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My Capture And Escape

My Capture And Escape image
Parent Issue
Day
1
Month
January
Year
1864
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In the ranks of my regiment T nrrived in Waghingtou City in June, 1S6I, and was soou after seut out to tlie sa créd soil of Virgiuia. Our regiment was sei?' tb tne advance of the Federal linea and portions were sent out on pieket duty. WheJi t carne my turn to ad vanee near ibu eamsfa linos, I feit some .pprelietiüioii for lil? rafaty, a thuugh I was a soldier, 1 must fjankly jonfess, l feared the nflts of the Coiifedera."! nharp shootere. Near where our pickëts were statioued, was u littla tild fasbioned log house tliat looktd comfortable and cheeriug, aud often made uie feel sad, when soated in soiue quk-t uook or cor ner oí the bushes, watehing the eneniy How that old log house would make my heart palpítate, and draw from tne deep and heavy sighs. Not that I had lost oue partióle ot' patriotism, or feit any less bniv and will'mg to fight for my country; but it would brinjj to my wind picture of houie, aud of the naany pleasaut scènes I had passed with my sisters aud broth ers, around the family bosird. I noticed thal tLe house was occupicd, and fair forms flitted in and out ; and one in par ticular that draw uiy atteution. I beeame decply inttrested in the inmates of that houi-e, and as I thought the matter over, it seeiued as if l could not restrain inv curiosity, but wusi i-il it. Stand ing as it did between hostile ai mus, vliat could induce its limans to rctuuin, with destruction vi.-iblcall iround th.inr It was a beautif'ul iftemoon in the lat ter pui tof June, that 1 was again on' picket duty in the vicinity of the l"g house. I was determined ihat duy tu satisfy my curiisity and visit the hoase. Leaving my conipariious, 1 atole across a field or two, watehiug with vigilaut eyc i'very tree and fence, to prevent surprise. As 1 appioached the house I heard a plamtive song, but sung so sweetly that I wept. tlmugh I feit ashained of myself as a soldier for my weakuess. I drew up elose beide the house, and in crouching position I silently listeued. The song (en&ed, a heavy hasty tep souuding on the floor. 'Fathcr, what is the matter?'1 I heard a voice exclaim, that was mingled with an agitated and mournful quiver. '■ My dear daughter, you and your mothur must depurt at once. You inuat o to Washington, and from thencu you cati fiud your wayto Massaeliusetts. where your únele lives. Teil him, tht I. bis lirother, implore him to protect yon uut il I reach you Our countiy 'm toni and distracted, and utier ruin seems to hrmg over it. Ob, God, when uill tliiseudV" 'And yon, Gecrge," - 1 believe thw was the voice of bis wife - "where are vou goiiií 'Í ' I had uow upproaclied a crevice thro' which I could see the interior of the house, and wben the quostion was asked I could see the mau Malt, and look at bis wife in niute attoiiisbment. Il ík face turned white, theu scarlet, and then a dnrk blue ; his eye-balls seemiid to start from their socketf, and the veins of his ueck swelled to an cnormous size ; he tiembled and reeled, aud dowu he eat on a chair. "Where am I goiug ?" he gasped - "God oi.ly knows ! ' "Why, what on carth do you ïneau ?" fairly screamed his wife. "1 mean this," said he, more calm - "l'ni goiug uto the rebel anuy, not from my own free wil', but from compiüsi"r, to nave my property froai onfíscation, aud save u home for you and Jenny." "Oh, faiher, do not join the rebel army, but fight for tne old Stars and Stnpes, and lor the country ynu have so long loved, ' and Jenny caught her father about the neck and kissed him. I could get but a single glance at lier lace, but how lovely she looked, pleading for her country aud her father's honor The mother was standing by htm, and the great tears flowitig down her cbeeks ar.d dropping on his shoulder. "Come, dear lather, let us go North ; Únele David i a gnod mau, aud we eau livo in gafety there,1' The father sat li.stenina to the pleadjngs'f the daughter, and these were joined by the wife with 6uch 6tirring pathos that he yielded, arid conseuted to leave immediately for WaehiugtoD, aud join tbe Feder! "Bless you fatber," exelaimed Jenny, and slio drew back u old board that was against ilie wall, over the maiitle piece, and from its secret hiding place, drew out a small, beautiful Star Spangled Banner. "There, tny fatlier, utder tbo folda of that flüc you must fight, if you must go to war,"'1"1 not beueath the PaluieKo, the Polican, the Serpent," and she tlirew it around hia ahouldera, while his stal wart frame bracud up, and his eye brightened. and he pregaed the Stars and Stripes to his bosoiu. How I loved that girl as slie s'ood there in all the ranjesty of lier pride, giizing ou her fat her. I could havu lought a regiment of rebels at that mointiit, or aa inany as could have been brought against me. Had I been ready to marry at that moment I would have made that girl my wife at least a duz;n times But my thoughts upon that subject were of a short duiation, for just as ihe father wasxbout to uiake preparations to start from his home, in stepped four reb el troops, under the coinuaand of a corporal. ''VVell sir, we have come for you," said the corporal, 'and I don't thiuk we carne too soon;" uud he snatched the Star Spangl' d Bamier from oif the shoulders of the man, threw it upou the floor and stamped upon it. ' Thats the way we set our heels upon the necks of the Yankee invaders " How my blood foained ; it d dtft boi!, but ravcd througli my veins as tho' it would bur.t (ton. Suddtiiily Jenny rprang forward and pu-lied the corporal back with such foice that In; almost feil to the floor, and snatched up the flug and flaunted it in his face. 'As uuder its folds tyrannj was driven from the land, so shail traitors be driven out or hung ; and if I were a man 1 vv. uld punisb you f.,r the insult you otTered this dear flag ol mine.'1 "1 din t con.e here to tiglit women " said the corporal, doggcdly. 'Come, plr. Davis, you'e leen drafted, and must go into the army. ' 'I will not fight against my will," ex claiii'.d tüe llia"i xhibiting aome signs of reaistance. „'." But you shall. &e;ze "im menThe rebela sprri.'ig forward and caught Davis, but bei-ig a atrouL m n 11 e buried them fn.tn hiin. Again they fet upon hitn with iU're suecess, and were L'r0" ceeding to bind him. I could stand it no lonjggr. I rushed to the door screatning : "Come on boys, we have them now !" I dashed into the house, and just at that moment down went or.e of the rebels, levoled to tho floor by a chair in the hands of Jenny. Again the chriir whirk-d in the air, and carne down on the liead of the corporal. The rebe's were ffigbt ened and fled from the house, but Seeïfig 1 was alone, rc!urned to ihe ooiubat.- Davis was stiil bound and eould afford no assistanee The fight was uneqnal, and I was overpowered and taken pris oner. Divis and inyself were marc'ied off to the cuemy'a camp, while Jenny and her moiher were left aloue in the I huuse. For two dayS I was o prisoncr in the ommy'scanip, M Fairfax Court House. VVhat had bucome of Davis I knew not and what would become of me I cared not, now that I had lost tho brave girl I had learned to love, The day passed gloomily away, and uight canie ngiiin. I was seated in a sorl of brush tent, with a guard pacing up and down in front (fit, p'iying more aitention to me thau I thought was ab solutely iiecesnary. While lost in happy thoughts of hume añil of Jenny, I heard a rubtling noise beside me, and :i delicate hand was luid upon my anu, "Follow me quickly and I will save you," she whispered in my ear, and placed lier luind over my mouth. She then with'irew, and 1, snake like crawled out of the tent afier her. Cau tiously Wc noved along until we cauie to the guad. ' VV l;o gocs there ?'' came quickly, and down we dropped mi our faces. The gu ril passed on, aud we crawled forward, .stopping to listen. Tho guard was reiurniiig, and we luy stil 1 uut il he again passed, aud theu we pushed onward niure lapidly. "We are now beyond tho camp, but we have the pickeis to pass vet. My futher is waning for us jut youder," aid she turiiiüg to the left. 'Yon me a brave girl,'' I ventured to 8ny, and thei e is no knowing what el.-u I miglit have sid, but she placed lar finger on iny uioutli with a geutle 'hush.'1 Secreted in the bushes was her father who firmly grsped my hand as we joiued him. Jon'ny then placed a musket iu [ my hands, and Í could tee by the diru liglu that her father was provided with olie, ai.d she carried one, tiiough l must confess, rather awkwaidly. I was all curiosiiy to know how she, the little frail crcatuie, could accmijilish so nmch. "iiimafiaid wtli liao to tight t'ue pickets," said her father, ''but it's life or deaih, and if -e can soare them we are safe." In perfect silenee we approached tbc locality uf the picket guard, and thought we had eluded iheir vigilance, when a iuick aud fiiirhted challenge buist on us 'i his was t'olluHcd iilmost mstantiy by a ! flash, aud a bullet whist led jiretiy close to my head ' Ctiarge ou them boys!" sbouted Davis, as he flred, and l quick'y sent a bullet iu the directiou of 'he rtbel picket. ; I 8aw Jenny 's musket cometo her Bhoulder, and aa it was discharged sho reeied aud would have fallen to the ground, but 1 caught her, aud in a moment she I had recovered from the shock. I We huard the enemy's pickets retreat 1 ing iu alarm, and ïnuking tho most of j tbeir confusioD, wo dashed towards the Federal iioee, hbo hiS a mil distont. I had made my escupe, but not tliro' j my own stratagetn or skill, but by the constant work and energy of a young and brave girl, whose patriotic heart would j not forsake ber honored and beloved Government, and wbose determination re?cued her fatlier from tbe hands of the ojipressor Tlie inuskets she provided us with were secreted in her fathcr's house. - She liad loaded them and ut night eluded the vigilance of the eneray's guard, und deposited thetu wliere sbe delivered them to U8. She bid us a touchiiig farewell, and in compuny with her mother proceeded to the of Mussachusetts. Her father enlisted in the Federal army, ani now side by s-ide, we are fight ing to deüver his own. home from the hnud of the oppressor, white I look forward with pleasure to the day wlien I shall be awarded the hand of MLs Jenny as a reward for my effort to save her father.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus