andersonville-第118章
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end of the railroad； the woods were full of Rebels waiting
transportation； and we approached the road carefully； supposing that it
was guarded to keep their own men from going to town。 We crawled up to
the road； but seeing no one； started across it。 At that moment a guard
about thirty yards to our left； who evidently supposed that we were
Rebels； sang out：
〃Whar ye gwine to thar boys？〃
I answered：
〃Jest a…gwine out here a little ways。〃
Frank whispered me to run； but I said； 〃No； wait till he halts us； and
then run。〃 He walked up to where we had crossed his beatlooked after
us a few minutes； and then； to our great relief； walked back to his post。
After much trouble we succeeded in getting through all the troops； and
started fairly on our way。 We tried to shape our course toward Florida。
The country was very swampy； the night rainy and dark； no stars were out
to guide us； and we made such poor progress that when daylight came we
were only eight miles from our starting place； and close to a road
leading from Thomasville to Monticello。 Finding a large turnip patch；
we filled our pockets； and then hunted a place to lie concealed in during
the day。 We selected a thicket in the center of a large pasture。 We
crawled into this and laid down。 Some negros passed close to us； going
to their work in an adjoining field。 They had a bucket of victuals with
them for dinner； which they hung on the fence in such a way that we could
have easily stolen it without detection。 The temptation to hungry men
was very great； but we concluded that it was best and safest to let it
alone。
As the negros returned from work in the evening they separated； one old
man passing on the opposite side of the thicket from the rest。 We halted
him and told him that we were Rebs； who had taken a French leave of
Thomasville； that we were tired of guarding Yanks； and were going home；
and further； that we were hungry； and wanted something to eat。 He told
us that he was the boss on the plantation。 His master lived in
Thomasville。 He； himself； did not have much to eat； but he would show us
where to stay； and when the folks went to bed he would bring us some
food。 Passing up close to the negro quarters we got over the fence and
lay down behind it； to wait for our supper。
We had been there but a short time when a young negro came out； and
passing close by us； went into a fence corner a few panels distant and；
kneeling down； began praying aloud； and very； earnestly； and stranger
still； the burden of his supplication was for the success of our armies。
I thought it the best prayer I ever listened to。 Finishing his devotions
he returned to the house； and shortly after the old man came with a good
supper of corn bread； molasses and milk。 He said that he had no meat；
and that he had done the best he could for us。 After we had eaten； he
said that as the young people had gone to bed； we had better come into
his cabin and rest awhile； which we did。
Hommat had a full suit of Rebel clothes； and I had stolen sacks enough at
Andersonville； when they were issuing rations； to make me a shirt and
pantaloons； which a sailor fabricated for me。 I wore these over what was
left of my blue clothes。 The old negro lady treated us very coolly。 In
a few minutes a young negro came in； whom the old gentleman introduced as
his son； and whom I immediately recognized as our friend of the prayerful
proclivities。 He said that he had been a body servant to his young
master； who was an officer in the Rebel army。
〃Golly！〃 says he； 〃if you 'uns had stood a little longer at Stone River；
our men would have run。〃
I turned to him sharply with the question of what he meant by calling us
〃You 'uns；〃 and asked him if he believed we were Yankees。 He surveyed us
carefully for a few seconds； and then said：
〃Yes； I bleav you is Yankees。〃
He paused a second； and added：
〃Yes； I know you is。〃
I asked him how he knew it； and he said that we neither looked nor talked
like their men。 I then acknowledged that we were Yankee prisoners；
trying to make our escape to our lines。 This announcement put new life
into the old lady； and； after satisfying herself that we were really
Yankees； she got up from her seat； shook hands with us； and declared we
must have a better supper than we had had。 She set immediately about
preparing it for us。 Taking up a plank in the floor； she pulled out a
nice flitch of bacon； from which she cut as much as we could eat； and
gave us some to carry with us。 She got up a real substantial supper；
to which we did full justice； in spite of the meal we had already eaten。
They gave us a quantity of victuals to take with us； and instructed us as
well as possible as to our road。 They warned us to keep away from the
young negros； but trust the old ones implicitly。 Thanking them over and
over for their exceeding kindness； we bade them good…by； and started
again on our journey。 Our supplies lasted two days； during which time we
made good progress； keeping away from the roads； and flanking the towns；
which were few and insignificant。 We occasionally came across negros；
of whom we cautiously inquired as to the route and towns； and by the
assistance of our map and the stars； got along very well indeed； until we
came to the Suwanee River。 We had intended to cross this at Columbus or
Alligator。 When within six miles of the river we stopped at some negro
huts to get some food。 The lady who owned the negros was a widow； who
was born and raised in Massachusetts。 Her husband had died before the
war began。 An old negro woman told her mistress that we were at the
quarters； and she sent for us to come to the house。 She was a very nice…
looking lady； about thirty…five years of age； and treated us with great
kindness。 Hommat being barefooted； she pulled off her own shoes and
stockings and gave them to him； saying that she would go to Town the next
day and get herself another pair。 She told us not to try to cross the
river near Columbus； as their troops had been deserting in great numbers；
and the river was closely picketed to catch the runaways。 She gave us
directions how to go so as to cross the river about fifty miles below
Columbus。 We struck the river again the next night； and I wanted to swim
it； but Hommat was afraid of alligators； and I could not induce him to
venture into the water。
We traveled down the river until we came to Moseley's Ferry； where we
stole an old boat about a third full of water； and paddled across。 There
was quite a little town at that place； but we walked right down the main
street without meeting any one。 Six miles from the river we saw an old
negro woman roasting sweet potatos in the back yard of a house。 We were
very hungry； and thought we would risk something to get food。 Hommat
went around near her； and asked her for something to eat。 She told him
to go and ask the white folks。 This was the answer she made to every
question。 He wound up by asking her how far it was to Mossley's Ferry；
saying that he wanted to go there； and get something to eat。 She at last
ran into the house； and we ran away as fast as we could。 We had gone but
a short distance when we heard a horn； and soon…the…cursed hounds began
bellowing。 We did our best running； but the hounds circled around the
house a few times and then took our trail。 For a little while it seemed
all up with us； as the sound of the baying came closer and closer。 But
our inquiry about the distance to Moseley's Ferry seems to have saved us。
They soon called the hounds in； and started them on the track we had
come； instead of that upon which we were going。 The baying shortly died
away in the distance。 We did not waste any time congratulating ourselves
over our marvelous escape； but paced on as fast as we could for about
eight miles farther。 On the way we passed over the battle ground of
Oolustee； or Ocean Pond。
Coming near to Lake City we fell in with some negros who had been brought
from Maryland。 We stopped over one day with them； to rest； and two of
them concluded to go with us。 We were furnished with a lot of cooked
provisions； and starting one night made fort
