several others wounded. My -wound, being slight, healed entirely by August 1st, but I was detained -at division field hospital until August 16th, on account of general -physical debility, resulting from the sunstroke of 13th. Command was -not in the battles of July 22d and 28th, so my hospital and prison -experience, covering in all eight months, deprived me of participation -in only one battle--Missionary Ridge--and one campaign--the East -Tennessee--in which the company engaged. - -The latter part of August, started on the flanking movement to -Jonesboro and Lovejoy station. September 1st, engaged in tearing up -railroad, burning the ties, and twisting the heated rails around trees. -Arrived at Jonesboro too late to accomplish more than the capture of a -hospital and a few hundred prisoners, as the battle there was closing. -Night of September 1st, Company C stood picket out north-east of -Jonesboro, and toward morning the rumble of Hood's artillery and trains -could be heard, as they were passing hurriedly on a road still further -eastward, retreating from Atlanta. Later, the explosions at Atlanta -were distinctly heard. Followed on to Lovejoy's. Were under fire, but -had no good opportunity of returning it. Withdrew from enemy's front -at Lovejoy's the night of September 5th or 6th, returning to Atlanta, -arriving on the 8th. Went into quarters with some expectation of -remaining inactive for a longer time than we did. Writer, however, saw -the exterior of the barracks, the interior of which he had seen, as a -prisoner, just a year before. - -About September 26th to 28th, were ordered to Chattanooga, going by -railway; and from thence marched down into Alpine valley again, about -October 18th, returning the latter part of October, via Chickamauga -battle-ground, to Chattanooga. On this return march from Alpine, quite -a number of recruits of Fifty-first Illinois fell behind, "straggled," -and no wonder, as most of them wore overcoats, and carried knapsacks -packed full; one of them carried his bayonet fixed, instead of in -scabbard, whereupon Corporal Lewis (who had just awakened from a short -sleep at roadside, where company was resting) cried out, "Halt, halt, -you Fifty-firster; I want to know WHERE YOU GOT YOUR GUN SHARPENED." - -About November 1, 1864, went by rail to Huntsville, Alabama, and from -there marched to Athens, and from thence, via Lynnville and Pulaski, to -Columbia, Tenn. Here a part of twenty-third corps met, and reinforced -the fourth corps. Hood's rebel army was becoming very troublesome -and apparently impatient for large results, and was pressing ours -very _closely_. Considerable skirmishing took place about Columbia, -in which Company C bore its full share. Under pressure of enemy our -forces crossed Duck River the night of November 28th, the Seventy-third -standing picket the balance of that night on north bank of river. Next -morning, the pressure being great, there was no time to relieve us, -and being already deployed, we fell back, first as flankers, then as -skirmishers, in the direction of Spring Hill, arriving there about four -o'clock in afternoon of 29th. We were to the right, or south-east of -Pike and of Spring Hill. The part of the Seventy-third in the action at -Spring Hill was to assist in resisting a cavalry dash by enemy, just -before sunset. To do this we were only compelled to shorten our line a -little, and deliver a brisk fire for the space of about ten minutes. -Heavy fighting was going on near us, in which enemy's infantry was -engaged, pending which, night fall ended the contest, luckily for our -forces. There was great confusion, one result of which was, our being -compelled to stand picket all night, as on the preceding night. We must -have been VERY CLOSE indeed to enemy's pickets, though we did not see -or hear them; but could distinctly see the enemy at a little distance -around his camp-fires. Our trains were hustling the whole night -through, and got well on the way before morning toward Franklin. - -Daylight of November 30th came, and we were still on the picket -line. By sunrise we began falling back, deployed as skirmishers, and -skirmishing began, and was kept up with more or less severity to -within one mile of Franklin, when our brigade was relieved. Very soon -after skirmishing began in the morning we crossed to the left of the -road, and when but little more than half way to Franklin, Capt. Kyger -being sick, was unable to remain longer with company, and was taken -in charge by Surgeon Pond, and we saw him no more until arriving at -Nashville. Being relieved, as before mentioned, by passing within, and -to rear, of skirmish line, which had been thrown out, the brigade, -Opedycke's first brigade, second division, fourth army corps, formed -and marched in column, with little delay, to Franklin, passing on the -way a brigade which must have been the third brigade of our division, -posted some distance in front of a temporary line of breastworks, which -had been hastily built, extending from a point above to another point -on the river below the town. These works, scarcely a mile in length, -semi-circular in form, and covering, not only Franklin, but also the -bridge across the Harpeth, were filled with troops; so our brigade -passed on to the rear, and took position behind Carter's Hill. This was -at about 3:30 o'clock, P. M. The men at once set about preparing coffee -and something to eat, being greatly fatigued from loss of sleep, and -almost constant duty since evening of 28th, on crossing Duck River. All -the trains, and the first division of the fourth corps, were north of -the Harpeth. - -Dinner over once, we should probably have followed and taken the -advance, having assisted two days in covering the retreat. But no; not -all of us were permitted to finish dinner before Hood had martialed his -forces, swept up suddenly, driving in the brigade, posted in front, as -before stated, in its wake, and under cover of same crushing in, making -a fearful breach in our main line. Heavy firing began, clouds of dust -and smoke arose, hundreds of rebel troops were thrust into the breach -which they had made, and beyond; singly, and in squads, small and -great, our men began flying from the front, throwing away their guns; -pieces of artillery and cassions, with horses attached, came thundering -down; confusion and consternation indescribable had been wrought in -five minutes or less time. - -The Thirty-sixth, Forty-fourth, and Seventy-third Illinois, and -Twenty-fourth Wisconsin, and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Ohio, five -regiments, composing Opedycke's brigade, were instantly on their -feet, anticipating orders, seizing their guns, which had been stacked -on one line, made a simultaneous, irresistible rush to the front, -carrying every thing before them at the point of the bayonet, capturing -thirteen battle-flags, nearly one thousand prisoners, and restoring -and strengthening our line, so that it was broken no more. Stung to -desperation at this sudden turning of the scales in this important -battle, the infuriated enemy _charged_, and CHARGED _again_ and AGAIN, -carrying his reckless resistance right up to, yes on to, our slight -works, to the very muzzles of our guns. But we were there to stay, -at least until getting ready to leave of our own accord; but it took -_work_, HARD WORK, PERSISTENT, UNFLAGGING and UNFLINCHING WORK, to -maintain our position. How it was done I can scarcely hope to describe. - -On arriving at the point from whence our forces had been driven, -there were too many troops to operate to advantage, and afford all a -semblance of protection. Fortunately, the ground, beginning at the -works, was gradually declining to the rear. Company C, with a few -soldiers of other companies, was posted between, and to the front of, -two pieces of artillery. All were either lying on the ground or in a -low, stooping posture. Immediately at the works was a strong line of -men, with barely elbow room, who did nothing but fire; in rear of this -line were two or three tiers of men, who were busy loading pieces and -passing them forward; to rear of these were still others, who were -cleaning guns, breaking open boxes of ammunition, and distributing -cartridges to the loaders; others still further back, carried up the -boxes of ammunition from a point where left by ammunition wagons. -There was _work_ for all, and all WORKED. There was a full half hour -of desperate fighting, perhaps equalled at some time and place, but -scarcely ever, if ever, surpassed. For several fearful minutes, as a -result of combined, sturdy, heroic effort on the part of all, from end -to end of our line, the small arms volleyed; there was no determining -of intervals between volleys; it was as one. The cannon thundered; -the shell shrieked; the smoke rolled; the earth trembled; the heroic, -reckless, desperate, enemy surged, and _surged_ again and AGAIN, right -up to our line, and recoiled as often, _recoiling last_, before the -merciless tempest of death. - -Darkness came on, and shrouded the scene; there was a lull in the -fight; a great calm after a great storm. Many of our soldiers had been -slain, but for each one, from three to five of the rebels had bitten -the dust. Very many on both sides were wounded, the few mortally, the -many slightly. Did those who had not finished dinner, now finish it? -No. Was supper prepared? No. Was there time for coffee? Not much. The -foe, threatening and defiant, was right there, within sixty feet, -waiting to pounce upon us. Guns were put in order, ammunition in -abundance was got ready at hand, and all precautions taken. Nor had -we long to wait until the first night assault was made; right up to -our works they charged, coming within space measured by the flashes -from our rifles. But before our galling fire the enemy quailed and fell -back. Our fire slackened some; but within an hour two or more assaults -were made, with like result. - -After the last assault we kept up a heavy fire for some minutes, until -some person, some officer perhaps, between the lines, but nearest ours, -yelled out: "Cease firing, cease firing;" repeating the command several -times. Amid the smoke and darkness it could not be told who or what -he was, whether Union or rebel. In a few minutes the firing did, in a -great measure, cease; later it ceased almost entirely. At same time a -burning building in the suburbs of Franklin fell in, making a great -light, by which we saw several, as many as a dozen, standards raise -along enemy's line. He was preparing, no doubt, for a last desperate -effort to break our front. Brisk firing immediately opened from our -side, increasing in volume and ceasing not until every battle-flag on -enemy's front was laid low. This ended the contest; quiet succeeded; -and by midnight our weary forces had withdrawn from the field; crossed -the Harpeth, and were slowly wending their way to Nashville. - -The loss to Seventy-third, in this battle, was nine killed and two -wounded that died soon afterward; one of the former being Adjt. Wilmer, -and one of the latter being Major Motherspaw; the loss to Company C -being one killed, Zenas Fulton, and one wounded, Joseph A. Allison, -who died in enemy's hands. There were three or four others of company -wounded, including the writer; and there were several others of the -regiment wounded; but nearly all of these were slight wounds, excepting -that of Captain Jonas Jones, and one or two others. Some two or three -years ago writer saw a statement from Gen. D. S. Stanley, who commanded -the fourth corps, until wounded, in this battle; which statement, -published in a Philadelphia paper, asserted that the fourth corps used -ninety wagon loads of ammunition the afternoon and night of November -30, 1864. It is reasonable to suppose that much of this ammunition was -destroyed; wasted in other ways than in "wild firing," the enemy's -losses, all told, being about five thousand five hundred, or three -times our own. - -Col. Opedycke was breveted brigadier-general, and merited praise was -bestowed in congratulatory orders, for the part borne by his brigade in -the battle of Franklin. Any other brigade that was there would probably -have done as well, under the same circumstances; but as three-fifths of -the brigade were Illinoisians we take a pardonable pride in making this -imperfect record of its most conspicuous achievement. - -Arrived at Nashville at one o'clock, P. M., December 1, 1864. We were -a very tired, sorely-taxed, and dirty lot of soldiers. Sleep was -imperatively demanded; and most of us, as soon as halted, or assigned -camping space, dropped on the ground and slept until sunset; by which -time Capt. Kyger had found us, and was anxiously ascertaining how -we had fared. Hood followed up immediately, taking position in our -front; and on December 3d, James Ashmore, of Company C, a faithful -soldier, was shot dead while standing picket. His body was buried in -the cemetery at Nashville. This was the last loss which befell Company -C, except in case of two or three members who were mustered out a few -days in advance of the regiment at hospitals, and one recruit--Wm. R. -Cook--transferred to the Forty-fourth Illinois. About this time we -received notification of the death of three members of the company -in Andersonville prison, as before noted, viz.: Brown, Ellis, and -Thornton, with whom the writer had spent three months as a prisoner. -How fortunate had we been, not only in escaping prison, but in passing -comparatively unharmed through twelve battles, since separating from -prison comrades, and standing now upon the threshold of the thirteenth, -destined to pass safely through that. Fortunate indeed we were, and -thankful, very thankful we are, and ought to be. - -On December 15th and 16th, 1864, occurred the battles of Nashville, -in which command performed the part assigned it both days; in the -afternoon of the 16th joining in the grand, majestic charge, which -was the finishing stroke to the rebellion in the west. Casualties -to Company C, none to speak of, and to regiment very few, only one -man killed, and probably a dozen wounded. Enemy hugged his works so -closely that his fire passed above our heads. On our reaching the -works, those of the enemy who did not surrender fled with precipitated -haste. With utmost enthusiasm our troops pursued the flying enemy, -until darkness closed the race. Started early on the 17th, but our -cavalry took the job off our hands, pursuing Hood so closely that he -crossed the Tennessee River, with only a few shattered and broken -fragments of his late offensive army. We followed to Pulaski, Tenn., -at which point, a day or two before Christmas, we heard, for the last -time, the whiz of an enemy's bullet. - -Leaving Pulaski we took up our line of march for Huntsville, Ala., -arriving January 5, 1865. Here we remained until March 28th; then -going by rail to Blue Springs, East Tennessee. While at Blue Springs -the war closed; Lee and Johnston surrendered, and Abraham Lincoln was -assassinated. News of the latter produced the wildest frenzy among -our troops. The latter part of April were ordered to Nashville. Going -by rail, we arrived in due course. Hostilities having ceased, the -excitement incident thereto having subsided, we led a quiet camp life -up to middle of June. The regiment was mustered out June 12, 1865, -starting a day or two later for Springfield, Ill., to receive final -payment and to disband. - -We give name of each member of Company C that was present for muster -out June 12th, except where already noted; see list of sergeants and -corporals and remarks below on page 126, which with the fifty-three men -dropped from the roll by July 1, 1864, and the following dropped since, -or mustered out in advance of the regiment, make the one hundred and -four men, with which company entered the service: N. Brady and I. W. -Ward, transferred to United States engineer corps, July 20th and August -21st, 1864; E. P. Brown, Wm. F. Ellis, and John Thornton, died at -Andersonville; James A. Allison and Zenas Fulton, killed at Franklin; -James Ashmore, killed at Nashville; Nathaniel Henderson, mustered out -May 4th; William B. Cowan, May 17th, John Braselton, June 2d, and -Daniel Suycott, June 8, 1865; Samuel W. Sigler, transferred to Veteran -Reserve Corps, January 10, 1865, and William R. Cook, transferred to -Forty-fourth Illinois, June 12, 1865, fourteen in all. - - TILMON D. KYGER, deceased. - WILLIAM H. NEWLIN. - DAVID MCDONALD. - PLEASANT B. HUFFMAN. - SAMUEL J. BOEN. - DAVID BRANSON,[D] deceased. - WILLIAM D. BALES. - JOHN DOOP. - HENDERSON GOODWIN. - AMACY M. HASTY. - HENRY C. HENDERSON. - GEORGE J. HARRIER. - JOHN P. JONES. - THOMAS JUDD. - ABRAHAM JONES. - CLAIBORNE MADDEN. - WILLIAM MARTIN. - JAMES S. PECK, deceased. - HARLAND H. REAGON. - JOSEPH W. REAGON. - WALTER SCOTT. - ISAAC H. THOMPSON.[D] - BENJAMIN PURDUM. - ISAAC R. THORNTON. - - In all, 24 - Add five sergeants and eight corporals, 13 - Previously dropped from all causes as indicated, 67 - --- - Total, 104 - -DANVILLE, ILL., September 4, 1886. - - -[D] On detached service in rear, full term. - - * * * * * - -Transcriber's Notes: - -Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ - -Every effort has been made to replicate this text as faithfully as -possible, including obsolete and variant spellings, inconsistent -hyphenation, and other inconsistencies. - -Obvious punctuation errors and minor printer errors repaired. - -Frequent use of 'eat' in place of 'ate' kept as printed. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of An Account of the Escape of Six -Federal Soldiers from Prison at Danville, Va., by William Henry Newlin - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK AN ACCOUNT OF THE ESCAPE OF *** - -***** This file should be named 50970.txt or 50970.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/9/7/50970/ - -Produced by Christopher Wright and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, -set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to -copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to -protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project -Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you -charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you -do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the -rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose -such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and -research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do -practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is -subject to the trademark license, especially commercial -redistribution. - - - -*** START: FULL LICENSE *** - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project -Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at -http://gutenberg.org/license). - - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy -all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. -If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the -terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or -entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement -and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" -or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the -collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an -individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are -located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from -copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative -works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg -are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project -Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by -freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of -this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with -the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by -keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project -Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in -a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check -the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement -before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or -creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project -Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning -the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United -States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate -access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently -whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, -copied or distributed: - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived -from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is -posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied -and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees -or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work -with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the -work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 -through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the -Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or -1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional -terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked -to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the -permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any -word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or -distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than -"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version -posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), -you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a -copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon -request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other -form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided -that - -- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is - owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he - has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the - Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments - must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you - prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax - returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and - sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the - address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to - the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." - -- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or - destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium - and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of - Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any - money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days - of receipt of the work. - -- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set -forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from -both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael -Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the -Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm -collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain -"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or -corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual -property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a -computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by -your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with -your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with -the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a -refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity -providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to -receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy -is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further -opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER -WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO -WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. -If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the -law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be -interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by -the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any -provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance -with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, -promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, -harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, -that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do -or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm -work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any -Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. - - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers -including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists -because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from -people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. -To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation -and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 -and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. - - -Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive -Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at -http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent -permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. -Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered -throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at -809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email -business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact -information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official -page at http://pglaf.org - -For additional contact information: - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To -SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any -particular state visit http://pglaf.org - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. -To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate - - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic -works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |