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 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
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 THE WILMER COLLECTION 
 OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS 
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THE 
 
 Flying, Gray-Haired Yank ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 The AdVEntuiie^ of a VoIuntBei'. 
 
 A PERSONAL NARRATIVE OF THRILLING EXPERIENCES AS AN 
 ARMY COURIER, A VOLUNTEER CAPTAIN, A PRISONER OF 
 WAR, A FUGITIVE FROM SOUTHERN DUNGEONS, A 
 GUEST AMONG THE CONTRABANDS AND UNION- 
 ISTS, AND FINALLY, A SKIRMISHER AT 
 THE VERY FRONT AT APPOMATTOX. 
 
 A TRUE NARRATIVE OF THE CIVIL WAR. 
 
 BY 
 
 I\^ICHA.EL EQAN, 
 
 LATE CAPTAIN CO. B, ISTH REGIMENT WEST VIRGINIA INFANTRY 
 
 VOLUNTEERS. 
 
 HUBBARD BROTHERS, Publishers, 
 
Copyright, 1888, by KuBBARD Brothers. 
 
DEDICATED 
 
 TO 
 
 THE ^I^AWD ApY OF THE I^EpUBLlC 
 
 OF THE 
 
 UNITED STATES. 
 
AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 
 
 The title of this book, "The Flying, Gray- 
 Haired Yank," was suggested to the author by 
 a second christening received from his astounded 
 captors, on seeing the rapid flight made by one 
 so gray on the night of his second escape. 
 
 The author's reason for presuming to add an- 
 other volume to the number of works on the late 
 war, Is his belief that this little book will find a 
 place In the hearts of the volunteer soldier and 
 the general reader, who never tire of the records 
 of those thrillinor scenes. 
 
 It seems to him a pity, too, that of all the 
 magazine articles, books and pamphlets lately 
 issued on the war and Its history so few are from 
 that great majority who comprised the rank and 
 file of this Grand Army of the Union. 
 
 The Incidents narrated herein fell to the writer's 
 lot entirely unsought. They are absolutely cor- 
 rect and are reproduced from entries made in his 
 diary at the time of their occurrence. This 
 
 merit is no trifling one, as It places the narra- 
 
 (7) 
 
8 author's preface. 
 
 tives before the reader with all the vividness of 
 truth, so often stranger than fiction. 
 
 In the mention of engagements in which the 
 writer participated, he has not presumed to 
 give a comprehensive description of events, as 
 would be expected in a general history. He 
 contents himself with telling simply what he 
 saw and how affairs appeared to him from his 
 point of view, thus making the reader share the 
 actual experiences of a soldier at the very front. 
 
 The reader will notice, doubtless, the author's 
 constant use of the first person, singular. He 
 feels that in so doing he has laid himself open 
 to the charge of egotism. But he has not been 
 able to eliminate this feature, dealing as he does 
 with occurrences in which he alone participated. 
 
 In conclusion, while the writer makes no pre- 
 tension to the qualifications of authorship, his 
 book has the merit of being entirely his own, 
 as he received no outside aid in its preparation, 
 except from his eldest son, Thomas, who assisted 
 him in arranging the matter for the publisher. 
 
IN MEMORIAM. 
 
 Captain Michael Egan, of Parkersburg, West Va., died 
 suddenly on Saturday, September 15th, 1888, at Marietta, 
 Ohio, in the sixty-third year of his age. He had been in at- 
 tendance at the Reunion of the Grand Army at Columbus, 
 and was returning home. Waiting at Marietta for a train, 
 he felt somewliat ill, but kind friends cared for him and he 
 expressed himself as feeling better ; but a moment later he 
 dropped from his chair and his brave spirit had departed. 
 
 Andrew Mather Post, G. A. R., followed his remains to 
 their final resting-place on Monday, September 17th. 
 
 The unanimous testimony of those who knew Captain 
 Egan is that he was a brave, honorable, kind-hearted man. 
 He loved his adopted country and was willing to live or to 
 die for her good. 
 
 It is a matter for special regret, that this volume, so long 
 withheld from the public by his conspicuous modesty, was 
 not finished in time for his eyes to behold it. 
 
 The Publishers. 
 (9) 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Virginia State Militia in 1859 — Rural Life in the State at that Pe- 
 riod — Promoted to Major — Stirring Incidents connected with the 
 Last General Muster — Stars and Stripes Discarded by a Majority 
 of our Officers — Patriotic but Perilous Action of the Minority I9 
 
 CHAPTER 11. 
 
 The Die is Cast — The Reign of Terror Commences — The Nation is 
 Divided — Houses Divided Against themselves — Brothers Take 
 Opposite Sides — Cruelly Embittered Against Each Other — First 
 Glimpse at American Volunteer Discipline — " Nose-Bagging " — 
 "Bucking and Gagging" Offenders — Determined to Enlist as a 
 Private — Become a Military Courier Instead . . . • 32 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 Military Express Courier Line Between Clarksburg and Gauley 
 Bridge — Appointed First Courier — West Virginia Bushwhackers — 
 Bill Parsons — First Meeting with General Rosecrans — Arrested as 
 a Rebel Spy by Union Troops — Tried by " Drum-Head" Court- 
 Martial — Sentenced to be Shot — Narrow Escape from an Igno- 
 minious Death 41 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A Timid Superintendent — Poor Work and Early Dismissal — His 
 Successor also a Failure — Capture of Two Couriers — Escape of 
 One of them — His Quick Promotion — Sudden Official Decapita- 
 tion — My Appointment as Superintendent . . . . '57 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 The Military Telegraph — Mastering a Vicious Horse — A Reminia- 
 
 (II) 
 
1 2 CONTENTS. 
 
 cence — Chased by a Squad of Rebel Cavalry — Saved by my 
 Horse's Noble Qualities , , 64 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Loss of Government Property on the Courier Line — Testing the 
 Courage of a New Courier — Satisfactory Trial — Thieving Gueril- 
 las — A Cold-Blooded Murder — Arrest of the Perpetrators — Their 
 Trial and Punishment — First Glimpse of General Crook . . $0 
 
 CHAPTER VH. 
 
 Repairing the Telegraph — Preparing for a Night Surprise — Another 
 Anticipated Night Attack — Stations on the Express Line — Attitude 
 of the Farmers Along the Route — Kindness to Couriers Poorly 
 Recompensed — My Feelings on the Subject — Efforts to Secure a 
 Settlement of their Claims — The Poor Result — Discontinuance of 
 the Courier Line . 89 
 
 CHAPTER VIH. 
 
 Commissioned Lieutenant of Volunteers by Governor Pierpont — 
 Raising a Company of Infantry — Arrival at Wheeling — Mustered 
 in as Co. B, 15th Regiment — Commissioned Captain — Ordered to 
 New Creek — On Duty at Knobley Mountain — First and Last Oe- 
 casion for Reproving my Men — An Irreparable Injury . . 96 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Ordered to Back Creek — Arrival and Encampment there — Pol- 
 troonery of the Recruits Previously Stationed there — Teaching 
 the " Boys " to Read and Write — Practicing Discipline — Sitting 
 on General Court- Martial — Colonel Yutzy 104 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Return to my Company — Petitioned to Resign — Resignation Not 
 Accepted — Motives Actuating the Signers of the Petition — Lack 
 of Discipline During my Absence — Daniel Arbogast, and What 
 Befell him — Insubordination in the Ranks — The Result— Sur- 
 prised by the Enemy — Ordered to Make an Inglorious Retreat — 
 Disgust Thereat — Arrival at Headquarters at Sir John's Run . IIO 
 
CONTENTS. 1 3 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Return to New Creek — Forced Marches in Pursuit of General Lee — 
 Thoughts Upon the Expected Engagement — Suggestions to Gen- 
 eral B. F. Kelley — Escape of the Enemy — Following him up — 
 Crossing the Potomac — Engaging the Enemy's Skirmishers — 
 Tables Turned on us — Our Hurried Flight — Second Advance 
 Upon Lee — His Final Escape 124 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Pastimes of the Troops at Mechanicsburg Gap — A Friendly Set-To 
 — Breaking Camp — Arrival at Alpine — Placed in Command of 
 Two Companies — -The Post Proves a Responsible One — Com- 
 plaints of the Actions of Troops Previously Stationed at Alpine .136 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Preparing "Winter Quarters — Smuggling by Civilians — Vicious Prac- 
 tices by the Troops — Attempts at Intimidation by some Members 
 of Co. C — Charges Preferred Against me by the Malcontents . 142 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Arrest of a Lady Spy — Her Indignation Thereat — Searching her— 
 The Result — Sending her to Headquarters . • • • .147 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Attempt to Pass Contraband Goods — In Command of the Regiment 
 — An Attack that Did Not Materialize • • • . .153 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Ordered to Prepare for Active Service — The Kanawha Valley — 
 Camp Piatt — On the March Again — Painter's Creek — Fayettes- 
 ville — Other Points — Battle of Cloyd Mountain — Action of Co. B 
 — Individual Mention — An Extract from the State Adjutant's 
 Report — Misstatements Corrected — The Artillery Duel — Burning 
 of New River Bridge — How and by whom Accomplished — Ac- 
 cepted History Disputed 157 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Co. B in Luck — Meeting with Two Officers of ex-President Hayes' 
 Regiment — A Picnic — Salt Pond Mountain— Village of Union — 
 Failure as a Forager — Meadow Bluffs — Captured by Guerillas .172 
 
14 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Planning an Escape — The Guerilla Chief — General Crook's Close 
 Call — New River Narrows — Kind Treatment — Second Visit to 
 Union — A Good Action Rewarded — A Practical Demonstration of 
 Fraternal Unity — Lynchburg — Arrival at Macon . , , .185 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The "Black Flag" — Kindness of the Slaves — In Prison at Camp 
 Oglethorpe — The " Dead-Line"'' — Shooting a Prisoner — Prison 
 Fare — Father Hamilton • . .191 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Captain Hayes— " Fresh Fish, Fresh Fish "— «' Puddin'-Head "— 
 Sword Practice by the Prisoners — Captain Rourke — Fourth of 
 July in Macon — Transferred to Charleston — " Heroes Df Poco- 
 taligo" , . 201 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 Arrival at Charleston — Luck in a Boot-Leg — Transferred to the 
 Marine Hospital — A Narrow Escape — Bombardment of Charleston 
 — The "Swamp Angei " — Kindness of the Sisters of Charity — 
 Yellow Fever — Taken to Columbia — Brutal Murder by a Guard . 209 
 
 CHAPTER XXIL 
 
 Escape from Prison — Meeting with Escaping Officers — Comparing 
 Routes — Lieutenant Murphy's Obstinacy — What it Cost him . 222 
 
 CHAPTER XXIIL 
 
 Second Day of our Escape — Baying of the Bloodhounds — Hungry 
 and Footsore — Third and Fourth Days Out — Out Number Re- 
 duced One-Half — Captain Whiteside — What I Think of him . 227 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Fervent Prayers — Weary Tramping — A Beautiful Scene — Roasting 
 Potatoes — Whiteside's Forethought 232 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 < 
 Clonds Dispelled — Charging a Flock of Geese — Grace before Meals 
 
 — Attempt at Poetry — Kindness of the Darkies again . , , 236 
 
CONTENTS. 1 5 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Meeting with a Selfish Negro — Dry Hollow — Old Man Dodd — A ■ 
 
 Different Sort of Darky — Agreeably Unsuspicious White Man . 242 
 
 CHAPTER XXVn. 
 
 An Exciting Chapter — An Unwelcome Glimpse of a Southern Gen- 
 tleman — Recaptured — The Squire's Opinion of Whiteside and 
 myself — A Sudden and Unexpected Interruption to a Good Story 
 — My Second Escape — A Hard and Long Race — The Hounds on 
 my Trail — Breaking the Forelegs of One of them with a Cudgel 
 — Twenty Miles Without Stopping 245 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Captain Whiteside's Story — Squirrel Flat — Keeping my Diary in 
 Blood — Finding an Opossum — Providential Aid — Interviewing the 
 Darkies — Substantial Results ....... 264 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Stowed Away in a Barn — An Unwelcome Visitor — A Tribute to the 
 Colored Race — Jim Reese — A Fortunate Meeting — Runaway 
 Slaves — The Hounds Again 271 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Parting From the Runaways — Discouraged — A Close Shave — More 
 Friends — Almost Caught — The Third Scare .... 284 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 An Inquisitive Stranger — Meeting With Six Escaping Officers — A 
 Cruel Blow — Alone Agam 292 
 
 CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Lost — Eatmg Raw Corn — Colored Friends Again — Third Meeting 
 With DeWeese and Party — Casting my Lot with theirs * . 299 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIIL 
 
 Continued Rains — Wading Streams — A Beautiful Slave — Cold 
 V/eather — DeWeese's Cane — Swimming the Cullaloo — More Col- 
 ored Friends .......... 307 
 
1 6 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Lost Again — Dimick's Feet Give Out — Bidding him Good-Bye — 
 His Unexpected Reappearance — Challenged — Capturing Geese , 313 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 The "Stair Falls "—Living « High "—Dimick's Funny-Looking 
 Coat — "Skirmishing" — A Friend Indeed ..... 320 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Among Kind Friends — A Rebel Soldier in a Queer Role — Nearing 
 the End 327 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 Arrival at Cage Cove, Tenn. — Tuckaleechie Cove — Almost Through 339 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Arrival at Knoxville — Governor Brownlow — Interviewing the Pay- 
 master — Chattanooga — A Sparring Match — Lookout Mountain — 
 The German Soldier — Sheridan's Ride 348 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Another Perilous Journey — Captain Grant — Almost a Duel — Cincin- 
 nati — Home at Last — Christmas, 1864 ..... 362 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Off for the Front — Chapin's Farm — A Foot Race for a Paper Collar — 
 Hatcher's Run — On to Petersburg — Storming of Forts Gregg and 
 Whitworth — Tribute to General Harris — Escape of the Enemy , 375 
 
 CHAPTER XLL 
 Pursuit of Lee — General Ord's Kindness — A Model Soldier — His 
 Bloody Boots — Appomattox — General Sheridan — Capture of the 
 Last Battery — My Trophy of the Last Ditch — Surrender of Lee 
 — Return to Richmond — Mustered Out 395 
 
 Roster of Company B, 15th Regiment West Virginia Infantry . .411 
 
List of Illustrations. 
 
 ** The Flying, Gray-Haired Yank" . . . Frontispiece. 
 
 Captain Michael Egan page 19 
 
 Major-General William S. Rosecrans . . . " 47 
 
 Major-General George Crook "67 
 
 Tramping in the Rain . . " 125 
 
 Cavalry Dash at Cloyd Mountain . . . . " 165 
 Entering the Southern Prison Pen . ..." 193 
 
 Shot, at the Dead-Line « 199 
 
 Beset by Blood-hounds . " 225 
 
 Old George Rowan Ready for the Fray ..." 345 
 Governor William G. Brownlow . . , . " 349 
 
 Parson Brownlow's Daughter Defying the Rebels . " 353 
 The Battle Above the Clouds . . , . • " 357 
 
 The Stars and Stripes on the Rebel Ramparts . . " 391 
 Appomattox Court- House . . . • s . ** 397 
 The LfcT Capture of a Battery . . . . " 401 
 
 (17) 
 
'WM-lt^'^ 
 
 Captain Michael Egan, 
 
 «THE FLYING GRAY-HAIRED YANK." 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 
 Virginia State Militia in 1859 — Rural Life in the State at 
 THAT Period — Promotion to Rank of Major — Stirring Inci- 
 dents OF the last General Muster — Stars and Stripes Dis- 
 carded BY A Majority of Officers — Patriotic, but Perilous, 
 Action of the Minority. 
 
 About two years prior to the outbreak of the 
 Great RebelHon of i86i, I was in command of 
 a battalion of militia consisting of about three 
 hundred men, in Lewis county, Virginia; a county 
 central to what is now the State of West Virginia. 
 
 Having been, previously, subject to the rigid 
 discipline and strict subordination of a military 
 experience in the Dublin constabulary for a period 
 of nine years, the bearing and conduct of these 
 farmer-militiamen struck me as somewhat strange 
 and inappropriate for members of a military or- 
 ganization. They appeared to have no apprecia- 
 tion of the importance of such wholesome and 
 necessary restrictions as those to which I had 
 been accustomed. 
 
 With the one exception of the Institution of 
 negro slavery, these were the grand old days of 
 true American liberty ; taxed lightly and governed 
 little, but wisely, the worthy and industrious 
 farmer was privileged to do what he liked with the 
 
 2 (»9) 
 
20 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 products of his land. He could raise his own 
 tobacco and work it into any shape desired, or 
 brew his own "peck o' maut/' or apple-jack, 
 without tax, let, or hindrance. 
 
 On ** muster days'* the boys composing our 
 battalion assembled at some stated place, gener- 
 ally a central location, and after drill would 
 usually indulge in horse-trading, or " swapping ; " 
 talk of, and appoint log-rollings, rail-maulings, 
 house-raisings, apple-cuttings, corn-huskings, and 
 many other kinds of " frolics," as they were en- 
 titled by these sturdy farmers, and each of which 
 would invariably terminate in the evening, in a 
 jovial, old-time, " hoe-down " dance. 
 
 This rural life in the wilds of Virginia, at the 
 time of which I write, might well be envied by 
 even the nabobs and lords of creation. In such 
 places, above all others, are happiness and godli- 
 ness sure to be found; person and property were 
 alike safe In the keeping of those kind-hearted, 
 industrious, innocent, and religious people. They 
 were like one happy family in their dally Inter- 
 course, cheering and helping each other along 
 the steep stony path of life; and, finally, when 
 grim death would .^tep in to claim one of their 
 number (a rare occurrence, owing to their exem- 
 plary habits and mode of living), all would unite 
 in condoling with the bereaved, and in honoring 
 the memory of the deceased. 
 
 During the summer months it was custom- 
 
 ai 
 
OLD TIMES IN VIRGINIA. 21 
 
 ary for the young people of both sexes to at* 
 tend camp-meetings, revivals, geography singing- 
 schools, and other religious or instructive gather* 
 ings. In winter the male portion of the popu- 
 lation engaged in the exciting pleasures of the 
 chase, hunting deer, bear and smaller game. 
 
 Never since my youth have I been so much 
 impressed with fond recollections as I now am, in 
 recalling the happy days spent with these light- 
 hearted and whole-souled young fellows and 
 their pretty and unaffected sisters, whose bloom- 
 ing cheeks were suffused with nature's beauteous 
 glow alone. The refreshing comeliness of these 
 rural lassies was somethinor that vig^orous man- 
 hood could not fail to note, surpassing as it did 
 the artificial charms of many a pampered daugh- 
 ter of wealth and fashion. 
 
 When I assumed the responsibility of trying to 
 instruct the young men, composed of this good 
 and honest material, in the first rudiments 
 of military duty, I addressed a few remarks to 
 them and said, among other things: "The law 
 of the State governing her militia requires the 
 members of that body to assemble periodically 
 for the purpose of instruction and drill. It is, 
 therefore, right and proper that you should obey 
 this law and the authorities appointed to enforce 
 it. Your having to quit your general avocations 
 in obedience to the provisions of the law would 
 seem to make it obligatory upon you to occupy 
 
2 2 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 the time thus taken from your ordinary duties to 
 some advantage. The very general practice of 
 talking in the ranks, with arms akimbo, is in 
 violation of orders and both disrespectful and 
 embarrassing to your superior officer ; giving, as 
 it does, our drill the appearance of a burlesque on 
 military movements. You may think that these 
 periodical drills are all idle formality, or pastime, 
 having no meaning ; but, if I mistake not, the 
 time is not far distant, when whatever instruction 
 you may now receive, will be brought into stern 
 requisition. There is a cloud lowering overhead, 
 already almost surcharged, which will assuredly 
 burst and cause trouble in these parts before you 
 have many general musters ; therefore, 'tis best 
 to prepare." 
 
 In the month of August 1862, I enlisted the 
 larger part of my company on the same grounds 
 upon which these remarks were made, and I re- 
 minded them of the words I had addressed to 
 them so short a time before. It required no en- 
 dowment of the prophetic spirit, however, to 
 discern the impending danger; anybody who 
 read with attention could see from the vindictive, 
 cutting and sarcastic tone of both the Southern 
 and Northern press that hostilities were deter- 
 mined upon for the near future. 
 
 I did not make the slightest effort to secure 
 advancement in the militia, but the people treated 
 me very kindly, and in a short time, through the 
 
THE STORM GATHERING. 23 
 
 suggestion of some of them, I was promoted to 
 the rank of Major in the I92d Regiment Virginia 
 Militia. 
 
 In the winter of i860 there was quite a military 
 stir throughout the State; reviews and general 
 musters were the order of the day. The authori- 
 ties, John Letcher then being Governor, were 
 using every effort to put the militia of the State 
 on a war footinor. 
 
 Matters continued In this shape until the fol- 
 lowing spring. About two months prior to the 
 passage of the ordinance of secession, which 
 occurred April 17, 1861, and which, even months 
 before, was openly discussed, and was seemingly 
 a foreofone conclusion. General Musterinof Officer 
 Conrad issued an order directing the 125th and 
 the I92d Regiments of State militia to proceed to 
 muster near Weston, Lewis county. 
 
 About two weeks previous to the day appointed 
 the officers of the reijiments above named held a 
 meeting, at which I was present, to consider the 
 expediency of taking out our regimental flag and 
 the Stars and Stripes at the time of the coming 
 drill and review. The final and almost unanimous 
 decision of this meeting was, that such a course 
 would cause bloodshed. I do not recall a dissent- 
 ing voice to this arrangement except that of the 
 writer, who was a comparative stranger among 
 them, having been scarcely six years in the United 
 States at the time. The fact of my holding a 
 
24 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 commission as Major under the seal of Virginia 
 and signature of Governor Letcher made my 
 position an unenviable one; but the die was cast, 
 and, sink or swim, my course was determined on, 
 and I expressed my intentions in the following 
 brief remarks: 
 
 '' Gentlemen- Officers : We are about to be 
 confronted with a most serious crisis in the 
 affairs of our common country. The time is 
 coming, it appears, that will try every man 
 throughout the length and breadth of this land, 
 *as by fire.' *To be, or not to be,' that is the 
 question. Whether to be true in our allegiance 
 to the United States of America, or to a single 
 State, is the issue. I question no man's motives; 
 but for myself, my oath of allegiance to the United 
 States is yet too fresh in my memory to permit 
 me to forget — according to my interpretation of 
 it — that my first duty as a citizen is to the Gov- 
 ernment of the Union, and that my obligation 'to 
 the State of Virginia must be, and is, secondary. 
 You propose, on the day appointed, to muster, to 
 drill, and march your regiments in review; but 
 you have no flag, no banner, or other insignia of 
 military display in accordance with long estab- 
 lished military law and usage. Has such a spec- 
 tacle ever before been witnessed ? And has it 
 come to this, that the Stars and Stripes, the em- 
 blem of liberty, honored by all nations and peo- 
 ples, on land and on sea, under whose folds the 
 
THE OLD FLAG DISCARDED. 2$ 
 
 Oppressed of all climes have found an abiding 
 refuge and protection, shall be abandoned now 
 by a people who were once, and should still be, 
 justly proud of its expanding influence and 
 honor? I will say for myself, I shall be present, 
 in obedience to orders, at this muster; but if I 
 move at all, in a military attitude, it shall be un- 
 der a flag, and *that flag shall be no nameless 
 shadow, but the flag of the Union, and 'long may 
 she wave.' " 
 
 The meeting, after voting as above mentioned, 
 adjourned. 
 
 The action of this meeting soon became known 
 throughout the surrounding country and was re- 
 ceived by the larger portion of the citizens with 
 approval. I, however, determined to set about to 
 create, if possible, a counter sentiment, and to this 
 end I made a trip through the county, making 
 Unionist speeches, putting up "posters" of the 
 same purport, which I had written and copied 
 myself, there being no facilities for printing in the 
 vicinity at this time, and by stirring up the dor- 
 mant patriotism of the people generally; so that, 
 when I had finished, I had secured the pledges of 
 about fifty Union men, mostly members of my 
 command, to stand by the flag and myself when 
 the occasion should require it. 
 
 The action of the regimental officers had, of 
 course, deprived us of our flag, and it became 
 necessary, therefore, to procure one. In this con- 
 
26 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 nectlon I wish to Introduce to the reader a charac- 
 ter who gave us valuable assistance In this par- 
 ticular. He Is no less a personage than the 
 Inimitable and eccentric Gasper Butcher, Jr., a 
 son of one of the most hospitable, obliging and 
 kind-hearted Individuals then living In the section 
 of country of which I write. Gasper, or "Gap," 
 as he was Invariably called, deserves all the kind 
 things that I can say of him. He was the embodi- 
 ment of soft-heartedness. He could not possibly 
 refuse anybody a favor. No "frolic" for miles 
 around but languished In his absence. If they 
 lacked whiskey. Gap was away for It Instanter. 
 If they wanted music, he would procure It; and 
 when this was not possible, he would rasp away 
 himself. If he could not find funny practical 
 jokes ready-made, to amuse the party, he would 
 make them himself, no matter at whose expense. 
 He was a member of my mllltia company, and 
 lived near me. I told him of the arrangements 
 for the o-eneral muster and described to him the 
 
 o 
 
 cowardice, or lack of patriotism, that must have 
 actuated the officers In deciding to abandon the 
 old flag, and added that I did not Intend to appear 
 at drill or review without one. 
 
 "Never mind," said Gap, "we will show them 
 what Leading Creek can do; she has always held 
 her own." 
 
 Very few words passed between Gap and my- 
 self before it was resolved to have a United 
 
PATRIOTIC YOUNG LADIES. 2/ 
 
 States flag. He started Immediately for Weston, 
 nine miles distant, and procured the necessary 
 material; and In coming homeward, at about a 
 half mile from the town, he stopped at the house 
 of Mr. John Flesher, a worthy blacksmith and a 
 staunch Union man, whose family Included two 
 amiable and patriotic daughters, Julia and Cecilia. 
 All of the family were loyal In spirit and devotion 
 to the old flag; one, a fine-looking young man 
 named James, had he been less brave, might be 
 alive to-day. He died one of the earliest martyrs 
 to the cause of his country. He was killed by a 
 party of rebel cavalry at Big Birch river, while 
 bearing despatches to Colonel Tyler, of the 7th 
 Ohio Volunteers, who had been sent out as a 
 pioneer in the direction of Gauley Bridge. I 
 often saw his grave while superintending the 
 same dangerous mission, some months later. 
 
 On the day of Gap's visit to the Flesher house 
 this noble boy's two sisters went to work on the 
 material which he had brought, and in a short 
 time they had finished in very neat style a com- 
 plete United States flag. By no persuasion could 
 they be induced to accept any remuneration for 
 their trouble. Neither would Gap Butcher allow 
 any one to share wath him in the purchase of the 
 material ; so to him and the two Misses Flesher 
 belongs the honor of furnishing the flag on the 
 occasion of this muster. 
 
 The day appointed for the review at length 
 
28 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 arrived. The militia formed on the farm of 
 Henry Butcher, two miles east of Weston. The 
 weather was very fine, and great numbers of the 
 farmers of the neighborhood, with their wives and 
 daughters, had driven or ridden to the grounds 
 to witness the spectacle, and everything bore an 
 outward appearance of gayety ; but there were 
 many present who had silent forebodings of 
 coming trouble. The Stars and Stripes were 
 abandoned; we were virtually In a seceded State; 
 things had, indeed, an ugly look for the little band 
 of Unionists In the assemblage. 
 
 I had often been exempted from duty while in 
 the English service for my general cleanliness 
 and proper appearance on parade, and, as on this 
 occasion I was well mounted on a fine black 
 charger, and knew how to sit in a saddle, the 
 reader may infer that I presented a fair military 
 appearance. I avoided coming on the field until 
 the brigade was in its proper position. My place 
 was in the centre of the column, and I rode 
 leisurely forward until I came within a few hun- 
 dred yards of the command, when I advanced at 
 a full gallop and did not check up when I came 
 on the field, but continued to move to the centre 
 of the column, and, when within about one hun- 
 dred yards of the alignment, I stopped, and un- 
 furling the Stars and Stripes shook Its clean beauty 
 in the gentle breeze and the beaming sun. 
 
 This action was noticed by the entire command, 
 
THE OLD FLAG UNFURLED. 29 
 
 and was greeted by a few with spirited cheers, 
 but by the majority with loud protests and angry 
 mutterlngs. There was now manifest a very 
 uneasy feeling throughout the whole line. I 
 handed the flag to John Newman, then of my com- 
 pany and also afterwards in the field. The brave 
 fellow had volunteered for the honorable duty 
 beforehand. The colonel, Hansom M. Peterson, 
 a fine young man, who subsequently joined the 
 forces of the other side and died early in the 
 conflict, now rode up and requested me to take 
 down the flag, stating that the feelings of the 
 majority could hardly be controlled, and at the 
 same time ordering, or rather requesting, me to 
 conduct the marching at the head of the column 
 as it passed in review. I respectfully declined 
 the honor, and said : " I wish to stop by the flag, 
 as I think this my proper place." Ne further 
 remarks passed between us, although he appeared 
 deeply chagrined at what he, no doubt, considered 
 my obstinacy and insubordination. He then rode 
 away, and a few minutes later Colonel Caleb 
 Boggess, a military graduate, was assigned to the 
 position which I had declined. 
 
 The review then proceeded, but I fear the 
 impression made upon General Conrad and the 
 spectators was not the most flattering. Several 
 times during the drill I lost my temper at the 
 awkward movements of the men, whose mistakes 
 appeared to be more glaring on this than on any 
 
30 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 former occasion. It was evident that the minds 
 of these embryo soldiers were not on the matter 
 in hand, but rather on thoughts of an impending 
 serious conflict. Standard-bearer Newman per- 
 formed his duty well throughout the trying ordeal, 
 and to the surprise and delight of some, and the 
 disappointment of others, not a single star was 
 touched. I was told afterwards that there were 
 United States officers incognito on the field at the 
 time, but if such was the case I was not personally 
 aware of it. 
 
 If, as I have remarked, I was comparatively 
 unknown before, I assure the reader I was no 
 longer so after this event. 
 
 Immediately after the review at the Butcher 
 farm, the greater part of the militia repaired to 
 Weston, the county-seat of Lewis county, where 
 they listened to speeches made by several of the 
 officers. I recall two of these speeches — one by 
 Colonel Peterson, and the other by Captain Boy- 
 kin — as being especially stirring and strongly 
 Southern in sentiment. Colonel Peterson's ad- 
 dress was quite lengthy. He dwelt particularly 
 on the rights and privileges of a sovereign State, 
 and the subordinate position occupied by the 
 general government, in any controversy involving 
 the claims of each ; pointing out, in fervid lan- 
 guage, the duty of all good citizens of the grand 
 old State of Virginia, the parent of Presidents, in 
 the approaching crisis in her history. All this 
 
THE LAST GENERAL MUSTER. 3 1 
 
 and very much more In the same tenor was de- 
 livered in a florid style and embellished with 
 many gesticulations. 
 
 It was evident that the sympathies of the crowd 
 were with these speakers. More or less of sub- 
 dued but very earnest discussion went on upon 
 the borders of the crowd, but Union sentiments 
 found no open advocates, their staunchest repre- 
 sentatives feeling that they had scored their vic- 
 tory in deeds rather than in talk. 
 
 After the addresses the assemblage quietly dis- 
 persed, and thus ended the last general muster 
 of the militia of Virgkiia before the War of the 
 Rebellion. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Die is Cast — The Reign of Terror Commences — The Nation 
 is Divided — Houses are Divided Against Themselves — Brothers 
 Take Opposite Sides and are Cruelly Embittered Against Each 
 Other — First Glimpse at American Volunteer Discipline — 
 "Nose-Bagging" — "Bucking and Gagging" — Determined to 
 Enlist as a Private — Become a Military Courier. 
 
 Here on the border, in the western part of old 
 Virginia, where Union men were so greatly in 
 the minority, they frequently had to Teave their 
 homes at night and take to the woods upon the 
 approach of marauding bands of guerillas, or 
 bushwhackers, who waged a constant depredatory 
 war upon them. There were numerous bloody 
 encounters and several shocking murders com- 
 mitted by partisans of both sides during this 
 period ; one fine young man of my acquaintance, 
 named Mulvey, was taken from his house one 
 night by a party of guerillas and shot dead, 
 simply because he was an avowed Union man. 
 
 I recall another tragic incident of this fratricidal 
 strife, which I think worthy of mention. There 
 were in Lewis county two brothers named Con- 
 nelly. One was a hot and determined secession- 
 ist and the other was equally devoted to the 
 Union, They both were conspicuously brave, 
 (32) 
 
EARLY VOLUNTEER DISCIPLINE. 33 
 
 and soon became partisan leaders. At different 
 times their adherents had rough encounters, and 
 with an increasing spirit of hostihty at each meet- 
 ing. At last the two parties met in a sanguinary 
 hand-to-hand combat at or near Sutton, Braxton 
 county, West Virginia. Their forces were about 
 equal in numbers and strength, and, for a time, 
 the result of the conflict looked very uHcertain. 
 At length the two captains, the Connelly boys, 
 confronted each other. Both were intrepid and 
 daring, of fine physique, fair and rosy-cheeked 
 young men, the common hope and pride of their 
 fond mother. The struggle was sharp and fierce 
 undl, after a final thrust, the rebel leader fell by 
 the hand of his brother, who subsequently became 
 a lieutenant in the loth West Virginia Infantry. 
 The members of the dead leader's band soon 
 after his fall dispersed. There were several 
 other bands of rebel sympathizers, who were 
 harassing and terrorizing the loyal people of Lewis 
 and adjoining counties about the time of which I 
 write. Ben Raymond and Perry Hays were two 
 of the most notorious leaders of these marauding 
 bandits. Of these, Haymond gained the greater 
 notoriety for his personal valor and daring depre- 
 dations. 
 
 About this time I got my first glimpse at the 
 beauties of American volunteer discIpHne, as en- 
 forced by the newly made officers. Among the 
 troops that arrived earliest at Weston was a 
 
34 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 detachment of the ist West Virginia Cavalry; 
 their commander, Captain Shuman, had adopted 
 a rather novel mode of pimishm.ent — that of 
 "nose-bagging" his men. On coming into town 
 one day, and while going up Main street, I saw 
 on the porch in front of the Bland Hotel, then 
 occupied by some of the troops, three cavalrymen, 
 soldiers of Captain Shuman's command, standing 
 with their hands behind their backs, tied and 
 securely strapped to the pillars of the porch, each 
 with a horse's large " nose-bag" pulled down over 
 his head and made fast around the lower part of 
 his neck, rendering respiration on his part very 
 difficult. If Lord Norbury in his day had known 
 of the existence of such a ludicrous and diso^ust- 
 ing hangman's cap he might have adopted it in 
 Ireland, in order to make hanging completely 
 odious. 
 
 Seeing two comrades of the ill-treated men on 
 the street, I inquired of them where their captain 
 might be found, stating that I wished to remon- 
 strate with him on this singular mode of punish- 
 ment. They told me w^here he was stopping, but 
 looked at me in some surprise, and one of them 
 added, " You don't know the captain, do you ? " 
 
 " No," I answered ; " but I am desirous of ex- 
 postulating with him on this humiliating spec- 
 tacle." 
 
 " Well," was the rejoinder, " he is a rough cus- 
 tomer to talk to, and those who know him best 
 
A BLUSTERING BULLY. 35 
 
 would not care to approach him on such a sub- 
 ject." 
 
 Shortly after this dialogue I encountered the 
 redoubtable captain at his "quarters;" his appear- 
 ance and manner were in keeping with the 
 opinion of him held by many, that he was a "big, 
 blustering bully." With fear and trembling I 
 approached the burly dignitary. He was attired 
 in a costly and glittering new uniform. I saluted 
 a la mode^ without arm<^, of course ; but he simply 
 stared, and did not return my salute. Possibly 
 he felt himself too big to do so, or, what is more 
 likely, he probably was Ignorant at this time of the 
 common usages of military law. 
 
 " Captain," said I, "my object in calling on you 
 is, in a measure, in the interest of the government 
 and the cause which you have espoused. Although 
 but a mere civilian, I beg to offer you a friendly 
 suggestion in relation to the three men of your 
 command who are now pilloried in the most pub- 
 lic place in town. Their punishment Is extraor- 
 dinary. I have never seen anything like it ; 'tis 
 both humiliating and degrading, giving satis- 
 faction to the enemy, who are quite numerous 
 here, and also discouraging in the extreme to 
 your own men and to the friends of the Union 
 cause — " 
 
 " By G — d, sir," interrupted the captain ; " I'll 
 have discipline, or know the reason why; these 
 d — d thieves have been pilfering and thieving 
 
 3 
 
36 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 from the citizens for some time past, and I am 
 determined to make an example of them." 
 
 " I am aware of that, sir, having suffered myself 
 from the depredations of some of the troops ; yet, 
 were these culprits the men who stole -my prop- 
 erty, I would plead just as earnestly for their 
 release as I now do for these poor devils, simply 
 on the grounds of proper discipline. I would, 
 however, have them placed in confinement, and 
 then prefer charges against them, and let a regi- 
 mental court-martial adjudicate their cases; or, in 
 minor cases, when on detached duty as you are, I 
 would impose extra duty, knapsack drill, etc." 
 
 The captain's eyes had opened considerably by 
 this time, and in a somewhat modified tone of 
 voice he asked : 
 
 "Who are you, sir?" 
 
 " My name is Egan," I replied. 
 
 "Are you a relative of Tom Egan, the con- 
 tractor ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir ; he Is a brother of mine." 
 '"I know Tom well," said the captain ; "he Is a 
 number-one fellow, and he and myself have had 
 many pleasant times, socially, at Clarksburg." 
 
 I then recollected having heard my brother 
 speak of a Mr. Shuman, whom he appeared to 
 think a good fellow, although somewhat rough in 
 manner. 
 
 The captain and myself soon became more 
 friendly, and when I finally left his quarters and 
 
PROPENSITIES FOR PILFERI'NG. 37 
 
 walked up town, I had the pleasure and gratifica- 
 tion of seeing that the men with the unsightly 
 nose-bags over their heads had been released. 
 They probably never learned the cause of their 
 speedy deliverance. 
 
 Soon after this unique experiment at discipline 
 I saw another — that of ** bucking and gagging" — 
 practised on an unfortunate infantryman. He had 
 been placed in a vacant house near the West 
 Fork bridge, at Weston, which little town was 
 fast becoming notorious for such displays of newly 
 found and blind authority. 
 
 The soldier was lying on the broad of his back, 
 with his hands and feet securely tied, and had a 
 stout stick placed in his mouth and made firmly 
 fast behind his head. The poor creature, who 
 was under the influence of liquor, was suffering 
 severely from his violent and futile efforts to 
 extricate himself from his bonds. He also was 
 charged with theft and drunkenness. 
 
 This propensity for pilfering was not confined 
 to the troops alone. Even the unenlisted team- 
 sters in those times entertained the idea that they 
 might plunder and steal with impunity. They 
 did not hesitate to purloin the property of former 
 neighbors, as well as others, along their line of 
 march. A case in point came under my observa- 
 tion that was visited with such speedy punishment 
 that it served to give a salutary check to these 
 depredations in our locality. 
 
38 THE FiLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Colonel Stanley Matthews, of an Ohio regi- 
 ment, now an Associate Justice of the Supreme 
 Court of the United States, had just arrived at 
 Weston, with a part of his command, from Glen- 
 ville, Gilmer county. Some of his teamsters in 
 the supply train, who had been neighbors of ours, 
 when about eight miles from town, on Leading 
 creek, saw a flock of sheep on my brother Tom's 
 farm, grazing near the pike upon which they were 
 marching. Two or three of the teamsters at 
 once commenced firing on the sheep, killing a 
 couple and crippling several others. I was at my 
 home, a mile away, at the time, but soon got word 
 of the outrage. Considering it an act of wanton 
 deviltry, as I learned they had not taken the car- 
 casses of the sheep, I became very much incensed, 
 and, hastily picking up my rifle, I hurried to the 
 woods overlooking the field where the sheep were, 
 fully determined to "bushwhack'' the next sheep- 
 killer. But I was too late ; the main body of the 
 troops had by this time passed the farm. Going 
 to my brother's house, I found him feeling very 
 much annoyed at the mean action of the teamsters, 
 two of whom he recognized. 
 
 I immediately got on a horse and rode into 
 town and up to the headquarters of Colonel 
 Matthews, and laid the case before him. He was 
 quite indignant at the action of the men and 
 assured me that he would at once investigate the 
 matter, and that I should receive ample satisfac- 
 
MILITARY DISCIPLINE.' 39 
 
 tion. He did as he promised; the culprits were 
 arrested by his orders, and brought before him 
 and ordered to make full reparation. The prison- 
 ers, by this time thoroughly frightened, willingly 
 promised to do so, and the colonel requested me 
 to name the amount of damages that we had suf- 
 fered. Seeing the men penitent, and having been 
 acquainted with them previously, I relented and 
 placed a merely nominal value upon the sheep, 
 and at the same time interceded with the com- 
 mander to save the men from further punish- 
 ment. They were finally permitted to go with a 
 severe reprimand. 
 
 I take pleasure in stating that these boys after- 
 wards performed services of such value, both to 
 the Government and myself, that more than over- 
 balanced the offence above related. I would not 
 xlream, for a moment, of giving their names for 
 publication, in this connection. 
 
 About this time Colonel LIghtburn called to 
 see me for the purpose of securing my aid in or- 
 ganizing a regiment. He afterwards proved him- 
 self to be a good officer, and I have often re- 
 gretted my inability at that time to accept his offer. 
 I had, however, a short while before his visit, 
 written to Mr. David T. Hewes, who was then 
 recruiting for the 3d West Virginia Infantry. 
 Hewes was a handsome, usually well-dressed fel- 
 low and a good drill-master, and he had made a 
 favorable mipresslon on me. In my letter to him 
 
40 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIKED YANK. 
 
 I expressed a desire to be with him, and volun- 
 teered to furnish some good material for his 
 command. I never received an answer from him. 
 He was made Colonel of the regiment (3d West 
 Virginia Infantry) on July 23, 1861, but when 
 called into action he proved an entire failure, and, 
 in consequence, was dismissed the service. 
 
 And now, ready to don the uniform and 
 march to the front, I proceed to Clarksburg, in- 
 tending to become "a high private" in the first 
 congenial command that offers, "for Uncle Sam. 
 and during the war" (if I should live so long). 
 But when I arrived at the little town mentioned I 
 met my friend Croghan, who brought me to the 
 quarters of Captain Leib, Assistant Quartermas- 
 ter, where I was offered, and accepted, the perilous 
 position of a military express courier. 
 
 My experiences on this line, during the seven 
 months following, will be found in the succeeding 
 chapters. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Military Express Courier Line Established Between Clarks- 
 burg AND Gauley Bridge — Appointed First Courier — West 
 Virginia Bushwhackers — Bill Parsons — First Meeting with 
 General Rosecrans — Arrested as a Rebel Spy by Union 
 Troops— Tried by "Drum- Head" Court-Martial — Sentenced 
 to be Shot — Narrow Escape from Ignominious Death, 
 
 On the 31st of August, 1861, General Rose- 
 crans, with his brigade, moved out of Clarksburg, 
 W. Va., and took up his line of march in the 
 direction of Gauley Bridge, 133 miles distant. 
 He encamped that night near Janelew, fifteen 
 miles west of Clarksburg. 
 
 In consequence of the stoppage of the mails it 
 became necessary to establish an express courier 
 line to his headquarters, to convey to the officers 
 of his column their letters and official documents 
 from the headquarters of the army at Washing- 
 ton. General Rosecrans therefore ordered Cap- 
 tain Charles Leib, Assistant Quartermaster, at 
 Clarksburg, to establish a line of couriers in his 
 rear for this purpose. 
 
 Captain Leib had, at this time, a large depot of 
 supplies at Clarksburg, and consequently a large 
 number of subordinates; but amongst all his 
 small army of teamsters and other employes he 
 
 (41) 
 
42 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 failed to find one volunteer to bear despatches to 
 the general, notwithstanding the fact that Cap- 
 tain Leib tendered them the use of his finest 
 horses, a complete set of small arms, and wages 
 to the amount of forty dollars per month, with 
 rations. 
 
 None of his employes were enlisted men, so he 
 could not enforce his orders in this particular. 
 Their reasons for refusing were obvious. A 
 short time before two young men attempted to 
 convey despatches to Colonel Tyler, of the 7th 
 Regiment, Ohio Volunteers, In the same direc- 
 tion, but they were rather summarily disposed of 
 by the bushwhackers; one, a splendid young fel- 
 low, James Flesher by name, of whom I have 
 already made brief mention, v^'as killed outright, 
 and the other, Mifflin Cutwright, was badly 
 wounded; they both resided near Weston. 
 
 Captain Leib, in his book, "The Chances for 
 Making a Million," thus describes these maraud- 
 ing bandits: 
 
 "The bushwhackers are composed of a class 
 of men who are noted for their ignorance, indo- 
 lence, duplicity and dishonesty; whose vices and 
 passions peculiarly fit them for the warfare in 
 which they are engaged, and upon which the 
 civilized world looks with horror. Imagine a 
 stolid, vicious-looking countenance, an ungainly 
 figure, and an awkward, if not ungraceful, spinal 
 curve In the dorsal region, acquired by laziness 
 
THE BUSHWHACKER. 43 
 
 and indifference to maintaining an erect posture; 
 a garb of the coarsest texture of home-spun 
 linen, or MInsey-woolsey/ tattered and torn, and 
 so covered with dirt as not to enable one to 
 guess its original color; a dilapidated, rimless 
 hat, or cap of some wild animal's skin, covering 
 his head, the hair on which had not been combed 
 for months; his feet covered with moccasins, and 
 a rifle by his side, a powder-horn and shot-pouch 
 slung around his neck, and you have the beau 
 ideal of the West Virginia bushwhacker. 
 
 "Thus equipped he sallies forthwith the stealth 
 of the panther, and lies in wait for a straggling 
 soldier, courier, or loyal citizen, to whom the only 
 w^arning given of his presence is the sharp click 
 of his deadly rifle. He kills for the sake of kill- 
 ing, and plunders for the sake of gain. Parties 
 of these ferocious beasts, under cover of dark- 
 ness, frequently steal into a neighborhood, burn 
 the residences of loyal citizens, rob stores, tan- 
 yards and farm-houses of everything they can put 
 to use, especially arms, ammunition, leather, cloth- 
 ing, bedding, and salt. 
 
 "They do not stop at pillage, for ofttimes is 
 their track marked with blood. The leaders of 
 some of these bands have acquired great notori- 
 ety by their cold-blooded brutality and adroitness 
 at theft ; one of these is a man who in days gone 
 by enjoyed to a great degree the confidence of 
 the people of West Virginia. He, together with 
 
44 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 ex-Governor Wise, did much to make bush- 
 whacking respectable in the estimation of the 
 depraved and ignorant 
 
 "A notorious bushwhacker is Bill Parsons, or 
 ' Devil Bill,' as he is called. Bill is filthy in 
 appearance, and, like the rest of his class, has low 
 instincts, and is as ferocious as a hyena. It is said 
 he has eleven wives, and it is a fact well known 
 that one of them is his own daugrhter. He resides 
 in Roane county, where he has been guilty of 
 many gross outrages." 
 
 The quartermaster's employes had ears for 
 news of this kind, and, naturally enough, none of 
 them were prepared to run the gauntlet. Thomas 
 H. Croghan, a dashing, military-looking fellow, 
 was foragemaster under Captain Leib; he told 
 the captain that there was a man in town who 
 he thought would do the work. Croghan and 
 myself had both received a military training in the 
 same school in Ireland, and were well acquainted 
 and good friends. He introduced me, with con- 
 siderable eulogism, to Captain Leib, who received 
 me very affably, and said he hoped that I would 
 undertake the duty spoken of. 
 
 I was fully conscious of the dangers and re- 
 sponsibilities of the position, but after the flattering 
 introduction of my friend, and the apparent confi- 
 dence reposed in me by the appointing power, I 
 decided to accept. Having done so, I was soon 
 well armed and mounted, and received my de- 
 
ARRIVAL WITH DESPATCHES. 45 
 
 spatches about five o'clock p. m., with orders to 
 deliver them to General Rosecrans, and, if pos- 
 sible, to ride at the rate of eight miles an hour. 
 My horse being a good one I made good time, 
 and arrived in camp, at Janelew, some time before 
 seven o'clock p. m. 
 
 It was about dusk as I approached camp, and I 
 was promptly challenged at the outpost with: 
 
 " Who comes there ? " 
 
 "A friend without the countersign. Call a 
 corporal of the guard and have me conducted to 
 the general's headquarters," I answered. 
 
 This was complied with immediately and I rode 
 along leisurely with the corporal to the general's 
 tent. The soldier entered and announced his 
 message, and the general soon after came out ; 
 I saluted him, announced my name and delivered 
 my despatches. He remarked that my name 
 was not unfamiliar to him, and we had quite a 
 friendly chat of a few minutes' duration ; he then 
 directed me to put up for the night at the little 
 village of Janelew, and return with despatches to 
 Clarksburof in the morninof. 
 
 I was so highly impressed with the general's 
 qualities as a gentleman and a soldier that I was 
 prepared to serve him at all hazards, even had I 
 no higher stimulus. 
 
 I returned to Clarksburof as directed and there 
 waited for return despatches until eight o'clock 
 the next evening, when, well mounted on a horse 
 
46 THE FLYING, GRAY-HATRED YANK. 
 
 of high mettle, I proceeded at the regular schedule 
 rate of eight miles an hour and arrived at Weston, 
 a distance of twenty-four miles, at eleven o'clock 
 p. M., September ist. 
 
 On approaching the town I slackened up, ex- 
 pecting to find an out-post of our troops reported 
 to be then stationed at Weston, but found none. 
 I then thought I should encounter one at Coal- 
 Stone bridge, the eastern boundary of the town, 
 but did not ; and reached the centre of the town 
 without beinof challenored. I learned from a few 
 stragglers whom I met on my way In that there 
 were two or three regiments encamped on, or 
 near, the State Asylum grounds ; the main body 
 of the troops having continued on the march and 
 encamped near Bulltown. 
 
 My horse had slipped a shoe, and, although a 
 good animal, showed signs of fatigue. I wished 
 to report to the officer in command and either 
 get a fresh horse or have some proper person 
 proceed with the despatches. I crossed West 
 Fork bridge, on the northern part of the town 
 and in close proximity to the asylum ground, the 
 encampment of the troops, where above all other 
 places there should have been a guard, without 
 being halted by any one ; in fact I had entered 
 and passed through the town and up to the head- 
 quarters of Colonel Ewing, who was in command 
 of the troops, the 30th and 47th Ohio Regiments, 
 without once being challenged. 
 
X • • V* ♦.• * ' 
 
 OIAJOR-GENERAL WILLIAM S. ROSECRANS. 
 
ARRESTED AS A SPY. 49 
 
 I reported and showed my despatches to the 
 colonel, who received me very kindly. Under- 
 standing my late and fast ride, he asked me to 
 partake of some refreshments. Captain Smith, 
 his gentlemanly quartermaster, handed me a 
 glass of good liquor, of which I drank moderately. 
 I then said that if I had a fresh horse I would 
 proceed to Bulltown with the despatches. Colo- 
 nel Ewing directed me to report to the post 
 quartermaster, Ransom, who would either re- 
 lieve me of the despatches or furnish me with the 
 needed animal. Before leaving the colonel asked 
 me how I got into the quarters. This was a 
 ticklish question. A straightforward answer 
 would be a serious charge against all the pickets. 
 I therefore simply told him that when I ap- 
 proached the camp I called for a corporal of the 
 guard to conduct me to his headquarters. 
 
 I found Captain Ransom in bed at Bailee's 
 Hotel ; he told me he would have the despatches 
 forwarded early next morning. 
 
 Upon coming down from the captain's room 
 I was taken into custody by a guard, and placed 
 in close confinement In a Sibley tent. The officer 
 in charge of this guard had been, for some time 
 previously, stationed at Weston, and therefore 
 he must have known me, but being in command, 
 as I suppose, of the pickets on that night, Sep- 
 tember I, 1861, and conscious of having been 
 derelict in his duty in allowing them to desert 
 
50 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 their posts, he was fearful, no doubt, of this fact 
 becoming known through me, knowing, as he did, 
 that such a serious breach of discipHne was, ac- 
 cording to military law, punishable with death. 
 He had, therefore, in order to save himself, 
 helped to trump up false charges against me ; 
 some of which were, I afterwards learned, that I 
 had been seen prowling about the precincts of 
 the encampment on that evening ; that I had 
 been a rebel spy at the first battle of Bull Run ; 
 and that I must have killed the regular courier, 
 or despatch- bearer, etc. 
 
 At the time, however, I was kept in total ignor- 
 ance of all this ; they did not even once intimate 
 to me their reasons for my arrest and the plac- 
 ing over me of an armed guard, which later on 
 they saw fit to double. In answer to my inquiries 
 as to the meaning of it all, the men in whose im- 
 mediate custody I was either could not or would 
 not tell me. 
 
 Some time after midnight I was aroused from 
 a deep reverie by the entrance of a gentleman. 
 That he was a gentleman, brave and intelligent, 
 became deeply impressed upom my mind, because, 
 among all the officers of these two regiments, 
 he was the only one whom I found to possess 
 these desirable qualities ; this was Captain Smith, 
 brigade or regimental assistant quartermaster. 
 He was the first and only one to make me aware 
 of the tragic role I was about to play. He told 
 
SENTENCED TO BE SHOT. 5 1 
 
 me that they were then trying me under " Drum- 
 head " Court Martial, for being a rebel spy. He 
 was quite sympathetic and kind, and seemed, 
 personally, to entertain no doubt of my loyalty. 
 He wanted me to take something to eat, but I 
 declined, with thanks. Captain Smith then left, 
 but returned again an hour or so later, and in- 
 formed me that I had been found guilty and was 
 to be shot at nine o'clock that morning. This 
 would leave me just five and a half hours to live. 
 The thoughts of my wife, then about twenty years 
 old, who, with our two dear little ones, aged re- 
 spectively four and two years, was then living 
 nine miles northwest of Weston, and in a delicate 
 state of health, in which a sudden shock or fright 
 might be attended with serious consequences to 
 her, might well have unmanned me during this 
 trying ordeal : but when the dawn of morning 
 came, and after the tap of the martial drum, 
 squad after squad of the troops appeared at my 
 tent, at the entrance of which I stood, and with 
 exulting and taunting remarks called me " d — n 
 rebel spy," their conduct only served to steel me 
 to a bearing of scornful defiance, and I called 
 them cowards and poltroons, whom Russell, of 
 the London Times, had published as such, for 
 throwing down their arms at the first battle of 
 Bull Run. 
 
 There was one individual, Vixbeck by name, 
 that figured in this little tragedy, who could, I 
 
52 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 think, be safely called a counterpart in disposition 
 of the atrocious Simon Girty, of Indian notoriety. 
 He was one of the guards placed over me, and he 
 cruelly overstepped his orders in adopting every 
 method he could devise to annoy and intimidate 
 me, or induce me to run from his demonstrative 
 threats, in order that he might have a slight pre- 
 text for appeasing his evident thirst for my life. 
 With the eye and grimace of a fiend he would 
 bring his musket to the position of " charge 
 bayonets " with the cold steel scarcely two feet 
 from my breast, the hammer at full cock, and all 
 the time fingering the trigger nervously, urged 
 by many of his comrades of the same gentle 
 stripe to "let it go off, accidentally, into the d — n 
 rebel spy," as they kindly styled me. This crea- 
 ture, if he is alive to peruse this description of 
 himself, may feel that I have done him an injustice; 
 but I do not think he is possessed of sufficient 
 courage to ask me to retract it. 
 
 My brother, Thomas Egan, two years my senior, 
 together with his family, was living at Weston at 
 the time of my arrest. He was then the proprie- 
 tor of the Union House, and was himself Union 
 to the core. He was a most kind and affectionate 
 brother. He had heard of my dangerous situa- 
 tion early that morning, and, in a state of distrac- 
 tion, hurried over to the officers' quarters to 
 explain to them their mistake. They did not 
 allow him to approach me, but from the entrance 
 
LED FORTH TO DIE, 53 
 
 of my tent where I stood I could see a squad of 
 men driving him out of the camp at the point of 
 the bayonet. This treatment of my brother by 
 the troops created considerable indignation among 
 the citizens of the town, where he was very well 
 and favorably known. 
 
 In my behalf Colonel Ewing was also waited 
 upon by several of the most prominent and influ- 
 ential men of the place. They assured him, in 
 the strongest terms, of my loyalty, and of the 
 impossibility of my being guilty of the charges 
 made against me ; and, in conclusion, stated that, 
 unless I was at once released, a full report of the 
 proceedings would be forwarded to General 
 Rosecrans. The colonel, however, remained 
 obdurate, and, as it was now about nine o'clock, 
 the detail for my execution was made. I was led 
 forth, and they loaded in my presence. 
 
 At this critical juncture, and after I had given 
 up all hopes of life, a telegram was handed Col- 
 onel Ewing, dated Clarksburg, from Captain 
 Leib, demanding, in language he well knew how 
 to employ, my instant release. 
 
 The colonel then, for the first time since my 
 arrest, condescended to see me. He ordered his 
 men to set me free, and approaching me in the 
 most affable manner he could assume, said he 
 hoped I would excuse him for the hasty and harsh 
 treatment I had received, adding that " the exi- 
 
54 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 gencies of the times, and the necessity for strict 
 discipline, justified rigid measures." 
 
 I took occasion to remind him that it was the 
 total absence of discipline that had endangered 
 my life ; that the enemy possessed of half his force 
 might on this night have annihilated his entire 
 command before it would have been possible to 
 check the onslaught; that he did not have a 
 picket, or outpost, in any direction surrounding 
 his camp, and concluded: "I was, sir, about to 
 pay the penalty of this very strict discipline you 
 talk of, but I shall lay the circumstances, in proper 
 form, before General Rosecrans." When I had 
 finished I turned and walked away. 
 
 We will now revert, briefly, to the cause of my 
 deliverance. When arrested I was divested of 
 everything of value, including my memorandum 
 book and pencil. When Captain Smith visited 
 me the second time to inform me that I was to be 
 shot at nine o'clock the next morning, I asked 
 him for paper and pencil, which he cheerfully 
 furnished me. I thereupon indited a telegram to 
 Captain Leib, stating as briefly as possible my 
 critical condition, brought about, I claimed, by the 
 culpability of Colonel Ewlng and his command, 
 and requesting that he (Leib) wire Ewlng to 
 release me. Captain Smith kindly took this mes- 
 sage to the telegraph office, and had it forwarded 
 to Clarksburof. The reader knows the result. 
 To the kindness of Captain Smith therefore, and 
 
SAVED. 55 
 
 the efficient working of the telegraph Hne, which 
 had been in operation only a few days, do I owe 
 my escape from the Ignominious death of a spy. 
 
 Upon my release my effects were returned to 
 me. On going Into town from the camp I took 
 out my diary to make some entries, as was my 
 usual custom, when Dr. T. B. Camden, who was 
 accompanying me, wisely reminded me that I was 
 acting imprudently, as this action on my part 
 might be noticed and taken advantage of by the 
 angry and still doubting troops. 
 
 When I appeared before my brother and his 
 family at their home, I found them and my wife, 
 who had come into town early that morning, In a 
 state of great distraction, and lamenting me as 
 dead ; but — 
 
 ** Soon my presence allayed their fears, 
 While reactive joy smiled through their tears." 
 
 My wife and brother Tom's family now united 
 in entreating me, in the strongest terms, to dis- 
 continue so hazardous and ill-requited a position, 
 the duties of which would now compel me to run 
 the gauntlet of a twofold enemy — that of the 
 rebel bushwhackers on one side and this portion 
 of our troops on the other ; the latter being fearful 
 of the results of my threatened report, and being 
 anxious, my friends Insisted, " to remove me on a 
 very slight pretext." I loved my family as ten- 
 derly as could any husband and father ; the salary, 
 
56 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 forty dollars per month, was no inducement, as 
 for that amount alone I would not make one such 
 trip, and I was under no legal or binding obliga- 
 tion, military or civil, to detain me in the service 
 if I wished to retire. It may therefore appear 
 strange when I state that the only motive I had 
 in remaining was a desire to be of use to the 
 government in my humble though perilous way, 
 a way, too, where few volunteers seemed willing 
 to take a chance. Expert horsemanship also 
 was essential to a military couriers work, and 
 many good soldiers were lacking here. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 A Timid Superintendent — Poor Work and Early Dismissal — His 
 Successor also a Failure — Capture of two Couriers — Escape 
 
 OF ONE and his QUICK PROMOTION AND SUBSEQUENT SUDDEN OFFI- 
 CIAL Decapitation — My Appointment as Superintendent. 
 
 General Rosecrans was now briskly following 
 Floyd and Wise towards Gauley Bridge. 
 
 Captain Leib, Assistant Quartermaster, ap- 
 pointed Mr. A. F. Newman Superintendent of 
 the Express Courier line, with instructions to 
 establish stations eight miles apart, prepare a time- 
 table, and order the couriers to push forward as 
 rapidly as possible with the despatches for General 
 Rosecrans and his command. They were also 
 directed to watch the military telegraph line, and 
 to report to the nearest office when the Hne was 
 discovered to be out of order. 
 
 Newman, on his first trip, when he had pene- 
 trated some distance into the enemy's lines, be- 
 came painfully suspicious of danger ; many of the 
 horses of his line were captured also, and others 
 were returned to Clarksburg with sore backs, and 
 lame, and otherwise ill-treated by their riders ; the 
 mails became very irregular ; the general grum- 
 bled ; his staff grumbled, and there was a general 
 
 (57) 
 
58 , THE FLYING, GRAY-HATRED YANK. 
 
 grumbling time at headquarters, so he was dis- 
 charged. 
 
 Mr. Angus M. Relger, an itinerant preacher 
 from Clarksburg, was next appointed. He made 
 two or three trips and then resigned, nor could he 
 be induced to make another trip. This is not 
 surprising when it is known that the wild bush- 
 whackers along the line were so unchristianlike 
 as to fire, with deadly intent, upon his reverence. 
 
 About this time two stout, intelligent men. 
 named, respectively, Peter Bryson, who served 
 with credit afterwards, and J. L. Merryman, were 
 captured by Captain Imboden, and a squad of 
 rebel infantry, at the house of Mr. James Boggs, 
 a loyal man, on the top of Powell mountain. The 
 prisoners were taken as far as Meadow Bluffs, 
 where Merryman begged off. He had been a 
 school-teacher, and was gifted with an easy flow 
 of language and a good address. He was a 
 widower, having several young children depen« 
 dent on him for support. He dwelt with pathetic 
 earnestness upon this latter circumstance before 
 Captain Imboden, and said that he sympathized 
 with the Southern cause as much as anybody, but 
 that the necessity of providing for his motherless 
 children found him in the position of courier, 
 which was but a civil one at most. He was suc- 
 cessful in his pleadings and was allowed to return 
 home, while Bryson was taken to Libby prison. 
 Soon after this, Merryman reported to Captain 
 
BRAVE BRAGGING. 59 
 
 Leib, at Clarksburg, and recounted to him, in 
 thrilling words, his marvellous exploits in effecting 
 his escape from the " rebs." He stated to the 
 captain, with many additions, that shordy after his 
 capture by the rebels he was escorted by one of 
 their number to a spring to procure water ; arrived 
 there, he knocked down the guard and effected 
 his escape, and by the exercise of great bravery 
 and shrewdness he finally got through, after suf- 
 fering many privations. His plausible story was 
 believed, and, as a reward for his brilliant achieve- 
 ments, he was immediately promoted to the su- 
 perlntendency of the line. I never could under- 
 stand, except on one hypothesis, how Merryman 
 could be induced to undertake such a perilous 
 position, which he so cheerfully did immediately 
 after being paroled by Captain Imboden. He now 
 set about picking up several of his friends for the 
 purpose of giving them the fancy places on the 
 line, discharging or transferring old and good men 
 to do so. He made a requlsiuon on Clarksburg 
 for fresh horses and other supplies ; and in his 
 personal outfit the Inner man was not forgotten. 
 
 Being the first courier on the Hne, my station 
 was eight miles from Clarksburg, but this was a 
 place that he had his eye on for one of his fa- 
 vorites. He showed considerable pomposity when 
 he came out where I was stationed, and soon gave 
 me to understand that he purposed making a 
 number of changes on the line, and that he 
 
60 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 v/ould have to place me about thirty or forty miles- 
 farther out. I was aware that I stood well at head- 
 quarters ; that I could have superintended the line 
 from the start if I had wished to, and that I might 
 disregard with impunity the orders of the new 
 superintendent ; but I told him that I was ready 
 to go immediately on any part of the line that he 
 wished, but at the same time suggesting that it 
 might be better to permit me to remain where I 
 was. 
 
 He paid little attention to my remonstrance but 
 ordered me to get ready to start. Fully equipped, 
 Merryman and myself proceeded to Janelew, our 
 next station, a good Union village, notwithstand- 
 ing the chief residents were relatives of "Stone- 
 wall " Jackson. It had always been a hospitable 
 town for the w^eary stranger to put up at, and 
 being acquainted there I introduced Mr. Merry- 
 man as our new superintendent, and he was re- 
 ceived with great cordiality and respect. 
 
 Here at Janelew was stationed Robert Carru- 
 thers, an intelligent Englishman. He was well 
 adapted to the business, being a light weight and 
 a o-ood horseman. He too had to leave in order 
 to make room for another pet. 
 
 I wish to remark just here, that the appointment 
 of competent citizens on a courier line through an 
 enemy's country was a wise idea, as they were 
 subject to less danger and interruption than a 
 uniformed soldier would have been. 
 
A SUMMARY DISMISSAL. 6 1 
 
 The change of stations proved a bad one for 
 Carruthers. Merryman placed him in about che 
 worst place on the line, in consequence of which 
 he had several narrow escapes, and lost consider- 
 able Government property. We now pushed on 
 for Weston, where we made a short stay ; next to 
 Crowell's, thence to Jacksonville, where Merryman 
 left me. On my second trip after arriving at 
 Jacksonville I rode to Weston, fifteen miles dis- 
 tant, and reported by wire to Captain Leib, at 
 Clarksburg, the circumstances of my transfer. He 
 telegraphed Merryman and myself to return to 
 headquarters immediately. I noticed on our re- 
 turn, that the new superintendent was not quite 
 so merry as when he first started out to make 
 wholesale changes on the line ; he was now very 
 affable in his manner toward me and appeared to 
 suspect that he may have made a mistake in 
 ignoring the respectful suggestions I had made 
 to him. 
 
 Captain Leib had the reputation of being a 
 man of ability and good judgment ; he was also a 
 man of few words, and these were generally sharp 
 and to the point. Mr. Merryman and myself soon 
 stood before him In his office. He addressed 
 himself to Merryman, and. In his characteristic 
 style, said : 
 
 " Sir, I do not require your services any longer; 
 render up whatever government property you 
 may have in your charge." 
 
62 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 During this scene the large, intelligent eyes 
 of the dashing foragemaster of the post, Tom 
 Croghan, were fixed on the short-lived superin- 
 tendent ; there was a short but funny history in 
 the peculiarity of the broad, quizzical grin of the 
 inimitable Irishman as he surveyed the now 
 crestfallen ex-superintendent. 
 
 Captain Leib now turned to me. " Mr. Egan," 
 said he, " if you had so intimated you might have 
 been in charge of the express line from the start; 
 and now, I wish you to take charge of it, and if 
 you do so I am satisfied it will be efficiently 
 worked." 
 
 I thanked him for his confidence in me, and 
 said that I should strive to not disappoint him in 
 his favorable impression of me. It is apparent 
 from the following paragraph taken from his book, 
 "The Chances for Making a Million," that he did 
 not change his first opinion of me: 
 
 " Michael Egan," says he, "was the only super- 
 intendent of the express line who was really 
 efficient. He was the first courier sent forward, 
 and in the discharge of duty stopped at nothing: 
 swam streams swollen by the heavy rains of that 
 country, crossed the mountains when he knew the 
 bushwhacking bloodhounds were on his track, and 
 when warned not to attempt their passage would 
 quietly reply : ' Captain Leib ordered me not to 
 stop until I had reached headquarters, and I must 
 obey.* He is an Irishman by birth, had received 
 
REORGANIZING THE LINE. 6^ 
 
 a liberal education, and In his younger days was 
 in the British service. He knew not fear, and find- 
 ing him competent and meritorious we promoted 
 him." 
 
 I now proceeded to make an inventory of all 
 the government property on the line, which 
 occupied some time. Being aware of the exist- 
 ence of many defects in the system, I at once went 
 to work in earnest applying remedies. I made 
 no sudden or ill-advised changes, however, but 
 carefully examined the condition of affairs at each 
 station, particularly the treatment given the 
 horses. As a result of my first trip out I became 
 very angry at the manner in which a large num- 
 ber of the poor animals had been treated. I am 
 fond of horses, and am always painstaking in my 
 care of 'them, but on this inspection I found the 
 majority of them lame, or afflicted with sore backs, 
 or both, and otherwise neglected. I could not 
 understand how a horse used only two hours in 
 the twenty-four could by any reasonably fair 
 treatment be used up in such a brutal manner. 
 
 I soon shaped things differently at every station, 
 and, as a result, thenceforward there were no 
 complaints, nor causes for complaint, from head- 
 quarters. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 The Military Telegraph — Mastering a Vicious Horse — A Remi- 
 niscence OF Dublin Park — On the " Hog-Back " — Chased by a 
 Squad of Rebel Cavalry — Saved by my Horse's Noble Quali- 
 ties — A Long Way Around, but a Safe Way Home — Accommo- 
 dations for Man and Beast. 
 
 In addition to the express maiUroute General 
 Rosecrans established a military telegraph-line 
 between Clarksburg and Gauley Bridge. This 
 line had suffered from more or less inter'ruption 
 for some time before I was made superintendent. 
 I used it quite often afterwards to transmit to 
 headquarters any information that I thought of 
 benefit to the service. I have frequently, while 
 travelling over the line, dismounted and repaired 
 the wire where broken, having a slight knowledge 
 of " splicing," acquired previously. 
 
 I was now almost incessantly in the saddle, not 
 remaining a single day in one place. Swollen 
 rivers and streams sometimes checked general 
 travel, but I was never balked by such impedi- 
 ments, invariably plunging my horse into the 
 streams and swimming them, generally without 
 mishap. 
 
 On one of my trips over the mountains, when 
 approaching Summerville, Nicholas county, West 
 (64) 
 
PRACTICING HORSEMANSHIP. 65 
 
 Virginia, I was confronted for the first time with 
 something like miUtary order. I was halted and 
 challenged, in accordance with strict military rules, 
 by a soldier well put up, orderly, and clean. 1 at 
 once thought there must be an officer in command 
 who knew his business. That officer was General 
 George Crook, then colonel of the 36th Ohio 
 Infantry. In winter, when other troops were 
 languishing in idleness, his were healthfully em- 
 ployed in cleaning their accoutrements and in 
 drilling under large sheds, which he had erected 
 for the purpose. 
 
 In 1861-62 a number of government horses and 
 a large supply of forage, including hundreds of 
 bales of hay, were kept at Clarksburg as a depot 
 of supplies for our troops, then pushing out into 
 the wilds of West Virginia after Floyd and Wise. 
 Thomas H. Croofhan, whom I have several times 
 mentioned, rode a very fine horse, selected by 
 himself from amonor the choicest in the corral. 
 As superintendent of the express line I was also 
 provided with a good animal, and when in Clarks- 
 burg, Croghan and myself almost daily practised 
 jumping our horses over the bales of hay which 
 were piled up in an apple-orchard near the 
 quartermaster's headquarters. A great many of 
 the men who were unacquainted with this style of 
 horsemanship looked upon these feats as fool- 
 hardy, and anticipated the breaking of our necks 
 sooner or later. But we were used to this sort 
 
66 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 of equestrian exercise, having acquired, while 
 boys together in Ireland, a considerable prcfi- 
 nency in hurdle and ditch jumping. 
 
 The necessities of the express line made the 
 securing of extraordinarily good horses for the 
 couriers very essential, and in my capacity of 
 superintendent I v^^as always on the alert to ob- 
 tain for them such needed animalsc I secured 
 possession of one, by chance, In November, i86ij 
 that served me nobly as my individual saddle- 
 horse on many occasions afterwards, and he once 
 undoubtedly saved my life. 
 
 One day about noon, on arriving at Clarks- 
 burg after a continuous ride of 133 miles from 
 Gauley Bridge. I saw, when opposite Dent's ho- 
 tel, a dashing and fiery gray horse and his rider 
 both furiously contending for the mastery. The 
 horse, I learned, was government property, and 
 was known as ''Hannibal;" the animal was in 
 the habit of going when and where he pleased, 
 and had conquered, since his purchase by the 
 quartermaster, three or four of the clerks who 
 had undertaken to master him. Jimmy Runyon 
 was now astride of him. Jimmy was a son of 
 the master of transportation, and was a plucky 
 lad who seldom failed in doing anything he 
 undertook. 
 
 There was quite a crowd collected around the 
 horse, attracted by his rearing and plunging; he 
 had quite a hard mouth, and the boy's tugging at 
 
- ■■ '-^ 
 
 ■ • >% 
 ■■■• . *'A 
 
 
 GEORGE CROOK, Major-General U. S. A. 
 
A FIERY STEED. 69 
 
 the bridle-reins seemed to have Httle effect upon 
 him. Rushing to the side walls of adjacent 
 houses, and to the sign-posts on either side of 
 the street, the vicious animal sought to scratch 
 and bruise his rider's legs. In one of these col- 
 lisions with a sign-post the saddle-girth broke, 
 and Jimmy received a hard fall and some severe 
 injuries in consequence. Once again the horse 
 was victorious and confirmed in his sulks. It 
 was, as I said, about noon, and the horse, after 
 throwing his rider, was led over to the corral to 
 be fed. I had my eye on the horse and followed, 
 determined to have him, if possible. 
 
 Colonel Runyon was a ruddy and robust man, 
 about five feet ten inches high and weighing 
 about 200 pounds. He had a long, flowing, sil- 
 very beard, and was quite stern and imperious in 
 his commands, but withal possessed of great 
 kindness of heart beneath his rough exterior. 
 He had learned of the accident to his boy and 
 was at the stables when the gray was led in. He 
 was in a towering rage and angry enough to 
 shoot the offending horse. He opened on Domi- 
 nick Tierney, the stable-boss, and gave him a 
 severe overhauling for permitting his idolized 
 son to have the dangerous horse, knowing him 
 to be such. He then sternly forbade Tierney to 
 let the vicious brute out again. Now was my 
 time. As the colonel started to leave the sUble 
 I spoke up and said : 
 
70 THE FLYING, GRAY-IIAIRED YANK. 
 
 "Colonel, let me have the horse, please; I 
 need a good one in my courier express busi- 
 ness." 
 
 He looked at me as if doubting my sanity, 
 and replied : " I do not wish to have a hand in 
 your death, sir. Samuel Selby, 'Chap' Wheeler 
 and others, as well as my son, Jimmy, have tried 
 him, and each trial has been a failure and at- 
 tended with increasing danger." 
 
 I still persisted in my entreaties for the horse. 
 " Egan, you may have him," said the colonel 
 finally; "but he will most certainly kill you." 
 
 "I'll try him right now," I rejoined; "and if he 
 does kill me, the bushwhackers will be saved 
 the trouble of doing it." 
 
 I went into the horse's stall and proceeded to 
 bridle and saddle the steed. While doing so, 
 Tierney, with whom I was well acquainted, whis- 
 pered to me to let him finish eating before attempt- 
 ing to take him out, as to do so would, he thought, 
 be very dangerous. I disregarded this friendly 
 advice, however, and after securing a good riding- 
 whip, with a heavy butt, I took out and mounted 
 the gray. 
 
 As was to be expected, there were a number 
 of employes and hangers-on waiting to see the 
 exhibition, when they learned that I had asked 
 for and received the horse. 
 
 I had a very unfavorable place — an apple- 
 orchard with trees, bales of hay, wagons and 
 
CONQUERING THE HORSE. 7 1 
 
 Other obstructions — In which to make the trial 
 of subjugating the beast. The trees, being nu- 
 merous, were the most dangerous. The animal, 
 failing in his efforts to unseat me by high kicking, 
 plunging, buck-jumping, etc., made a direct drive 
 for the trees before mentioned, seeming to have, 
 in doing so, no more regard for his own safety 
 than he had for mine. But, by one who can use 
 the bridle and roller-spurs properly, a horse going 
 at a good rate of speed may be easily turned 
 from an obstruction in his path. In this case I 
 saved the horse and myself from injury, although 
 his mouth and sides showed evident signs of pun- 
 ishment endured from the bit and spurs. He 
 now became quite obedient and passive in my 
 hands, and I rode out of the gate and up and 
 down the pike several times without any further 
 trouble. 
 
 This rough riding reminded me of a feat of 
 horsemanship, and about the finest that I ever 
 witnessed, which occurred in June, 1845, ^^^ ^^^^ 
 grand parade grounds at Phcenix Park depot, in 
 the city of Dublin, Ireland. 
 
 It was just after morning parade, and several 
 squads of constabulary were yet drilling in the 
 park, when an orderly, who was an expert rough 
 rider, mounted on a splendid dark bay horse, 
 which was then being broken for the cavalry, 
 came out of the depot yard and started to the 
 "castle" for orders. When at the entrance to the 
 
 5 
 
72 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 barracks the horse refused to go out. Then en- 
 sued a long and exciting struggle between horse 
 and rider for supremacy, resulting, finally, in the 
 horse coming out victorious. 
 
 There now approached from the direction of 
 the stables a gentleman who walked rapidly to 
 the centre of the square, where the excitement 
 was. This officer, for such he proved to be, was 
 about twenty-five years old, and about six feet 
 high; in general build he was a perfect model of 
 physical manhood ; he was fair as a lily, with 
 large, intelligent blue eyes, somewhat piercing in 
 their glance; a healthful, blooming tint suffused 
 his cheeks, and his fine yellow hair was parted 
 behind, in the then prevailing fashion, and kept, 
 like all his person, in the neatest military style. 
 In his riofht hand he carried a small but cuttinof 
 riding-whip, and on his heels were two highly 
 burnished roller-spurs. This was Head Constable 
 Pilkington, Chief Drill-Master of the Cavalry. 
 The horse had just succeeded in throwing and 
 severely bruising his rider as Pilkington ap- 
 proached. Grasping the reins firmly, he made 
 one bound and was in the saddle; and no sooner 
 was he safely seated than he pressed the cruel 
 "rollers" into the wild steed's sides. The animal 
 reared straight up on his hind legs, poising there 
 for a second, and then pitched forward a great 
 distance, tearing up the fine gravel in all direc- 
 tions in his frenzied efforts to throw his rider. 
 
A SCENE IN PHCENIX PARK. 73 
 
 Now the officer reversed his whip, bringing the 
 handle, or butt, down with a crashing blow on the 
 brute's head whenever the latter would rear up, 
 at the same time applying, with all the strength 
 of his legs, the "rollers" to the sides of the 
 devilish horse, now stained red with gore. 
 
 Among all the numerous spectators to this 
 thrilling scene, the head constable was the most 
 cool. The horse now ceased his plunging and 
 dashed ahead towards the adjutant's office, where 
 his rider turned him, and flew up the square and 
 down In the direction of the city at full speed, and 
 then back again, repassing the main entrance, 
 where the horse made another feeble attempt to 
 go in, but he was no longer his own master. The 
 horse was now broken, but might relapse into 
 vicious ways again if allowed to fall into incapable 
 
 hands. 
 
 The occurrence here narrated was as vivid in 
 my mind that day, after the lapse of seventeen 
 years, as upon the day when it took place, and it 
 struck me as being not dissimilar to my experi- 
 ence, except, of course, the wide difference in the 
 appearance of the two riders and their sur- 
 roundings. 
 
 ' The grand old Phoenix Park that Nature, more than art, adorns; 
 Perfumed so richly by the giant old hawthorns, 
 Whose majestic limbs expand to meet their neighboring row. 
 Filled with blossoms, thick as hops, and fair as falling snow; 
 Or like soft showers, descending on the emerald sward below. 
 
74 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 ''There, too, in classic, sculptured art, you'll find on observation, 
 That rare bird whence the Park derives its appellation ; 
 Meihinks the Eagle, emblem of Liberty, would improve the breed 
 Of this mystic fowl, whose unproductive seed 
 Has lain too long dormant in a land unfreed. 
 
 " Here, also, the aristocratic child, with attendant maid, 
 Daily from Dublin City came to sport and promenade. 
 And breathe the gentle breeze, so brncing, fair and mild. 
 Imparting rosy-tinted cheeks alike to maid and child. 
 On a fairer, lovelier spot Dame Nature never smiled." 
 
 It may not be amiss here to introduce to the 
 reader a few other of the gray horse's peciiHar- 
 ities. The one I found the most difficulty in 
 breaking him of was a propensity for rushing 
 headlong into rivers, creeks, etc., whenever he 
 met with them ; and the deeper they were, the 
 better he seemed to enjoy it. He was a pacer, 
 'loper, and a fair trotter. While galloping he 
 moved so smoothly that a good marksman could 
 do some fair shooting from his back. I believe 
 he was a brave animal also, as shooting did not 
 annoy him, or cause him to swerve in the least 
 from his course. As I have before stated, I am 
 very fond of horses, and, in this case, there seemed 
 to be a growing mutual attachment between the 
 horse and his rider. I had him about four wrecks 
 when he showed one of his best and most reliable 
 qualities. 
 
 On the night of the 15th of November, 1861, 
 I put up at the house of Mr. Benjamin Skidmore, 
 in the town of Sutton, Braxton county. The night 
 
BLOCKADED ON THE "HOG-BACK. 75 
 
 proved very stormy ; a heavy rain accompanied 
 by high winds prevailed for several hours. Next 
 morning on repairing to the stable where our 
 relay horses were kept, I was agreeably surprised 
 to find the gray there and in seeming good condi- 
 tion. I had several horses at my disposal, but I 
 preferred to hold Hannibal in reserve for the most 
 dangerous part of my route. 
 
 As I advanced in the direction of Gauley Bridge 
 I noticed considerable havoc done by the late 
 storm. It was about noon when I forded the 
 Little Birch river. This stream is one of the 
 clearest in the State, and is bordered for a long 
 distance on both its banks with spruce-pine and 
 evergreen. On approaching the river from the 
 east, the roadway had quite a steep descent to the 
 bed of the stream, and when on the other side, it 
 wound around the hill in a zior-zaof fashion for about 
 half a mile until a level plain on the summit was 
 reached. This strip of road was known as the 
 "hoe-back," because of its narrow surface and 
 precipitous sides. It was not at any part more 
 than thirty feet wide, but was level and in fair 
 condition for travel. At its very narrowest part, 
 I discovered a large oak tree lying squarely across 
 the road, one of the results of the previous night's 
 storm. The tree completely blocked the road, its 
 huge limbs and roots holding it about three feet 
 from the ground. 
 
 I came to a halt, staggered by the obstruction ; 
 
76 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 how should I proceed ? The Interlacing of the 
 smaller limbs with the roots of the tree made it 
 impossible to lead the horse under the fallen oak. 
 
 The almost perpendicular sides of the " hog- 
 back " made any attempt to go around it imprac- 
 ticable and dangerous. The only thing remain- 
 ing to be done was to jump it. I had not up to 
 this time been checked by the elements, and I 
 did not feel disposed to give up now. The gray 
 had some practice in jumping over the hay bales 
 at Clarksburg for our amusement, but never met 
 anything like that which now confronted him. I 
 walked him up to the tree, which was fully five 
 feet high, and the animal could barely look over 
 it. Turning, I rode back some twenty or twenty- 
 five yards, and, wheeling him right about, faced 
 the tree. The road was level, as I have said, 
 with a fine white sandy surface. Pressing the 
 rollers to the faithful animal's sides, he made a 
 straight shoot for the obstruction, and, when with- 
 in two yards of it, he rose gallantly in the air and 
 cleared it like a bird. 
 
 The scene from this mountain road is very fair 
 to look upon. In front one can see for miles 
 away a beautiful and richly cultivated valley, but 
 not the vestiee of a house or enclosure : while on 
 both sides of the road rise high and majestic huge 
 rocky, circular-shaped ranges, surmounted by a 
 wide expanse of primeval forest ; the whole re- 
 mindinor one of what we read of the Great Wall 
 
 o 
 
PURSUED BY JOHNNIES. 77 
 
 of China. So we move along, amidst the friendly 
 solitude, more engrossed in the contemplation of 
 the beauties of nature than on the belligerent 
 spirit of man. 
 
 When a half mile from the fallen tree my 
 pleasant meditations were suddenly interrupted 
 by the appearance, as I turned a bend in the 
 road, of a small party of Confederate cavalry. I 
 did not take long in deciding on my line of ac- 
 tion, but fell back instandy. As I did so, the 
 "Johnnies" raised a yell and dashed towards me 
 at full speed. Several shots were fired at me 
 without effect, and I returned the salute by 
 emptying the chambers of one of my " navces." 
 They then ceased firing, and it became an excit- 
 ing race, narrowed down to a question of the 
 speed and endurance of our horses. On we go 
 in this way for some time, when, in a hurried, 
 backward glance, I see them coming pell-mell and 
 apparently gaining on me. One of their number 
 w^as far in advance of his comrades, and was 
 mounted on an exceptionally fleet steed. Things 
 were looking " blue " for me when I again ap- 
 proached the fallen tree. I braced up as I neared 
 it, and, checking my noble animal slighdy, I rairsed 
 him at the right moment, and he cleared the ob- 
 struction beautifully, coming down firmly on his 
 leors on the other side. I then descended the 
 mountain leisurely, feeling satisfied that my pur- 
 suers* game was blocked. The literal interpreta- 
 
78 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 tion of the old adage, " It's an ill wind that blows 
 nobody good," struck me very forcibly. What 
 was now to be done? Should I proceed, or turn 
 back and once more run the risk of encountering 
 the enemy, who would, no doubt, keep a sharp 
 lookout for me. If it were simply a question of 
 profit, or remuneration for the risk incurred, I 
 would not hesitate a moment to continue on my 
 backward way. Mr. Peter Duffey, an old resi- 
 dent, and one of the best posted men as regarded 
 its dangers on the whole line, told me he would 
 not make the trip over it, in my capacity, for one 
 thousand dollars. Had I been killed, or crippled 
 in this service, neither my family nor myself 
 would have received a cent in compensation for 
 my loss or injury, as I was not at this time an en- 
 listed man. 
 
 Determined to finish my journey, I rode down 
 to the Litde Birch river, about a half mile from 
 where my pursuers were baulked by the tree, 
 and, turning down the stream to the left, followed 
 its meanderings for some distance, unul I came to 
 a favorable place for ascending the mountain. 
 Leading my horse, I scrambled up its steep and 
 rocky sides. At last I found myself upon the 
 road again, after making a toilsome circuit of 
 about three miles, and from there to Big Birch 
 river, five miles away, I kept a sharp watch out 
 for the enemy. 
 
 On arriving in the afternoon at the home of 
 
REBELS ON MY TRAIL. 79 
 
 Mr. Frame, I found his wife, an estimable lady, In 
 quite a nervous state of mind. She was aware 
 that the rebels were on my trail, and was fearful 
 of my having fallen Into their hands, or of my 
 possibly having received injuries. I did not tarry 
 long, but, after a hasty dinner from the good lady, I 
 sped away over Powell mountain, and landed all 
 right in the dusk of that evening at Peter Duf- 
 fey's, where myself and horse were well cared for. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Loss OF Government Property on the Courier Line — Testing the 
 Courage of a new Courier — His Satisfactory Trial — Thieving 
 Guerillas — A CoLD-r;LOODED Murder — Arrest of the Perpe- 
 trators — Their Trial and Punishment — First Glimpse of Gen- 
 eral Crook. 
 
 During the seven months that I was in charge 
 of the express Hne very Httle government prop- 
 erty in that service was lost. Personally, I did 
 not lose a dollar's worth, although there was a 
 sharper lookout kept for me than for any of the 
 couriers. Of these latter, a few who sustained 
 repeated losses were plainly given to understand 
 that their continuance in the government's service 
 would depend, in a great measure, upon the care 
 taken of the property submitted to their charge. 
 
 On my second inspection trip I took with me 
 two couriers and two horses required for the 
 western end of the line. The horses were to be 
 exchanged for such as were used up from sore 
 backs and ill treatment, and their riders were to 
 replace the men who so abused and neglected the 
 other animals. The couriers, two young Irishmen, 
 •were named, respectively, Patrick Power and Pat- 
 rick McManus. They were heavier than I should 
 
 have wished for the purpose, but being brave and 
 (80) 
 
* 
 
 TESTING NEW MEN. 8 1 
 
 reliable, they proved more serviceable than would 
 lighter weights not possessing these qualities. 
 
 Although, as yet, I had no proper test of it, I 
 did not doubt my judgment in selecting these men 
 for their pluck and intelligence. Before they 
 reached their appointed stations, however, one of 
 them underwent a satisfactory trial. 
 
 When nearing the eastern base of Powell moun- 
 tain, the dusk of eveninor was closino- in on us and 
 a soft, fleecy snow had commenced falling thick and 
 fast, increasing the intensity of the gathering 
 darkness. Travelling over this dreary and soli- 
 tary mountain, never pleasant, was now doubly 
 lonesome, because of the blinding snow-storm, 
 which made our effort to keep the trail extremely 
 difficult, and further, on account of the uncomfort- 
 able knowledge of the immediate presence of 
 besetting perils in the shape of murderous gue- 
 rillas. 
 
 Power had occasion to stop and dismount, while 
 McManus and myself rode leisurely ahead. Soon 
 after Power came cantering up, but missing his 
 belt, containing his navy revolvers, he returned to 
 find them. While he was eone we came in sio-ht 
 of a small log-house standing close to the road. 
 It was the only one for miles around, and was 
 owned by a loyal man named Boggs, who had to 
 leave both house and farm, because of the con- 
 stant warfare made upon him by the guerillas, who 
 thickly infested this section. I told my companion 
 
82 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 to keep about eight or ten paces In my rear, and 
 to move as fast as I did until we had safely passed 
 the house, which, although deserted by its owner, 
 was known as a rendezvous for small parties of 
 bushwhackers. 
 
 i\.t the very time that we were hurrying past 
 the place, these robbers and murderers, whose 
 eyes were as sharp as the nocturnal prowlers of 
 the mountain forest, had drawn bead on us, and 
 were only prevented from shooting us by one of 
 their number, Clinton Duffel, who, as we subse- 
 quently learned, told them that they might safely 
 secure our horses and other property that night 
 at our intended stopping-place, a short distance 
 ahead, without the trouble of killing us. To do 
 Duffel justice, it is but fair to state that he pre- 
 ferred to secure his share of Uncle Sam's property 
 without killing anybody. 
 
 Arrived at the base of the opposite side of the 
 mountain, we turned to the left and entered a val- 
 ley of some extent, at the entrance of which was a 
 scattered settlement known as Hookervllle. Here 
 " Mac" and myself halted and awaited the approach 
 of Power, who had not yet rejoined us. Owing 
 to the lateness of the night and the heavy falling 
 snow, we could see only a few feet In our front. 
 So we waited a short distance from the path, de- 
 termined to surprise and possibly frighten the new 
 courier. Shortly the portly Power came unhur- 
 riedly down the hill, and when he was directly 
 
A FORTUNATE CHANGE. 83 
 
 opposite to where we stood concealed, In a coun- 
 terfeit voice I cried out sternly, " Halt ! " Without 
 drawing rein for a moment, the brave fellow 
 answered in a clear, strong voice, "All right," and 
 at the same moment his revolver came on a line 
 with our heads and we gladly called a truce. 
 
 This incident, together with the nerve he dis- 
 played on other occasions while on the line, had 
 no small influence in securing his promotion in 
 my company afterwards. 
 
 The night was growing darker and travelling 
 was every moment becoming more difficult, as we 
 were compelled to ride slowly in order to avoid 
 pitching Into the numerous holes and pitfalls lying 
 concealed beneath the freshly fallen snow. In 
 about an hour after leavlno- the mountain we 
 arrived at the house of Mr. Craig, which was our 
 next station. The local courier, Carruthers, met 
 us at the gate. He requested me to remove his 
 station a half mile farther west, to the house of 
 Mr. Peter Duffey, where he said he could obtain 
 better accommodations. He had already talked 
 with the Duffeys on the subject and they were 
 satisfied. I ag^reed to do as he reauested and 
 decided to make the chancre at once. Mrs. Duf- 
 ftn^ a kindly and much esteemed middle-aged 
 lad)^ English by birth and education, and Courier 
 Carruthers, a thorough "Jolm Bull," were de^ 
 lighted at my conceding to the latter's wishes so 
 readily. 
 
84 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 It turned out to be a very lucky move for all 
 concerned. On this very night we had four valu- 
 able horses, including my gray, at Mr. Duffey's — 
 a prize not likely to be overlooked by the hungry 
 bushwhackers. Carruthers, while stationed at 
 Craig's, had been robbed twice previously to this 
 time, his station being in about the worst place on 
 the whole line for that sort of thing. Bearing 
 these latter facts in mind, I determined to keep 
 w^atch upon our animals, a precaution I had often 
 taken before, and often took afterwards, when I 
 chanced to be in a questionable locality. 
 
 The stable was situated about one hundred yards 
 from the dwelling-house and at the foot of a small 
 hill, whither we repaired, after having done justice 
 to a hearty supper, and gave the horses a thorough 
 cleaninof and rubbinof down ; after which I exam- 
 ined the stable and its surroundings carefully and 
 found it fairly satisfactory as a defensive position 
 in case of attack. The building was a barn and 
 stable combined, of goodly dimensions, constructed 
 of large, hewn logs, the interstices of which would 
 serve admirably for port holes. We returned to 
 the house and passed a pleasant evening until 
 about eleven o^clock, when we again went to the 
 barn and, disposing of ourselves under the hay 
 and corn-fodder, awaited the arrival of thieves. 
 
 We were so placed that we could all command 
 a ranore of the entrance to the barn. I cautioned 
 tlie men to remain about ten or twelve feet apart, 
 
MURDERERS ARRESTED. 85 
 
 SO as to divert the fire of the bushwhackers, and 
 to waste no ammunition, but to make every shot 
 tell. Our weapons were Colt's navy revolvers, 
 with ten rounds of cartridges to each man. We 
 kept to our posts until morning, but were hap- 
 pily not disturbed. By mere chance we missed 
 an encounter with horse-thieves that night, as we 
 learned afterwards. A party of ten or twelve 
 men had broken Into Mr. Craig's stable in the 
 expectation of finding our horses there; but the 
 change effected by Carruthers' request had averted 
 the trouble, and no doubt saved to Uncle Sam the 
 four animals they sought. 
 
 Some time later, in November of the same year, 
 I found on reaching Sutton, going west, a part of 
 Captain Rowand's command. Company C, ist 
 West Virginia Cavalry, quartered In the town. 
 This squad had just succeeded in bringing into 
 camp four prisoners: John Cole, his w^Ife and son, 
 and Samuel W.Windom, all of whom were charged 
 with murder. The wife and mother, a hardened 
 old wretch, and her son subsequently escaped with 
 very light punishment, by giving evidence against 
 the two others that resulted In their execution. 
 
 Cole appeared to be about fifty, and Windom 
 about forty years of age. The older man was 
 well known in the locality as a grafter of fruit 
 trees. In appearance he would pass for anything 
 but an Adonis. Windom was a heavy-set man, 
 with a large head, heavy eyebrows and coarse, 
 
S6 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 bushy whiskers that almost completely covered 
 his face. The pair looked fully capable of com- 
 mitting the awful crime with which they were 
 charged, and of which they were afterwards clearly 
 proven to be guilty. 
 
 Their crime was the murdering in cold blood 
 of a private soldier of the 36th Ohio Infantry 
 Volunteers. He was a young lad, not over nine> 
 teen years old, who had foolishly straggled from 
 his command, alone and without arms. In this 
 way he had visited Cole's house, a few miles from 
 town. He talked to Mrs. Cole and her son for a 
 while, and got a drink of milk from the former ; 
 he then went to the meadow and stopped for some 
 time, boy-like, looking at the two men, who were 
 mowing. 
 
 In the meantime Mrs. Cole called to her hus- 
 band, who laid dowm his scythe and went to her. 
 She said to him : " What are you going to do with 
 that Yankee spy?" On his not appearing to 
 understand her meaning, she told him plainly that 
 he ought to kill the soldier. Cole thereupon re- 
 turned to where his partner was and held a private 
 conversation with him, divulging his fiendish 
 intentions towards the innocent lad, to all of which 
 Windom readily agreed. All of this time the 
 poor " boy in blue " had not the remotest idea that 
 final judgment had been passed upon him } but he 
 was soon awakened to a realization of his danger 
 by Cole approaching and coolly telling him that 
 
HEARTLESS BRUTALITY. 87 
 
 they were going to kill him, and asking him what 
 he had to say. To this heartless announcement 
 the frightened lad made no response, but ran away 
 as fast as his legs could carry him. WIndom, 
 being a powerful and active man, pursued and 
 shortly overtook and brought back the scared and 
 dejected captive to where old man Cole was await- 
 ing them. WIndom held the boy in a firm grip, 
 while his companion deliberately unfastened his 
 scythe-blade from the snead, and with one mighty 
 cut of that sharp instrument severed the head 
 from the body of the unfortunate soldier. They 
 then covered the headless trunk with a pile of 
 brush and stones. 
 
 Next morning, after seeing the prisoners, I 
 resumed my journey towards Gauley Bridge. 
 
 On my return a couple of days later, when 
 about eight miles east of Gauley, I came to a 
 creek that crossed the road and emptied into 
 Gauley river, which at this point flowed parallel 
 with the pike for some distance. The creek was 
 near the farm of Mr. M. F. Morris, and was then 
 much swollen, very turbulent and overflowing Its 
 banks from the recent heavy rains. 
 
 About the time I reached this stream General 
 Crook, then Colonel of the 36th Ohlg ^^^^^peared 
 on the other bank, accompanied by a mounted 
 escort. It looked foolhardy to attempt to swim 
 the horses across the rapid current, especially so 
 when, as now appeared to be the case, the animals 
 
88 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 were not adequate to the undertaking. The col- 
 onel, after surveying the situation for a few min- 
 utes, wisely took up the left bank of the stream for 
 some distance, until he found a more favorable 
 place for making the effort. 
 
 It would certainly be the height of arrogance 
 in me to lay claim to anything like the intrepidity 
 of the noble Crook, but on this occasion I had a 
 long-legged horse, whose qualities as a swimmer 
 I had previously tested, so we took the stream, 
 heading up the current for about ten yards, and 
 after a severe struggle luckily made the riffle ; 
 but we had such a narrow escape from being 
 swept Into the river, that I would have been very 
 loath to try It again. 
 
 Crook was, at this time, on his way to Charles- 
 ton, on the Big Kanawha, where, as president of 
 the oreneral court martial which later convened at 
 that place, he tried — among other cases — that of 
 the murderers referred to In the preceding para- 
 graph. I chanced to be at Sutton on the day that 
 Cole and Windom were executed. They showed 
 considerable nerve during the trying ordeal. Both 
 confessed to the commission of the crime substan- 
 tially as I have told the reader, and their act of 
 cruelty illustrated the antipathy many residents of 
 that- section then felt to all representatives of the 
 government, and the utter lack of conscientious- 
 ness among these evil-doers. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Repairing the Telegraph — Preparing for a Night Surprise— 
 Another Anticipated Night Attack — Names of the Stations 
 ON the Express Line — Attitude of the Farmers along the 
 Route — Their Kindness to Couriers Poorly Recompensed — 
 My Feelings on the Subject — Efforts to Secure a Settlement 
 OF their Claims — The Poor Result — Discontinuance of the 
 Courier Line. 
 
 Ten days after this unpleasant occurrence at 
 Sutton, when going east on a tour of inspection, 
 I rested at Sommerville, then the headquarters 
 of General Crook. I called at the telegraph 
 office, as was my usual custom, and the operator, 
 a young, smart and brave little fellow, named 
 Smith, told me that all connection east by wire 
 was cut off; that the line was broken and destroyed 
 in several places ; that he was going to get a team 
 and a detail of men from the commanding officer 
 and start the following day to rebuild the destroyed 
 portion ; and concluded by requesting that, as I 
 was going in that direction, I should remain and 
 accompany his party. 
 
 I replied that If I could be of any use I would 
 willingly do so. Early next morning the team, 
 with colls of wire, tools, rations, etc., was In readi- 
 ness. The detail, consisting of six men and a 
 sergeant, together with the operator, lineman and 
 
 (89) 
 
90 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 teamster, eleven In all, made a quite harmonious, 
 though somewhat heterogeneous, crowd of Ameri- 
 cans, Dutch and Irish. . 
 
 It was night when we reached William Frame's 
 house at Big Birch river, after passing over four- 
 teen miles of the line and doing a surprising 
 amount of work. The wire had been most In- 
 jured near where we halted for the night; in fact, 
 it was one of the worst places for the enemy's 
 cavalry raids on the whole route. For such a 
 small party we had considerable government prop- 
 erty with us, enough at least to make it worth an 
 effort on the part of one of these hungry bands to 
 raid us during the night. Sure enough, we received 
 information from a friendly source that we were 
 to be swooped down upon that night by a party 
 of rebel guerillas and our property carried off. 
 
 We held a consultation to devise means to pro- 
 tect ourselves and avert the threatened loss. 
 Entirely unsolicited, I was requested by the boys 
 to assume command of the little party during the 
 night. I modestly accepted the responsibility, 
 and when the time came I disposed of the mem- 
 bers of our party as, in my opinion, best suited 
 our purposes. I placed a man at each of the 
 three most important approaches to our camp, 
 and arranged for their relief two hours later by 
 three fresh pickets, and so on until nine of our party 
 should have performed guard duty, by this method 
 giving each of them two hours on and four hours 
 off duty. 
 
CONSTERNATION IN THE CAMP. 9 1 
 
 The sergeant's duty was to relieve the guards 
 at the proper time ; the operator we held in 
 reserve. The sergeant and myself did not sleep 
 any during the night, but continued to visit the 
 pickets occasionally during the long hours until 
 morning. Once or twice the dogs raised a howl, 
 alarmed at some unusual noises not far distant, 
 but we were not disturbed. Our intended visi- 
 tors may have received word that we were rea- 
 sonably well prepared for them, and decided, no 
 doubt, to defer their contemplated attack for a 
 more favorable opportunity. 
 
 After breakfast next morning I took leave of 
 my late comrades-in-arms, and about noon ar- 
 rived at Sutton, the central station on the line. 
 This place was a small village before the war, but 
 at the time of which I write it had grown still 
 smaller by reason of the frequent raids its inhabi- 
 tants were subjected to. A result of one of these 
 depredatory visits was the burning of about half 
 of the houses in the town. 
 
 When I arrived I found about one-half of Com- 
 pany C, 1st West Virginia Cavalry, quartered 
 in the village. The officer in command had just 
 received information that a force of rebels, more 
 than twice his number, were going to assault him 
 that very night. The result of this announcement 
 was considerable excitement among the troops, a 
 majority of whom were in favor of falling back to 
 their regimental headquarters at Weston. I was 
 
92 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 made aware of the situation, and was asked what 
 I thought of it. By this time I had become pretty 
 well accustomed to the numerous raids that were 
 always about to, but rarely did, occur ; and so I 
 replied that I intended to go to Weston in the 
 morning, and would have to see, or feel, the 
 enemy before starting the other way. 
 
 The troops finally concluded to adopt my course, 
 and remain where they were. A guard was kept 
 up during the entire night, however, and I volun- 
 teered to assist in the duty. In addition to my 
 two '* Navies," I was provided with an old sabre, 
 but of course had no occasion to use it. In the 
 morning I laid down my bloodless sword and hied 
 me away to Weston. 
 
 There were sixteen stations on the line, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Miles Distance front 
 Clarksburg. 
 
 Basil's 7 
 
 Janelew 15 
 
 Weslon 22.5 
 
 Crowell's 30 
 
 Jacksonville 38 
 
 Bulltown f 46 
 
 McNemer's 55 
 
 Sutton 63 
 
 Little Birch 71 
 
 Big Birch 80 
 
 Dufifey's 90 
 
 Sommerville 98 
 
 Brown's 106 
 
 Gross' 114 
 
 Morris' 123 
 
 Gauley Bridge 133 
 
UNPAID CLAIMS. 93 
 
 The fkrmers along this rovite were in the best 
 of times poor in circumstances; but at this time 
 they were badly stripped by both armies. Not- 
 withstanding this fact, they cheerfully made the 
 greatest efforts to feed and house our men and 
 horses. Neither the commissary nor quarter- 
 master's supplies could be furnished at most of 
 these places, even at a cost three or four times 
 greater than these people charged ; their usual 
 price being only twelve and a half cents per meal. 
 
 For seven months these farmers bore the bur- 
 den of the maintenance of this line, receiving 
 therefor during all this time but two months' pay. 
 I told these people at the time that the United 
 States Government would surely pay them. They 
 seemed to repose confidence in me, but probably 
 had more in the government whose humble ser- 
 vant I was. I am sorry to state that, after the 
 lapse of nearly twenty-seven years, our Govern- 
 ment has not yet paid this debt. 
 
 I have always thought that there rested on me 
 a moral obligation to try to have these poor and 
 honest people paid a debt of such evident just- 
 ness. With this end in view, immediately upon 
 the discontinuance of the line, which was at my 
 suggestion, I went over the route and secured 
 from the farmers itemized statements of their 
 claims for board and foraoe, and returninof to 
 Clarksburg presented them to Captain Hunting- 
 ton, a newly appointed assistant-quartermaster. 
 
94 TiiE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 This gentleman was a great stickler for " red 
 tape." He was very pompous in his manner, 
 and evidently had a full appreciation of his own 
 importance. He ignored the claims, and refused, 
 in addidon, to pay me two weeks' salary then due. 
 Being now anxious to get into active service in 
 the field, I dropped all consideration of these 
 claims, and proceeded to organize a company of 
 infantry, which I did in eight days. 
 
 After the war I removed with my family from 
 the locality of the line, and later from the State, 
 and for a long time I did not have the means or 
 the encouragement to make another effort in this 
 direction ; but in March, 1877, I became troubled 
 with the idea that these people generally might 
 be impressed with the belief that I had made per- 
 sonal use of their claims. The possibility of such 
 an imputation so weighed upon me that I started 
 from Allegheny City, Pa., a distance of over four 
 hundred miles, went over the old line, and made 
 a personal visit to all of the claimants, or their 
 heirs, and found that my suspicions had a basis 
 in fact, at least with a majority of them. 
 
 From these claimants I procured a new set of 
 claims duly signed and sealed by the clerks of the 
 different county courts, with certificates attached. 
 These I took to Washington, D. C, and placed in 
 the hands of a claim agent, to whom I agreed to 
 give ten per cent, of the amounts for his assist- 
 ance in adjusting and securing their payment. 
 
THIRTY DOLLARS ONLY. 95 
 
 After sending out three sets of papers, at three 
 different periods, each time causing the claimants 
 the trouble and expense of preparing revised 
 claims, paying clerk fees, etc., and expending 
 quite a sum personally, I have secured as a result 
 the munificent sum of thirty dollars as a partial 
 payment of these claims. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Commissioned Lieutenant of Volunteers by Governor Pierpont 
 — Raising a Company of Infantry — Arrival at Wheeling — 
 Mustered in as Company B, 15TH Regiment West Virginia 
 Volunteers — Commissioned Captain — Ordered to New Creek 
 — On Duty at " Knobbley Mountain "— First and Last Occa- 
 sion for Reproving my Men — An Irreparable Injury. 
 
 After trying without success to adjust the 
 business of the express line, I returned home, and 
 soon after received from Governor Pierpont a 
 lieutenant's commission in the volunteei*" service 
 of the State. I made no application for this 
 honor, and up to the present time I am unaware 
 of how It was procured. The commission em- 
 powered me to enlist men for the volunteer ser- 
 vice for three years, or during the war. 
 
 Within eight days after the receipt of this doc- 
 ument I had enlisted a first-class company, seven- 
 teen of whom were six feet high or upwards ; six 
 were six feet two inches, and one, Daniel Arbo- 
 gast, was six feet five and one-half inches in 
 height. This was not such a bad showing, con- 
 sidering the previous drain of volunteers from 
 our^'sparsely settled border county. 
 
 During the months that I was engaged on the 
 express line efforts had been made at forming 
 (96) 
 
DRILLING RAW RECRUIiS. 97 
 
 two Other companies in Lewis county, but the re- 
 cruits finally had to join forces in order to make 
 one company, and even then they fell one short 
 of the minimum number of men required. A 
 week after we had been mustered in we o-ave 
 them a man to enable them to complete their or- 
 ganization. His name was Benton Flesher, and 
 the poor fellow, I am sorry to say, was after- 
 wards killed in action at Berryville, Va. 
 
 We arrived at Wheeling Island in September, 
 1862, and were mustered in as Company B, 15th 
 Regiment West Virginia Volunteers, and I was 
 commissioned captain in command. During the 
 time we were stationed at Wheelincr learnincr to 
 be soldiers, there were besides our own two other 
 good regiments, the 12th and 14th, drilling on the 
 island. 
 
 The officers in command of these two regi- 
 ments at the first were soon lost sight of. One 
 was a lawyer, who afterwards became a judge, but 
 he could not learn soldiery, and had to return 
 home, where he resumed the practice of his more 
 congenial and less hazardous profession. 
 
 The weather was fine during our stay at 
 Wheeling, and we had a pleasant time drilling 
 and otherwise preparing for active service. Our 
 boys seemed proud of their new uniforms, espe- 
 cially those fortunate enough to sport straps on 
 their shoulders, or the official '* V " upon their 
 sleeves. Patriotic ladies visited us frequently 
 
98 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 and cheered the boys by words and smiles, and 
 ofttunes with more substantial presents of invit- 
 , ing delicacies for their mess. Thus were we 
 urged forward on our path of duty by many kind 
 acts and endearing expressions. 
 
 On October i8th, 1862, our regiment (Com- 
 panies G and K not yet having been mustered 
 in) left Wheeling Island under orders to go to 
 New Creek, Va., on the Baltimore and Ohio 
 Railroad, where we arrived safely the following 
 day. We found, on reaching that point, the 
 beautiful valley of New Creek dotted for a great 
 distance on both sides of the railroad track with 
 handsome new white tents, erected and occupied 
 by the twenty-seven thousand troops under the 
 command of Generals Milroy and Kelley, then 
 stationed there to protect the railroad and guard 
 the highway running east and west throughout 
 *the length of the valley. 
 
 One of the most important and easily accessi- 
 ble approaches to this encampment was a road 
 crossing the valley at right angles, and extending 
 to the southwest and far into the Confederacy. 
 This road skirted " Knobbley Mountain," one of 
 the Allegheny range, but standing out from its 
 companions solitary and alone, and lying about 
 three miles south of our camp. From this point 
 a vidette could command for a great distance 
 a good view of the meanderings of the pike, as 
 k wound around the base of the eminence. To 
 
HOLDING AN OUTPOST. 99 
 
 guard this approach was a post of considerable 
 danger, and one requiring the exercise of con- 
 stant vigilance to prevent a surprise from rebel 
 f raiders who frequently came up from the south 
 /over this route on predatory excursions. 
 
 When our company had been at New Creek 
 for probably a week, we were sent on detached 
 duty to this mountain. The singling out of our 
 company for this important outpost was looked 
 upon by all as an especial honor, and one which 
 we, as raw recruits, fully appreciated. There was, 
 in addition to Company B, a section of Colonel 
 Mulligan's Battery already stationed at *' Knob- 
 bley," and I was placed in temporary command of 
 both companies. We pitched our tents and 
 formed a camp upon the farm of Mrs. Trush, a 
 widow lady who had two of her three sons in the 
 Confederate service. 
 
 Shortly after our arrival the boys proceeded 
 to gather fuel for their camp-fires, and instead of 
 going Into the adjacent woods for this purpose, 
 they commenced demolishing the rail fences run- 
 ning along both sides of the road, and belonging 
 to the widow just mentioned. As this was being 
 done, I returned from a cursory observation of 
 our surroundings, and discovering the wanton 
 destruction in progress, I immediately ordered it 
 stopped. 
 
 The remarks I made to the men on this oc- 
 casion were, as near as I can recollect, about as 
 
lOO THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 follows : " This Is the first time I have had oc- 
 casion to reprove you since your enlistment, and 
 no one, I assure you, would feel happier at the 
 absence of cause for so doing than myself It is 
 true that the offence appears trivial in itself; 
 but experience has shown that small infractions 
 of discipline, if allowed to go unpunished, may, 
 and generally do, lead to more serious ones. 
 
 " Knowing the sterling material of which this 
 company is composed, I anticipate but little dif- 
 ficulty in securing your hearty co-operation in my 
 efforts to inculcate and pursue an honest, honor- 
 able and soldier-like course In my command 
 during our term of service, be It long or short. 
 By such a line of conduct we are not only com- 
 plying with the rules and regulations of the army 
 but also of a higher power, from whom all other 
 powers derive their existence. In this connection 
 I venture to suggest, that it behooves a soldier In 
 active service, more than any one else, to be 
 prepared at any moment to render an account of 
 his stewardship to the Supreme Commander. 
 
 " I know that you did not reflect that In de- 
 stroying these fences you were committing a 
 depredation upon a helpless widow. She is, I 
 learn, very nervous and much excited at the 
 arrival of fresh troops upon her land, fearing 
 from them more trouble than she experienced 
 from their predecessors. 
 
 " You may have heard that one or two of her 
 
CORRECTING ABUSES. ICT 
 
 sons have gone to the rebel army, but this fact 
 does not, In my opinion, mitigate our offence. It 
 is nobler to forbear through mercy than to desist 
 from fear of certain punishment. You have an 
 abundant supply of firewood about as near 
 your camp as Is the fence. You have axes and 
 you know how to use them, so you can have good 
 fires without destroying anybody's property for 
 fuel. 
 
 " In conclusion I would suggest that If the old 
 lady has milk or fruit to sell, and you want 
 either, pay for it like men. If k were my last 
 cent, I would much rather contribute it to this 
 purpose than that we should bear the stigma of 
 tlneves.'* 
 
 Never after this had I any occasion to reprove 
 any of th^ men for trespass. They cheerfully 
 replaced the rails they had displaced, and soon 
 had the fence in good shape again. Mrs. Trush 
 secured a good and ready market for her milk, 
 butter, and fruit; and was more sorry at our 
 departure, I am glad to say, than she was at our 
 arrival. 
 
 Some time later in the day, as I was making a 
 more careful Inspection of our encampment, I 
 noticed six very fat artillery horses belonging to 
 the section of battery of which I was, for the time 
 being, in command, standing in a field of growing 
 corn. The horses were loose and at a consider- 
 able distance from the camp, where of course 
 
102 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 they should have been kept. This latter fact h 
 what concerned me most, and I ordered the 
 lieutenant to have the animals taken at once to 
 their sheds, which were close to their riders' 
 " quarters." 
 
 After this had been done I learned that the 
 standing corn in the field where the animals were 
 surfeiting themselves had not been husked. The 
 owner of the grain was a son of Mrs. Trush, the 
 widow just mentioned. He was at this time con- 
 fined to his bed. suffering from awhite swelling, and 
 was unable to husk and crib his corn. The follow- 
 ing morning, after parade, I took occasion to 
 somewhat severely censure this portion of my 
 command for permitting their horses to wander 
 about, and especially for allowing them to con- 
 sume and destroy a sick man's property. I 
 reminded them, in the course of my remarks, that 
 if Colonel Mullio^an was made aware of the cir- 
 cumstances there was no one in the entire army 
 %/ho would feel more indignant at such conduct, 
 but that I hoped it would not be necessary to 
 trouble him with any such news. 
 
 I was pleased to see soon after substantial evi- 
 dence of the good effect my Words had upon the 
 boys. This appeared in their voluntarily turning 
 out and going into the field of growing corn, 
 infantry and artillerymen together, and indulging 
 in an old-time husking frolic. They not only 
 husked the corn, but took it to the cribs and stored 
 
UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT. IO3 
 
 it safely away. This action on the men's part 
 gave me more satisfaction than I had experienced 
 from any cause of a mihtary sort for a long 
 time. 
 
 After a stay of twenty-six days — until Novem- 
 ber 19th — at Knobbley Mountain, we returned to 
 New Creek, where we remained until December 
 2 2d. During our stay of over a month at New 
 Creek we got the first real taste of the severity 
 of camp life, owing to the rigorous inclemency of 
 the weather. It was about this time, when at the 
 commissariat department at New Creek station, 
 that I received an irreparable injury while leaving 
 the freight depot one evening. 
 
 I had just purchased some things from the 
 assistant commissary, Mr. Peter Bryson. The 
 night was dark, and, when leaving, I started to 
 step from the platform to the track, which was 
 some three feet lower, but my feet went through 
 a " cattle-stop " in the road-bed and, falling for- 
 ward, my breast came violently in contact with one 
 of the rails. The force of the blow threw me 
 heavily back against the other rail and I fainted 
 away. I was picked up, borne into the office of 
 the commissary, and placed in a chair. For two 
 weeks following I was under the treatment of Dr. 
 Oliver, a United States army surgeon : a rupture 
 resulting from this accident, from which I have 
 never recovered. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Ordered to Back Creek — Arrival and Encampment There- 
 Poltroonery OF THE Recruits Previously Stationed There- 
 Teaching the " Boys " to Read and Write — Practising Disci- 
 pline — Sitting on Brigade Court-Martial — Colonel Yutzy — 
 A Comment from President Lincoln. 
 
 After leaving New Creek we went to Sir 
 John's Run, where our regiment estabHshed head- 
 quarters, and from which place we were detached 
 to Back Creek Bridge, on the line of the Baltimore 
 and Ohio Railroad, where we arrived December 
 23d. Five or six of the companies were stationed 
 at the most important points along the line of this 
 road ; companies C, H, I, and B were located in 
 the order named. As may be seen, Company B 
 was the farthest east. Our company's orders 
 were to go to Back Creek bridge and protect it 
 from destruction by the enemy, who had on two 
 previous occasions burned it to the water's edge. 
 
 The bridge was only a mile from North Moun- 
 tain, and spanned a creek that emptied into the 
 Potomac river, which at this point flowed parallel 
 with the railroad for a considerable distance. The 
 troops placed here prior to our arrival for the 
 specific duty of protecting this property, had on 
 both occasions of its destruction ingloriously run 
 (104) 
 
A PERILOUS POST. I OS 
 
 away. I was therefore resolved that, so far as I 
 was concerned, my company should not avail it- 
 self of the cowardly precedent to shirk or evade 
 so plain a duty as was set before us here. 
 
 After pitching our tents I made an inspection 
 of the surroundings, and, as a result, felt satisfied 
 that we occupied a good defensive position. Our 
 camp was located in a skirt of woods lying between 
 the river and the railroad, the river on our left 
 and the creek in our front, making the position 
 one of great natural superiority in any skirmish 
 with the enemy. The approach from the south 
 side was the only one of which we were at all 
 apprehensive in case of attack, but this we took 
 special pains to fortify. 
 
 I now availed myself of an opportunity to ad- 
 dress my little command on. the subject of the 
 cowardly conduct of the raw troops that had pre- 
 ceded us at this point, dwelling at considerable 
 length on their contemptible and unpatriotic 
 action In running away from their post of duty, 
 simply on the report of country folks that the 
 enemy's forces were coming. In thus Imbuing 
 the boys with a proper detestation of unsoldlerlike 
 poltroonery, I was gratified to see that It had the 
 desired efi^ect iii causing them to appreciate and 
 practise In their daily exercises the opposite vir- 
 tues. Although not yet subjected to a trial, I was 
 impie.ssed with the belief that we had some good 
 material in our little com^mand, composed as it 
 
I06 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 was of Americans, Germans, Irishmen, and one 
 Englishman, Joseph Hall by name. Hall was one 
 of the quietest and most inoffensive citizens of 
 Lewis county, but when in action he well sus- 
 tained the prestige of his country for courage. 
 Though doubtless the equal, yet he was in no 
 wise superior to many of his comrades of other 
 nationalities, as was indubitably attested before 
 the close of the war. 
 
 We soon had things in fair shape at Back 
 Creek. Owing to the continued severity of the 
 weather we could do but little drillino-, as the 
 getting of fuel, doing of picket duty, and strict 
 adherence to a daily routine of cleanliness in 
 person and accoutrements, occupied our time 
 and attention pretty fully. In addition to the 
 above duties I conceived an idea, born of a pa- 
 ternal interest in the welfare of the boys, which I 
 carried into effect. I found that when the pay- 
 master presented his pay-roll to my men, many 
 of them made an "X," requiring in such cases a 
 witness to their marks. I took the occasion to 
 address them in a manner which my innate feel- 
 ings dictated, avoiding anything likely to wound 
 their pride, and deprecating the circumstances 
 that deprived them of education. I told them 
 that I would furnish paper, pens and ink, and de- 
 vote all the spare time I had to their improve- 
 ment. This I did with a feeling of satisfaction 
 that no pay could give. The result was that in a 
 
LESSONS IN CAMP. IO7 
 
 surprisingly short time after their first lessons 
 many of the men signed their names legibly to 
 all documents submitted to them ; and they con- 
 tinued to improve until they delighted their folks 
 at home by sending them autograph letters, con- 
 taining the pleasing intelligence that ever after- 
 wards they would be relieved of the humiliation 
 of having to intrust their family secrets to an un- 
 sympathetic amanuensis. That more of the boys 
 did not profit by my humble endeavors in this 
 direction was no fault of mine. 
 
 I also devoted a good deal of time to the in- 
 struction of the men in the best methods of 
 cleaning their arms and accoutrements, and in 
 properly folding and rolling their kits and great- 
 coats. I was well assisted in this duty by one of 
 my men. Private Lawrence May, of whom more 
 anon. I introduced another feature, not then 
 practiced in the volunteer service, the utility of 
 which my men did not understand until near the 
 close of the war, when they came in contact with 
 the soldiers of the regular army. In making a 
 detail for picket or guard duty there were always 
 selected two more than the needed number for 
 such service. The officer whose duty it was to 
 inspect these guards was each day required to 
 carefully pick out two of the cleanliest men in 
 the ranks to complete the quota of men called 
 for under this rule, and then to exempt them 
 from duty until it again became their time, in 
 regular turn, to perform the unpleasant service. 
 
I08 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 When quartered near a town, or regimental 
 headquarters, they were also permitted to visit 
 these places on a leave of absence for pleasure 
 or business of their own. It was a privilege 
 worth contending for, and had the desired good 
 effect on the conduct and habits of the men. 
 Later. on, when we were with the Army of the 
 James, where this practice prevailed, the boys 
 beo^an to realize that there was something in it; 
 especially after they had succeeded in carrying 
 off the honors for soldier-like neatness and clean- 
 liness from over one hundred picked men of the 
 command. 
 
 I was absent from my command from March 
 9th to May 3d, 1863, sitting on general courtr 
 martial at Cumberland, Md. Colonel M. McCas- 
 lin, of our regiment, was President of the court, 
 and John F. Hoy, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 6th 
 West Virginia Infantry, was Judge Advocate. 
 Both were men of marked ability and experi- 
 ence. At this court I made the acquaintance of 
 Colonel E. D. Yutzy, then a Major in the 54th 
 Pennsylvania Volunteers, and afterwards State 
 Senator from his district. Colonel Yutzy was 
 well educated and embodied the most ennobling 
 and desirable qualities of chivalry, vivacity, and 
 geniality. When in action he fully bore out the 
 Wgh opinion I had conceived of him. Although 
 oui* duties were Important and were conducted 
 with somewhat of a judicial solemnity, yet we 
 
A COMMENT FROM LINCOLN. IO9 
 
 found Opportunities to enjoy many jovial times 
 together. 
 
 The particular case which occupied most of 
 our attention was that of a cold-blooded murder. 
 A man named John Martin, of the 23d IllInQls, 
 came in from New Creek to Cumberland, and 
 white at the latter place was set upon by three or 
 four armed men of the 3d Maryland Brigade, 
 without any just provocation, and was cruelly 
 murdered. The surgeon who held the post-mor- 
 tem examination on the body of the dead soldier 
 testified before the court, among other things, 
 that Private Martin w^as the finest specimen of 
 physical manhood that had ever come under his 
 professional observation. 
 
 When the finding of the court, to which I had 
 stoutly dissented, went before President Lincoln 
 for his approval, he returned the papers with the 
 indorsement that he did not understand how the 
 court could arrive at such a conclusion, in view 
 of the incriminatinof character of the evidence 
 submitted durinor die trial. The findlnor inflicted 
 a slight punishment only. 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Keturn to my Company — Petitioned to Resign — Resignation 
 Tendered, but not Accepted — Motives Actuating the Signers 
 OF THE Petition — Lack of Discipline During my Absence — 
 Daniel Arbogast, and What Befell him — Insubordination in 
 the Ranks — The Result — Surprised by the Enemy — Ordered 
 
 TO MAKE AN INGLORIOUS ReTREAT — DiSGUST THEREAT — HEAD- 
 QUARTERS AT Sir John's Run. 
 
 I RETURNED to my command at Back Creek after 
 ^n absence of fifty-two days and the boys seemed 
 glad to see me, but it was a false and sickly at- 
 tempt with the majority of them, who had shown 
 their true colors in the shape of a petition drawn 
 up, and numerously signed in my absence, and 
 presented to me on my return, asking me, in effect, 
 to resign my commission as captain, and by so 
 doing oblige the petitioners. On one so con- 
 scientiously devoted to the best interests of the 
 company as I felt myself to be, this act of base 
 ingratitude fell with crushing weight. Acting on 
 the impulse of the indignity, I instantly repaired 
 to headquarters and tendered my resignation to 
 the colonel, who as promptly refused to accept it. 
 He sat down, however, and gave me a kindly 
 lecture in his own pleasant and forcible manner. 
 He said that he w^as highly pleased with my con- 
 duct personally, and with the discipline I had in- 
 
 (no) 
 
VISITING THE GIRLS. Ill 
 
 stituted in my command. My resignation, he 
 added, would please my enemies only, and hurt 
 my friends, among whom, he was pleased to tell 
 me, where the best soldiers in my company. 
 
 On leaving for headquarters I had not apprised 
 the petitioners of my intentions in the premises, 
 and when I returned I said nothing of what had 
 transpired. When I reflected on the influence, 
 which, as I subsequently learned, h«ad prompted 
 the men to this act, I was enabled to bear the 
 stigma with more equanimity. Among the mo- 
 tives actuating many of the signers to this peti- 
 tion was a petty ambition, — as my resignation, if 
 accepted, would create about fifteen opportunities 
 for promotion In the company. 
 
 The parties most zealous in circulating the paper 
 for signatures enlarged considerably on this fact. 
 Another reason, and the one probably that had 
 the greatest weight with the boys, was an Induce- 
 ment held forth by the lieutenants, that in case of 
 their succeeding to the command of the company 
 the men would be permitted to enjoy greater 
 liberty of action in camp, and be granted leave 
 of absence with more frequency than they were 
 able to obtain under my system of discipline. 
 
 As an evidence of their good intentions in this 
 particular I found, upon my return from Cumber- 
 land, that there was not a good-looking young 
 lady within a circle of three miles surrounding the 
 camp, that the boys were not more or less inti- 
 
112 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 mately acquainted with. Some of the friendships 
 thus formed by the soldiers left visibly marked 
 and lasting impressions ; notably so in the case 
 of private Daniel Arbogast, for whom the gov- 
 ernment had no pantaloons long enough, he 
 beine six feet five and one-half inches in heio^ht. 
 
 There were three men in the company whom 
 we had considerable trouble in inducing to practice 
 ordinary habits of cleanliness. Dan was one of 
 them. He was by no means a bad-looking fellow 
 when he had made his toilet, but this latter hygienic 
 exercise was of such rare occurrence that one's 
 memory failed to retain the impression of his real 
 appearance, in the long intervals which str^ched 
 between his ablutions. Notwithstanding this 
 seemingly insuperable barrier to the good opinion 
 of the fair sex, Dan succeeded in making an im- 
 pression, and in his turn was impressed for life 
 by the small- pox. 
 
 This misfortune befell him in the following 
 manner. 
 
 About a mile from our encampment was a snug 
 farm house, the sole occupants of which, during 
 the time we were stationed at Back Creek, were 
 three sisters, all good looking and grown to 
 womanhood. The male portion of the household 
 it was rumored were in the Confederate service. 
 
 The proximity of this abode to the camp did 
 not, as may weW be supposed, long remain a secret 
 to the young fellows of the company, but, strange 
 
THE DUDE, DANIEL. II3 
 
 though It may appear, of all the visitors at their 
 house Arbogast appeared to be the most favored 
 by the girls. He was known to be one of the best 
 rail-splitters and wood-choppers in the section of 
 country whence he came. He was also a fair 
 house carpenter. These acquirements, coupled 
 with a willingness to perform other little services 
 around the place, proved decided helps to his 
 rapid advancement in the good estimation of the 
 lonely females. 
 
 Dan was quite a character In his way ; of a slow 
 phlegmatic temperament, almost impossible to 
 make angry, yet an absolute stranger to fear. 
 Whetliifer receiving punishment by the boxing- 
 gloves on the hands of smaller but better sclenced 
 boys of the company, or confronting the enemy 
 in the hardest contested engagement, he invariably 
 wore the same imperturbable, good-humored 
 smile, apparently as indifferent to pain or danger 
 as he was careless of his personal appearance. 
 
 He possessed another natural gift, not the least 
 of his attractions from a feminine point of view. 
 He was a ventriloquist to the extent of producing 
 musical sounds from his lungs without any visible 
 movement of his lips. This last accomplishment 
 completely charmed the maidens, and Dan became 
 a doubly welcome visitor in consequence. But 
 all earthly pleasures are transitory, and in this 
 case the end came suddenly, and from an unex- 
 pected source. The news reached camp one day 
 
114 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 that the home of the three girls had been visited 
 by that loathsome and much-dreaded pest, the 
 small-pox. The sisters were each stricken down, 
 in turn, with the disease, and so rapidly did they 
 follow one another that the last to fall sick was 
 unable in the short interval prior to her own ill- 
 ness to properly attend or nurse the others. Ar- 
 bogast, however, did not desert them in this their 
 trying hour of need ; or, rather, I did not permit 
 him to do so, for it was at this critical period that 
 I returned to my command. After learning the 
 situation of affairs at the farm-house, I refused to 
 allow him to come near our quarters ; so he re- 
 mained like a brother with the girls until they 
 were up and convalescent, when he fell a victim 
 to the disgusting disease himself. On the humane 
 rule that "one good turn deserves another," the 
 girls were now assiduous in their care of Dan 
 until he was entirely well. 
 
 Notwithstanding the close and intimate relation- 
 ship subsisting between the soldier and these 
 foolish girls I incline to the belief that their inter- 
 course was purely of a friendly sort. In fact I 
 may say while on this subject that there was not 
 an instance that came to my knowledge during 
 the war in which any member of my company 
 was charged with paying unwelcome or ungentle- 
 manly attentions to the fair sex. 
 
 While Arbogast was lying sick at the house of 
 the three sisters one of our men, who had a couple 
 
BULL-DOZING THE CAPTAIN. II 5 
 
 of years previously been afflicted with small-pox, 
 was permitted to take a daily supply of rations 
 to within hailing distance of the premises and 
 leave it there for the use of the beleaeured in- 
 mates, one of whom would shortly appear and 
 take the food into the house. By this means, and 
 the adoption of other precautionary measures, the 
 disease was happily confined to its source, and 
 all of the boys, except Arbogast, escaped the 
 dreadful scouroe. 
 
 This then was the lax system of discipline I 
 found prevailing upon my return ; and for these, 
 and kindred reasons, the boys wished to be 
 relieved of my restraining influence. 
 
 Seeing that their request for my resignation 
 did not have the anticipated effect, they resorted 
 to other methods known to have been successful 
 in removino^ obnoxious commanders in our reg^i- 
 ment, the case of the captain of Company C being 
 then quite recent. This was to resort to general 
 insubordination and intimidation. To this end 
 about half a dozen of the most unruly members 
 of the company asked permission to attend a 
 dance to be held some distance from the camp, 
 with the avowed intention, in the event of my 
 refusal, to test the question of mastery between 
 us. With a knowledge of the facts I accepted 
 the gauntlet thus thrown down, and promptly 
 refused my assent to their going to the dance or 
 elsewhere, and issued an order that no one should 
 
I 1 6 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 leave his quarters after the last "tattoo" without 
 permission. I also instructed the non-commis- 
 sioned officers in charge of squads to report to 
 me any infractions of the above order. The fol- 
 lowing morning nine men were reported to me 
 as having been absent from their quarters without 
 leave during the whole of the previous night. 
 
 I sent word to the first lieutenant to prepare for 
 duty, but the orderly returned with the reply that 
 that officer was sick. The second lieutenant was 
 next called on to report for service, but he also 
 was indisposed; and so on down the limited list. 
 In fact I never found, before or after, so many of 
 my company ill as on this occasion. 
 
 They all appeared to be enjoying poor health. 
 In short, the officers and a majority of the men 
 were aware that the culprits intended to resist 
 arrest, and they did not, therefore, care to respond 
 to the disagreeable call, for the double reason 
 that they were in secret sympathy with the 
 offenders, and that the latter were known to have 
 in addition to their muskets a good supply of 
 " six-shooters," thereby making an attempt to 
 place them under arrest extra hazardous. 
 
 In this emergency I took hold of matters my- 
 self. I promptly wrote out charges and specifica- 
 tions against the men, and addressed the docu- 
 ment to the colonel of the regiment. After this 
 was done I dressed in full uniform, with sword 
 and side-arms, called an orderly-sergeant, took 
 
SUPPRESSING MUTINY. II7 
 
 him with me to the men's quarters, had him call 
 out a detail of eight privates and a sergeant, 
 armed and equipped for duty, marched to the 
 quarters of the malcontents, and in double-file 
 opened order. Leaving them in this position, and 
 vi^ithout telling them what the exact nature of their 
 duty was to be, I walked into the Sibley tent and 
 over to where Thomas Hynes, one of the bravest 
 of the culprits stood, revolver in hand. I did not 
 lay hands on any of my weapons, but walked 
 directly over to where he stood, and with a quick 
 movement wrenched the revolver from his hand. 
 I then took him by the shoulder, and he went out 
 into the ranks ready to receive him about as 
 quickly as had the revolver disappeared from his 
 hand. 
 
 There was no trouble with the remaining of- 
 fenders. 
 
 While this little scene was beinof enacted the 
 sick lieutenants were outside of their tents taking 
 particular notice of what was transpiring. The 
 (to them) unexpected result worked a wondrous 
 change in their physical conditions, and they re- 
 covered their health as suddenly as they had lost 
 it. 
 
 When all the prisoners were secured the word 
 to " forward march " was given, and I delivered 
 them a short time later, together with the papers 
 addressed to the colonel, into the charge of Cap- 
 tain Newman, of Company I, with the request 
 
Il8 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 that he escort them to Captain Liiken, of Com- 
 pany H, and thence to the captain of Company C, 
 at Alpine, with instructions that they be forwarded 
 to headquarters of the regiment at Sir John's Run. 
 By this time the boys began to reahze that I not 
 only had some idea of the prerogatives of my 
 position, but was not particularly backward about 
 exercising them. 
 
 After reaching headquarters the prisoners were 
 sent to Cumberland, there to languish for two or 
 three months in dark and noisome cells, awaiting 
 the next sitting of a general court-martial. When 
 they had endured this sort of thing for a couple 
 of weeks they began writing humbly worded let- 
 ters to the colonel, begging his intercession in 
 their behalf. The latter was, if possible, more 
 tender-hearted than the immortal Lincoln himself. 
 By repeated entreaties, they so worked upon his 
 feelings that he corresponded with me on the 
 subject of their release. Before doing so, how- 
 ever, he gave the prisoners to understand that he 
 could do nothino^ unless I consented to withdraw 
 the charges I had preferred against them. They 
 thereupon turned their attention to me, writing in 
 a very submissive spirit, and promising to be good 
 soldiers in the future if permitted to return to 
 their company. 
 
 My only object — the enforcement of a proper 
 respect for discipline — having been attained, I 
 readilv consented to their release, and we soon 
 
THE ENEMY AT HAND. II9 
 
 had them back with us. It gives me pleasure to 
 state that after their return they all made first- 
 rate records, and were, during the war, among the 
 most subordinate of my command. 
 
 About this time we were busy erecting at a 
 short distance south of the railroad track a block- 
 house for better defensive purposes. It was to 
 be a good structure, though comparatively small, 
 being intended to comfortably accommodate one 
 company only, but In case of an attack two com- 
 panies might be disposed within Its walls. While 
 still working on it, and just before the roof was 
 placed in position, we received reliable Informa- 
 tion that the enemy was approaching in the direc- 
 tion of our camp. Corporal Monypenney and 
 myself made a reconnoissance, and found the re- 
 port to be correct. Just as we returned a cav- 
 alryman, named Pelffer, came dashing into camp 
 badly scared, and his horse covered with foam, 
 carrying the intelligence that Longstreet's di- 
 vision of the enemy was only a short distance in 
 his rear. 
 
 The long-looked-for issue, I thought, was now 
 at hand that would test the kind of material of 
 which we were composed. The men had been 
 schooled so well in their duties that I do not recall 
 a single instance of any of them suggesting igno- 
 minious retreat. We hurriedly detailed half a 
 dozen men to go with a handcar and water-vessels 
 
 to a spring bordering the track in the direction 
 s 
 
I20 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 of North Mountain, and quite close to its base, for 
 a supply of drinking-water for our use in case of 
 a siege. 
 
 By this time we were reinforced by Company I, 
 Captain Newman in command, who had been sta- 
 tioned a few miles westward from our camp. 
 The captain, on learning of the critical situation, 
 had wisely decided to join us at the block-house. 
 In view of the reported large force of the enemy 
 approaching, he objected to going with his com- 
 pany Into the fort, preferring, he said, to take to 
 the little skirt of woods bounded by the river and 
 the railroad. 
 
 Being senior officer I vetoed this suggestion, 
 pointing out the fact that in such a position he 
 would be sure to be captured, as retreat would 
 be impossible ; and finally, that he could not hope 
 to do much effective damage to the enemy before 
 the latter would be upon him. Both companies 
 were then instructed to retire within the block- 
 house, and prepare for the stern duty apparently 
 before them. This they complied with, and In a 
 short time all the men were safely Inside. 
 
 While a squad of four or five, under my Imme- 
 diate charofe, were brinorlnof In the last remnants 
 of our camp traps, I heard the shrill whistle of a 
 locomotive shrieking away around the bend In our 
 rear, the train coming eastward. I knew in a 
 moment what it meant, and, although not to my 
 credit to say so, 1 pronounced a hearty malediction 
 
UNWELCOME ORDERS. 121 
 
 on this, the Instrument of our dehverance ; for 
 such, indeed, it was, and with its arrival were 
 blasted all hopes of our having an opportunity to 
 give a good account of ourselves in the expected 
 
 enoraorement. 
 
 O <5 
 
 Looking back at the situation now, with a 
 calmer and more experienced mind, I am free to 
 confess that it is altogether likely the timely ar- 
 rival of this train saved many, if not all, of the 
 lives of our small body. The engine, tender and 
 four or five flat-cars came to a standstill at a point 
 near where I was standing, and Captain S. F. 
 Shaw, of Company G, jumped from the train, and 
 approaching me hurriedly said, in his concise and 
 off-hand manner: 
 
 " Captain, it is the colonel's orders that you at 
 once get your command aboard this train, and not 
 to wait even for your knapsacks." 
 
 Deeply chagrined, I replied that I should obey 
 orders, but that I would have to await the return 
 of the men sent down the track for water, before 
 complying. Glancing towards the engine, I took 
 a mental survey of the individual who presided at 
 the throttle. His appearance indicated seemingly 
 that he was the right man for an emergency. 
 Approaching, I asked him if he would run down 
 the road a short distance and pick up the water 
 squad. He assented readily, and with the air of 
 a man who could be relied upon to do his full duty. 
 I have always been sorry that I did not learn the 
 
122 THE FLYING, GRAY-HATRED YANK. 
 
 brave fellow's name. I sent five or six privates 
 armed with muskets with him, and they cut loose 
 from the train, taking but one car with them. 
 While they were gone we loaded our camp and 
 garrison equipage on the remaining cars. 
 
 The rebel skirmishers were now in plain sight. 
 That they did not open fire on the boys who had 
 gone for the water, or their rescuers on the loco- 
 motive, has always been a mystery to me. Per- 
 haps, seeing the train loaded with soldiers, it 
 impressed them with the belief that if they opened 
 the ball first, they might awaken an unwelcome 
 response of grape and canister from us. How- 
 ever this may be, the engine soon returned unmo- 
 lested, bearing back all of the men but three who 
 had become separated from their comrades, and 
 who, on seeing their retreat cut off by the enemy, 
 procured horses and succeeded in crossing the 
 Potomac and escaping. To our agreeable sur- 
 prise, they rejoined their company at New Creek, 
 a few days later. We not only took our knap- 
 sacks, but every other article of property we had 
 charofe of at this station. 
 
 When moving off, I could not help feeling, as I 
 took a last look at that unfortunate bridge — 
 doomed for a third time to destruction — that our 
 running away without making an effort to save it, 
 while it might evidence good generalship, savored 
 considerably of cowardice. On our ignominious 
 retreat to headquarters we picked up two other 
 
SIR John's run. 123 
 
 companies, I and H, at short Intervals apart. They 
 each had their equipments in readiness to load as 
 we came up. No incident worthy of mention 
 occurred during the ride, and we arrived un- 
 harmed at Sir John's Run in due time. 
 
 Thus did we add our names to the long list of 
 those who "run away," but who thereby "live to 
 fight some other day." 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Return to New Creek — Forced Marches in Pursuit of General 
 Lee — Thoughts Upon the Expected Engagement — Suggestions 
 to General B. F. Kelley — Escape of the Enemy — Following 
 him up — Crossing the Potomac — Engaging the Enemy's Skir- 
 mishers — Tables Turned on us — Our Hurried Flight — Second 
 Advance — Final Escape of Lee. 
 
 We remained at headquarters until June i6th, 
 when we received orders to proceed, for the sec- 
 ond time, to New Creek. After a stay of about 
 twenty days at the latter place, and about the 
 time of the great battle at Gettysburg, our bri- 
 gade, under command of General B. F. Kelley, 
 received hurried marching orders to proceed in 
 the direction of that historic field. 
 
 We marched direct from New Creek to Cum- 
 berland, Md., thence northeasterly on the pike to 
 Hancock. We tramped all day and night in an 
 incessant and drenchinof rain that had not abated 
 when we arrived the followinof mornino^ at Han- 
 cock, amidst a terrific downpour, tired, soaked 
 and miserably wretched. 
 
 Of the entire brigade there were only ten or 
 
 twelve men on the ground when morning broke. 
 
 Only two of these, Sergeant May and Corporal 
 
 Hitt, in addition to myself, were of Company B. 
 (124) 
 
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 crq 
 
 p 
 
 3 
 
 O 
 
 o 
 w 
 
 p 
 
 3 
 
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 r> 
 
 S3 
 
 p 
 
 p 
 cr; 
 
 to 
 
 4^ 
 
 i:iii:iiliiiilii:,'i'ili[l!lllii 
 
 
 
SOAKING WET. I 25 
 
 The poor fellows composing this advance squad 
 were in a pitiable state from fatigue and loss of 
 sleep. 
 
 The rear guard, finding a great portion of the 
 command lying on the roadside asleep, would 
 awaken and drive them in their front. It was a 
 sad siorht to see the tired soldiers staororerino- and 
 falllncr Hke drunken men, uro^ed onward at the 
 point of the bayonet in the hands of their com- 
 rades in their rear. 
 
 Having arrived at Hancock, I lay down In a 
 fence corner, with a rail for a pillow, and was 
 soon sound asleep. When I awoke, a couple of 
 hours later, a rippling current was playing through 
 my long hair, and my body was, if possible, more 
 thoroughly water-soaked than when I first laid 
 down. It is strange, but true, that at the time I 
 felt no ill effects from this wretched exposure. 
 
 We rested at Hancock until July iith, when 
 we continued our march to Fairview, one of the 
 most elevated points in Maryland, and command- 
 ing a fine view of some of the grandest scenery 
 in the State. We are reinforced by General 
 AverlH's brigade, consisting of cavalry and artil- 
 lery, making our total force about seven thousand 
 strong, all in prime condition, and — if judged by 
 their appearance and actions — spoiling for a fight. 
 
 From the indications then observable it looked 
 strongly as though their desires in this particular 
 were to be fully gratified within a very short time. 
 
126 THE FLYING, GRAY-H4IRED YANK. 
 
 General Lee was known to be retreatlnsf south- 
 ward, after his disastrous meeting with Meade. 
 He was moving over the route leading through 
 the section in which we then were, and the prob- 
 abilities of our meetinor him were stronor. Durinor 
 the night of July i ith I slept but little. Although 
 not assigned to duty, my mind was busy with 
 thoughts of the battle likely to be fought on the 
 following day. 
 
 It may seem, and doubtless it was, quite absurd 
 in an obscure captain, commanding but a handful 
 of men, to be revolving in his mind, as was I, 
 plans upon which to conduct the expected engage- 
 ment; but I could not help it. I believed firmly 
 that the auspicious time for ending the bloody 
 strife had arrived. The fall of Vicksburg on July 
 4th, the day following that on which the long- 
 contested and famous battle of Gettysburg was 
 ended and won for the Union, had discouraged 
 the whipped and retreating enemy now approach- 
 ing us; and I felt that, aided by the natural ad- 
 vantages of our position, we might safely engage 
 Lee at a time when his army was divided by the 
 boomine waters of the then swollen Potomac, 
 with the undoubted assurance of harasslncr him 
 greatly, and possibly winning a partial victory 
 from him after first making the division of his 
 forces complete by smashing his pontoons. 
 
 I learned during the night from two deserters 
 that Lee was about to cross the river at Williams- 
 
TRYING TO ENTRAP LEE. 12/ 
 
 port, Md,, a small town a few miles below us. 
 The knowledge of his intentions thus acquired 
 suggested the idea above mentioned, of dividing 
 his army. I submitted my views, as soon as pos- 
 sible, to General Kelley, to the effect that I had a 
 good local knowledge of the topography of this 
 section, acquired while stationed at Back Creek, 
 and was aware that there were a o-reat number 
 
 o 
 
 of large trees overhanging the banks of the then 
 turbulent stream for a considerable distance on 
 both its sides, which, if cut down and allowed to 
 fall into the rapid current after a portion of the 
 enemy had crossed, would undoubtedly crush and 
 sweep away his pontoon bridges, and effectually 
 separate his army. This accomplished we could 
 safely engage the first portion of his command 
 with at least equal chances of success. 
 
 I tendered the general the services of my 
 company for this work, which could have been 
 easily and quickly accomplished by them, the 
 majority of them being practical wood-choppers, 
 had they received orders to do so ; but the order 
 never came. Every man of Lee's army who 
 wanted to do so got safely across the river with- 
 out molestation or interruption from us, while we 
 were calmly squinting at their progress through 
 field-glasses at a high elevation and a civil dis- 
 tance. In my humble opinion there never was a 
 grander opportunity for a brilliant coup de grace 
 than was lost to the Union cause on this occasion. 
 
128 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 At eight o'clock the next morning, July I2th, 
 we could hear some splendid cannonading east 
 of Fairview. A little later we located it east of 
 Williamsport. It soon died out, however, and we 
 could only surmise its cause. 
 
 We lay inactive, or nearly so, at Fairview for 
 the next two days, or until July 14th, when we 
 received marching orders and started at dawn on 
 double-quick time. Major E. D. Yutzy, of the 
 54th Pennsylvania (afterwards Colonel, and later 
 State Senator), was with me a good deal on this 
 march. I greatly enjoyed, when it was possible 
 to indulge in it, the companionship of Yutzy, who 
 combined the very essence of intellectual per- 
 spicacity with high military chivalry. 
 
 From later information received from fresh 
 deserters we learned that the last of Lee's army 
 was safely across the Potomac river before we 
 got our eleventh hour orders to move quickly. 
 This news made our hurried efforts now appear 
 so ridiculous and unnecessary that it was more 
 than Yutzy and the writer could quietly stand. 
 The former loudly and severely cridcised the 
 stupid dilatoriness of our commanders on this 
 occasion, to all of which I cordially agreed in 
 terms equally emphadc. Our uncompHmentary 
 -and insubordinate remarks were made in the 
 hearing of the generals, as we marched along, 
 and might easily have been made by them the 
 basis of a trial by court-mardal with my friend 
 
THE GAME SAFELY GONE. 1 29 
 
 and self as defendants ; but our indignation made 
 us for the time being, indifferent to any risks we 
 might be running in this particular. 
 
 On arriving at Williamsport, after our hurried 
 march, we found, as we had all along anticipated, 
 the game safely gone. Everybody felt disgrun- 
 tled at this farcical outcome of our long and 
 arduous tramp from New Creek ; and consider- 
 able grumbling was indulged in by the men at 
 the expense of our commanders. 
 
 It is possible, and may be probable, that the 
 latter were acting under orders, and carrying out 
 instructions received from a higher authority ; or 
 that their object was simply to keep the enemy 
 from foraging on the loyal people living along the 
 route he was then following. If the latter, our 
 trip was fairly successful. Whatever may have 
 been the reason, the fact remains that, judging 
 from apparent results, we had not accomplished 
 much. What made our disappointment complete 
 was the common expectation of great things from 
 Generals Averell and Kelley, both gentlemen of 
 unquestioned bravery. 
 
 In following the retreating enemy we returned 
 on the 15th as far as Cherry Run, after enduring 
 considerable hardships owing to the rough con- 
 dition of the roads over which we marched. On* 
 the day following our arrival General Kelley be- 
 came anxious to cross to the south bank of the 
 Potomac. The river was still high and rapid and 
 
130 THE FLYING, GRAY-IIAIRED YANK. 
 
 the only available means of crossing consisted of 
 three or four small and poorly constructed flat- 
 bottom barges, scarcely large enough to hold 
 more than one com'pany on each trip, and one 
 large barge, capable of answering the needed 
 purpose, but which could not be utilized until a 
 cable was first stretched from bank to bank to 
 oruide the craft. 
 
 For a suitable rope we did not know how long 
 we miofht have to wait, there not belnor one lonof 
 enough, or strong enough, in our wagon train, so it 
 w-as found to be necessary to send back several 
 miles to secure Vv^hat was needed. There seemed 
 to be great impatience among the men to get across 
 the stream ; and a number of them cast about 
 for a means for doinor so other than the cable. 
 
 o 
 
 But nobodv seemed to think of usinor the small 
 flats for that purpose, as they appeared useless, 
 being without oars to propel them. 
 
 Struck with an idea that I thought micrht be of 
 service, I went to General Kelley, and asked him 
 if he desired some of the troops put over at once. 
 He replied that he did, but could not see how it 
 could well be done until the arrival of the large 
 rope mentioned. 
 
 "General," said I, "if you order me to do so, I 
 will put my company over in a short time." 
 
 He was somewhat doubtful of the success of 
 such an attempt ; but upon my reaffirming my 
 ability to perform the feat, he directed his adjutant- 
 
CROSSING THE RIVER. I3I 
 
 general, Captain Thayer Melvin, to Issue orders 
 to our regiment to cross the river. 
 
 Expecting to be the first called upon, I antici- 
 pated my colonel's orders to the extent of send- 
 ing a tew of my men into the woods to cut down 
 saplings for poles long enough and stout enough 
 for our intended purpose. While they were 
 gone we secured one of the small flats to be used 
 by us in making the trial. We then awaited the 
 return of the men from the woods, and orders 
 to make theeffort from our regimental commander. 
 These latter did not reach us, however, until two 
 other companies had first made the attempt, and 
 were swept down with the current for fully a mile 
 from their starting-point. 
 
 At last our company got the looked-for orders 
 and immediately we were in the swift and angry 
 waters. Stripping to our shirts, we cast wide 
 our poles and bent to the work with a will ; each 
 man straining every nerve to accomplish the feat, 
 his pride aroused to the utmost in the effort. 
 We poled the boat in a diagonal course to a point 
 some distance above, and after great exertions 
 made the landing safely, before the others, who 
 had almost an hour's start, had touched the shore. 
 After making one or two more trips without 
 mishaps, the large rope arrived and the re- 
 mainder of the troops made the passage easily 
 and expeditiously. 
 
 On the 17th we marched to within a mile of 
 
132 THE FLYING, GRAY-HATRED YANK. 
 
 Hedgersvllle, near where we could see the 
 enemy's videttes in a skirt of woods lying be- 
 tween the village and our main body. Back 
 Creek, now overflowing its banks, lay between 
 them and us. Volunteers were now called for 
 to cross the creek, move in the direction of the 
 town, and flank the rebel pickets. One hundred 
 and ten men, a captain and two lieutenants, volun- 
 teered for the duty; but on reaching the stream 
 at the point intended for the passage they found 
 that the bridge spanning it had been swept away. 
 All halted, undecided what to do. Plunging in, I 
 offered to lead the party across, and we all started 
 to ford the creek. The water took us breast-high, 
 and was running very strong, causing us no litde 
 trouble to keep our feet. By holding their guns 
 hieh above their heads, the men succeeded in 
 keeping them dry. 
 
 Once over, we started in hot pursuit of the 
 " Johnnies • " finding them well mounted, however, 
 we had to abandon the chase, but not before our 
 places were taken by a squad of General Averell's 
 cavalry, who pursued the enemy so successfully 
 that they returned in a short time with twenty 
 prisoners. The gaunt and hungry appearance 
 of these captives and their animals was ample 
 evidence that General Lee's army, horse and foot, 
 had been on decidedly short rations for some time 
 previous to this date. 
 
 It was aftei nio[htfall when we returned, well 
 
NEARLY ENTRAPPED. I 33 
 
 tired, to camp, after having driven the enemy's 
 foragers from Hedgersville. From trustworthy 
 information received at the above place we 
 learned that Lee, aware of our pursuit of him, 
 was preparing to turn the tables on us and entrap 
 our entire command ; and that his apparendy 
 hurried flight was only a ruse to this end. Acting 
 in good faith on this news, we at once fell back 
 towards Cherry Run; and, as it proved, not a 
 moment too soon, for only by keeping it up far 
 into the night did we escape capture. 
 
 On July 2oth four companies, including Com- 
 pany B, in charge of Major Yutzy, were detailed 
 to act as skirmishers on our second advance in 
 the direction of the enemy. Shortly after starting, 
 we espied a squad of rebels. We pursued them 
 for an hour and a half, keeping them on the back- 
 ward move all of that time. A company of the 
 14th Pennsylvania Cavalry joined us later In the 
 chase, and two of their men were badly wounded 
 in a sharp engagement that followed. 
 
 The Confederates continued to retreat very 
 rapidly until they were in the Immediate vicinity 
 of their main body, when w^e in turn were ordered 
 to fall back. When night shut out our view, it 
 was learned that Lee was acrain closinof In on us. 
 I was placed in charge of the most advanced 
 pickets, with instructions to keep a sharp lookout 
 for the enemy. Nothing transpired until about 
 midnight, when all of our command except the 
 
134 THE FLYING, GKAV-H AIRED YANK. 
 
 ever faithful Yutzy and my company stole quietly 
 away in the darkness, leaving us where we were 
 to act as a blind ; thereby making the approach 
 of the enemy more slow and cautious, under the 
 impression that the remainder of our troops were 
 in our front. The trick succeeded and no doubt 
 saved the entire command, as when morning broke 
 the last of our troops were scarcely five minutes 
 on the other side of the river when an overwhelm- 
 ing force, under General Lee in person, came hur- 
 riedly down upon us. 
 
 That the rebels were suffering severely from 
 hunger was evident from the avidity displayed by 
 the poor fellows in picking up and eagerly de- 
 vouring the crumbs and scraps left by us in our 
 late camp. When we reached the north side of 
 the Potomac river our artillery was placed in a 
 commanding position and trained on the enemy; 
 and so we rested until the 24th, when, General 
 Lee having withdrawn, we recrossed the Potomac 
 to the Virginia side, and in a short time were once 
 more encamped on the old grounds at Back Creek, 
 where we remained until July 31st. 
 
 Little of interest occurred during our second 
 stay at this place, except that deserters continued 
 to come in regularly every day. Owing to the 
 absence of proper police regulations, the sanitary 
 condition of our camp became miserable, and the 
 place becoming very unhealthy we were all glad^ 
 to get away. 
 
FOLLOWING THE FOE. 1 35 
 
 On the 31st we followed in the wake of a part 
 of Lee's forces, retreating southwestward, keeping 
 between them and the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- 
 road. On this march we went through Rocky 
 Springs, Birchtown, Big Cacapon, and Blue Gap, 
 in Virginia, and on August 4th we encamped ten 
 miles east of Romney, the county-seat of Hamp- 
 shire county. West Virginia. 
 9 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Pastimes of the Troops — Encamped at Meciianicsburg Gap — A 
 Friendly Set-to — Breaking Camp — Arrival at Alpine — Placed 
 IN Command of two Companies — The Post Proves a Respon- 
 sible One — Complaints of the Actions of Troops Previously 
 Stationed at Alpine. 
 
 On August 5th we marched ten miles before 
 dinner, and In the afternoon encamped at Me- 
 chanicsburg Gap, two miles west of Romney. Our 
 camp here proved an agreeable change from that 
 of Back Creek, the air being pure and the sur- 
 roundings mountainous. The valley of the south 
 branch of the Potomac was very level and fertile, 
 showing evident signs of a prosperous people in 
 this section before the war. Here the pursuit of 
 Lee, so far as our brigade was concerned, ended, 
 and we remained encamped at Romney for sev- 
 eral months. 
 
 Many Incidents transpired during our stay here 
 which I should like to mention, but space will 
 hardly permit of my doing so. I shall, however, 
 venture to make one exception. One of the 
 many pastimes in which the boys of the brigade 
 in their leisure moments indulged, was the prac- 
 tice of the manly art of self-defence. A majority 
 of the younger element of the rank and file were 
 
 '■ ^136) 
 
JDW.A.11XVJ 1XLI\ LK^LICjO, 
 
 0/ 
 
 enthusiastic "boxers," were falHy well scienced 
 and frequently participated in lively " slugging '* 
 matches. As was to be expected, quite a rivalry 
 soon sprang up regarding the question of su- 
 premacy in the fistic art, between the men of the 
 different companies. At the time of which I write, 
 it appears that the boys of Company B had been 
 declared winners in several friendly set-tos, and, 
 as a result, were permitted to wear the '* belt " as 
 champions. This fact had, of course, somewhat 
 nettled the other members of the brigade, and as 
 a means of equalizing honors, they taunted the 
 winners with the claim that they had an officer 
 (a captain of a company from one of the chief 
 cities of our State) who, if he could be induced to 
 put on the gloves, would easily get away with 
 anything that Company B might bring up. 
 
 I afterwards learned that private Malia, one of 
 our best boxers, and no less an intrepid soldier, 
 spoke up in answer to this defiance, saying : " By 
 
 , our 'Gray Eagle' (a term not infrequently 
 
 applied to me in those days, by reason of my being 
 prematurely gray) can do the business for him, if 
 we can only arrange to get them to the scratch." 
 
 Well, this bantering by both sides was kept up 
 until at lenoth thev did succeed in brincrlnor the 
 captain and myself to the mark In the following 
 manner: amono- all the officers of our command, 
 the captain In question was my especial friend and 
 favorite, and we were a orreatdeal together in con- 
 
138 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 sequence. It so chanced that on the 20th of 
 August, he and myself were at headquarters re- 
 ceiving- orders from the colonel, and as we started 
 to leave we noticed, about ten yards distant, a 
 number of the soldiers amusino- themselves with 
 the gloves. Curious to know who they were and 
 how they were getting along, we strolled together 
 leisurely in that direction. As we approached, 
 the contestants ceased sparring, and they, together 
 with the on-lookers, came smilingly towards us 
 and, with a bow, presented us with the " mits," at 
 the same time requesting us, in the most per- 
 suasive manner possible, to show them a " little 
 fun." 
 
 We were both diffident In accepting the prof- 
 fered gloves, but the boys were persistent in their 
 importunities until, at last, we reluctantly con- 
 sented to gratify their curiosity for a few minutes. 
 When we were in our shirt sleeves, I found that I 
 had in the captain a finely-built young man to 
 encounter. He was in the prime of life, about 
 twenty-seven years old, and about my own height 
 (five feet eleven inches), but was considerably 
 heavier than I then was. 
 
 I soon found that the captain, as a boxer, mer- 
 ited the good opinion in which he was held by his 
 men, who were themselves well up in the science. 
 We continued sparring longer than I first intended 
 we should, owine to a mutual dislike to inflict 
 injury. Finally, after satisfying myself from the 
 
A KNOCK OUT. 1 39 
 
 manner In which my opponent handled himself, 
 that I was master of the situation, I said : " Cap- 
 tain, let us take them off; we've shown the boys 
 enough of fun now." 
 
 My proposition looked so much like throwing 
 up the sponge that the boys of Company B were 
 greatly crestfallen, and none more so than the 
 spunky Malia, at my seeming unwillingness to test 
 the question to a conclusion. Notwithstanding 
 this fact, it was my intention to submit gracefully 
 to the humiliation attaching to my offer to cease 
 boxing, but the captain appeared to look upon 
 my request in the same light as did the men, and 
 persuasively invited me to continue. His over- 
 confident air decided me, and I agreed, remarkino 
 that I construed his invitation to mean "busi- 
 ness." 
 
 The sparring after this was sharp and effective, 
 terminating rather suddenly when the glove on 
 my right hand came into too forcible contact with 
 my opponent's nose, staggering him badly and 
 causing the claret to flow freely. This ended it 
 by mutual consent, for in truth I felt more dis- 
 gusted than elated at my performance ; however, 
 I presume our boys felt differendy, owing to the 
 before-mentioned rivalry. 
 
 On November 5, 1863, our command broke 
 camp at Mechanicsburg Gap and departed under 
 marching orders for Springfield, Virginia. On the 
 25th of the same month Companies B and C, with 
 
140 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 the writer In command, received orders to report 
 for detached duty at Alpine, Virginia, a small sta- 
 tion on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, opposite 
 Hancock, Maryland, and divided from that place 
 by the Potomac river. 
 
 We arrived at Alpine on the following day, and 
 found that, owing to Its situation, the war had 
 made It a most Important post, and one devolving 
 upon Its commandant, In the discharge of his 
 duties, a heavy responsibility. Company C of 
 our regiment had at one time been on duty here, 
 but for some time previous to our arrival a com- 
 pany of cavalry had occupied the post. 
 
 Colonel McCaslin (15th West Virginia) had 
 been for some time before our assio^nment to 
 Alpine the recipient of many complaints from the 
 citizens of the place and the officers of the rail- 
 road company, whose line ran through It, charg- 
 ing that a serious lack of discipline existed among 
 the soldiers detailed to guard the post, and he 
 had now decided to make a complete change of 
 commandants and men at Alpine. Companies B 
 and C were, as I have stated, placed under my 
 command, and we were soon ordered to our new 
 quarters ; the latter company would, the colonel 
 feared, be likely to cause me considerable trouble, 
 as they had, he said, contracted some loose and 
 vicious habits while on duty at this station before. 
 I assured the colonel that I would do the very 
 best I could to enforce a proper discipline among 
 the men of both companies. 
 
APPOINTED PROVOST-MARSHAL. I4I 
 
 In this connection, it gives me pleasure to be 
 able to state that my conduct of affairs at Alpine 
 met with not only the entire approbation of my 
 immediate superior, but later also with that of the 
 Secretary of War, with whom I had the honor of 
 a personal correspondence relative to the at- 
 tempted passage of goods contraband of war 
 across the river at this point, and who, in recog- 
 nition of the honesty and zeal displayed in putting 
 a stop to this illegal traffic, and as a further means 
 of its prevention, increased my powers by ap- 
 pointing me a provost-marshal during the time of 
 my stay at Alpine. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Preparing Winter Quarters — Smuggling by Civilians — Vicious 
 Practices by the Troops — Attempts at Intimidation by Some 
 Members of Company C — Charges Preferred Against me by the 
 
 Malcontents. 
 
 On arriving at our new post we found the 
 weather very inclement, and as army tents would 
 afford poor shelter for the troops during- the com- 
 ing winter — for which length of time we expected 
 to remain — a rough plan of our encampment was 
 made out, with a parade-ground running through 
 its centre, on both sides of which, for a good dis- 
 tance, were erected by the men a number of log- 
 huts, well plastered with mud, and provided with 
 large fire-places, except in a few instances in 
 which old stoves were utilized. By such means 
 the men were made comfortable durinof the 
 months of intensely cold weather that followed. 
 
 The thriving little city of Hancock, just across 
 
 the river, with its many stores and licensed 
 
 saloons, together with the close proximity of the 
 
 railroad to our camp, afforded the soldiers unusual 
 
 opportunities for stealing away unknown to their 
 
 officers, and indulging in many wild orgies. The 
 
 post was also a transfer-point on the "underground 
 
 railway " between Maryland and Virginia, where, 
 (142) 
 
A DIFFICULT POSITION. 1 43 
 
 before my arrival, large amounts of goods con- 
 traband of war were permitted to pass with a 
 superficial examination, or without any inspec- 
 tion. 
 
 The necessity of constant vigilance on my part 
 to prevent breaches of discipline on the one hand 
 and smuggling on the other made the position of 
 commandant and provost-marshal by no means a 
 sinecure. This was especially true in the first 
 respect, as in this work I lacked the active co- 
 operation of a majority of my subordinate officers, 
 who, though sober, moral, and passively obedient, 
 yet connived at many infractions of the rules of 
 camp discipline. 
 
 Another source of annovance and indienation 
 to me was the attempted continuance by some of 
 the men of the policy of my predecessor in charge 
 here, who had permitted his troops to rob, harass, 
 and terrorize the citizens of Hancock, a majority 
 of whom were supposed to entertain Southern 
 proclivities. Of the truth or- falsity of this suppo^ 
 sition I had no direct evidence. But without the 
 commission of some overt act on their part, 
 showing that their hearts were really In sympathy 
 with the now " lost cause," I did not feel justified, 
 nor could any true soldier. In permitting the 
 further pillaging of their homes, and therefore I 
 put a peremptory and final stop to it. 
 
 As an evidence of the extremes to which this 
 wantonness was allowed to extend during the 
 
144 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 period prior to our arrival, I learned from an old 
 gentleman named Murray, who had at that time 
 been for seven years successively mayor of Han- 
 cock, and who was a man of undoubted veracity, 
 that during- the time mentioned he was powerless 
 to protect the lives and property of his people, 
 and that he remained in constant dread of the 
 taking of his own life by our drunken soldiers. 
 
 While determined to prevent any further un- 
 licensed liberty on the part of the soldiers, I still 
 wished to allow them all the privileges compatible 
 with good order and discipline to which they were 
 at all entitled. In order to avoid the suspicion 
 of favoritism in dispensing such privileges, I had 
 prepared a blank book, with alternate pages for 
 each company, wherein should be entered the 
 number and kind of permits, or "leaves," gVanted, 
 such favors to be equally divided. 
 
 Notwithstanding this and other means adopted 
 by me to treat all fairly, I early began to notice 
 signs of a sullen determination among the men 
 of Company C to resist my authority. The cap- 
 tain of this demoralized command (which, by the 
 way, afterwards became a good and efficient body 
 of troops) was named James Devore. He was a 
 good-natured, good-looking young man, a fair 
 amateur musician, very fond of the society of 
 ladies, and an accomplished dancer. He visited 
 Hancock almost nightly, as did a majority of his 
 men, in pursuit of these pleasures. 
 
MISSED THE BOAT. 1 45 * 
 
 On one occasion this officer and a squad of his 
 men, all bound for Hancock, met at the river 
 bank, and a spirited scuffle ensued for the pos- 
 session of the one boat available, resulting, greatly 
 to his discomfiture, in the undignified captain 
 being left behind. Long indulgence in these and 
 similar habits of soldierina-, caused the men to 
 look upon my methods in no very favorable light. 
 Having, however, in Company B a body of men 
 who were beginning to take a pride in the prac- 
 tice of true military decorum, I was enabled, after 
 one or two conflicts with insubordinates, to estab- 
 lish the standard of discipline I had determined 
 to enforce. 
 
 After the failure of sundry attempts at intimi- 
 dation, the malcontents set about to trump up 
 false charges against me, with a view to securing 
 my removal in that way. In this they were ably 
 seconded by interested civilians, who had been 
 making fortunes by handling the contraband goods 
 that were formerly allowed to cross the river at 
 this point. Together they formulated a number 
 of charges, general and specific, which were 
 elaborated by a Colonel Strother, of Berkley 
 Springs, a scholarly gentleman, who was then a 
 contributor to some of the leading maeazines of 
 the country. The report was quite voluminous, 
 and well calculated to make a strong impression 
 at general headquarters, whither they forwarded 
 it without delay. 
 
146 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 These charges were, as was customary in such 
 cases, " respectfully referred " by the officials at 
 headquarters to the brigade commander, thence 
 to our regimental headquarters, and by our colonel 
 to me. I lost no time in replying, and my answer 
 to the charges, specifically and as a whole, was 
 deemed so satisfactory and complete that my 
 action in the premises, and my conduct generally, 
 instead of being questioned or rebuked was highly 
 approved, and the scope of my authority was 
 greatly enlarged. 
 
 A few years after the close of the war, when at 
 Cincinnati, Ohio, whither I had taken my youngest 
 son for medical treatment, I put up at the house 
 of a Lieutenant Pratt, who, upon hearing my name, 
 remarked that he had read in a magazine an 
 article from the pen of a Colonel Strother, wherein 
 that gentleman stated incidentally, that on one 
 occasion during the war he had engaged in an 
 epistolary controversy with an Irishman, Captain 
 Egan, in which the latter, with genuine Irish pug- 
 nacity, had returned his assault with compound 
 interest. 
 
 The colonel doubtless had reference to the 
 Alpine charges. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Arrest of a Lady Spy— Her Indignation Thereat— Searching 
 HER— The Result— Badly Beaten — Sending her to Head- 
 quarters. 
 
 A FEW days after this latest attempt by the 
 boys to remove their obnoxious commander, I 
 happened to be some distance from our quarters 
 visiting a picket post on the Potomac. It was 
 about noon-time, and as I started to return I saw 
 a two-horse carriage coming hurriedly down the 
 river bank in the direction of the ferry-landing, 
 evidently bent upon crossing to the Maryland 
 side. The team and conveyance were very much 
 mud-bespattered, showing unmistakable signs of 
 a long and hard drive. I approached and halted 
 the driver, a smart-looking young fellow, and 
 seemingly an expert with the ^'ribbons." 
 
 I was beside the head of one of the horses 
 when the carriage, which was closely covered, 
 came to an abrupt stop, and the face of its sole 
 occupant peered cautiously from behind one of 
 the curtains. A glance at the face proved it one 
 that could scarcely fail in making a strong im- 
 pression upon the beholder; beauty of a high 
 type, intellectuality in a marked degree, and un- 
 
 (147) 
 
148 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 doubted refinement were seemingly stamped on 
 every feature, while handsome dark eyes flashed 
 indignantly from beneath a crown of raven-black 
 hair, artistically curled and arranged in the fashion 
 then prevailing. That this was a lady, and evi- 
 dently a highly accomplished one, that I now 
 confronted would have been apparent to tne 
 most obtuse. 
 
 I was attired in a loose-fitting blouse, without 
 shoulder-straps or insignia of rank, and as the 
 lady surveyed me with a look in which hauteur 
 and entreaty were equally blended, I could not 
 help doubting for a moment the propriety of sub- 
 jecting such a beautiful and aristocratic looking 
 female to the degrading humiliation of an inquisi- 
 torial and personal examination. 
 
 Failing to overawe me by her imperious gaze, 
 and seeing that I did not relinquish my hold of 
 the horse's head, the fair one changed her man- 
 ner, and with a most bewitching smile and a 
 superb air of patronage said: 
 
 " Please do not detain m.e, sir ; I have had a 
 long and rough ride this morning, and am very 
 tired and hungry, and in a hurry to reach Hancock 
 in time for dinner, of which I stand much in need." 
 
 " Madame," I politely replied, *' it is my duty 
 (an unpleasant one, I assure you, in this Instance) 
 to carefully examine all goods and persons that 
 attempt to cross the river at this point; if all is 
 right in your case I shall not detain you long." 
 
AN ANGRY WOMAN. 1 49 
 
 "Why, sir," said the lady, with rising indigna- 
 tion, "we have just been forced to submit to the 
 closest possible scrutiny by the intelligent ofllcers 
 at the last post we passed, and their examina- 
 tion — most carefully made — resulted in our being 
 allowed to continue our journey." She paused a 
 moment for a reply. 
 
 " Your persistency in detaining me now, in the 
 face of what I have just told you," continued the 
 angry woman, "is wholly unnecessary and ex- 
 tremely annoying. Your superior, when your 
 action in my case reaches his ears, will not feel, 
 I assure you, very highly pleased at the over- 
 zealous stupidity of his subordinate at Alpine. I 
 tell you this, sir, because you may discover, in 
 the near future, that it would have been to your 
 best interest to have foregone your present inten- 
 tion of subjecting me to this indignity." 
 
 My reply was that I had no wish to embarrass 
 her in the slightest; but that my duty was quite 
 plain in such cases as the present one, and that 
 she would have to come back to our camp 
 with me. 
 
 As a last attempt to escape this ordeal, and In 
 a tone of mingled menace and reproach, the lady 
 concluded : " I have kind and influential friends 
 in the Union service who v/ill hold you to a strict 
 accountability for my ill-treatment to-day. Every 
 intelligent soldier," asserted the irate female 
 scornfully, "either knows or has heard of the 
 
150 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 famous 'Fighting Parson' Moody, of Ohio; that 
 gentleman and patriot is my brother-in-law." 
 
 The names of a number of other gentlemen, 
 prominent in State and army circles, were fur- 
 nished me in quick succession by the excited 
 lady, whose volubility proved her an adept in the 
 use of the English language, and explained, to 
 my mind, how she had succeeded so admirably in 
 escaping detention and discovery earlier on her 
 journey. 
 
 I ordered the driver to wheel about his team 
 and drive to the post, which he reluctandy did. 
 
 The lady's nervousness was now quite appar- 
 ent, and as we approached the camp she several 
 times tried to encraore the driver's attention and 
 tell him something ; but I kept so near the win- 
 dow of her carriage and such a close watch upon 
 their movements that she failed to do so. I con- 
 ducted them direct to my own quarters, a large 
 roomy brick-house in about the centre of the 
 village. Arrived at the house, I turned over the 
 man and his team to a guard, and then proceeded, 
 without ceremony, to make an inspection of the 
 lady's baggage. I soon found a number of letters, 
 accompanied by several watches and other trin- 
 kets, from rebel officers in the field to their 
 friends in Maryland, and also a diary containing 
 mention of dates of interviews with no less per- 
 sonages than Jefferson Davis, Generals Lee, 
 Braxton Bragg, and others of similar rank. 
 
SEARCHING THE SPY. I5I 
 
 Findlnof so much, I was now convinced that 
 Mrs. Moody must have concealed upon her per- 
 son, where shrewd female spies know best to 
 conceal them, documents far more important 
 than any that had yet come to light. I there- 
 upon intrusted the delicate duty of searching the 
 spy to my wife and two other ladies, wives of two 
 of my men, who were then upon a visit to their 
 husbands. I instructed these ladies to make a 
 careful search of the person of the spy, who, 
 notwithstanding all her tact and coolness, was 
 beginning to show, in her nervous excitement, 
 conclusive signs of the importance of this con- 
 templated personal scrutiny. She kept restlessly 
 pacing up and down the large room to which she 
 had been taken. It contained in one end a 
 heating-stove wherein a glowing fire was burn- 
 ing. It was noticed that her walk was always in 
 the direction of this stove. When the ladies were 
 all ready to begin I walked out of the room, at 
 the same time telling them to proceed with their 
 search. 
 
 When I was gone they attempted to do their 
 
 assigned duty, but the resolute Mrs. Moody was 
 
 too sharp for our timid ladies, who, if the truth 
 
 must be told, by no means liked the task. I had 
 
 hardly left the room before I heard a startled 
 
 scream from within. Hastily returning, I found 
 
 that the spy had just taken from her bosom a 
 
 large packet of letters, and walking deliberately to 
 10 
 
152 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 the stove and throwing open the door, had, while 
 the soldiers' wives looked helplessly on, consigned 
 the incriminating bundle to the liames, leaving 
 nothing to tell the tale of that which might have 
 compromised her life, and throw-n much light on 
 the mysteries of the rebel secret service. 
 
 The beautiful spy was now a changed woman. 
 Satisfied that the evidence of her guilt could no 
 longer be obtained, she looked at us with a calm 
 air of serene defiance, and made not the slightest 
 effort to conceal the pleasure my palpable dis- 
 comfiture gave her. 
 
 As may be judged, I was anything but pleased 
 at this unexpected and annoying ending of what 
 I felt satisfied was an Important capture. Had I 
 been less observant of the duty which all men ow^e 
 to the gentler sex, I should not have been thus out- 
 generaled by this lady, whose calling rightly ex- 
 posed her to the imposition of indignities at once 
 degrading to herself and her sex. 
 
 I made a statement of the case, which I en- 
 closed, together with the papers found in her bag- 
 gage, to General Schenck, department com- 
 mander. These, with the lady, I sent by an 
 armed escort to the general's headquarters. 
 
 This was the last I ever heard of Mrs. Moody. 
 Whether this name was real or assumed I never 
 learned. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Attempt to Pass Contraband Goods — In Command of the Regi- 
 ment — An Attack that did not Materialize — How we Re- 
 treated. 
 
 A DAY or two after the incident just narrated 
 a well-dressed elderly gentleman, of fine appear- 
 ance and aristocratic bearing, presented himself 
 at our quarters and applied for a permit to pass 
 two large trunks containing a quantity of rich dry- 
 goods and fine dress suitings. He stated that he 
 was a resident of Richmond, Va. ; that he had 
 relations living in the city of New York, where 
 he had just been to purchase the several hundred 
 dollars worth of eoods contained in the trunks. 
 These goods, he said, were intended solely for 
 his own and his family use. He claimed to be 
 as neutral on the issue of the war as it was 
 possible for any one to be and live in Richmond. 
 
 His manner throuofhout was straiorhtforvvard, 
 and his story to my mind bore the impress of 
 truth; but I told him that while I entertained no 
 reasonable doubt of the correctness of his state- 
 ments I could not, consistently with my duty, 
 permit goods of such a character and value to 
 pass. I gave him to understand, however, that 
 
 (153) 
 
154 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 if he would procure an order from my colonel, 
 or a higher authority, I would not offer any further 
 objection to the desired privilege. The gentle- 
 man accordingly went to the headquarters of our 
 regiment, at Sir John's Run, and had a long talk 
 with our colonel ; but that officer refused to in- 
 terfere, as he stated, in a duty he thought me 
 so competent to discharge. 
 
 Upon his return, the old gentleman reported 
 what the colonel had said, and seeing the dis- 
 cretionary power I was permitted to exercise, 
 renewed his request that he and his goods be al- 
 lowed to pass ; but I was obdurate, and so he 
 left. Some days later he again appeared bear- 
 ing a letter from Secretary of War E. M. Stanton, 
 addressed to me, as provost-marshal, instructing 
 me to permit the bearer of the communication, 
 with his trunks, to pass over to Maryland. This 
 letter I have mislaid, and the gentleman's name 
 has escaped my memory. 
 
 On December 8, 1863, I was ordered to head- 
 quarters to assume temporary command of the 
 regiment, during the absence of the colonel, who 
 had been called to the command of the brigade. 
 On the day following my arrival, acting on in- 
 formation received, I ordered fifty men to Bath, 
 Va., to prevent a threatened interruption by the 
 rebels of the proceedings of the United States 
 Circuit Court, then in session at that place. I 
 accompanied and took personal charge of the 
 
A NIGHT ALARM. 155 
 
 little force, and had them quietly secreted in 
 proper position, in a strip of woods adjacent 
 to, and commanding a complete range of the 
 buildings in which the business of the court was 
 conducted. My information, from an apparently 
 reliable source, was to the effect that the enemy, 
 with a larger force than ours, under a Major Far- 
 rell, was less than two miles distant from us at the 
 time. 
 
 What may have restrained him from his 
 threatened project I cannot say, but he did not 
 interrupt the court during its sitting. We re- 
 mained at Bath (or Berkeley Springs) undl the 
 12th, without anything of note transpiring; then 
 the court and the troops departed for their 
 respective stations. 
 
 On the 13th, when back at Alpine, we were 
 startled about 1 1.30 o'clock p. m. by a report that 
 the enemy was approaching rapidly from the 
 direction of Bath, for the purpose of making a 
 night attack on us. Soon our little encampment 
 was in commotion. As a first step, I at once 
 ordered out a squad of skirmishers in the direction 
 of the enemy's expected approach. By this time 
 all were under arms and ready for orders. Find- 
 ing them thus prepared, I called the officers 
 together, and we held a miniature council of war. 
 Every one present either suggested or strongly 
 counselled an immediate retreat across the river 
 to Hancock. This could have been quickly and 
 
156 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 safely accomplished by means of the ferry-boat 
 then moored to the Virginia shore and lying at 
 our feet. 
 
 I ordered the two companies Into line imme- 
 diately ; but, instead of turning our backs to the 
 expected enemy, we faced them. Then I briefly 
 explained my intentions, which were to march out 
 the Bath road, the only practicable approach to 
 our camp for the attacking party, to deploy our- 
 selves In a small woods bordering the road, and 
 there prepare to give the expected comers a warm 
 reception in a night surprise, when they should 
 come within easy range of our muskets. Leaving 
 an officer in charge of a small squad of men to 
 guard the quarters, I gave the word to "forward 
 march," and we silently departed to meet the foe 
 at least half way. Arrived at the point intended, 
 the men were noiselessly disposed of as stated, 
 and remained on watch until morning, when we 
 fell back quietly to Alpine. 
 
 This is the manner, dear reader, in which we 
 retreated to *' Maryland, my Maryland.** 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 Ordered to Prepare for Active Service — The Kanawha Val- 
 ley — Camp Piatt — On the March Again — Painter's Creek— 
 Fayettesville — Other Points — Battle of Cloyd Mountain — - 
 Action of Company B — Individual Mention — An Extract from 
 THE State Adjutant's Report — Misstatements Corrected —The 
 Artillery Duel — Burning of New River Bridge — How and by 
 Whom Accomplished — Accepted History Disputed. 
 
 In April, 1864, our regiment received orders to 
 prepare for active service, and we were shortly 
 ordered to the Kanawha Valley, and assigned to 
 the command of General George Crook. 
 
 About this time our worthy and respected 
 colonel, M. McCaslIn, who was not less than 
 sixty-five years old, and who was by no means fit 
 for the privations of a hard campaign, was taken 
 sick, and compelled in consequence to remain 
 behind. Four or five months later he resigned 
 the command of the regiment, which then devolved 
 upon the gallant Colonel Thomas N. Morris, the 
 pride and beloved of his regiment, who was after- 
 wards killed in action at Snicker's Ferry, Virginia, 
 July 18, 1864, while bravely leading his regi- 
 ment. 
 
 After remaining a short time at Camp Piatt, 
 Kanawha Valley, we moved from there under 
 ordf-rs for Gauley Bridge on the 30th of April, and 
 
158 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 on that date marched seventeen miles, encamping 
 in the evening on the southeast side of Painter's 
 creek, amidst a drenching rain. The prospect of 
 lying down on the thoroughly water-soaked earth 
 was not the most pleasant of contemplation, but 
 it could not be avoided. Near to our encampment 
 that night was a field of about ten acres, very 
 nicely inclosed by a high board fence. In about 
 five minutes after our arrival the whole of this 
 fence disappeared In one loud crash. Almost 
 the entire command assisted in its demolition. 
 Soon there were many pleasant fires, and over 
 their cheerful blaze coiTee-pots, tin-cups, and frying- 
 pans were doing good service. Although these 
 fires were an undoubted actual necessity I did not 
 enjoy their warmth very much; it was too pain- 
 fully expensive to the poor farmer. 
 
 On May 2 we arrived at Fayettesville, Fayette 
 county. West Virginia, where the three brigades 
 of this division were united. The entire force 
 then marched on the now celebrated "Dublin 
 raid." Our encampments after marches for the 
 five days preceding the engagement at Cioyd 
 mountain (one of the most destructive battles of 
 the war, for the time and number of troops 
 engaged, and which occurred on May 9) were as 
 follows : 
 
 May 4 Camp at Loup's Creek, Fayette county, W. Va. 
 
 *' 5 " " Mercer, Mercer county, W. Va. 
 
 " 6 " " Princeton, Mercer county, W. Va. 
 
BATTLE OF FLOYD MOUNTAIN. 1 59 
 
 May 7 Camp at south of Rocky Gap, Bland county, W. Va. 
 
 " 8 " " Shannon, Giles county, W. Va. 
 
 At the last-named place, and when In near 
 proximity to the enemy, I was detailed as officer 
 of the guard to post and visit the night pickets. 
 It is needless to say that I got no sleep that night. 
 Early next morning, when I had drawn off my 
 pickets and was following in the rear of the entire 
 command, we heard the music of the contending 
 forces in our front. We thereupon quickened 
 our pace and soon came up with the main body, 
 which was now halted at the foot of Cloyd moun- 
 tain, where it remained for some time, finding it 
 very difficult to advance farther, owing to the 
 sharpshooting of the enemy's skirmishers, who 
 lined the woods for a good distance at the base 
 of the mountain, and kept up a galling fire upon 
 our forces. 
 
 Several companies of our command had already 
 been sent forward to dislodge and drive back the 
 rebel skirmishers, but they offered a doofored re- 
 sistance, and for quite a long time we remained 
 halted awaiting the result of the conflict between 
 the sharpshooters of both armies. 
 
 Becoming Impatient at the delay, General Sick- 
 les, of the 3d Brigade, asked Colonel Morris foi' 
 a good company to do more effective work. The 
 intrepid Morris called on Company B. In answer 
 to this call, the column opened and we marched 
 from the rear to the extreme front, and while pass- 
 
l60 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 ing the 15th Regiment, our comrades of that com* 
 mand had many warm greetings and words of 
 encouragement for us. "Bully for Company B; 
 bully for Company B," was often repeated as we 
 pressed forward. 
 
 When some distance in advance of the main 
 body we were halted by the colonel, who placed 
 me in charge of the entire skirmish line, and in- 
 structed me in what he wanted us to do. We then 
 filed to the rieht of the road and into the woods, 
 facing the enemy's skirmishers, who were occu- 
 pying a high ground in our front. While en- 
 gaged in deploying my men in a somewhat open 
 space at the edge of the woods, the officer in 
 command of Company E of our regiment, who 
 had been sent forward earlier and who was now 
 about one hundred yards in advance, lying down 
 protected by a ledge of rocks, called out warn- 
 ingly to me that we were in a bad place. We 
 soon discovered the correctness of his statement, 
 in the whizzineof cold lead about our heads ; one 
 of which swift messengers passed through the 
 whiskers of Corporal John Laurell, cutting a wide 
 swath of hair therefrom and grazing his jaw, 
 whereupon the litde fellow coolly remarked: "I 
 did not intend to shave until the war was over, 
 but these pesky 'Johnnies' appear determined to 
 do it for me sooner." 
 
 I now ordered, " Company, by the right to four 
 yards, extend intervals." When the required 
 
HEROES IN THE RANKS. l6l 
 
 distance was effected, I commanded : " Skirmish- 
 ers, halt;" and a second later: "To the front, 
 march." 
 
 And that line never halted until we brought on 
 a general engagement, by forcing back the enemy's 
 skirmishers, with increasing rapidity as we ad- 
 vanced. 
 
 The heroic conduct of Corporal James F. Ellis 
 on this occasion, as well as in every engagement 
 in which he participated until he was captured by 
 the enemy — and from which captivity I am sorry 
 to say he never returned — was, for cool, unosten- 
 tatious, silent bravery, equal to anything done in 
 all our great army. 
 
 It is hardly fair, perhaps, to mention two or 
 three names in particular, belonging to a com- 
 pany in which there were so many of conspicuous 
 merit, but I cannot refrain from volunteering my 
 humble testimony to the sterling worth and 
 bravery of Sergeant Lawrence May, a German ; 
 Corporal James F. Ellis, an American, and Cor- 
 poral Thomas Brown, an Irish " Kerry game-bird," 
 whose respective qualities and attainments — I say 
 it advisedly — would reflect no discredit on the two 
 stars of a major-general, although each was con; 
 tent to do his full duty in the humble position he 
 occupied. May was especially useful to me ; he 
 had fought " mit Sigel " in the old country, and 
 was the best assistant I had in the company. 
 
 After the enemy's skirmishers were all driven 
 
1 62 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 in on his main body, we rejoined our regiment, 
 now supporting a battery of light artillery, which 
 had just been brought into position within about 
 two hundred yards of the enemy and right in his 
 front. Had the gallant 9th West Virginia, under 
 the lead of the intrepid Duval, delayed charging 
 the enemy a few minutes longer, or until this 
 magnificent little battery could have been trained 
 on him, he would have had to get from behind his 
 cheval-de-finse in short order ; and the 9th would 
 have been saved many noble lives in conse- 
 quence. 
 
 The battle that ensued was one of the most 
 destructive of the war, considering the time occu- 
 pied and the numbers of the forces engaged. 
 The general engagement did not last over forty 
 minutes, and only about eight thousand men on 
 both sides participated, but our losses included 
 about 600 killed and wounded, and the enemy 
 lost, perhaps, about 400. It has ever since been 
 a wonder to me that the proportion of fallen com- 
 batants did not exceed one in ei^-ht of the whole 
 number engaged. 
 
 The rebels had an advantage in the fight, being 
 protected by breastworks constructed of logs and 
 fence rails. The fight was continued at a most 
 destructive range, as the space dividing the con- 
 tending forces did not at any time exceed a dis- 
 tance of two hundred yards. This sort of des- 
 perate fighting could not last long, and so, when 
 

VICTORY. I e^ 
 
 the gallant 9th West Virginia charged the enemy, 
 who fought with admirable bravery, they had to 
 yield, and that, too, in a hurry, before the impet- 
 uous charge and wild yells of the " boys in blue." 
 We had only a small detachment of cavalry, 
 but they dashed after the rapidly retreating enemy 
 and pursued them vigorously until stopped by 
 some of Morgan's men, who reinforced and cov- 
 ered the rebels' retreat to Dublin Depot. By the 
 time our forces got into proper shape and moved 
 forward in a solid line of batde, the enemy had 
 made good his escape. When we reached Dublin 
 Depot, we found very litde of value there. It 
 now being near night, we fell back from the rail- 
 road a short distance and encamped in close 
 quarters on a large farm. 
 
 The following is the published report of State 
 Adjutant-General E. P. Pierpont, upon the subject 
 of the Qth's action in this engagement : 
 
 "The 9th Regiment from this point marched 
 with General Crook's command to the Virginia 
 and Tennessee Railroad, striking the road at 
 Dublin, May 9th, meeting a strong rebel force 
 under command of General Jenkins, at Cloyd 
 Mountain, four miles from the railroad, and after 
 a desperate batde defeated him; marched and 
 took possession of the railroad at Dublin depot, 
 same evening. This regiment, in this batde, car- 
 ried the rebel breastworks with bayonets, killing 
 and wounding about 600 rebels and capturing over 
 
1 64 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 200 prisoners, and two pieces of artillery, losing 
 189 men, 45 of whom were killed instantly. The 
 color-bearer, guard, and Colonel Duval, eleven in 
 all, mounted the works a short distance in advance 
 of the line, every one of whom was killed or 
 wounded, except Colonel Duval. Twenty-one 
 men w^ere killed under and around the colors of 
 this regiment, nine of the regiment and twelve 
 rebels, the enemy having made a desperate effort 
 to capture them. 
 
 "In this battle the rebel General Jenkins received 
 his death wounds, and that too from the same men 
 he had captured and so cruelly treated at Guyan- 
 dotte, W. Va. On the next day they marched to, 
 and engaged the enemy at New River bridge, rout- 
 ing him and destroying the bridged 
 
 The italics in the last paragraph are mine and 
 are used because the claim made therein for this 
 regiment by the adjutant is a misstatement which 
 I think, in common justice, should be corrected. 
 The truth regarding the burning of that bridge is 
 as follows : 
 
 Early on the morning of the loth, the day after 
 the Cloyd Mountain battle, while encamped oppo- 
 site to, and near Dublin depot, I was ordered with 
 my company to march towards New River bridge. 
 We moved out to Dublin depot, thence to the left, 
 down the railroad, and in the direction of New 
 River. 
 
 On our way down we noticed a farm-house some 
 
HUNTING A BREAKFAST. 1 65 
 
 seventy or eighty yards from the road. The house 
 and its surroundings showed its owner to be in 
 good circumstances. Having had no breakfast 
 that morning, our boys could not resist throwing 
 anxious and longing side glances at the comfort- 
 able dwelling. Presendy a badly scared negro 
 was noticed making a "shoot" from the direction 
 of the house, and running for dear life away from 
 us. I called to him to halt, and ordered him to 
 come over to where we were. The poor fellow 
 came as if going to the gallows, so reluctant and 
 apparendy fearful was he. I asked him a few 
 hurried questions as we leisurely walked along, 
 as to the whereabouts of the rebel army : 
 
 " Da'ar done gone to de bridge, sah," was his 
 reply. 
 
 "Where is your master?" 
 
 " He done gone, too, sah, an' he tole me to stop 
 an' mine de place, but I got scared, sah, an' I 
 thought I'd go too," answered the darkey. 
 
 Some of the boys who had been " all ears ^* 
 during this brief dialogue, and who were decidedly 
 more interested in discovering a square meal than 
 the whereabouts of the enemy, now spoke up, and 
 question followed question in rapid succession 
 until they had ascertained from the darkey that 
 the house contained " Ham, flour, an' tings to eat 
 an' a ten-gallon keg of apple brandy in de cella'." 
 
 We had three corporals to whom I would not 
 wish to refuse anything in reason, and so, when 
 
1 66 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 they waited upon me and united their Importuni- 
 ties to be allowed to go to the house In question, 
 I consented after securing their promise to be ex- 
 peditious. They were so, and returned in good 
 condition to participate prominently in the good 
 work we had on hand later. 
 
 We were now joined by Captain James W. 
 Myers and his Company B, of the nth West 
 Virginia ; all the remainder of the troops being 
 out of sight and fully a mile in our rear. 
 
 Soon General Crook and staff were noticed 
 coming up behind us at a rapid canter. We filed 
 to the right on high ground overlooking New 
 River bridge, the destruction of which was the 
 chief object of the expedition. When within 
 plain view and near range of the two forts with 
 their frowning heavy artillery, erected by the 
 rebels to defend the bridge, the general called a 
 halt. Riding up to where the skirmishing com- 
 panies were, he gave me precise instructions re- 
 garding our next move. He ordered me, In sub- 
 stance, to assume command of the two companies 
 and file to the right and left from the summit of 
 the hill. 
 
 The fact of the general's giving me command 
 of a senior officer showed a mark of confidence 
 that was highly gratifying, although I confess to 
 feeling somewhat diffident in exercising the power 
 granted me. However, the results of our efforts 
 appeared to please the general very much. 
 
 ««' 
 
GENERAL GEORGE CROOK. 1 67 
 
 While In the act of deploying skirmishers the 
 enemy's batteries opened on us at a distance of 
 about one thousand yards. The concentrated fire 
 of the enemy seemed now to be chiefly directed 
 to the general and his staff, who were occupying 
 the most conspicuous spot on the batde-ground. 
 The concussion of a cannon-ball very near the 
 general had such a sickening effect upon him that 
 he was forced to dismount for a moment from 
 sheer weakness. As he did so, his horse, which 
 had become frightened, broke away and dashed 
 back to the rear, slamming the saddle-skirts and 
 stirrup-straps in his rapid flight. At the sight of 
 the riderless steed the rebels raised an exultant 
 yell, believing that they had accomplished the 
 death of our gallant leader; but we thank God 
 they were mistaken, as was indubitably proven 
 by that noble officer in many a hard-contested 
 struggle afterwards. 
 
 In passing, I wish to say that In my opinion 
 George Crook as a general, In all that that tide 
 implies, had few. If any, superiors. 
 
 Word was now sent to me to try to procure a 
 canteen of fresh water for the general. I sent 
 twice, in quick succession, for the water, but it was 
 running the gaundet of the enemy's sharpshooters 
 to get it, and the two messengers returned empty- 
 handed. Being an admitted good runner, espe- 
 cially when under the potent stimulus of fear, I 
 took the canteen myself, and soon returned with 
 
 II 
 
1 68 THE FLYING, GRAY-IIAIRED YANK. 
 
 some pure, clear, cold water for the general, and 
 now our commander could be seen bold and erect 
 in the extreme front of his entire command, a 
 place not very generally occupied by com- 
 manders. 
 
 About this time there opened the nicest piece 
 of artillery practice I ever saw. I have seen, it is 
 true, greater precision and more rapid movements 
 in the exercises of the English Flying Artillery on 
 such occasions as the anniversary of the battle of 
 Waterloo, but the nature of the ground and the 
 attendant circumstances made such a vast differ- 
 ence that it would not be fair to draw comparisons. 
 Here Captain McMuUin, ist Ohio Artillery, in 
 immediate charge of four pieces, brought them 
 into quick and effective action at a time when the 
 enemy's artillery was directed towards him in a 
 determined effort to spoil his movements. 
 
 The attention of our command was attracted 
 by the execution of a splendid evolution by Mc- 
 Mullin. On came the spirited horses at top speed, 
 under the spur of their gallant riders, rattling and 
 dashing right to the front, and while at this rapid 
 pace they described a circle to the right, and on a 
 declivity so steep and rough that we thought it 
 marvellous that there were no upsettings or 
 collisions. In a moment they unlimbered, and 
 then commenced what we termed the artillery 
 duel — there being none of our infantry engaged, 
 except the two companies, B iith and B 15th, in 
 
BURNING THE BRIDGE. 1 69 
 
 my charge, lying directly in front of our guns, and 
 consequently between two fires, the enemy's and 
 our own. Fortunately we occupied low ground, 
 which fact no doubt was the cause of so many of 
 our number getting out safely. A cannon-ball 
 during the engagement struck deep in the ground 
 right in front of me,- stunning me severely for a 
 few minutes, but causing no other injury. There 
 was some of the most accurate and effective 
 artillery practice now by Captain McMullin that 
 occurred at any time or in any engagement during 
 the late war. From where we lay we could see 
 the execution done by our boys quite plainly, and 
 almost every shot had a telling effect. McMullin 
 silenced tvv^o of the enemy's guns in quick succes- 
 sion while we were driving back the gray skir- 
 mishers. 
 
 An aide of General Crook's now rode up to 
 me, and said that whoever would burn the bridge 
 should be remembered. I ofot some matches from 
 one of Captain Myers' men, and moved for the 
 bridge immediately. From where I approached 
 the bridge it was necessary to climb some ten or 
 twelve feet up one of the abutment piers to reach 
 the bed of the bridge and get upon it. The struc- 
 ture was a long wooden one, covered with a tin 
 roof. Once up, I broke off some dry pine from 
 the side-works, and ignited the bundle in the west 
 end of the bridge. The weather was dry and 
 warm, with a fresh breeze blowing, and the fire 
 
170 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 caught quickly and spread rapidly, and soon the 
 whole structure came down with a loud crash in 
 almost as short a time as it has taken me to de- 
 scribe it. 
 
 The destruction-of this bridge over New river, 
 on the Virginia and Tennessee railroad, was now 
 (May 10, 1864) an accomplished fact. It being a 
 chief artery of supplies for the rebels, its destruc- 
 tion was important. It would take them some 
 time to repair it were it not for the piers, which 
 were still standing in almost perfect condition, 
 affording rather too great facilities for reconstruc- 
 tion. Appreciating this latter fact, I went to the 
 general, and asked if he had any material for 
 blasting the piers. He replied that it was the 
 intention to have taken some explosives for this 
 purpose, but somehow they had been overlooked. 
 He then tried some solid shot on the piers with- 
 out effect. All of the troops were then ordered 
 forward, and marched in the direction of Union, 
 except my two companies, which, having had 
 nothing to eat that day, were kindly permitted by 
 the general to remain behind, after admonishing 
 us to be careful and to make as litde delay as 
 possible. 
 
 In the " History of the War" I find that General 
 Averell is accredited with the burning of this 
 bridge, whereas, in truth, he was several miles 
 behind at the time of its destruction. Averell has 
 plenty of well-earned laurels, and does not, I am 
 
SPURIOUS CLAIMS. I7I 
 
 sure, want those which belong to others. Errors 
 will occur, and some omissions in ostensibly 
 authentic reports that are hard to account for, 
 even on the assumption of ignorance of the facts. 
 
 From time to time since the close of the war I 
 have been told of several who claimed to have 
 burned this particular bridge. On one occasion 
 some years after the war, I heard a gallant major 
 entertain a party of friends with a graphic descrip- 
 tion of the achievement as performed by himself 
 and command. I was on friendly terms with the 
 major, and so sparing of his feelings that I re- 
 mained silent on the subject. He did not know, 
 nor could he be expected to know, that I was the 
 only one in the entire command that put a foot on 
 that structure that day, for he was too far in the 
 rear to witness the manner or the instrument of 
 its destruction. Furthermore, the bridge could 
 not well be injured without first getting upon it, 
 as it was twelve or fourteen feet from the ground 
 upon which our forces approached. 
 
 In the adjutant-general's report of the 15th 
 West Virorinia there is no mention made nor 
 notice taken of this and other matters of far more 
 importance with which that regiment was con- 
 nected. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Company B in Luck — Meeting with two Officers of ex-President 
 Hayes' Regiment — A Pic-nic — Salt Pond Mountain — Village 
 of Union — Failure as a Forager — Meadow Bluffs — Captured 
 BY Guerillas. 
 
 The weather on this loth of May was beautiful, 
 the air warm and pleasant, with a refreshing 
 breeze blowing steadily from the west. Our two 
 companies, although very hungry, felt compari- 
 tively happy ; they had done their work well and 
 received therefor the hearty approbation of their 
 noble general with the unusual privilege of being 
 allowed to remain behind the entire command, in 
 order to enjoy one of the most smnptuous repasts 
 of all their experience in the waf, and perhaps, 
 in some cases, out of it. 
 
 Our first move after the departure of the main 
 
 body was to secure some of the domestic fowl, 
 
 hams, flour, coffee and various other articles of 
 
 like nature, which the enemy had considerately 
 
 neglected to remove from his block-house, before 
 
 his hurried flight. Such rations as we now 
 
 chanced upon were, I must say from subsequent 
 
 experience, very scarce In the Confederacy, and it 
 
 required morf, "^an a gentle reproof, on my part, 
 (172) 
 
V 
 
 THE SPOILS OF WAR. 1 73 
 
 to induce our poor fellows to leave anything 
 eatable behind. 
 
 This was the first time, since the date of our 
 enlistment, that I had allowed the boys to appro- 
 priate any of the " spoils of war," but in this case 
 I told them to ''go in" with a right good will ; 
 which advice they were not slow to act upon. 
 Three of them at once proceeded to an enclosure 
 surrounding the enemy's late quarters, in which 
 there were a good many domestic fowl running 
 about. At the sight of these the boys raised a 
 shout and started after them ; but were suddenly 
 confronted by two officers of the 2 3d Ohio (ex-Presi- 
 dent Hayes' regiment), who had just emerged from 
 the block-house and now with drawn revolvers 
 proceeded to drive my men from the enclosure. 
 
 I was engaged elsewhere at this time, and did 
 not witness their action, but was soon made aware 
 of the trouble by my three boys, who came direct 
 to me with their grievance. Immediately I took 
 the same men back again to wl>ere the two brave 
 heroes stood, revolvers in hand, ready to hold 
 possession of the plunder within the enclosure, 
 apparently at all hazards. 
 
 This dog-in-the-manger spirit on the part of the 
 two officers created in me a curious impulse, 
 hard to restrain. I therefore ordered our boys, 
 in a sharp tone, to go and take anything and 
 everything in and around the quarters. 
 
 Up to this time I had paid no attention to the 
 
174 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 two strancre men further than to observe what 
 they proposed to do, until now, when they again 
 threatened to shoot our men if they dare attempt 
 to obey my recent order. Walking directly over 
 to where they stood, I told them to put up their 
 revolvers and reserve their ammunition for the 
 enemy, who, I feared, had not received much 
 of it. 
 
 The ranking officer demanded m}^ name and 
 authority for interfering with him in the discharge 
 of his duty ; saying that he had been ordered by 
 General Crook to guard the place and that he 
 would report my conduct to him. 
 
 " All right," said I, and I gave him my name 
 and added : " Notwithstanding your assertion 
 that you are here by the general's orders, I will 
 now relieve you on my own responsibility, and 
 abide bv the result." 
 
 " I would be among the last," I concluded, " to 
 disobey my superior's orders, but I am sorry to 
 have to doubt your word, sir, in this case. An 
 officer and a gentleman should be synonymous 
 terjns, but your action to-day would seem to prove 
 you an exception to this general rule." 
 
 While this disagreeable interview was beinor 
 held the boys were securing, with commendable 
 expedition, all the good things obtainable. Call- 
 ing Captain Myers, who participated with us in 
 the late action, we insisted upon him and his men 
 shariniT with us in the comino- feast, as there was 
 plenty of food for both companies. 
 
A GLORIOUS FEAST. I 75 
 
 And now the lately belligerent gentlemen 
 from Ohio came meekly forward and asked to be 
 allowed to join us at our mess, but our boys unan- 
 imously decided that they had, by their selfish 
 action in the start, forfeited all rights to our con- 
 sideration ; and so the unfortunate fellows were 
 forced to content themselves with the thoughts 
 
 o 
 
 of what they had had for breakfast. 
 
 After several fires had been started to prepare 
 our much needed meal, we had time to look at 
 our surroundings. The ensemble might truly 
 be called picturesque. Nature had not withheld 
 her prolific hand in this beautiful garden spot in 
 Virginia. Her fairy touch had bedecked with 
 verdure the scene in every direction. The wind- 
 ing, limpid river flowed sparklingly in our front, 
 dividing the fertile plateau, where we were now 
 encamped, from the more level though less 
 elevated meadow land upon which the enemy 
 had made his first stand after crossing the river. 
 A lltde mill lay snugly ensconced beneath the 
 bridge ; its wheel driven by water clear as crystal 
 and pure as snow. Into this cool, clear stream 
 our boys plunged and took a refreshing bath, 
 after which, when all was ready, we sat down on 
 the green sward and partook of a repast not 
 often found, nor ever more relished in army life. 
 
 We now also enjoyed with peculiar pleasure the 
 tangible results of the darky's information to us 
 early that morning, regarding the whereabouts 
 
176 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 and contents of that ten-gallon keg. There soon 
 were half a dozen canteens filled with " apple- 
 jack," circulating eagerly among the men ; the 
 corporals before alluded to having secured a 
 quantity of the liquor. The unselfish impulse of 
 a soldier is generally to divide, so every boy in 
 the two companies who wished to do so took a 
 little of the brandy ; but the majority of them 
 were, I believe, strictly temperate. I was with the 
 minority, however, and secured a small canteen- 
 ful, w^hich proved of agreeable service to more 
 than myself afterwards. 
 
 What a blessinof it is that we know not the 
 day of our fall ! Nineteen of the brave fellows, 
 who were among the gayest of this gay party, 
 lay dead within a year following to add to the 
 vast pyramid of patriotic slain ; but no gloomy 
 thoughts marred their buoyant spirits now, whilst 
 the " apple-jack " was sparkling in their wit and 
 humor and making fun enough to enliven a regi- 
 ment. 
 
 After a hearty meal we made haste to depart, 
 and by double-quick marches soon caught up 
 with the main body of our troops. A raw, 
 drizzling rain now set in, adding much to the 
 discomfort of our tramp. 
 
 On the 1 2th, after a trying and laborious 
 march through mud and rain, we reached and 
 commenced the ascent of Salt Pond mountain, in 
 Giles county, Va. This was a dreary and painful 
 
CONFISCATING CRACKERS, I 77 
 
 Operation for both men and horses, to be plough- 
 ing through that yellow mud, tough enough for 
 brick-making. Many a noble animal, in going 
 up this mountain, laid down, and his carcass soon 
 became a prey for the carnivorous birds of the 
 forest. Whosoever participated in this raid, un- 
 less he fared many times better than I did, can 
 never forget the biting pangs of hunger he suf- 
 fered. In the strict observance of the orders of 
 the general prohibiting foraging, or straggling 
 from the main column, I suffered keenly from 
 want of something to eat, and if not for the 
 timely kindness of Captain S. Porter, of Com- 
 pany K, our regiment, I could not possibly have 
 continued the march. Whatever may have been 
 the amount of rations issued occasionally to the 
 enlisted men, there were none issued the officers. 
 Arrived at the summit of the mountain, just as 
 night was falling, we halted on the borders of a 
 small salt lake, a remarkable body of water 
 several hundred feet above the level of the sea. 
 When the teams came up, urged by the pinching 
 necessity of my situation, I made an inspection 
 of one of the wagons, and found a box containing 
 **hard tack" snugly stowed away in one corner 
 by the driver, who had appropriated them to his 
 own use. He whined piteously when I confiscated 
 his "few crackers." I divided the contents of the 
 box impartially among the men of my company, 
 all of whom were well-nigh famished. 
 
178 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Next morning, when the strong- attractive force 
 of the sun had lifted the hazy mist from the 
 soggy earth, we beheld a magnificent scene. 
 The lake, although small, as I have stated, was 
 of vast depth. Its bosom was blue and placid, 
 and its source, as far as I could learn, was 
 unknown. Far away on the borders of Peter's 
 creek, in Giles county, and Indian creek, in 
 Monroe county, could be seen green and fertile 
 valleys, dotted here and there with farm-houses 
 and out-buildings, while grazing in the meadows 
 numerous herds of cattle could be discerned, the 
 whole bright picture being softened and enriched 
 by a dark background of umbrageous forests and 
 craggy mountains. 
 
 On the 13th we marched to and encamped at 
 Peter's creek, Giles county. On the 14th we 
 rested at Indian creek, Monroe county, and on 
 the 15th we reached and encamped at the small 
 village of Union, Monroe county, a place situated 
 within easy distance of the famous White Sulphur 
 Springs, of Greenbrier county. The surroundings 
 here were very beautiful, the land fertile and the 
 air pure and healthful. 
 
 Apprised of our approach, the people, who 
 were generally well-to-do, had run their stock 
 away into the woods, far from the track of the 
 invader; but a few stray sheep remained, and 
 these were run down by our hungry troops to 
 furnish meat for themselves and comrades. 
 
INEFFECTUAL FORAGING. I 79 
 
 Owing to the shameful Incapacity of Craig, the 
 assistant quartermaster, who it was charged was 
 full of whiskey most of the time, and who was 
 eventually dismissed the service, the troops had 
 very little else to accompany their mutton. A 
 portion of the men were detailed to forage for 
 flour, bread, etc. I was one among the officers 
 sent out in charge of squads for this purpose. 
 About the first place my party went to was the 
 house of a Mrs. Heard, who kept a young ladies' 
 seminary. The building was quite a respectable- 
 looking one and showed outward signs of plenty. 
 I did not know the nature of the establishment, 
 however, until we had made an inspection of the 
 premises. 
 
 Finding none but ladles within, and those of a 
 type calculated to command the sympathy and 
 protection of gentlemen, I felt, deeply humiliated 
 at our intrusive presence there on such unwel- 
 come business. They gave us the keys to their 
 provision stores, which were found to contain a 
 scanty supply of hams, flour, potatoes, etc., 
 scarcely more than sufficient for their immediate 
 wants. Our hearts failed us at the sight of their 
 helplessness and evident poverty, and we returned 
 to camp without a pound of forage, notwithstand- 
 ing the fact that we were all the time ravenously 
 hungry. 
 
 It Is needless to add that I was not sent to 
 forage again. 
 
l8o THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 About this time a long-legged, cadaverous- 
 looking negro boy, named "Gabe," attached him- 
 self to me as a body-servant, without any solicita- 
 tion on my part, and in fact against my expressed 
 vi^ishes. He beo^o-ed to be allowed to remain with 
 us in the hope that he might reach the " land of 
 promise." My small allowance of rations was 
 made still smaller by the division with ungainly 
 -Gabe." 
 
 Leaving Union, our entire command, suffering 
 severely from hunger, took up its line of march 
 for Meadow Bluffs. The roads were badly cut 
 up, making teaming extremely slow and difficult. 
 The mules and horses hauling our supplies, of 
 which we got but little, were fast playing out; in 
 fact our line of march was well defined by many 
 of their carcasses. 
 
 On the 1 6th we marched to and encamped at 
 Alderson's Ferry, where we remained during the 
 whole of the 17th. 
 
 On the 1 8th we marched to and encamped at 
 Palestine, Greenbrier county, W. Va. The 
 weather from the evenino^ of the loth to this 
 date continued wet and raw, and when on the 
 19th we reached Meadow Bluffs we were in a 
 pitiful plight and in a state of semi-starvation. 
 
 While resting here, waiting for rations, I sup- 
 pose, but with no immediate likelihood of getting 
 them, some of the officers of our regiment, with 
 a few of the enlisted men, started out in quest of 
 
TAKEN PRISONER. l8l 
 
 something to eat. Having some greenbacks, I 
 thought I would go too, and try to procure, by 
 purchase, something to keep the "wolf from the 
 door." I selected oi>e of the bravest and most 
 active men of my company, Henry H. Bush, to 
 accompany me. 
 
 We intended to form two of the party men- 
 tioned, but were delayed for some time in procur- 
 ing " mounts " (a wretched old horse and a mule), 
 so that when we finally got ready our comrades 
 were quite a long distance in advance of us. We 
 spurred up, however, and followed, but had not 
 yet sighted them when we came to a watering 
 trough on the side of the road about three-quar- 
 ters of a mile from camp ; here we let the animals 
 drink. The road, at this point, was straight and 
 level for a good distance, but closely bordered on 
 both sides by dense woods. 
 
 We had scarcely gotten well under way after 
 our short stop when nine fierce-looking guerillas, 
 headed by two lieutenants, jumped out from the 
 protecting trees and into the middle of the road, 
 within four or five yards of our animals' heads. 
 
 " Halt," shouted the leader, sternly, and nine 
 ''Mississippi" rifles were leveled at the heads of 
 Bush and myself. 
 
 We had not the ghost of a chance to escape ; 
 yet I instandy slid from the back of the mule I 
 rode on the side opposite to the band, and using 
 the mule's body as a temporary shield drew my 
 
1 82 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 revolver. Simultaneously with the click of my 
 "six-shooter" five of the guerillas were beside 
 me with their Q-uns cocked and leveled. It was 
 plainly death or surrender. We submitted to the 
 latter alternative with poor grace, and, were the 
 role to be played over again, we might prefer to 
 accept even death itself than to undergo the ter- 
 rible trials in store for us ; that is, if the loathe- 
 some grave at Andersonvillc could render up my 
 noble and youthful companion. 
 
 In March, 1877, twelve years and nine months 
 after my capture, I was at Summerville, Nicholas 
 county, West Virginia, on business already re- 
 ferred to In connection with the courier line. 
 On the day of my arrival, while at dinner at the 
 hotel of Mr. Fitzvvater, where about twenty-five 
 men sat down at table (court being then in session), 
 a gentleman who sat at the head of the table po- 
 litely helped me to the limb of a chicken. I 
 thanked him for his kindness, remarking that we 
 were not so regardful of the social amenities on 
 the 19th of May, 1864. 
 
 " I do not recall your face, nor the happenings 
 of the date you mention, sir," replied the gentle- 
 man. 
 
 " You are the Lieutenant Halstead," said I, 
 "who, with your party, captured and made pris- 
 oners at Meadow Bluffs one of my men and my- 
 self on the date in question." 
 
 " Oh, yes, I recollect now. Well, gentlemen, 
 
A TONGUE-LASHING. 1 83 
 
 [addressing the party at dinner], In all my experi- 
 ence I have never met with such fool-hardy 
 bravery as was shown by this man [nodding in 
 my direction] at the time of his capture. He 
 drew his revolver when entirely surrounded, to 
 offer fight to nine men when they were not more 
 than three or four yards from him," — and in the 
 same eulooristlc strain he added much more than 
 I can, with modesty, reproduce here. 
 
 Mr. Halstead was an ex-sherlff and was very 
 popular in the county, and I thought it might have 
 been to some extent his object to restrain me by 
 eulogy from making any public remarks connected 
 with the incidents of my capture that would seem 
 to be derogatory to his reputation as a man, or 
 affect his standing, politically, in the community. 
 
 But I was not to be flattered on one of the most 
 humiliating episodes of my life ; so I told the ex- 
 guerilla, in the presence of the large company at 
 dinner, that his action in taking from me on that 
 occasion everything I had upon my person, includ- 
 ing money, watch, chain, diary, revolver, and 
 several trinkets — even including the tassle on my 
 hat — was more befittinof the character of a hlorh- 
 wayman than that of an honorable enemy in a 
 time of war. 
 
 " After reading it, you might have,*' I concluded, 
 
 "at least restored to me my diary, which contained, 
 
 as you must have known, nothing of interest or 
 
 of value to your cause." 
 12 
 
1 84 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Mr. Peter Duffey, who had often in times gone 
 by entertained me at his home, was now my guest 
 at the dinner and sat on my right. He pinched 
 me several times during the course of my re- 
 marks, as a warning to be less free in expressing 
 my opinion of his friend and neighbor, Halstead. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Planning an Escape — The Guerilla Chief — General Crooit's 
 Close Call — New River Narrows — Kind Treatment — Second. 
 Visit to Union — A Good Action Rewarded — A Practical Dem- 
 onstration OF THE Beauties of Fraternal Unity — Lynchburg — 
 Arrival at Macon. 
 
 We were at once hurried to the Inner depths 
 of the dense woods, where we found two other 
 prisoners, a Captain Tibbies and a sergeant, both 
 from an Ohio regiment, who were being guarded 
 by another squad of guerillas. These latter, with 
 the party accompanying us, now formed a circle, 
 and placed us on the Inside. When darkness 
 fell they lighted a small fire, and by the aid of its 
 blaze kept a close watch upon us throughout thei 
 night. 
 
 My mind was actively employed all night long 
 with thoughts of escape. By the light of the fire 
 I endeavored several times to catch the eye and 
 attention of my hapless fellow-captives, so as to 
 convey to them some sign for a simultaneous 
 dash for liberty. We could, I thought, by run- 
 ning in different directions, avoid the concentra- 
 tion of their fire, and some of our number might 
 succeed In escaping. This, at least, was my Idea; 
 but all my efforts failed to elicit a response. The 
 
 (185) 
 
1 86 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 poor fellows seemed to resign themselves to their 
 fate, and were soon sound asleep. Could I get 
 even one of our number to make a diversion with 
 me I would run the gauntlet of their fire; and, 
 with this determination, I pinched my man Bush, 
 who lay beside me, so hard that I wonder to this 
 day how it was that I did not arouse him. 
 
 Early next morning (May 20) we were marched 
 to a farm-house several miles distant, and in a 
 direction quite opposite to the camp of our troops. 
 Here we were presented to a smart-looking, 
 active young man, who was to all appearances 
 chief of the band. He was heard to issue instruc- 
 tions to the others ; and, I believe, he received 
 all the captured booty for distribution among his 
 men. 
 
 Captain Emick wgis, I learned, the commander 
 of all the forces of this kind that were scattered 
 around this wild and sparsely settled portion of 
 the State. They called themselves " Independent 
 Scouts." Whether or not this personage was 
 Emick I cannot say. There were two good- 
 looking young ladies, inmates of the house to 
 which we were brought, who were apparently 
 more rampant and hard-hearted than their male 
 friends. They were very intimate with the young 
 leader, who was, as I learned, an expert marks- 
 man, and who carried a dangerous-looking long- 
 range rifle. He told me he had drawn a bead 
 with it on General Crook on the day previous, but 
 
COURTEOUSLY TREATED. 1 87 
 
 that the latter's staff and a squad of men coming 
 up immediately behind him caused the young 
 man to forbear. 
 
 While resting a short time at this house I was 
 permitted to write two notes, of only a few lines 
 each — one to my wife and the other to General 
 Crook, apprising them of my mishap. After 
 reading the notes, my captors said they would 
 drop them where our men could find them. They 
 did so, and this concession on their part I attrib- 
 uted to the honorable and humane record found 
 by them in perusing my diary, which, however, 
 was never intended for their inspection. 
 
 From this farm-house we were marched hur- 
 riedly to the narrows of New river, over the same 
 route lately taken by our army on their raid. The 
 for*ces at this place were under the command of 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Tavenner, a tall, gentlemanly 
 young man, who was born and raised in Weston, 
 Lewis county, West Virginia, and who, like many 
 other brave young men of promise, gave up his 
 life to a cause and theory which, though false and 
 destructive, was yet sacred to him. This young 
 man, as were also a portion of his men, was ac- 
 quainted with me. He treated me with every 
 courtesy consistent with his duty, and allowed me, 
 on formal parole, the unrestrained freedom of his 
 encampment. He even promised to try to pro- 
 cure my watch, and if possible have it sent to my 
 wife at Weston : but he did not succeed and I 
 
1 88 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 never saw him afterwards, he being killed in 
 action. 
 
 I was much impressed by the proffered kind- 
 ness of one of his subordinate officers, a nephew 
 of that estimable lady, Mrs. MInter Bailey, of 
 Weston. He wanted me to accept one-half of the 
 few bills the Confederacy had given him for 
 money, and when I declined with thanks, his will- 
 ing tears of generous impulse were visible. He 
 told me his brother had been killed in the Con- 
 federate service a short time previously, and that 
 he himself did not expect to live to return home. 
 Another sad commentary on that unnatural war. 
 
 My treatment here was like an oasis in the 
 desert of my many hard trials and keen suffer- 
 ings afterwards, and was a potent cause of my 
 entire forgiveness for the awful hardships endured, 
 and to which feelings I gave a willing expression 
 at the final surrender. 
 
 On the 2 2d we were marched back, now pris- 
 oners of war, through the village of Union, where, 
 a week previously, we had triumphantly entered 
 and encamped. As we passed the villagers ran 
 out to see the Yankee prisoners, and were, as 
 may be supposed, well pleased to see even so 
 small a number of the hated enemy made captive. 
 Among the many smiling and wondering specta- 
 tors who were eagerly scrutinizing the unfortunate 
 Yankees we noticed two or three ladles who did 
 not appear to share in the general joy of our 
 
FRATERNITY. 1 89 
 
 humiliation. These were the ladies to whom we 
 had paid a domicihary visit a week before, but 
 had left untouched their scanty store of provisions. 
 They now had kind words to say in our behalf, 
 which soon caused a marked change in our favor 
 by the people, who seemed to respect greatly 
 tliese deserving ladies ; consequently, we received 
 better treatment than we had anticipated. 
 
 Some of the more prominent men of the town 
 who were present engaged us in conversation, 
 and among them Captain Tibbies, especially, 
 found friends. It appears that signs of fraternal 
 recognition passed between the latter and these 
 gentlemen, after which we were conducted to a 
 two-story building, an apartment in the rear of 
 which I judged to be used as a Masonic lodge- 
 room. While detained here the gentlemen in 
 whose charge, we were engaged the captain in 
 close conversation, with the result that our friend 
 Tibbies never accompanied us to prison. As a 
 matter of fact, this fortunate outcome of their con- 
 sultation was simply an act of justice to the cap- 
 tain, who was in reality a non-combatant when 
 taken prisoner, being unarmed and having no 
 insignia of rank, his term having expired, and he 
 was merely waiting for an opportunity to return 
 to his home in Ohio. Nevertheless, he mieht 
 have suffered a long imprisonment, as did his 
 comrades, had he not luckily chanced to meet 
 with "brothers," who reposed confidence in his 
 nraightforward statements. 
 
190 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Leavlnof Tibbies behind, who it is reasonable 
 to suppose was well cared for, we were marched 
 from Union to Christianburg. At Christianburg 
 we found a man named Tapp in command of the 
 rebel forces. He was an acting quartermaster 
 also. We had known him at Weston, and did 
 some favors for him before being aware of his 
 proclivities, but he returned our past kindness 
 with brutal cruelty now. He packed us into a 
 dirty cell in the town jail without anything to eat, 
 and on the next day we were put on the cars for 
 Lynchburg, and right glad we were to get out of 
 this tippling painter's clutches. 
 
 We remained at Lynchburg but a short time, 
 when we were sent to Danville, thence to Macon, 
 Georgia, where we arrived June 2, 1864. By the 
 time we reached Macon our clothing was entirely 
 divested of buttons, which, from time to time 
 during our journey, we sold to our escort, who 
 appeared to prize them highly. Had our supply 
 of buttons held out we should not have suffered 
 the pinchings of hunger so often. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 The " Black Flag" — Kindness of the Slaves— In Prison at Camp 
 Oglethorpe— The Dead-Line— Shooting a Prisoner— Prison 
 Fare — Father Hamilton. 
 
 While side-tracked at Macon, we were jeered 
 and sneered at by the white population. The 
 white ladies, if indeed in this case they deserved 
 the title, were especially spiteful. It was the only 
 time that I ever saw the " black flag " shaken in 
 the face of a helpless enemy, and this too by fair 
 Southern belles who seemed to glory in taunting 
 the hungry and dejected " Yanks." The unworthy 
 action of these ladies was a great surprise to us, 
 and for the first time lessened the fair sex in our 
 estimation. 
 
 In marked contrast to the conduct of their 
 white sisters were the generous actions of the 
 poor colored women, who braved the displeasure 
 of their masters and mistresses, and perhaps 
 punishment, by rushing over to the stock-cars in 
 which we were confined, and giving us bread and 
 other food with many pitying and sympathetic 
 glances. At this place I took an affecting leave 
 of my dear boy, Henry H. Bush, never more to 
 see him in life. He was taken to that plague- 
 
 (191) 
 
192 THE FLYING, GRAY-IIAIRED YANK. 
 
 spot, that hell-hole of Southern Infamy, Anderson- 
 ville, where the deaths were 12,926, out of a total 
 of 49,485 prisoners. Poor Bush, soon after his 
 arrival, was dumped Into a pit with the thousands 
 of other braves, without coffin or shroud. To- 
 gether with a batch of other officers, I was marched 
 into the prison pen at Camp Oglethorpe. 
 
 When the gates of this prison opened for our 
 reception, we were met at the entrance, not by a 
 refined sympathy for suffering companionship 
 from brothers In misfortune, but by a motley, de- 
 moralized mob, who acted more like bedlamites 
 than sane men In rushing up to us and shrieking 
 in our astonished ears : " Fresh fish ! fresh fish ! '* 
 
 The routine and hardships of prison life in the 
 South have been graphically described so often, 
 and are so generally known that I shall avoid a 
 detailed entrance upon so unpleasant a recital. 
 The fact of there beinor sixteen hundred officers 
 confined at one time In this prison was ample 
 evidence of the persistent and determined strug- 
 gle of the Confederacy for the success of their 
 cause. Our prison was enclosed on all sides by 
 a high board fence, supported from the outside 
 of which was a platform that came nearly to the 
 top of the fence, and extended its entire length. 
 On this platform at regular Intervals were posted 
 the rebel sentries, ready to shoot down any luck- 
 less " Yank " who chanced to put his foot beyond 
 the dead-line. 
 
o 
 
 3 
 
 
 p 
 
 n 
 
 cr 
 
 3 
 c 
 
 o 
 
 
 
1 
 
 DEATH AT THE DEAD-LINE. 1 95 
 
 At one end of the enclosure was a clear, run- 
 ning stream, wherein we used to wash ourselves 
 and occasionally our garments, whenever we were 
 fortunate enough to secure a little soap. These 
 ablutions, however, were attended with great 
 danger, as the dead-line, an imaginary one, lay 
 very close to the bank of the stream. One day 
 in June, as I was taking a bath In this brook, I 
 heard the sharp report of a gun to my right. 
 Looking up quickly, I saw a comrade officer fall 
 mortally wounded by a heartless rebel sentry who 
 was perched over and opposite to where the poor 
 fellow lay. What rendered this wanton act the 
 most cruel I ever witnessed, was that while our 
 brother officer lay groaning in the excruciating 
 agonies of his death wounds, his slayer kept 
 mocking sardonically the words of the dying 
 prisoner. It was positively asserted at the time, 
 by several officers nearest the occurrence, that 
 the stricken man had not approached within sev- 
 eral feet of the dead-line. It was currendy re- 
 ported and generally believed by the imprisoned 
 that deeds like this were usually rewarded by a 
 furlough to the perpetrator. 
 
 Of kindred atrocities practised at Anderson- 
 ville, comrade John W. Urban, in his book, 
 *' Batde Field and Prison Pen," tells the following 
 terrible story, and my blood curdles when I think 
 of poor Bush, and thousands as noble as he, who 
 witnessed and suffered these barbarities. Mr. 
 Urban says: 
 
196 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. / 
 
 / 
 
 " The prisoners, who were seeking for water to 
 quench their thirst, would crowd to the upper side 
 of the prison, and as close to the dead-line as 
 possible, so as to get the water a little more 
 palatable. On one occasion I went to this place 
 for water, when, finding a crowd at the upper end 
 of the stream, which had gathered for the same 
 purpose, I kept back for a few moments to let it 
 thin out, when my attention was drawn to the 
 nearest guard, who, with rifle in hand, was watch- 
 incr the men orettinof water. His countenance 
 displayed about as much eagerness and expecta- 
 tion as that of the hunter when he discovers his 
 game, and expects to have a good shot. I was 
 watching the demon, and wondering whether it 
 was really possible that he contemplated firing at 
 the men who had gathered there for no other 
 purpose than to get water, when I was horrified 
 to see him deliberately raise his gun and fire into 
 the crowd. I turned in the direction of the 
 crowd, and screamed, 'Look out!' but too late, 
 as the ball had sped on its deadly mission, and 
 the soul of one more poor unfortunate had left its 
 earthly abode, and one more murder was added 
 to the already long list in Andersonville. * 
 
 " One of the prisoners, in his eagerness to get 
 clean water, had dipped through under the dead- 
 line, when the guard, who had been watching and 
 waiting for just such a chance to give him some 
 kind of an excuse for his inhumanity, and an 
 
BRUTAL BARBARISM. 1 97 
 
 opportunity to display his bravery and chivalry, 
 fired at him. The ball missed the mark it was 
 intended for, but unfortunately hit one of the 
 others who was in the act of stooping for water 
 in the rear of the one shot at. The ball passed 
 through his head, and the poor unfortunate soldier 
 fell dead alongside of the stream. After the cruel 
 shot was fired, the comrades of the dead prisoner 
 fled, leaving his dead body lying where he fell. 
 Almost riveted to the spot with horror and indig- 
 nation, I could not run, but, turning around, I took 
 a long look at the monster who could murder a 
 fellow-being for so slight an offense, if an offense 
 it could be called at all. He coolly proceeded to 
 load his gun, turning himself, however, so that he 
 could not see the dead body of his victim. A few 
 prisoners gathered around me, and we commenced 
 to express indignation at the cowardly act. One 
 prisoner exclaimed, * I want just one good look at 
 him, and then one chance to meet him in this 
 world, and I think I will know him if ever I do 
 meet him.* 
 
 "After the guard had finished loading his gun, 
 he noticed that we were watching him and express- 
 ing indignation; he raised his gun to his shoulder, 
 and yelled out, ' Scatter thar, or I will blow some 
 more of you over.' I do not think I ever in all 
 my life felt quite as I did when I walked from that 
 spot. I felt as if I would have to cry out, My 
 God, how long must we endure this? I really 
 
198 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 believe that I would have been willing to give my 
 life for one chance at him. 
 
 " A few of the friends of the dead soldier had 
 gathered around his body, and I went up to see 
 if he was really dead. Some of them were shed- 
 ding tears, and all expressing the deepest horror 
 at his sad taking off. His blood had formed a 
 small rivulet that flowed into the foul stream, which 
 of itself had been a terrible rebel executioner to 
 a large number of our brave soldiers. We had 
 become accustomed to seeing the sight of death 
 in all of its horrible aspects ; we saw men dying 
 almost every hour : but this terrible death moved 
 me more than anything I had yet witnessed. It 
 appeared to me so sad that he had to suffer death 
 for trying to get a drink of water. ' Vengeance 
 is mine ; I will repay, salth the Lord.' And who 
 can doubt that the blood of the thousands of slain 
 soldiers who were murdered In Southern prisons, 
 has cried aloud to hleh Heaven — not unheard, but 
 God has or will yet inflict punishment on these 
 murderous oppressors. 
 
 " It was said, and never denied by the rebels, 
 that a guard on post who shot a prisoner when 
 trying to escape, or in the act of crossing the dead- 
 line, got a thirty-day furlough as his reward. As 
 the miscreant did not again appear on post, I sup- 
 pose he was thus rewarded for his courageous act. 
 It was a rule of the prison that no prisoners w^ere 
 allowed to cross the dead-line; but in the case of 
 
OUR BILL OF FARE. 20I 
 
 this poor soldier It could not have been taken for 
 any violation of this order, as the prisoner had 
 made no attempt to escape or cross it. 
 
 " It is but fair to state that not all of our guards 
 were that kind of characters. Almost all of them 
 were either boys or old men, who were unfit to be 
 sent to the front. In justice to the old men, I will 
 say that all the shooting was done by the boys, 
 and at least a few of those old men denounced the 
 shooting as an outrage. I remember hearing one 
 who was on guard, and was speaking to some 
 prisoners on the Inside, say that * God would not 
 prosper a nation or people who used human beings 
 as we were beinor treated.* " 
 
 The menu, or daily bill of fare, at the Hotel de 
 Oglethorpe, for each guest, usually was made up 
 as follows : 
 
 One pint of cornmeal (cobs or no cobs). 
 
 One gill of sorghum molasses. 
 
 Three ounces (or enough to grease a pan) of 
 fat bacon, melting with the heat of the sun and 
 alive with maoforots. 
 
 There were few, if any, who fared worse than 
 did the writer at Macon. A majority of the 
 prisoners were provided with blankets, overcoats, 
 or some other protection from the hot sun during 
 the day and the chill dampness at night, but I 
 was personally quite destitute of such comforts. 
 
 About the centre of the enclosure was a large 
 frame building, which sheltered several hundred 
 
202 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 • 
 
 of the more lucky prisoners. Beneath this struct- 
 ure, which was raised about eighteen or twenty 
 inches from the ground, there might be seen dur- 
 ing the heat of the day and the chill of the night, 
 three woe-begone, forlorn-looking creatures bur- 
 rowed like moles in a shallow hole scooped out 
 by their hands and finger nails. These hapless 
 individuals were Lieutenants James P. Perley and 
 John McAdams and the writer. 
 
 Lieutenant Perley belonged to the Army of the 
 Cumberland, and although small in stature, he 
 was large in every gentlemanly attribute. Every 
 feature of his intellectual face was stamped with 
 candor and truthfulness. He was a printer in 
 New York when the call came for defenders of 
 the Union, to which summons he responded 
 promptly and like a man. He appeared to be 
 the most philosophical of our squad in prison. 
 Calm, unexcitable and pleasantly patient under 
 many severe trials and keen sufferings, he was a 
 constant source of comfort to his companions in 
 misery. He was an ardent admirer of General 
 W. S. Rosecrans, and on this point, as well as 
 many others, we were entirely agreed. 
 
 John McAdams, a Lieutenant of the loth West 
 Virginia Volunteers, was a smart, shrewd little 
 officer, with a weather eye constantly on the look- 
 out for number one. He had two covers, one to 
 spread over himself and the other for a pillow; 
 while Perley and myself had nothing over us, and 
 
THE SOUTHERN NERO. 203 
 
 contented ourselves with the soft side of a brick 
 apiece for pillows. In another particular I was 
 more unfortunate than most of my companions. 
 I had no vessel of any kind in which to put my 
 daily issue of molasses, nor any way to cook the 
 small amount of raw stuff we received in lieu of » 
 food. A few days after entering the prison I hit 
 upon a plan for receiving my sorghum. I suc- 
 ceeded, after much patient effort with the poor 
 clay at my disposal, in shaping a little circular 
 mud-cup which I exposed to the heat of the sun, 
 and in this half dried daub I deposited my mo- 
 lasses. 
 
 After reveling for the first two weeks in this 
 Southern luxuriousness we received a welcome 
 visit from a Father Hamilton, one of the truest 
 and most sympathetic friends that ever showed 
 his face in Macon prison. He was untiring In his 
 unselfish efforts towards alleviating the sufferings 
 of the Union prisoners at Andersonville and 
 Macon. He told me of his several visits to An- 
 dersonville, and how he had begged and pleaded 
 with General Winder In behalf of the unfortunate 
 prisoners under his brutal and unfeeling charge, 
 and of his poor success, as " little Impression could 
 be made," he said, " on the humane susceptibilities 
 of this Southern Nero." 
 
 Father Hamilton, seeing that I had no vessel 
 for food or drink, gave me ten dollars, with which 
 I bought a tin cup and a tin plate. The same 
 13 
 
204 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Utensils would not cost over ten cents at the North. 
 This noble young cleric, whom I would like to see 
 again, deserves a much longer and more eulogistic 
 mention for his many acts of goodness than I 
 have space to give. He will, however, receive 
 the full reward of Him who visits those in prison 
 and clothed those who were destitute. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Captain Hayes — " Fresh Fish ! Fresh Fish ! " — " Puddin' Head " 
 — Sword Practice by the Prisoners — Captain Rourke — Fourth 
 OF July in Macon — Transferred to Charleston — "The He- 
 roes OF POCOTALIGO." 
 
 In a crowd of large numbers there will always 
 be found some notable characters. Among the 
 sixteen hundred prisoners confined at Macon, 
 Captain Hayes was no obscure one. He was a 
 man of powerful build, with black curly hair, heavy 
 black eyebrows and dark eyes. He was, In short, 
 a fine-looking man, notwithstanding the unpleasant 
 fact that his massive features had been disfigured 
 by the small-pox. This man, who was as brave 
 as he looked, had been prior to his capture a 
 terror to the border guerillas who infested his 
 State — Tennessee. 
 
 To relieve the dreary monotony of prison life 
 the boys must have some fun, even at the expense 
 of Chesterfieldian politeness ; so, whenever a 
 fresh batch of luckless prisoners were ushered in, 
 It was the Invariable custom to greet them with 
 derisive shouts of, " fresh fish ! " etc. ; or when 
 animated groups of prisoners were discovered, as 
 was often the case, excitedly discussing the proba- 
 bilities of exchanore or some other Interestinof 
 
 (20S) 
 
206 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 topic, some irrepressible joker on the extreme 
 edge of the crowd, who, debarred from the pleas- 
 ure of participating in the discussion or unable to 
 hear the speaker's words, would shout discord- 
 andy and repeatedly : " Louder, puddin' head ! 
 louder, puddin' head ! " much to the annoyance 
 of the embarrassed orator and to the intense 
 amusement of the crowd. 
 
 Now whenever Captain Hayes chanced to be 
 engagred in discussions of this sort, and the op- 
 probrious epitaph " puddin' head " was shouted, 
 the cap invariably seemed to fit him, he having a 
 head which from its capacious dimensions was 
 supposed to approach nearest in size and shape 
 to the toothsome '' rolly-polly " of our grand- 
 mothers. He would instantly retort with great 
 vehemence and clenched fist : " Who dares to call 
 me puddin' head? I'll rake the ground with him." 
 
 No immediate response would be made to this 
 irate challenge, but after a pause, ''puddin' head" 
 would again be heard, first from the rear, then to 
 the right and to the left of him, to which points 
 the indignant captain would turn his head in 
 quick succession, at the same time rolling up his 
 sleeves, exposing his brawny arms, and wildly 
 challenging any man to apply that obnoxious term 
 to him ; but of course no one within his reach was 
 foolhardy enough to do so. Still, from time to 
 time the objectionable phrase would be repeated, 
 and no matter to whom applied the captain per- 
 
NOTABLE FELLOW-rRISONERS. 207 
 
 slstently took it to himself, much to the poor fel- 
 low's disgust and annoyance. He denounced the 
 practice as vulgar and demoralizing, and no doubt 
 it would ordinarily be so considered ; but it ap- 
 pears that prison life as a rule had a tendency to 
 blunt the finer qualities of our natures ; at least 
 this was the case in Macon. 
 
 There was another character amonor our number 
 whom we often heard at early dawn, when none 
 but he and his zealous pupils were yet stirring 
 from their still repose. This individual was a 
 Prussian, with the rank of captain in our army. 
 As a swordsman, I presume it would have been 
 difficult at that time to find his superior, he being 
 a finished adept in that noble science. He had 
 provided his pupils with wooden swords, and in 
 putting them through the manual exercises, he 
 would name the different parts of the lesson to be 
 practiced, as, " high tierce, high quart," etc. His 
 English was very imperfect in pronunciation, and 
 there were very few besides his pupils who under- 
 stood the big, burly Prussian's word of command, 
 shouted in stentorian tones on the still air of 
 morning, and mingled with the loud and vigorous 
 clashing of his wooden weapons : " hiera thiers," 
 hiera kart," etc. 
 
 Among those under his tuition there was none 
 more painstaking than Captain John Rourke, of 
 Mulligan's famous battery. Rourke was gende 
 and good, calm and easy-spoken, a fine, pordy 
 
208 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Style of officer, whose unostentatious bravery no 
 one ever questioned. He was himself a swords- 
 man of considerable proficiency, but he wanted to 
 mount the ladder high in everything he undertook 
 and he generally succeeded. 
 
 His education, too, had been by no^means neg- 
 lected, and his companionship in this dreary prison 
 proved highly edifying. We were very much in 
 each other's company, especially in the latter 
 period of our term of imprisonment, when we 
 were devising plans of escape together. He got 
 away a day or so before I did, but was captured 
 and recaptured several times before effecting his 
 final escape. Rourke was one among the many 
 of my companions in misery whom I had hoped 
 to see once again, but from information received 
 only a few days previous to this writing, I am 
 sorry to say that pleasure in his case is forever 
 denied me. 
 
 Another event transpired while at Macon, 
 never to be forgotten by the captives participating 
 while memory and patriotism co-exist. The cele- 
 bration of the 4th of July, 1864, was one of the 
 most spirited and enthusiastic that I ever wit- 
 nessed. When the glorious morn was ushered 
 in, reminding every true American of the patriotic 
 duty to the cause of liberty that the day signalized, 
 numerous groups of the boys in ragged blue could 
 be seen with smiles of holiday happiness discuss- 
 ing the programme of the day. It was decided 
 
CELEBRATING THE FOURTH OF JULY. 20g 
 
 to hold a meeting in the large plank building, 
 about one hundred feet long, and extending 
 throuo^h the centre of our enclosure. 
 
 When all was ready the large doors at each 
 end were thrown open, so that the assembled 
 prisoners could see and hear the proceedings. 
 Major Thorp was the chief orator of the day, and 
 right well did he acquit himself. As the oration 
 proceeded, Lieutenant Smith, a naval officer, could 
 be seen near the speaker's platform climbing to a 
 cross-beam, about ten or twelve feet from the 
 floor, and which reached from side to side of the 
 building. When up he got astride of the beam, 
 performing the feat In a manner peculiar to the 
 agile jolly tar. This happy-looking son of Nep- 
 tune now became the centre of attraction. He 
 was youthful, healthy, and ruddy, an unusual 
 combination for a caged bird, and he wore. In 
 marked contrast to his ragged comrades, a brand- 
 new uniform, buttons and all complete. In each 
 of those buttons, with true Yankee ingenuity, 
 were snugly deposited several gold-dollar pieces. 
 This had been done by removing with the help of 
 a knife-blade the outward shell of the rounded 
 button, and, after inserting the money, carefully 
 replacing It again. 
 
 Now when the speaker to the great edification 
 of his appreciative audience was swelling with his 
 inspiriting subject. Lieutenant Smith, upon his 
 perch on the cross-beam, slipped his hand Into his 
 
2IO THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 patriot-pulsing bosom, and drew forth from its 
 hiding-place a bright new flag, the talismanic 
 "Star-Spangled Banner." The applause, as the 
 flag was unfurled to the gaze of its admirers was 
 deafening, and reached far and near, lending ani- 
 mation to all witnessing the unexpected event. 
 When these rinp^inof shouts reached the ears of 
 the Confederates they came cautiously in, but did 
 not then prohibit the proceedings as all expected, 
 contenting themselves with requesting that there 
 should be less noise made. 
 
 The noise, however, continued, and soon there 
 could be noticed a commotion among the guards 
 surrounding the stockade. Again the captain of 
 the prison came in, and this time ordered the 
 speaking to cease, threatening to open fire upon 
 us with his battery, which was even then being 
 placed in a menacing position, if we did not com- 
 ply. So we had to submit, but Tom Lee. a lieu- 
 tenant-colonel of a New York regiment, who was 
 speaking at the time of the interruption, kept up 
 a dumb speech, embellishing it with many funny 
 gesticulations, which caused great merriment. 
 
 A remarkable and pleasing feature of the cele- 
 bration was the singing of " The Star-Spangled 
 Banner" by a Captain Camerhorn. I have never 
 been so much impressed with the sublimity of a 
 song as on this occasion, and I question if that 
 beautiful production of Francis Scott Key was 
 ever more effectively rendered. 
 
A BOLD CONSPIRACY. 2TT 
 
 It was known that General Sherman was in 
 Atlanta, Georgia, at this time, and the rebels were 
 fearful that we might possibly make a break for 
 liberty, or that Sherman might attempt a sudden 
 dash for our relief In consequence of these con- 
 ting-encies the Confederates began preparing to 
 send 600 of the prisoners to Charleston, South 
 Carolina. When this intention on their part be- 
 came known in prison a secret organization sprang 
 up among the officers likely to be transferred, of 
 which number I was one. 
 
 The object of this organization was to arrange 
 for a simultaneous and general break for freedom 
 at Pocotaligo Bridge, South Carolina, on the road 
 to Charleston, by first capturing the guards escort- 
 ing us and taking their arms, and then exchanging 
 uniforms with them. By these means we pro- 
 posed to deceive by appearances and surprise by 
 our strength a company of rebels who were the 
 only obstacles then in our path to the United 
 States fleet at Hilton Head. 
 
 The officers selected by us to give the signal at 
 the proper time for this hazardous move were a 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Sherman and a Captain Kible- 
 han. The signal was to be made in the forward 
 end of the train by displaying a white handker- 
 chief. When the time came for it to be given 
 there was a stern and intense anxiety pervading 
 the whole crowd of determined men, as, in breath- 
 less suspense, they strained their eyes towards 
 
212 THE FLYING, GRAY-IIAIRED YANK. 
 
 the front cars for the wished-for signal. But It 
 never came. And now complete disgust and 
 unutterable contempt for the officers who failed 
 in the duty delegated to them was the general 
 feeling among the much-disappointed prisoners, 
 who ever afterwards satirically designated their 
 cowardly leaders "The Heroes of Pocotaligo." 
 
 Their excuse was that the lieutenant in charo^e 
 of our escort was too smart for them, and had 
 placed a few of his men on the tender of the 
 engine, prepared to fire on the men who should 
 give the signal which, either from information 
 received or natural foresight, he anticipated might 
 be given. 
 
 A few of the officers, seeing that the time for 
 giving the signal had passed, attempted to try it 
 "on their own hooks," and at opportune moments 
 quietly dropped off the train, every one of whom, 
 however, was returned to prison within a week or 
 so following the escape, looking a hundred per 
 cent, more miserable than when the experimental 
 jump was made. Among the brave but unsuc- 
 cessful gentlemen who made this attempt was 
 Colonel Henry M. Hoyt, afterwards governor of 
 Pennsylvania. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Arrival at Charleston— Luck in a Boot-leg— Transferred 
 TO THE Marine Hospital — A Narrow Escape — Bombardment 
 OF Charleston— The "Swamp Angel "—Kindness of the 
 Sisters of Charity — Yellow Fever — Taken to Columbia — 
 A Brutal Murder by a Guard. 
 
 We arrived at Charleston, S. C, on July 28, 
 1864, and were put into a small jail-yard where 
 we were densely crowded, and exposed to the 
 scorchinof heat of the sun, without shelter of 
 any kind. After about three weeks of this tr}'ing 
 experience, all the officers then imprisoned, six 
 hundred in number, accepted a parole offered them 
 in order to secure shelter and better quarters, but 
 for paroled men our privileges were very limited 
 indeed. 
 
 One sweltering day in August, when sheer 
 despondency was asserting itself in spite of all 
 my efforts to shake it off, I noticed three or four 
 stalwart-looking fellows, in citizen's gray, some- 
 what the worse for wear, coming down the steps 
 of the jail, to take their usual daily airing, or 
 promenade, in the yard where the Union officers 
 were promiscuously scattered about. 
 
 With unprejudiced smiles on their broad, good- 
 natured faces, they came right over to where I 
 
 (213) 
 
214 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Stood. The largest of them, glancing down at 
 my feet, asked inquiringly if I would sell my boot- 
 legs. These latter were very long, coming away 
 above the knees, and were quite the thing on a 
 muddy march, but were now, in my w^eakened 
 and debilitated condition, a positive encum- 
 brance. I thought at first that the fellow was 
 cracking a joke on the boots because of their 
 leno-th, but he soon assured me that he was in 
 earnest, and would give me anything in reason 
 for them. Seeing this, I told him that if he really 
 wanted them he might have them for nothing ; 
 and suitine the action to the word, I took a knife 
 and severed the legs from the foot at the ankle 
 and handed them to him. 
 
 - This act of generosity seemed to surprise him 
 very greatly and he respectfully inquired my 
 name. When I had told him, he said : 
 
 " When I was quite a little chap, living in Man- 
 ninoton, W. Va., I drove a team of horses for a 
 railroad contractor, whose kindness to me I shall 
 never forget. His name was Tom Egan." 
 
 " What is your name ? " I asked. 
 
 " Foley," was his answer. 
 
 '' The man you speak of," said I, " is my brother ; 
 and he has several times spoken to me of you." 
 
 With considerable emotion and expressions 
 full of pleasure and gratitude the big fellow 
 grasped me by the hand with as much cordiality 
 and feeling as though he had met a near and 
 
PRISON COURTESIES. 21 5 
 
 dear relative. After a few minutes' further con- 
 versation he and his friends bade me good-day 
 and bore away their prize to their tolerably com- 
 fortable quarters in the jail. In about three- 
 quarters of an hour after leaving me Foley came 
 back and invited me to accompany him up to his 
 cell, which I did. 
 
 There he introduced me to his friends, six in 
 number, each of whom tried to excel his comrade 
 in kind attentions to me. At their earnest invita- 
 tion, I sat down to table with them and enjoyed 
 a hearty meal of soup, meat, bread, etc., in ad- 
 dition to the usual prison fare. These unex- 
 pected luxuries were provided for the little party 
 by the handiwork of Foley, who, being something, 
 of a cobbler, made shoes from such material as 
 my boot-legs and sold them to willing customers 
 in the city, through the mediation of a kindly old 
 lady who took out and disposed of the shoes, 
 and returned with their worth in provisions. 
 
 At the time of my meeting them, these seven 
 brave young fellows had just finished serving the 
 Confederacy three years, or the exact term of 
 their enlistment. They belonged to the ist South 
 Carolina Heavy Artillery, commanded by the 
 son of the exiled Irish patriot, John Mitchell, and 
 most of the men were Irish also. Their young 
 commander, whom they much revered, had been 
 killed in action. 
 
 When their terms of enlistment expired, upon 
 
21 6 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 refusing to serve Jeff. Davis longer, they wero^ 
 thrown into prison, as a recompense for their 
 past gallant services. The young fellows were all 
 single and had no fixed homes. The South had 
 no just claim upon them, as none of their number 
 had ever been naturalized, and consequently, in 
 the eyes of the law, they were still British sub- 
 jects. Happening to be employed in the South 
 ■when the war broke out, they were forced, or 
 carried with the current, into the rebel ranks, 
 where they served faithfully during the period 
 named ; but now, in view of their ungrateful and 
 unlawful treatment, they were disgusted with 
 their past acts and present surroundings, and 
 were anxious to obtain their freedom and leave 
 the country. 
 
 Learning that there was then a British consul in 
 Charleston I drafted a petition for them to that 
 dignitary, setting forth their grievances and asking 
 his protection. I am glad to be able to state 
 that this document had the desired effect, and 
 the young men were soon released. While they 
 remained in jail my good friend and comrade, 
 Captain Whiteside (with whom I subsequently 
 escaped from prison at Columbia), and myself 
 frequently partook of their kind hospitality. 
 
 After the term of our paroles had expired, y/e 
 were transferred and assigned to quarters in two 
 large public buildings, the Roper and the Marine 
 hospitals. In the latter building, Lieutenant 
 
LIVING UNDER FIRE. 21 7 
 
 McAdams and myself were room-mates, and 
 being the last in, had to take the poorest apart- 
 ment in the house — a room of limited dimensions 
 and located in the basement. It took us a good 
 while to clean this room out so as to fit it for 
 occupancy. We wheeled out half a dozen barrow- 
 loads oi debits, which had been caused by a great 
 shell coming down through the ceiling, the build- 
 ing being directly in line and range of our siege- 
 guns on James' Island. I bunked, or lay, on the 
 floor directly beneath the hole made by this 
 shell. 
 
 After being here a week I made a closer inspec- 
 tion of the breach in the ceiling, and found on the 
 extreme edge of the aperture a piece of shell of 
 at least 150 pounds weight, which a slight jar 
 would have caused to come crashing down upon 
 my devoted head. 
 
 While here, McAdams found a long, narrow 
 account book, the larger portion of its leaves 
 being blank. This he hacked in two with an old 
 saw, keeping one-half and giving me the other. 
 In this book, which I still retain, I kept my diary 
 during my flight for freedom. 
 
 During the time we were imprisoned in the 
 Marine Hospital, several shells from our guns, 
 which were playing havoc generally on the rebel- 
 lious city, struck close around us, doing much 
 damage and creating consternation among the 
 prisoners. Late at night, when not a comrade 
 
21 8 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 was astir around me, I have often and alone, from 
 the highest balcony of this large building, watched 
 the awe-inspiring practice of our siege guns upon 
 the city. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great danger, I thought 
 this the most pleasing and sublime spectacle I ever 
 witnessed. The calm stillness of the night is 
 broken by a faint distant sound. I look in that 
 direction, and, a few seconds later, a meteor-like 
 object ascends from the horizon, mounts higher 
 and higher, with its bright tail of flame, and de- 
 scribine a curve of over six miles chord, bursts like 
 a torpedo, scattering a shower of fire in all 
 directions. 
 
 The gun discharging these terrific missiles was 
 the "Swamp Angel," a seven hundred pounder, 
 and it kept up the fire with great regularity and 
 precision, dealing destruction on the doomed city. 
 I have seen Charleston ablaze in several places 
 at once from these shots, and it was only by the 
 extraordinary efforts of the "fire brigade" that 
 the damage was limited and the scope of the 
 flames circumscribed. 
 
 Apropos of these fires, I wish to record an 
 occurrence which simple justice and common grat- 
 itude have thus far failed to notice. When man 
 fails to bear testimony to the sweet administrations 
 of kindness and charity, especially when bestowed 
 upon him in his dire necessity by noble woman, 
 then I must say he bears no afiinity to such a 
 
MINISTERING ANGELS. 219 
 
 grand type of manhood as the beautiful poet, 
 Schiller, who says : 
 
 " Honored be Woman who beams on the sight, 
 Graceful and fair, like a being of light ; 
 Who scatters around her, wherever she strays, 
 Roses of bliss on our thorn-covered ways. 
 Like roses of Paradise, which spring from above, 
 To be gathered and twined in a garland of love." 
 
 The convent where the Sisters of Charity were 
 teaching school, the revenue from which was their 
 sole source of income, was one morning entirely 
 destroyed by fire, the result of a shot from one 
 of our guns. And this was the time — when the 
 embers of their ruined home were not yet cool — 
 we find them ministering to the wants of the Union 
 soldiers In prison, giving to them money, clothing, 
 under-wear, tobacco, lemons, oranges, and other 
 fruits ; bearing out their letters and performing a 
 thousand other acts of kindness and charity. 
 They never once complained of their own loss, 
 although It must have been a bitter one; nor either 
 by word or action did they give preference to 
 Catholic over any other ; in fact, I never heard 
 them during the whole time of my confinement 
 there touch upon the subject of religion, and I hon- 
 ored their sublime impartiality. Their gentle 
 meekness and refinement won the respect of all, 
 and the influence for good of their angelic visita- 
 tions upon the officers who for months had not 
 seen the face of woman, was incalculable and 
 could not fail to leave a lasting impression. 
 
 14 
 
220 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 In the latter part of September the yellow fever 
 broke out In Charleston, and large numbers died 
 of it, among them being Captain Sheldon, the 
 commandant of the prison. We thought it re- 
 markable and fortunate that but very few of our 
 men took the dread disease. 
 
 Our Government, finding that we were placed 
 under the fire of our guns, retaliated in like fash- 
 ion with some of their rebel prisoners. This, to- 
 gether with the prevalency of the yellow fever, 
 influenced our keepers to remove us to Columbia, 
 the capital of the State ; and thither w^e were ac- 
 cordingly shipped on October 5th, and on the day 
 followinor we reached that destination. 
 
 On refusing to take a parole we were put in an 
 open field where there was no shelter but a few 
 stunted pine trees, but It will ever be remembered 
 by all who repined there, as " Camp Sorghum." 
 We were driven into this field on the 7th of Oc- 
 tober, and the humiliation and punishment we had 
 to suffer on this occasion will never be foro^otten. 
 It was at the hands, too, of stripling young rebels, 
 sons of aristocratic citizens, who were the cadets 
 of a military academy in Columbia. They were 
 dressed in new gray and formed the rear guard 
 marching us out to prison. Permitted for the first 
 time to have guns and bayonets In their hands, 
 they thought It a safe and convenient opportunity 
 to practice their innate brutality upon the unarmed 
 and wretched Yankees, and they used their bayo- 
 
CRUELTY OF CONFEDERATE CUBS. 221 
 
 nets freely In prodding up those unfortunate ones 
 of our comrades who chanced to be nearest them. 
 O, It was sickening to see and hear the poor fellows 
 wince, and cry out under the punishment of the 
 cold steel In the hands of such young spawn. If 
 all our men had seen it, and felt as I did on the 
 subject, these young cubs would have been wiped 
 out regardless of consequences. 
 
 On October 25th, Lieutenant Young, of the 4th 
 Pennsylvania Cavalry, was shot dead by one of the 
 rebel guards. The lieutenant, when shot, was fifty 
 yards away from any dead-line, and was quiedy 
 sitting at his little fire chatting with his comrades. 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Escape from Prison — Meeting with Officers — Comparing Routes 
 — Lieutenant ]VIurphy's Obstinacy — What it Cost Him. 
 
 On Friday, November 4, 1864, Captain John 
 C. Whiteside, of Wyoming, New York, and my- 
 self, the former after enjoying the sweets of prison 
 life for fourteen months and the latter for six 
 months, took into our heads to encounter the 
 awful privations and dangers of a journey of 
 nearly 400 miles, in a direct line from Columbia, 
 South Carolina, to Knoxville, Tennessee. The 
 opportunity presented itself to us that day, while 
 cutting and gathering firewood for the use of our 
 squad in prison, and it was not a very difficult 
 thine to do owingf to the unenclosed condition of 
 our prison. 
 
 This flight for sweet liberty's sake (ever mem- 
 orable to me) occupied thirty-one days and nights 
 in Its accomplishment. I should think that on 
 this trip we travelled on an average twenty miles 
 each nioht, making the distance traversed nearer 
 to 600 than to 400 miles. But, travelling in an 
 unknown country, without compass or guide, 
 often making wide detours to escape discovery 
 
 by the enemy, subsisting chiefly on raw corn, with 
 
 (222} 
 
ESCAPE INAUGURATED. 22^ 
 
 very light clothing and a very heavy load of ver- 
 min, It must be admitted that we kept to the 
 general direction of our goal fairly well, and made 
 as fast time as could reasonably be expected 
 under such trying circumstances. 
 
 On the same afternoon that we got out of 
 prison several other officers, perhaps fifty In all, 
 escaped also. Of this number only a very few 
 succeeded In getting through. The lucky ones 
 whom I met In my lonely pilgrimage to the shriae 
 of freedom were : William Nelson, Lieutenant 
 13th United States Infantry; V. K. Hart, Captain 
 19th United States Infantry; Thomas B. De- 
 Weese, Lieutenant 2d United States Cavalry; 
 Charles S. Kimball, Captain ist Massachusetts 
 Infantry; O. W. Dimick, Lieutenant iith New 
 Hampshire Infantry ; and Charles G. Davis, 
 Lieutenant ist Massachusetts Cavalry. 
 
 Comrade Whiteside and myself lay down be- 
 tween two loo[s in a skirt of woods in view of the 
 prison-camp until the veil of night hid us from our 
 numerous enemies. While lying thus concealed 
 we saw approaching us three escaping officers — 
 Lieutenants Murphy, Hale, and Halpln. Al- 
 though very near to where we were lying, they 
 would have passed without observing us had we 
 not called to them. They came to where we 
 were, and we all laid down together. 
 
 We then consulted as to the best plan of escape 
 and the most practicable route to take. I subc 
 
224 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 mitted a plan which had been well matured and 
 carefully mapped out while yet in prison. It was 
 approved of by all present except Lieutenant 
 Murphy, who had a plan of his own, and dogmat- 
 ically persisted in his comrades adopting It. He 
 proposed that we take a straight course from 
 where we were, and cross over to the left bank 
 of the Saluda river. To this I objected, as there 
 was, in my opinion, a village on that side of the 
 river at this point. This I believed from having 
 heard early that evening the voices of many peo- 
 ple there, as though of factory hands just quitting 
 their work. 
 
 My plan was to take up the right bank of the 
 river, avoid all enclosures or resorts, and follow a 
 route which I had drawn from a map before 
 escaping. 
 
 It was now dark, and the night was calm and 
 beautiful. We started. Murphy, who apparently 
 would rule or ruin, spurted to the front and took 
 his own direction. Hale and Halpin close behind 
 him, with Whiteside and myself reluctantly follow- 
 ing. I remonstrated vainly when, a short time 
 after starting, I saw them crossing a fence and 
 getting into an enclosure. 
 
 We had not proceeded far within this field 
 when pandemonium was raised about us. The 
 prison-camp was completely aroused. Between 
 fifty and sixty prisoners had escaped. Men 
 shouted, lights flashed, guns were fired, dogs 
 
A RACE FOR FREEDOM. 225 
 
 howled, and the night — a few minutes before so 
 calm — was made hideous by discordant noises. 
 This was a nerve-testing time for us. Murphy 
 kept on his headlong course, the rest following. 
 Presently several dogs came charging towards us, 
 with a yelling crowd close behind encouraging 
 them. 
 
 Instantly I filed to the left, and for the next 
 twenty minutes ran at the top of my speed in a 
 direction opposite to that taken by the hounds. 
 No luckless pioneer pursued by bloodthirsty 
 savages ever more confidingly appealed to the 
 endurance of his favorite mustang than did I now 
 to my faithful shanks, whose speed I had often 
 tested in years gone by on the bright banks of 
 the river Shannon. 
 
 The faithful Whiteside followed me closely and 
 displayed marked running qualities, but Murphy 
 and his companions rushed blindly and excitedly 
 into the arms of their enemies, and were taken 
 back to " Camp Sorghum," to ruminate at their 
 leisure on the self-willed mistake of their leader. 
 
 At last, when about exhausted, we reached a 
 laurel thicket. Into which we plunged, only to run 
 plump against two men. This was a trying mo- 
 ment. Each party thought the other to be ene- 
 mies, and prepared for a struggle, but mutual 
 recognitions soon dispelled all fears. The two 
 men were runaways also, and were Lieutenants 
 Wynkoop and Bowles, the latter a Pennsylvania 
 
2 26 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 cavalryman. We were glad of their company, 
 and remained together all night, scrambling along, 
 and often falling in our rough zigzag course up 
 the right bank of the Saluda riv^er. Our imme- 
 diate necessity was to get beyond the sphere of 
 the despised '* Camp Sorghum," for those there 
 in charge were using desperate measures to 
 recapture the escaped and scattered prisoners. 
 Spurred on by this idea, we did our best at getting 
 away» 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Second Day of our Escape — Sounds of the Bloodhounds— 
 Hungry and Footsore— Third and Fourth Days out — Our 
 NuMBEii Reduced one-half — Captain Whiteside, and what I 
 Think of him. 
 
 From my well-worn diary, I extract the follow- 
 ing- entries: 
 
 Saturday, Novembp.r ^th. — About noon we 
 emeroe from the woods well torn _with brush and 
 briars, and strike a lonely by-road. We have 
 fasted all day, but are cheerful withal. One of 
 our party has a small sack of rice, but no way 
 of cooking it yet. The day is beautiful and mild, 
 with a warm sun whose most welcome rays par- 
 tially answered our chilled frames in lieu of fuel, 
 in which luxury our caution will not permit us to 
 
 indulge. 
 
 Nio-ht ao-ain, and on a brisk march beset with 
 
 difficulties. We meet with four more runaway 
 
 officers at eleven o'clock, but permit them to go 
 
 on ahead, and change our own direction; in fact, 
 
 we take the back track for about two miles, and 
 
 in doine so run across a neo^ro. We have a 
 
 friendly chat with him, but get litde informadon 
 
 from him. The nicrht is brio:ht and calm and is one 
 
 not soon to be forgotten by our litde party. The 
 
 (227) 
 
228 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 disagreeable music of deep-baying hounds is heard 
 on every side of us. The whole country appears 
 to be aroused and in pursuit of the escaped Yan- 
 kees. With renewed efforts, inspired by our 
 besetting dangers, we continue our rapid flight, 
 keeping as far from the noise of the hounds as 
 possible, until weary and hungry we take a rest, 
 hope and will-power alone combating exhaustion. 
 Our only subsistence so far has been a very lim- 
 ited supply of parched corn. We have carried a 
 pumpkin for some time, but for want of a fire 
 cannot cook it. 
 
 One precaution which we now adopt is to seek, 
 when day approaches, the retirement of the 
 densest woods and lowest canyons, and there 
 await the return of night before proceeding. 
 
 Sunday, Nove7nber 6th. — As if in keeping with 
 the Sabbath, tranquillity reigns all around us. We 
 enjoy a day of quiet repose and much needed 
 sleep, after which, at eight o'clock p. m., we start 
 briskly forward and make good progress, albeit 
 on empty stomachs. Shortly after stardng, and 
 while on a level road, poor Wynkoop sprained 
 his ankle. With profound regret we had to leave 
 him behind to his sad fate. We stopped with him 
 for some time, but he was very unselfish and told 
 us to push ahead and do the best we could for 
 ourselves. We pushed strongly on for several 
 hours, until we came to a river, where we rested 
 after a good night's march. 
 
"GOBBLED-UP. 229 
 
 Monday, November "jth. — Fortunately the 
 weather continues very mild, but we are much 
 fatigued and very hungry this morning. We 
 sleep until noon, after which we descend to the 
 river and take a refreshing bath. We are in a 
 pitiful plight, not a morsel to eat nor a prospect 
 of securing one. We are but three in number 
 now and are all feeling very much dejected. We 
 commence a search for something to appease our 
 hunger and finally espy a small flock of sheep. 
 They are rather wild, but after the exercise of 
 much caution we succeed in getting pretty close 
 to them, when I stood up and let fly a club with 
 all my might at the foremost one, but missed him 
 and frightened the flock so badly that we could 
 not eet near them afterwards. This failure on 
 my part did not tend to revive our drooping 
 spirits. 
 
 We could see ' from where we stood a farm- 
 house, about a half mile distant, and started in 
 that direction in the hope of attracting the atten- 
 tion of some of the negroes, and trying if we 
 could get something to eat from them. I was in 
 favor of waiting: for the dusk of evenincr before 
 approaching the house, but Lieutenant Bowles, 
 who was a bold fellow, said he would try it then ; 
 so, urged by the necessity, we permitted him to 
 go. We watched him closely and could see him 
 getting nearer and nearer to the house. We 
 feared he was getting imprudently too near while 
 
230 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 it was yet so bright. When about a hundred 
 yards from the house he disappeared from view, 
 and then ensued a period of the most anxious 
 suspense. The hope of reHef, and the dread of 
 his fate, caused the minutes to appear like hours 
 to us. We waited impatiently a full hour for his 
 return, but In vain. That was the last we ever 
 saw or heard of poor Bowles. 
 
 Now Whiteside was my sole companion, and 
 we resumed our dreary march very much de- 
 pressed in spirits at the loss of our comrade, 
 being totally Ignorant and painfully fearful of what 
 his fate might be. I trust he lived to see home, 
 but 1 have never heard from him since. 
 
 One after another of our little party having 
 dropped off, we were now not only staring gaunt 
 hunger In the face, but by reason of our loneli- 
 ness we were more keenly feeling its pangs. I 
 endeavored to rally the drooping spirits of White- 
 side, cheering him as best I could, although I really 
 felt little better than did he, but, like the boy 
 passing the graveyard at midnight who kept 
 whistling a gay air in order to keep his oozing 
 courage up and rising hair down, I assumed a 
 forced cheerfulness of manner whenever I found 
 my companion growing despondent. Ills faith 
 and fortitude were however superior to mine as a 
 rule, and It was only on very rare occasions that 
 he seemed to lose courage, and then only for a 
 short time. 
 
CAPTAIN WHITESIDE. 23 1 
 
 I must pause here in my narrative to remark 
 that I consider my faithful friend and comrade, 
 Captain John C. Whiteside, to be as noble a spec- 
 imen of humanity as it has ever been my good 
 fortune to meet. He was the personal embodi- 
 ment of *' charity, fraternity and loyalty," and his 
 morality was of a marked and high standard. 
 " No better than he breathes the air on land or 
 sea." 
 
 He was, as I have stated before, from Wyom- 
 ing, New York. I have forgotten his company 
 and regiment. He had made the ministry his 
 calline before the war, and was the most earnest 
 and effective preacher we had among the sixteen 
 hundred officers then in prison. He was, I be- 
 lieve, a Methodist. Several times while planning 
 our escape, I had contemplated the pleasure I 
 might have if so fortunate as to escape in his 
 company. Though we differed in matters of re- 
 ligion, we had no different ideas of friendship ; 
 and I can candidly say that I had no brother for 
 whom I would go farther, or do more, than for the 
 generous Whiteside. I am also sure that I had 
 no brother who could have been truer to me than 
 was he. When I was barefooted in prison he gave 
 me a pair of shoes, the pair he was then wearing 
 being no better than the ones he gave me. They 
 served me well in my long and weary march to 
 our lines. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 Fervent Prayers — Weary Tramping — A Beautiful Scene — Roast- 
 ing Potatoes — Whiteside's Forethought. 
 
 To return to our sad situation : 
 
 In the dusk of that still evening, November 7, 
 1864, we knelt down and silently and earnestly- 
 addressed our prayers to the only source from 
 which we could reasonably expect any relief. 
 How fervendy and beseechingly we cast our eyes 
 heavenward ! Not a roof or leaf to obstruct 
 our gaze. The blue vault of heaven was the 
 dome of our house of worship. The autumn 
 leaves on Mother Earth were the cushions of our 
 pew. The occasional whistle of a night bird our 
 only choir. 
 
 I have never before or since repeated the 
 Lord's prayer so fervently as I did on this occa- 
 sion, especially that part relating to "our daily 
 bread." Our heartfelt supphcations had an in- 
 spiriting effect, and we arose with hopes revived 
 and a stronger faith in the providence of God. 
 It now became Whiteside's turn to cheer me up, 
 and he repeated a couplet of sacred poetry: 
 
 ** He who fed thee last will feed thee still; 
 Be calm, and sink unto His will." 
 
 (232) 
 
TRAMPING ON. Z^^ 
 
 "Captain," said he, "God has promised to with- 
 hold no good gift from those who walk uprightly; 
 He who heard the cry of the young raven will 
 surely not be deaf to the cry of His needy chil- 
 dren." 
 
 Under the Influence of these and other salutary 
 lessons we scrambled alono-, huoro-inor the ricrht 
 bank of the Saluda river. Our scanty clothing 
 was badly torn, and our hands and legs were 
 sorely lacerated by briars encountered while 
 pursuing our zigzag course, which we did in 
 almost unbroken silence. 
 
 Our destination lay in a northwesterly direction, 
 and as the river at this point took a northerly 
 course, we quitted its meanderlngs and stood out 
 direct on our oroposed line, and had rather rough 
 travelling for about an hour, when, upon ascend- 
 ing a slight elevation, we suddenly and unex- 
 pectedly stood on the banks of a noble river, and 
 the clear, mellow light of the moon enabled us to 
 take a satisfactory view of the scene that now 
 presented itself to our astonished gaze. The 
 river at this point took a somewhat semicircular 
 shape, with quite an open space, clothed in rich 
 verdure, directly in our front, and with a gentle 
 descent on all sides to the water's edge. The 
 opposite bank was thickly bordered with stately 
 pines, towering high and majestic, like mighty 
 sentinels oruardinor the stream. The river here 
 was comparatively broad and smooth, the night 
 
234 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 calm and beautiful, and the moon and stars re- 
 flected their tranquil beauty in the silent waters 
 before us. I feel inadequate to the task of 
 properly describing this sublime picture ; but we 
 felt all its peaceful solitude and solemn grandeur, 
 and were forced to exclaim, in the language of 
 David : " The heavens declare the glory of God ; 
 and the firmament showeth His handiwork." 
 
 We mieht have tarried lonorer at this secluded 
 nook and enjoyed its beauty more, but men who 
 had been fasting four days and nights were scarcely 
 in a mood to appreciate the beauties of nature. 
 So we continued to push ahead as best we could, 
 in hopes of finding something to appease our well- 
 nigh Intolerable hunger. Buoyed up somewhat 
 by the reflection that every step forward was one 
 nearer to liberty, we dragged our weary way for 
 about an hour, when we came to what looked like 
 a potato-patch. We halted, and, kneeling down, 
 commenced scratching in the hard and stony 
 ground until we were rewarded by finding a few 
 potatoes. We succeeded in cutting and bruising 
 our hands pretty severely in this operation, but we 
 did not grumble, feeling too thankful for the lucky 
 and much- needed discovery. Had we travelled 
 during the daytime — which we dared not do — we 
 could have seen better where to pick up something 
 to eat. 
 
 Having the potatoes, we ventured to prepare a 
 small fire immediately, and roasted a few of them 
 
COOKING POTATOES. 235 
 
 in the coals. Whiteside, with great foresight, had 
 supplied himself with a quantity of matches and 
 salt before escaping, without which all our efforts 
 for liberty, for home, and later to join the boys at 
 the front, would have proven futile, as the reader 
 will readily understand. 
 
 Feeling very thirsty after eating, we hurjted 
 around for the means to satisfy our longing, and 
 Captain Whiteside soon discovered a small spring 
 of the most delicious water that, as we then 
 thought, we had ever tasted. He had been tap- 
 ping around with his stick, when he struck a rock, 
 beneath which lay the sparkling fluid. He proved 
 himself a veritable Moses on this occasion. I 
 have often wondered if the rod Moses used for a 
 similar purpose was a hickory one, like that of my 
 friend Whiteside. We each took a deep and re- 
 freshing draught. We had not had time to remove 
 from the spring when we discovered by the bark- 
 inof of watch-doors that we were within a short 
 
 <_5 <3> 
 
 distance of a dwelling-house. We thereupon 
 moved from the spot with considerable alacrity. 
 This place we named in our memorandums "Aqua 
 Vit«." 
 
 We travelled at a brisk pace from this time on 
 without any incident worthy of note occurring 
 until daylight appeared, admonishing us of the 
 necessity of seeking a hiding-place. As will ap- 
 pear in the next chapter, we properly designated 
 this place "Gooseville." 
 15 
 
CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Clouds Dispelled — Charging a Flock of Geese — Grace Before 
 Meals — Attempt at Poetry — Kindness of the Darkies. 
 
 GoosEViLLE, Tuesday, November 8, 1864. 
 
 This place shall be ever famed in our annals 
 for its hospitalities. Paul was not more rejoiced 
 when he saw the " three taverns " than were we 
 when we discovered this retreat. Lying on the 
 autumn leaves with our martial cloaks (U. S. 
 blankets) around us, it proved a haven of refresh^ 
 ing bliss to us during a period of thirty-six hours. 
 When we arrived here our spirits were over- 
 shadowed with gloom, and our bodies exhausted 
 with fatio^ue and hunger ; but when the lowerinor 
 clouds look most gloomy the benign influence of 
 a propitious heaven will dispel the darkness and 
 show God's power through the unexpected bless- 
 inofs of his ofifts. 
 
 The few potatoes we secured, as before narrated, 
 merely appeased the hunger of several days pre- 
 vious ; but even on this occasion, when exhausted 
 nature keenly claimed some support, we continued 
 hopeful and resigned. Like Wilkins Micawber, 
 we had great faith that something would** turn 
 up." Well, something did turn up in the shape 
 (236) 
 
CAPTURING A GOOSE. 237 
 
 of a plump young goose. I caused his legs to 
 " turn up" in a new-fashioned style. I did it with 
 my litde hickory, and that, too, at the first throw. 
 
 It occurred in this wise: We lay in a small 
 woods about 300 yards wide, with a strip of cuki- 
 vated land of about the same dimensions on either 
 side. On our left was a wheat-field ; the wheat 
 had been harvested, but considerable remained 
 amonor the stubble, whereon a number of geese 
 were now feeding. As I lay, with my blanket 
 around me, on a bed of leaves, I heard the cack- 
 ling of the flock, which sounded like music to my 
 ears. Springing to my feet, I took my shillalah — 
 "that seldom missed fire" — and cautiously ap- 
 proaching the fence bordering the field, I "charged 
 upon that flock of geese," and when about ten 
 yards from them I let fly and hit one, breaking his 
 legs. I was on him in a second, and by pressing 
 on the windpipe prevented his making a noise, 
 and so triumphantly bore my prize back to our 
 hiding-place. 
 
 We now set to work plucking the fowl. In my 
 mind's eye I still can see those feathers fly. We 
 carefully concealed the feathers, however, disem- 
 boweled, washed, and singed the bird nicely, then, 
 cutting a large slice apiece, we seasoned it, and 
 with the aid of a "spit," or sharp-pointed stick, 
 proceeded to roast our goose. The flavor of that 
 roast, in our opinion, would have satisfied the 
 desires of old Epicurus himself. 
 
238 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 When ready for the repast, we thought it 
 eminently proper to say grace. I volunteered to 
 perform the duty on this occasion, although it 
 would seem more in keeping with the proprieties 
 for the Rev. Captain Whiteside to have done so, 
 but recollecting my favorite Bobby Burns, I de- 
 termined to give the captain a specimen of the 
 Scottish poet's style of grace, and quoted as 
 solemnly as I could: 
 
 "O Lord, who kindly doth provide for every creature's want, 
 We bless Thee, Lord of Nature wide, for all Thy goodness lent, 
 And, if it please Thee, Heavenly Guide, may never worse be sent. 
 But whether granted, or denied, God bless us with content." 
 
 We now fell to, and In a very short space of 
 time the bones of his gooseship, stripped of even 
 a suspicion of meat, were all that was left to tell 
 the tale of his sudden takinor off. 
 
 Present circumstances were fast smoothino- our 
 asperity and filling our hearts with the milk of 
 human kindness, and we soon became sleepy. 
 Wrapping ourselves up in our life-saving ''U. S." 
 blankets (those talismanic letters ! I hope they 
 may always shelter, save, and protect all true 
 citizens of our common country) we were soon in 
 the arms of Morpheus. His majestic godship 
 devotedly performed his duty towards us, and 
 we slept soundly until evening, when we arose 
 greatly refreshed in body and mind. 
 
 While discussing the lines of our next move, I 
 
HELPFUL COLORED FOLKS. 239 
 
 heard a voice come wafting on the gentle 
 breeze : 
 
 Ha ! is that a friend ? perhaps a foe ; 
 
 The former are so scarce I fain would know. 
 
 I reconnoitred, and soon I found 
 
 That "honest Bob" was homeward bound. 
 
 I hailed. He answered, " Sir, I'm here; 
 
 I am your friend ; you need not fear." 
 
 The proof, indeed, of what he said. 
 
 Was a fair supply of meat and bread. 
 
 He was intelligent, bright, and clever. 
 
 And ferried us over the Saluda river. 
 
 The ferry was owned by his master, McNiece, 
 
 Who charged his customers a dime apiece ; 
 
 But " Bob " was in charge of the ferry at night. 
 
 And rowed us across with great delight. 
 
 Though no pay he got, it seemed to please him well 
 
 To succor the boys whom his chains would dispeL 
 
 When on the opposite bank from his master's abode, 
 
 With tact he described how we'd find the road 
 
 Which we wanted to travel, as sketched on our map; 
 
 This we succeeded in doing without a mishap. 
 
 Honest Bob was all man in stature and mind. 
 
 With regret we left him in slavery behind ; 
 
 But for his fetters, he had a home of some pleasure ; 
 
 His accompanying girls thought Bob quite a treasure. 
 
 They looked just like twins — in age, color, and style, 
 
 Showing the whitest of teeth when on him they would smile. 
 
 Both of the girls mentioned were fairly good- 
 looking colored damsels of about twenty years of 
 age. When I hailed Bob, a short time after hear- 
 ing his voice, they were with him husking corn in 
 a field near by. Bob came into the woods where 
 we were, and I talked with him alone for several 
 minutes- He said the girls might be depended 
 
240 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 on ; and it was arranged that when Bob was 
 going home in the evening he should come into 
 the woods and give us a signal by whistling. He 
 did so, and told us the girls had a curiosity to see 
 us, if we had no objection, as they had never seen 
 a " live Yankee," etc. We told him that we would 
 sooner see his colored friends than the fairest 
 ladies in the South, which at that time was true, as 
 the white-faced beauties had almost invariably 
 shaken the black flag in our faces, while on the other 
 hand our sable-hued friends had not on any occa- 
 sion failed to do the very best they could for us 
 in our distress. 
 
 The girls approached with much diffidence and 
 modesty, although our appearance was not calcu- 
 lated to inspire any one with feelings of very 
 profound respect. They eyed us curiously for 
 some time, evidently thinking us specimens of a 
 new species of the genus homo. I should here 
 remark that the owner of these three slaves, Mr. 
 McNiece, was, most fortunately for us, from home 
 on this evening of our visit, the sole occupants of 
 his house on the occasion beino^ our new-found 
 friends." They did not know how soon he might 
 return, and, as a precautionary measure, they 
 conducted us to a safe hiding-place a short dis- 
 tance away, after which they went to the house 
 and soon returned with a good supply of food. 
 We ate heartily of some, and put away the re- 
 mainder in our canvas haversacks. In parting 
 
EMANCIPATION PROMISED. 24 1 
 
 with these worthy people we had nothing to offer 
 them as a recompense for their kindness to us, 
 except the assurance that within a year from then 
 they would be free. Their term of bondage 
 proved to be even shorter than we had told 
 them, for In the next April, less than the year by 
 several months, the Confederacy surrendered 
 and emancipation became an accomplished fact. 
 
CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 Meeting with a Selfish Negro — Dry Hollow — Old Man Dodd— 
 A Different Sort of Darky — Meeting an Agreeably Unsus- 
 picious White Man. 
 
 Wednesday, November gfh. — Having spent the 
 entire day at McNiece's Ferry (or Gooseville), 
 where we fared so well, we make a start this 
 evening in good spirits and in fair marching order. 
 Shortly after starting, we luckily struck a good 
 road and one leadinor in the riorht direction. 
 These roads are not much used at night, except 
 by colored boys going to see or coming from 
 seeing their girls. 
 
 About nine o'clock p. m., after having made a 
 march of ten or twelve miles, we met with a 
 strapping negro. He halted at our command and 
 we had a few minutes' talk with him. He was 
 going to see his girl and had provided himself 
 with two large " pone " cakes as a treat for him- 
 self and the fair one. The sum-total of all his 
 earthly cares at that moment seemed to be con- 
 centrated in two objects, his girl and his stomach. 
 Captain Whiteside offered him two dollars for one 
 of the cakes, but he would not part with it. He 
 left us soon after, and before he was ten yards 
 
 away was vigorously whistling " Dixie." Little 
 (242) 
 
HELP FROM THE NEGROES. 243 
 
 for glory he cared, and appeals to his sense of 
 gratitude were worse than useless. 
 
 Nothing more of interest transpired during 
 the night's tramp, and now, as day is dawning, 
 after a march of twenty-five miles, we file to the 
 right and succeed in finding a hiding-place, wherein 
 to remain until night shall again fold her protect- 
 ing mantle around the weary forms of the two 
 fugitives. It has rained during the last two hours 
 and we are quite wet and very chilly. 
 
 Dry Hollow, Thursday, November \oth. — We 
 name our resting-place as above, not being able to 
 procure water either to wash with or to drink. We 
 do not enjoy more than an occasional nap all day ; 
 our clothes are soaked with rain and our frames 
 benumbed with cold. Night finds us impatient to 
 be on our way, and as soon as we can prudently 
 do so we start. We trudge along dispiritedly 
 until about ten o'clock, when we meet an old col- 
 ored man named Dodd. (I kept my diary chiefly 
 in cipher, especially all mention of proper names, 
 so that nobody who befriended us might be com- 
 promised in case of my capture.) The negro 
 proved to be a first-rate old fellow, and appeared 
 to derive great satisfaction from our reports of 
 the progress of the war. He succeeded in sup- 
 plying us with a good supper, consisting of bacon, 
 sweet potatoes and molasses. 
 
 Having met with no mishap or adventure dur- 
 ing the remainder of the night, we retired at day- 
 
244 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 break to the woods, as usual, and slept tolerably 
 well until near evening. 
 
 Friday, November i \th. — We set out early this 
 evening, perhaps about 6.30. We moved on 
 rapidly and travelled for about half an hour, until 
 we came to a sharp curve in the road, where we 
 were confronted by a white man on horseback. 
 He did not manifest much surprise at meeting us, 
 merely asking if the train had run off the track, 
 and where ? We answered, " Yes, at the village a 
 short distance back," and that, In consequence, we 
 were compelled to walk. He appeared satisfied 
 and bade us "good-night." Our appearance at 
 night was not calculated to arouse much suspicion, 
 our garb consisting of soft felt hats, gray blan- 
 kets and blue pants, the latter now changed to a 
 dull drab color from constant contact with the 
 clayey soil, and the whole outfit showing marked 
 signs of rough usage. The night wore away 
 without further incident. 
 
CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 An Exciting Experience— An Unwelcome Glimpse of a Southeri^t 
 Gentleman — Recaptured^ — The Squire's Opinion of Whiteside 
 AND Myself — A Sudden and Unexpected Interruption to a 
 Good Story — My Second Escape — A Hard and Long Race — The 
 Hounds on my Trail — Breaking the Forelegs of one of them 
 WITH A Cudgel — Twenty Miles without Stopping. 
 
 Saturday night, November 1 2th. — The events 
 of to-night proved one of the most trying chapters 
 of my Hfe. After a miserable meal of two or 
 three ounces of half-cooked turnips, we were pre- 
 paring to again move forward when, upon looking 
 in the direction of the road, we saw a horse and 
 buggy approaching us, the latter occupied by a 
 gentleman. Not having met with so luxurious a 
 conveyance for months, we were much Impressed 
 with the sight, and concluded that the occupant 
 must be a person of some note in the neighbor- 
 hood. However, we did not have the remotest 
 wish to cultivate the gentleman's acquaintance. 
 
 But destiny or some other power willed it 
 otherwise, for that night he took back into cap- 
 tivity my worthy and only companion, Whiteside. 
 We permitted him to pass, and then moved cau- 
 tiously from our hiding-place to the road. Trav- 
 elling upon the roads was now becoming more 
 
 (24s) 
 
246 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 risky and we acted too rashly In our anxiety to 
 make better time ; but the night was very bright 
 and we could see a long distance ahead, so secur- 
 ing time to enable us to get over the fence paral- 
 leling the road, and to get away In case of the 
 approach of suspected enemies. 
 
 While it was yet early — about half an hour only 
 after nightfall — we saw a house on our left, about 
 one hundred yards in advance and about twenty 
 yards from the road. Whiteside and the writer 
 consulted as to what we should do ; whether to 
 take over the fence and flank the house, or to 
 proceed cautiously on the road. We foolishly 
 adopted the latter plan, believing we would not 
 encounter any but colored folks, In which, however, 
 we were sadly mistaken. 
 
 I have stated that the night was bright, but this 
 poorly describes It ; the moon was full, the heav- 
 ens calm and cloudless and the stars numerous 
 and brilliant. I have rarely seen a more beauti- 
 ful nTght, but bright as It was, neither my comrade 
 nor myself noticed three or four horses hitched to 
 a fence In front of the house just mentioned until 
 we saw their owners come out of the door and 
 mount them. As they turned their horses In the 
 direction we were travelling we hoped that they 
 had not seen us, and hastily crouching down in a 
 fence corner, we prepared to wait until they had 
 passed out of sight ; they had noticed us, however, 
 and when they discovered our sudden disappear- 
 
RECAPTURED. 247 
 
 ance their suspicions were aroused, and diey 
 rode briskly towards where we lay concealed. 
 
 Oh, what a rush of thoughts surged through 
 my brain in those brief moments! My first im- 
 pulse was to get over the fence and run for it. 
 My next was that we might succeed in bluffing 
 them and avoid the chances of a pursuit by the 
 hounds. We therefore arose and advanced tow- 
 ards them. They were sharp fellows and our 
 replies to their questions were not satisfactory. 
 
 One of the party (they were four in number) 
 now proceeded to the house they had just quitted 
 and returned immediately, reinforced by another 
 man with a gun. They questioned us so sharply 
 and were so evidently aware of the character of 
 their capture that we decided to make a clean 
 breast of it ; so we simply told them that we were 
 escaping prisoners from Columbia. 
 
 We were marched into the house and ques- 
 tioned at more length. The owner of the place 
 seemed to be in good circumstances. He had 
 several slaves, about equally divided as to sex. 
 He proved to be the same gentleman who had 
 passed us in the buggy a short while before. 
 The room into which we were conducted was not 
 very well proportioned, perhaps thirty by fifteen 
 feet, but was very clean and suitably furnished. 
 We were ordered to take a seat on a lounge 
 placed against a side wall. The family were just 
 finishing their supper when we entered. 
 
248 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 The gentleman, whose prisoners we now were, 
 was, I learned, a local magistrate. I did not learn 
 his name. He lived exacdy seven miles from 
 Laurens Court-House on the Nadonal pike. Each 
 mile on this road was defined by well-cut stone 
 posts plainly numbered and lettered. 
 
 Poor Whiteside and his companion presented 
 a queer appearance seated upon the lounge with 
 our tattered U. S. blankets wrapped around our 
 emaciated frames, our pantaloons of questionable 
 color, with legs of different lengths and a lib- 
 eral fringe of frayed material running around 
 their bottoms ; hats well ventilated by numerous 
 holes in the tops and sides, and our hair and 
 beards long and unkempt, our faces having been 
 stranorers to the touch of a razor for many months 
 previous, heads drooping with weariness and de- 
 jection and a general air of abject misery. What 
 a contrast to the pictures we presented when 
 upon dress parade 
 
 The gendemen retired to an adjoining room 
 for consultation and we were left alone for a few 
 moments. While thus alone, I whispered to 
 Whiteside my intention to escape from the house 
 if we were permitted to remain during the night. 
 The Squire, in the next apartnient, was preparing 
 to hold his court and grant us the formality of a 
 trial, or at least to examine us closely before re- 
 turning us to prison. In according us this privi- 
 lege I thought he was actuated in a good degree 
 
AT THE SQUIRE S. 249 
 
 by a desire to display his judicial knowledge and 
 other varied attainments. 
 
 While we were still alone, a door to the left of 
 us opened gently, and looking in that direction, 
 we saw first a round black curly head, surmounted 
 by a red bandanna handkerchief, followed, a mo- 
 ment later, by two large eyes with a good deal of 
 white in them, looking sofdy and pitifully at the 
 captives. The door was closed, and again gently 
 opened to admit the curious face of another dusky 
 maid. This last girl was much taller than the 
 first, and showed considerable of the blue blood 
 of the South in her veins. Both were decidedly 
 sympathetic in their glances towards us. 
 
 The Squire now entered with a newspaper in 
 his hand, followed by two of the gentlemen who 
 had assisted in our capture. Next came in, 
 through a side door leading from the parlor, the 
 remarkably pretty hostess, accompanied by two 
 young ladies. A glance w^as sufficient to satisfy me 
 that the three ladies were sisters, the resemblance 
 they bore to one another being too marked to 
 admit of any doubt. They were all blue-eyed, 
 rosy-cheeked, with hair a beautiful auburn, and 
 forms well rounded and graceful. 
 
 All present seated themselves except the 
 Squire, a man of portly figure and military stride. 
 He continued walking up and down the room, 
 holding in his hand the latest available issue of a 
 newspaper, a sorry-looking sheet containing little 
 
250 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK, 
 
 besides war news, and that of a character not the 
 most agreeable to the friends of the Confederacy, 
 as "Httle Phil" had just succeeded In turning the 
 tables on General Early In the Valley, of which 
 fact we had been made aware from smuggled 
 newspapers while yet in prison. 
 
 The first burst of eloquence we had from the 
 Squire was directed to the abuse of whiskey, and 
 how It had lost to them a glorious victory in the 
 Valley of Virginia. He censured Early very 
 severely, who, he said, " commanded the bravest 
 boys that ever fought. These troops," said he, 
 " were whipping and driving before them three 
 times their own number of Yankees in the first 
 part of this engagement, until General Early, 
 flushed with success, dipped too deep in captured 
 Yankee whiskey, and thereby lost a grand oppor- 
 tunity to teach the North a salutary lesson." 
 
 I could not at this juncture forbear remarking: 
 " I wish he had captured more whiskey and less 
 men from our side." 
 
 This caused a furtive smile from the ladles to 
 be directed toward the dilapidated-looking cap- 
 tives. 
 
 The Squire now directed his attention to us 
 and commenced our examination. He first ad- 
 dressed Whiteside, in a quick and imperious tone, 
 and said : 
 
 "What is your name, sir?" 
 
 "John C. Whiteside," was the reply. 
 
OFFICIALLY EXAMINED. 25 1 
 
 " Where are you from ? '* 
 
 *' From Wyoming, New York, sir." 
 
 " New York," he repeated, " the receptacle of 
 the slums, the mud-sills and off-scou rings of 
 Europe, who, together with your cunning, inter- 
 meddling Yankees, have come, like the hirelings 
 you are, to invade our homes and firesides in an 
 effort to overthrow constitutional rieht and rob 
 us of our property ; urged on by such fire-brands 
 and fanatics as old Garrison, Greeley, Phillips, 
 Harriet Beecher Stowe, and others of their ilk. 
 I do not know a punishment severe enough for 
 such ruthless despoilers." 
 
 The Squire paused, but my gentle and mild- 
 tempered comrade made no reply. 
 
 His Honor was master of the situation, and 
 seemed to realize with soaie pride the favorable 
 impression he had made upon the ladies. He 
 now turned to me and with renewed force com* 
 menced his tirade : 
 
 "What is your name, sir?'* 
 
 " Michael Egan," I replied. 
 
 " From what State of the North are you ? '* 
 
 " I am from West Virginia, sir." 
 
 **Ah, from Virginia, a State in the Confederacy) 
 then you are an arch-traitor," said he. 
 
 " I said from West Virginia, sir, and she is nr^t 
 in the Confederacy." 
 
 " Worse and worse," said the Squire; "you add 
 
 to the crime of treachery that of secession ; not 
 16 
 
252 THE FLYING, GRAY-IIAIRED YANK. 
 
 like the action of the Sovereign States composing 
 the Confederacy, but Hke the wilful act of an un- 
 grateful child. The idea of an insignificant corner 
 of the Mother of States and of Presidents sep- 
 arating itself from its parent is simply detestable.'* 
 
 Whether from my name or brogue, or both 
 combined, he drew his conclusions, I do not 
 know; but he suddenly said: 
 
 " You are no American by birth, sir." 
 
 " No sir, I am Irish by birth, as you seem 
 already to have perceived.'* 
 
 " Yes, I thought so, which fact only tends to 
 aggravate your crime — a traitor and a tory. 
 The action of one whose country and people have 
 suffered for centuries under the oppressive yoke 
 and iron heel of English tyranny, in lending his 
 aid to subject a people to like misfortunes, de- 
 serves, sir, the most extreme punishment." 
 
 This was too much for me ; I was on my feet in 
 an instant. 
 
 "I thank you," said I, " for your very compli- 
 mentary remarks to my companion and myself; 
 we are your prisoners. It's very like the handle 
 of a pitcher, sir — a one-sided affair. I beg to re- 
 mind you, however, that were we on equal terms 
 you probably would be more careful in the word- 
 ing of your bill of indictment; more careful in 
 the application of such vile and opprobrious 
 epithets, stupid and unjust ones as they are, as 
 repugnant to my feelings as they are devoid of 
 
TART REPLIES. 253 
 
 proof. As to your charge of baseness in an 
 Irishman espousing the cause of the North, I 
 dismiss it with the assertion that the case of poor, 
 strugghng Ireland is not a parallel one with this 
 Rebellion, and no amount of sophistry can make 
 it so. It was a love of liberty, and not of tyranny, 
 that caused me to give to the United States my 
 free and willing allegiance. We are here, sir, not 
 to help to inflict injustice, but to aid in upholding 
 unimpaired and intact a republican form of gov- 
 ernment in a great and varied and expansive 
 country that has not, in all its wide area, one line 
 of natural demarcation to justify the formation of 
 two governments, antagonistic on vital principles 
 and requiring, as they would, large standing 
 armies for their defense. 
 
 " Strange as it may now seem to you, sir, I be- 
 lieve you will live to see the day when you will 
 rejoice that the disintegration of the Union was 
 not accomplished. I thank you for allowing me 
 to defend my position, and will conclude by an- 
 swering your strange charge of toryism. An 
 Irishman of the middle class being a tory is an 
 anomaly, indeed. Where can you cite me one? 
 Of all the ' isms * known to politics toryism has 
 my most cordial detestation. But right here, I 
 would ask, where, during the Revolutionary 
 struggle, was toryism most rampant ? I answer 
 in South Carolina, near the Pee Dee, where the 
 gallant Marion was so badly harassed by your 
 
254 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 native tones and traitors. In speaking for my- 
 self, I believe, too, that I outline the principles of 
 my comrade." 
 
 "You do," answered Whiteside. 
 
 "I hope, sir, your harsh impressions are some- 
 what modified," I ventured to add mildly. 
 
 Yes, there was now manifest a marked change 
 in our favor, as could be seen by the altered 
 manner of those present. 
 
 " You are not privates ? *' said the Squire, in- 
 terrogatively. 
 
 My companion replied that we ranked as cap- 
 tains. 
 
 The fair hostess now spoke in low tones to her 
 husband, who nodded assent to whatever she had 
 said. It was doubtless something in our favor, 
 as the little lady at once gave a servant orders to 
 prepare something for us to eat. I do not be- 
 lieve the colored cook ever obeyed an order with 
 more willingness and alacrity than this one. 
 
 We were soon called into the dininor-room 
 and plenty of corn-bread, meat and'' Jeff Davis" 
 coffee (parched rye, ground) were placed before 
 us. Flour bread was a rarity in the South at 
 this time, but our friendly and kind-hearted cook 
 made a sly visit to the pantry where she found 
 some, which we lost no time in disposing of. 
 After our hearty meal, and one that we thoroughly 
 enjoyed, we returned to our former positions in 
 the " sittlncr-room." 
 
MARCHED OFF TO JAIL. 255 
 
 The Squire now gave orders to one of his 
 colored servants to procure fresh horses for him- 
 self and escort in order to march us back to 
 Laurens Court-House, where, he told us, there 
 were seven other runaway prisoners, in whose 
 company we would return to Columbia. Em- 
 boldened by our late kind treatment, I spoke up 
 and said that we were very much fatigued, and 
 begged him to allow us to remain at his house 
 that night, although I had no intention of so re- 
 maining, if an opportunity of escape presented 
 itself. 
 
 " I presume," said he, " if you were at liberty 
 now you would march more than seven miles to- 
 night." 
 
 It was too true to dispute and we were silent. 
 
 Now all were ready and we got the word to 
 move. 
 
 In describing our outfit, I omitted to mention 
 that we had two good hickory-sticks. When we 
 stood up to begin our march, I leaned heavily on 
 my cane, and walked slowly, with an exaggerated 
 curvature in my spinal column. I was, also, as 
 already stated, prematurely gray, and looked 
 twenty years older than I really was. This latter 
 fact gave my assumed decrepitude an appear- 
 ance of naturalness. 
 
 The Squire and his four friends, all well armed 
 and mounted, ordered us to march in front of 
 them on the road to Laurens. Whiteside and 
 
256 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 myself walked shoulder to shoulder, about ten 
 yards in advance of our guards. We kept up a 
 low toned conversation for some time, discussing 
 what we should do. I told my friend that if he 
 would make the effort to get away, I would re- 
 main with the guards in order to divert a portion 
 of them from his pursuit. He had been a prisoner 
 for fourteen months, while my term of imprison- 
 ment had been only six months, and I thought it 
 but fair that he be given the first chance of lib- 
 erty. He replied, however, that the risk of being 
 shot was too great, and besides, if he did succeed 
 in escaping, he could not make his way alone. I 
 then told him I was determined to make the 
 effort, or die in the attempt. I gave him my 
 wife's address, in case I should never reach home, 
 which then seemed very probable, as eight 
 hundred and twenty miles yet lay between me 
 and my fireside. 
 
 My mind was made up to run for it at the first 
 opportunity. I did not turn my head to the right 
 or to the left at any time, but my eyes moved 
 with sharp glances on either side of the road 
 seeking a favorable spot to make a dash. The 
 Squire, meantime, kept up a running conversation 
 with his men, and we now heard him remark to 
 them that if he should call on Mr. Yancey, whose 
 fine plantation we were then passing, that gentle- 
 man would quickly respond widi himself and 
 hounds. I thought he had an object in making 
 
MEDITATING A BREAK. 257 
 
 this remark loud enough for us to hear. At ull 
 events k had the effect of preventing my go'ijig 
 as soon as otherwise I might have done, beHevIrig 
 for a certainty that, If I escaped falHng by their 
 fire, bloodhounds would be put on my trail im- 
 mediately. 
 
 When about half a mile from the plantation 
 where the hounds were kept I became impatient, 
 thinking I might be passing places more favor, 
 able for my flight, perhaps, than I should en, 
 counter farther on. I was laboring under a dis-, 
 advantage, too, but one which happily proved a 
 blessing afterwards ; that is, I had a heavy Unltec) 
 States blanket on my shoulders. It belonged tG 
 Whiteside, he having mine, which was a very 
 light one. We had made the change while travek 
 llng in order that he might the better keep up 
 with me, but we had no chance to change back now. 
 Such an act would be sure to create suspicion. 
 
 The Squire, at this moment, was entertaining 
 his friends upon the engrossing subject of 
 partridges. He was telling them how he had 
 misled his neighbor Davis, who was an ardent 
 sportsman, by concealing himself In a brushy 
 place near a fence, and whistling in the style 
 peculiar to partridges, thus causing his guileless 
 neighbor to imagine that a covey of the birds was 
 being formed right under his nose. 
 
 While the gentlemen were absorbed In this 
 congenial subject, I decided that my time to make 
 
258 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 the break for liberty had come. There was a 
 fence enclosing an open field on my right ; a 
 sparse and level wood on my left, unenclosed ; 
 and my mind was made up. I straightened up, 
 made one bound, and was away into the woods, 
 all signs of lameness gone and feeling as though 
 able to outrun the pick of a hundred men in such 
 a race, and for such high stakes. I ran in a ziz- 
 zaor manner in order to evade their fire. After 
 the first volley, one of their fleetest runners dis- 
 mounted and made after me on foot. Another 
 followed on a horse for some distance, but re- 
 turned shortly afterwards (Whiteside wrote me) 
 minus his carbine and hat, and severelv scratched 
 and bruised by the briars and overhanging 
 boughs. (See F7^ontispiece^ 
 
 The night is still very calm and bright, and the 
 leaves very dry. I do not take time to look back, 
 but can hear the leaves rattling In my rear and 
 conclude that the man on my track must surely 
 be a good runner. I am not afraid, however, that 
 I will be overtaken In a long run, if my pursuer 
 does not catch me in a short one, as I have never 
 been beaten in a long distance race. My equip- 
 ments annoy me considerably, being somewhat 
 cumbersome. I have the heavy blanket before 
 mentioned, a canvas haversack, hickory-stick, 
 and a leather belt with a butcher knife in a 
 sheath attached to it. The knife was given me 
 by Lieutenant Andrew McNiece, of Philadelphia, 
 who had bunked with me in prison. 
 
END OF THE RACE. 259 
 
 The runner in my rear, on the other hand, Is 
 less encumbered, better fed and fresher In every 
 way. But the last few wholesome meals I re- 
 ceived are visibly restoring the vitality lost by 
 the starvation of six months in Southern prison 
 pens. 
 
 The race continues, and I am getting over the 
 ground satisfactorily until I suddenly strike my 
 foot against a grape-vine, or some other runner, 
 and pitch heavily forward a long distance. 
 
 " I have you now, Yank," panted my persistent 
 pursuer. 
 
 " Not quite," I gasped, as I sprang up before he 
 could put his hands on me, although his hot 
 breath met my cheek, so close was he. I now 
 start to run as I never did before for the next four 
 hundred or five hundred yards, when I stop to take 
 breath. No stir in the leaves behind me, but I 
 can hear a horseman rldino^ back in the direction 
 of the plantation. I know well his mission. He 
 is going back for the ferocious bloodhounds to 
 put on my track. 
 
 When I ran away, I started in a northwesterly 
 direction from the one we were being taken, but 
 now I turn and go In the direction of Laurens 
 Court-House, makinor a complete circle and run- 
 ning on the pike for several hundred yards in 
 about the same portion of the road I had travelled 
 before escaping from the Squire. This was my 
 "foxey" plan to confuse and delay the hounds 
 
260 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 and possibly put my pursuers on a wrong scent. 
 I did even better than this. I got upon the top 
 rail of the fence skirting the right of the road, 
 and crawled along in this manner for a consider- 
 able distance and then jumped off, making a leap 
 as far to the ri^ht as I could in doinor so. 
 
 I kept up a rapid pace, again circling to the 
 northwest and keeping far enough from the road 
 to elude the hounds. It is hard to realize, and 
 still harder to appreciate the sad position in which 
 I now found myself. After ten or fifteen minutes' 
 hard running, I halt for breath and li'sten for the 
 yelping of the dogs. Glad of the stillness I renew 
 my flight, and ten minutes or so later halt again 
 for a brief rest. The brightness of the night 
 helped in my capture but I find it a blessing now, 
 giving light to my path. 
 
 It was fully an hour after my escape before I 
 heard, as I trotted along, the deep baying of the 
 hounds away oft" to my left. The sickening sound 
 liad a heart-sinkine effect on me for a moment, as 
 I pictured in my mind the barbarous brutes in the 
 act of jumping for my throat. I soon rallied, 
 however, my good butcher knife and trusty 
 hickory-stick being no small factors in bracing up 
 my drooping spirits. 
 
 I now directed my course through such por- 
 tions of country on my route as were impracti- 
 cable for horseback riding, well satisfied that 
 if the hounds made rapid progress, which they 
 
RUN DOWN BY HOUNDS. 26 1 
 
 were most assuredly doing, the footmen would 
 be far In the rear. On I went until I came to 
 a river on my left. I first thought of plunging 
 in and swimming to the opposite bank, but de- 
 cided to keep on the right shore In the hope of 
 again coming out on the National pike, on which 
 I wanted to travel. Nearer and nearer came the 
 relentless hounds ; their deep baying could now 
 be plainly heard, and far In the rear the faint 
 shouts of the footmen could be distinguished. 
 The night was now far advanced and the moon's 
 rays were not so brilliant, so I kept running down, 
 close to the water's edge, where the trail was more 
 open and easier followed. The shore was covered 
 with a fine, light sand which was very agreeable 
 to my tired feet. 
 
 The river here followed a straight course for a 
 great distance ahead, and I could see quite plainly, 
 making it comparatively easy for me to travel in 
 the dim light of the morning. Looking ahead a 
 short time later, I discovered a light far In ad- 
 vance and apparendy close to the river front. I 
 concluded it was the fire of some picket, or party 
 camping out, and at once decided to flank the 
 position. But the hounds, the hellish blood- 
 hounds, were getting uncomfortably nearer. One, 
 greatly in advance of his mates, was almost upon 
 me. I stopped running, put off my blanket, looked 
 to my knife, and rested for the Inevitable en- 
 counter. 
 
262 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 It soon came ; the dog, as he neared his human 
 game, ran the faster. I faced the brute, with his 
 glaring and bloodshot eyes looking like two balls 
 of fire, and extended jaws from which were drop- 
 ping large drops of saliva ; and as he sprang for 
 my throat I came down with a crushing blow of 
 my cudgel upon his forelegs, breaking them, and 
 as he fell from the blow, I again struck him with 
 all my might upon the skull. Finding I had ef- 
 fectually disabled him, I picked up my blanket 
 and tying it around my neck, I took to the river 
 immediately. I thought I would have to swim, 
 but found it could be waded, although not without 
 an effort to keep my feet, as the w^ater came up to 
 my arm-pits, or was about four feet four inches 
 deep. I managed to keep my blanket from get- 
 ting wet, and scrambling up the other side con- 
 cealed myself in some brush and watched, in 
 safety, the approach of the remainder of the dogs. 
 
 They soon came up and I could faintly discern 
 their dark forms circling around their disabled 
 leader. Presently one picked up a trail somewhat 
 farther in advance of the point at which I had 
 crossed, and the other hounds at once followed 
 him, and I could hear them as they went flying 
 along down the river shore on the scent, perhaps, 
 of the parties who had lighted the fire before 
 spoken of, some distance ahead. 
 
 I now clambered up a woody bluff overhanging 
 the river and, shivering with cold from my en- 
 
TWENTY MILES AT A STRETCH. 263 
 
 forced bath, I start ahead briskly to restore circu- 
 lation and get my bearings. In about half an 
 hour I was delighted to find myself on the pike 
 ac^ain, and the first milestone I came to was 
 marked: "To Laurens C. H. ; 17 miles." This 
 would seem to indicate that I had travelled twelve 
 miles in a straight direction from the point where 
 I had so unceremoniously left my escort ; and by 
 addine the circles I made to this, it would make 
 my run between seventeen and eighteen miles. I 
 continued on the road for about three miles more, 
 when day was pretty well advanced, and I filed to 
 the right and into the woods to look for aliiding- 
 place. 
 
CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 Captain Whiteside's Story — Squirrel Flat — Keeping my Diary 
 IN Blood — Finding.an Opossum — Providential Aid — Interview- 
 • ING the Darkies — Substantial Results. 
 
 We will now return to Captain Whiteside, who 
 found himself (as he states in his letter to me) in 
 a very uncomfortable position. Two men re- 
 mained with him, while the others devoted their 
 attentions to me. When the pursuing party re- 
 turned, after their fruitless chase, they were so 
 highly Incensed at my escape that his life hung on 
 a thread for some time. He escaped being shot 
 through the intervention of one of their number, 
 but they all vehemently avowed that if they had 
 succeeded In overhauling " that infernal flying, 
 gray-haired Yank " (with which name they kindly 
 christened me) they would have "riddled him with 
 bullets." 
 
 Squirrel Flat, Sunday, November 1 3//^. — Hav- 
 ing no penclh, pen, or ink, and not wishing a blank 
 in my diary, I keep my record for a few days In my 
 own blood, by opening one of the small veins in 
 my left arm, and using a goose-quill, sharpened 
 and pointed with my indispensable butcher-knife. 
 This kind of treatment Is calculated to try an iron 
 
 constitution. I am chilled through after my cold 
 (264) 
 
FOOTSOliE AND HEARTSICK. 265 
 
 plunge in the river at a time when I was in the 
 height of perspiration, and am fatigued, footsore, 
 and heartsick after my terrible race. 
 
 This is the most desolate day I have yet spent, 
 all alone, suffering under accumulative misfor- 
 tunes, and not knowing the moment I may be 
 called upon to undergo afresh a similar ordeal. 
 The sun is coming out bright and strong, and its 
 warming rays are very welcome, but it brings a 
 danoer with it also. The woods all around and 
 near me are alive with barking squirrels. If 
 hunters seeking this kind of game should be 
 attracted this way I can hardly hope to escape 
 being seen, as the place is very level and open, 
 with little or no brush in it. 
 
 How many times, while hunting, would I have 
 been delighted to alight upon such a spot, but 
 now the frisky little creatures were a source of 
 great annoyance to me, more especially as I could 
 plainly see some habitations a short distance away. 
 But a due observance of the Sabbath or a respect 
 for Sunday laws, perhaps, was in my favor. The 
 advancing day and increasing heat are conducive 
 to sleep, and, having nothing to eat, I approach 
 the sleepy god with heavy eyelids and an empty 
 stomach, and pass away to dreamland, where I 
 revel in a sumptuous feast, spread in a gorgeous 
 banqueting-hall, with old Epicurus and his court. 
 
 Night comes again, and with it a realization of 
 my deplorable situation. 
 
266 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 On the march again, though weary, footsore and 
 badly used up generally. Have had nothing to 
 eat all day and no prospect of anything. When 
 on the road a while, like an old stage-horse I 
 limber up and make tolerably good headway until 
 about midnight, when, while plodding along a path 
 through the woods, faint and hungry, hope and 
 energy both exhausted, my foot came in contact 
 with something soft and hairy. I stooped down 
 and found an opossum, dead, as I supposed. If 
 not too long dead I would, in my present condi- 
 tion, be compelled to eat it. I rolled him over, 
 and found him rather limp for a dead animal. I 
 now took hold of him carefully by the tail, lifting 
 him up, and found him quite warm. Persons not 
 familiar with the nature of this little animal would 
 scarcely stop to investigate his condition, but I 
 had previously witnessed his dissimulations, and 
 was not to be so easily fooled. Taking him to a 
 convenient log, I cut off his head with my invalu- 
 able butcher-knife. 
 
 This discovery was one of the most evident acts 
 of providential aid ever manifested towards my 
 unworthy self. I do not consider this and many 
 other interpositions of divine protection to be due 
 to any merit of my own, but entirely to the pure 
 and earnest supplications of my devout and loving 
 wife and our three little innocent children, whose 
 petitions to the throne of heaven were day and 
 night, during the whole period of my imprison- 
 ment and escape, offered up for my safe return. 
 
FEASTING ON 'POSSUM. 267 
 
 I left the path for some distance, until I heard 
 the rippling of a little stream, near which I lighted 
 a fire, luckily still having a few of the indispens- 
 able matches with me. I now skinned and cleaned 
 the Opossum, and, cutting a good-sized steak, I 
 placed it on a pointed stick and commenced 
 roasting it before the fire, the fat falling upon the 
 coals in the operation. Every drop of this pre- 
 cious juice I was sorry to lose, but I had no means 
 of saving it. The flavor arising from that savory 
 roast was more pleasing to my olfactories than 
 the scent of water to the thirsty camel approach- 
 inor an oasis in the desert. Havincr had no meat 
 whatsoever, if I except the maggoty bacon used 
 for grease while in prison, my enforced abstinence 
 created a consuming desire for fatty meat entirely 
 unknown to persons who have not had a simi- 
 larly rough experience. 
 
 After my meal, and being by this time greatly 
 refreshed, I moved from "Opossum Run," got 
 upon the path again, and looked for my guiding- 
 star. Finding this and faced to the northwest, I 
 pursued my course for about an hour, when I came 
 to a large farm-house, its appearance and sur 
 foundings denoting a degree of opulence. Cau- 
 tiously reconnoitring for some time, I at length 
 approached one of the outbuildings and rapped 
 gently on the door. It was timidly opened by an 
 individual whose color grave me immediate relief. 
 It was past midnight when I appeared before the 
 17 
 
268 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 occupants of these humble "quarters" — a strap- 
 ping young buck and a buxom, kinky-haired girl. 
 They were badly scared at my unexpected and 
 no doubt somewhat startling appearance. By the 
 flickering light I could see their rolling black eyes 
 exchano^e furtive glances at each other and at me. * 
 I relieved their suspense by asking if they had 
 ever seen a Yankee soldier. 
 
 " No, sah ; neber," replied the buck ; " but \ 
 hear'n massa tell a hull lot about de Yanks, an' as 
 how de Confedits kill an' whip dem at Manassa', 
 an' den Bull Run dem ter Washatin, an' most 
 capture Massa Linkum, an' as how dere is a hull 
 army o' Yanks in de prisons down Souf." 
 
 The girl looked proudly at her sable Adonis, 
 and said : " Yes, sah, I hear'n my missus say de 
 same ting." 
 
 " Well," said I, " they have both told you a 
 good deal of truth. It is true they have a great 
 many Yankee prisoners, and they are treating 
 them very badly ; in fact, starving them slowly to 
 death. I am one of them — not a dead one, it is 
 true, but pretty nearly so. I concluded a few 
 days ago that I would not stop with them any 
 longer, so I ran away and am now making for 
 the Union lines. Their story is a very old one, 
 however. Were they to tell you of more recent 
 events, it would put a different phase on the 
 matter, and make you colored people feel very 
 good. They have not told you of the great battle 
 
HAPPY DARKIES. 269 
 
 of Gettysburg, where General Lee and his great 
 army were defeated, and thousands of their men 
 were killed and captured after three days* hard 
 fighting from July i to 3, 1863. They have not 
 told you that Atlanta, Ga., is taken by the 
 Unionists, and that one part of the Yankee army 
 is going right through the Confederacy; nor how 
 the great Union General, Phil. Sheridan, made 
 General Early and his men fly so fast in Vir- 
 g-inia that he left all his cannon and guns behind 
 him." 
 
 " Yah, yah, dat's good," exclaimed my atten- 
 tive listeners. 
 
 "These things," I continued, "occurred before 
 I stole out of prison at Columbia. At present I 
 do not look much like a* Yankee soldier in the 
 field does, but I have been nearly seven months 
 starving, and have, as you see, almost no cloth- 
 ing." I concluded by assuring them that, in my 
 opinion, they would all be free within a year from 
 then. They appeared to believe me and hoped 
 for the early arrival of the day of jubilee. 
 
 The girl then set to work and soon had me 
 something to eat. I never saw a happier pair of 
 darkies. I did not attribute it to the anticipation 
 of their near deliverance, as they could not re- 
 alize or appreciate that properly, but rather to 
 the possession of good health and animal spirits, 
 coupled with a natural aptitude for deriving 
 solid pleasure from their inborn vivacity ; and 
 
270 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 being free, as they were, from the cares and re- 
 sponsibilities that usually beset their otherwise 
 more fortunate white brethren. This pair joked, 
 giggled, and " sparked " in my presence without 
 much restraint. 
 
 I now begin to fell the need of rest very much, 
 and after a hearty meal I asked the girl if there 
 was any place near-by where I could hide until 
 next morning. After some reflection, she said 
 that in the large barn she thought I could be 
 stowed away behind the plows and harrows. So 
 thither I was shortly conducted by the girl. 
 
CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 Stowed Away in the Barn — An Unwelcome Visitor— A Tribute 
 TO THE Colored Race — •' Jim " Reese —A Fortunate Meeting — 
 Runaway Slaves — The Hounds Again. 
 
 Monday, November \\th. — Ensconced in a 
 corner of the big barn and shielded by a good 
 deal of trumpery, I lay down on some sacks, with 
 some others thrown over me, and slept soundly. 
 It was the first roof I had slept under since my 
 escape and for a long time before. 
 
 About eight o'clock a. m. the door opened and 
 the colored girl who had befriended me the night 
 before came in. She brought with her some 
 bread and meat, which I proceeded to consume 
 with startling expedition. I find the day very 
 long and feel very uncomfortable with an oppres- 
 sive sense of confinement, and wish for the ap- 
 proach of night. 
 
 At about eleven o'clock a. m. the door again 
 
 opened. This was not the time of day for a 
 
 friendly visit, and I felt somewhat perturbed in 
 
 consequence. I heard the rattling of chains in 
 
 disagreeable proximity to my hiding-pbce, and 
 
 was in a quandary as to what to do. I finally 
 
 obtained a glance at this unwelcome visitor 
 
 (271} 
 
272 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 through an aperture, and was not very kindly 
 impressed with his appearance. He was a large 
 white man, and walked heavily, weighing prob- 
 ably two hundred and twenty-five pounds. I 
 thought that he had discovered me, perhaps, and 
 was preparing to tie me or attempt to, with a 
 chain. To my great relief, • however, he soon 
 found what he was looking for and departed. 
 
 Late again in the afternoon the negro girl got 
 an opportunity to visit me and bring something 
 more to eat. I felt rather impatient at to-day's 
 delay, but the rest and food were really essential 
 to my system at this period of my progress. 
 
 Before leaving here, where I have been so 
 kindly treated by this poor, good-natured slave, I 
 deeply regret that I have not some of the money 
 of which my captors robbed me, that I might give 
 her some substantial token of my gratitude. 
 
 The weather is growing disagreeably colder, 
 and I feel the want of gloves. To supply this 
 want, the kind-hearted negress procured some 
 pieces of old cloth, and in a short time had made 
 a pair of " mits " that served me well for some 
 time afterwards. 
 
 I wish to put myself on record right here as 
 a warm champion of the much abused colored 
 race. Although generally ignorant and unedu- 
 cated, yet how intuitively noble, kind, and brave 
 have they acted toward me and other unfortunate 
 comrades under like circumstances ! By betray- 
 
DIGGING TURNIPS. 273 
 
 Ing US to their masters they would have been 
 duly rewarded and appreciated, while If found 
 giving aid or comfort to escaping Yankee sol- 
 diers It would insure to them punishment, the na- 
 ture of which I leave the reader to Infer. Hence 
 their undoubted bravery, as I see it, in addition to 
 their other virtues. 
 
 I am, as I learn, just five miles from Greenville, 
 South Carolina, but have no assurance that I am 
 on the direct course, as my guides, the stars, are 
 hidden from view by the clouds, which are dark 
 and heavy, and threaten rain. There is every 
 sign of disagreeable weather ahead for some time 
 to come. I keep up my march this dark and 
 dreary night until about midnight, and, just as a 
 drizzling rain sets in, I espy at a short distance 
 from the road a farm-house with comfortable sur- 
 roundings. Just before reaching the house I got 
 over the fence and into the kitchen garden, where, 
 after groping around for a few minutes, I un- 
 earthed three or four good-sized turnips. I now 
 noticed a small cabin, some twenty or thirty yards 
 from the house, and I decided to try my luck at 
 the humbler abode. Approaching, I rapped gently 
 once or twice, when a voice on the inside called 
 out: 
 
 "Am dat yo*, Jake ? " 
 
 •' No," I replied ; " it is not Jake ; but I am a 
 friend. Please open the door." 
 
 In due time the door opened, but not before the 
 
274 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 occupant, a middle-aged man, had struck a light. 
 He came to the door in his bare head. He was 
 of medium height, of stout build, and had an intel- 
 ligent face. My visit and appearance somewhat 
 mystified him, and it was plain he did not know 
 what to make of me. I then showed him the 
 significant letters, " U. S.," on my old gray 
 blanket and also my old blue pantaloons. 
 
 He smiled kindly, and said : 
 
 "I understand, sah ; but sometimes de Confed- 
 erates hab some of dem tings, an' try ter pass off 
 fo' Yanks, ter see if we'd help dem." 
 
 This man, whose name was Jim Reese, and who 
 was a slave of a Mr. Murray, was the most intel- 
 ligent colored man I met with during the period 
 of my escape. I was not long in convincing him 
 of the genuineness of my personality. He was a 
 kind of head man or leader amonor the neo^roes In 
 his neighborhood, having a smattering of educa- 
 tion and considerable mother-wit. He was a good 
 house-carpenter, and generally very useful to his 
 master, who had paid a large sum for him a few 
 years previously. When I entered Jim's cabin I 
 was wet and chilled, but a bright fire was soon 
 burning, which, with Jim's cheerfulness, caused me 
 soon to feel quite at home. 
 
 I asked him if he could cook a turnip. 
 
 " Yes, sah," said he. 
 
 I took a couple from my haversack and handed 
 them to him. - As I did so, he showed his white 
 
WHICH WAY TO GO. 275 
 
 teeth as a broad smile overspread his good-natured 
 countenance. 
 
 " I kno' whar yo' got dem tarnips ; yo' done got 
 'em In Marse Murray's gardyln." 
 
 "Well, Jim, I guess you are about right," said 
 I; "It may look like I have been making free with 
 Mr. Murray's property, but the gentleman is 
 ' sound ' I hope ? I feared it might inconvenience 
 him were I to arouse him from .his slumbers to 
 secure his permission." 
 
 The darky Indulged in a suppressed laugh, 
 and went to work with a will to prepare some- 
 thing better than turnips for my meal. 
 
 After eating I plied Jim with a number of neces- 
 sary questions in relation to my route. I had two 
 points marked on my map as of equal practica- 
 bility — Walhalla and Pickens Court-House — but 
 was undecided in my mind which I should adopt. 
 I appealed to Jim, and he said that I must not 
 attempt to go by way of Pickens Court-House, as 
 Captain Charles Perkins, of the i6th South Caro- 
 lina Infantry, was there, and that I "would hab a 
 mighty bad chance o' gittin' past dar; Walhalla 
 am de bes' way." 
 
 I saw the soundness of Jim's reasoning, and 
 decided to adopt the latter route. He then gave 
 me explicit directions as to my course to Walhalla, 
 at what point I should strike the railroad, and 
 when I did so I was to keep upon and follow it. 
 
 "The fust big trussel-bridge yo' come to," said 
 
276 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 he, "is jus' eighteen miles from heah, and on de 
 left-hand side ob it yo' will see a big plantation. 
 Dey hab a great lot o' cullud folks dar ; my 
 Jim is one ob dem. His name is Jim Reese, too. 
 If yo' find him, and tell him dat I sent yo', he 
 
 will do de best he kin for yo'." 
 
 I was extremely fortunate in finding this well- 
 posted darky, as I was surely going astray in the 
 early part of the night. 
 
 I passed two or three hours very profitably in 
 Jim's company, and he gradually became more 
 interested in my welfare. I was a mile away from 
 the direct road to Walhalla, and would have to 
 cross the country in a northeasterly direction to 
 find it. My colored friend described fully how I 
 should go, but the night was very dark and I was 
 in doubt about finding the country road referred 
 to. A happy thought then struck Jim, which re- 
 lieved me of my trouble. He said he was in need 
 of some white paint for a building he had just 
 completed, which he would have to procure at a 
 small village lying in the direction I was to take, 
 and that he would accompany me as far as the 
 road. Going over to his workshop for a vessel 
 to take with him for the paint, the dogs, which had 
 hitherto remained perfectly quiet, now set up an 
 unearthly howling. It took Jim some time to quiet 
 them, but he finally did so. 
 
 He now acted as guide, and in a short time we 
 reached the main road. I was well posted as to 
 
TWO NEW FELLOW-PILGRIMS. 277 
 
 my route now, and after a friendly farewell to my 
 trusty friend, I moved ahead with a comparatively 
 light heart, feeling quite improved in health and 
 spirits. It was about half-past three o'clock in 
 the morning when I bade my friend good-bye ; 
 the road was in fair condition and pleasant to 
 travel on, and I was making about four miles an 
 hour, when I espied in my front two men going 
 in the same direction as myself. I thereupon 
 slackened my pace a little, thinking it not prudent 
 to encounter them while in doubt as to whether 
 they were enemies or friends. They kept looking 
 behind and at me continually, which, as will be 
 seen later, was natural under the circumstances. 
 
 I now found that they had checked their pace 
 also, which action on their part made me some- 
 what apprehensive of coming trouble. I felt for 
 my knife, a highly useful article, as the reader has 
 by this time learned. I was not at all desirous 
 of using it upon my fellow-man, and I thank God 
 I have never yet done so, but self-preservation 
 being the " first law of nature," I was determined 
 to give a good account of myself should the 
 emergency require it. 
 
 The men in front were walking still slower, so 
 I put on a bold front and walked rapidly forward 
 until I came up with them. Each was carrying a 
 heavy club. I do not know what the size of 
 Hercules' walking stick was, but I am sure that 
 these two young giants, who would not have dis- 
 
278 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 graced the sireship of that famous son of Jupiter, 
 carried canes in perfect keeping with their enor- 
 mous bulk. I discovered, on closer examination, 
 that if Hercules denied their paternity. Ham could 
 not, an agreeable fact which relieved me greatly. 
 
 I spoke first and said : 
 
 " Good-morning, boys." 
 
 They replied very sullenly and eyed me sus- 
 piciously for a while. 
 
 I asked if they were going far. 
 
 One answered . "A little this side of Slabtown." 
 
 I took this to be slang, or an evasion, but after- 
 wards found that there was such a villao^e a short 
 distance ahead. In a short time a few mutual 
 confidences passed between us : 
 
 "Ain't you a Yankee officer ? " asked one. 
 
 " Why do you think so ? " I queried in return. 
 
 " Don't mean no harm, sah ; but we just met 
 tree offcers 'scapin' from prison, an' tought you 
 might be one, too," said the spokesman apolo- 
 getically. 
 
 I had no further object In concealing the truth 
 from them, and admitted the correctness of their 
 surmise. They then became very friendly and told 
 me their troubles. They were, like myself, fleeing 
 from captivity, but with this difference : they had 
 never seen the dawn of freedom. Their names 
 were, they said, Willis and Stephens. The for- 
 mer was six feet hiorh and weighed about two 
 hundred and twenty-five pounds ; the latter was 
 
THE fugitives' STORY. 279 
 
 about five feet eleven Inches, and would weio-h 
 not less than two hundred pounds. Both were 
 about twenty-four or twenty-five years of age, 
 and some white blood coursed through the veins 
 of each. 
 
 The cause of their running away was brutal 
 treatment received at the hands of their respective 
 masters, for the crime of going to see their dusky 
 sweethearts, on a neighboring plantation, too 
 early on the Saturday evening previous. Willis 
 told me that he was the property of a Mr. McCul- 
 lough ; that a son of McCullough's, who was an 
 officer in the rebel army, and then home on a 
 furlough, had tied him to a stump with a chain 
 and unmercifully lashed him with a " black-snake " 
 whip. Stephens, on his part, had received equally 
 as severe punishment from his master 
 
 So we find these two young darkies, who lived 
 not far apart, deeply sympathizing with one 
 another and deciding to make a joint effort to 
 escape into the Union lines. When I met them 
 they were about eighteen or twenty miles from 
 the plantations of their masters, and were hurry- 
 ing forward to the ** land of promise.'* 
 
 We continued together for some time, making 
 good progress and chatting familiarly the while, 
 but I was not at ease. I had often before re- 
 flected on the desolateness of being alone while 
 travelling In an unknown country, but now I would 
 have much preferred it to my present company. 
 
28o THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Pursuit of them in the morning was certain, and 
 the manner of it, I felt equally certain, would be 
 with horsemen and hounds. My chances if cap- 
 tured under ordinary circumstances would be 
 slim enough, but being caught in the company 
 of runaway negroes would most certainly insure 
 my quick despatch, and possibly that of the poor 
 slaves also. But w^hatever chance of life they 
 might have owing to their commercial value, I 
 could expect none, as the presumption would be 
 too strong that I was conducting the negroes 
 away, an unpardonable offence in the South in 
 those days. Therefore I told them we should 
 have to part company, explaining to them the 
 great risk I ran in continuing with them. 
 
 They begged most piteously to be allowed to 
 remain with me, promising to serve me as long 
 as I wished after getUng through. I told them 
 that there were no unpaid servants at the North; 
 that they were at liberty to go where they pleased 
 there, and nobody would dispute their right. 
 They told me, however, that they were afraid 
 they could not find their way, as they would be 
 compelled, as a matter of course, to travel entirely 
 by night and confine all their queries for informa- 
 tion to the colored people along their route, 
 who would not, as a rule, know any more about 
 their proper course than did the fugitives. 
 
 I fully appreciated the sad predicament of the 
 unfortunate negroes in this particular, as even in- 
 
PERSISTENT COMPANIONS. 28l 
 
 telllgent and well-posted officers had frequently 
 failed to make their way safely through that long 
 tramp ; but I could not allow my sympathies to 
 jeopardize my own safety without in any way in- 
 suring theirs, so bidding them "good-bye," I 
 spurted ahead, determined to leave them behind. 
 They had travelled fast and far that night, and I 
 expected to have no difficulty in distancing them ; 
 but to my surprise and annoyance they still 
 followed close at my heels, making prodigious 
 efforts to keep me in sight. Our strides on this 
 occasion would compare favorably with those of 
 a Weston or an O'Leary. 
 
 The race continued on these terms until dawn 
 of day, when I filed from the main road into an 
 open woods., Before doing so, I looked back and 
 found the persistent darkies in full swing after 
 me. After penetrating a litde farther into the 
 woods, I came to a halt under a large tree and 
 waited for them to come up. I thought it use- 
 less to show anger at their action, and so be- 
 came resigned to whatever fate might have in 
 store for me. 
 
 "What do you intend doing in case you are 
 pursued and found here ? " I asked. 
 
 " We shall fight for our lives," was the resolute 
 reply of both. 
 
 "I like your pluck," said I, "for that is your 
 only alternative." 
 
 I then instructed them in what they should do^ 
 
282 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 placing each under a tree, so that in our positions 
 we formed a trianele. When the hounds should 
 come up, all were to lay on thick and heavy upon 
 their legs with our clubs until we disabled them, 
 and then run from the horsemen, who by this 
 time would in all probability be upon us, we 
 dodging behind trees as we ran to escape their 
 fire. 
 
 The runaways appeared to understand their 
 parts and were willing to perform them. With 
 their great hickory clubs, and the power to wield 
 them which they possessed, I thought them fully 
 capable of felling an ox if needs be. 
 
 The morninof was calm and the air salubrious, 
 although boding no good health for us. We 
 could not think of lying down or of going to 
 sleep, as pursuit of the two fugitive slaves was a 
 certainty, and the natural and most direct route 
 northward the first one their pursuing masters 
 would follow. If well posted, these runaways 
 would have taken a more circuitous course at the 
 start, as being the one most likely to baffle their 
 masters. 
 
 About nine o'clock, and when we were begin- 
 ning to hope that our fears were unfounded, we 
 hear far away in the rear the sickening sound of 
 the barbarous Siberian hounds. 
 
 r 
 
 At first we fancy they, perhaps, are on another trail, 
 To civilization and to sporting fame more in accord ; 
 
 God send such luck, we pray, and may it now prevail; 
 
 In our sad plight, blacks and white alike, lean on the Lord. 
 
A HAPPY DELIVERANCE. 283 
 
 But our hopes are ebbing fast, our spirits sinking low ; 
 Upon the hreeze comes wafting a sound too well we know : 
 Louder yet we hear it, that deep-toned hellish cry ; 
 The darkies grip their clubs more tight, prepared to do or die. 
 
 Away five hundred yards or so, their noses near the ground, 
 In Indian file, come dashing on the gaunt and cruel hound ; 
 "With increasing speed we see them come, two hundred yards away; 
 The negroes' faces now grow white — they think of Judgment Day. 
 
 But God, who heard the raven's cry, as comrade Whiteside said 
 A nimble creature of ^is make put in her covert bed, 
 And when the dogs came bounding on to where this rabbit lay. 
 She jumped right up before them and bounded quick away. 
 
 The leading hound sets up a yelp and after ** bunny " goes; 
 Around and round we see them run, our little friend and foes; 
 We breathe a prayer of silent thanks to Him who doth ordain 
 Protection to all children that in His path remain. 
 
 18 
 
CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Parting from the Runaways — Discouraged — A Close Shave — 
 More Friends — Almost Caught — The Third Scare. 
 
 I HESITATED no lonofer, but now told Willis and 
 Stephens in plain terms that we must part for 
 good. Before leaving, however, I gave them a 
 good general idea of how they should go : to 
 Walhalla; to Franklin; to Rabens' Gap; over the 
 Blue Ridcre Mountains in North Carolina to Cagfe 
 Cove, East Tennessee, and thence to Knoxville, 
 where the "boys in blue" were. 
 
 I lost no time in getting away. I crossed over 
 and ran for some distance on the trail which the 
 hounds had taken in comang down, and then took 
 off to the right, keeping in the least frequented 
 places I could find, until I was about two miles 
 from where I had left the neofroes. I could hear 
 the hateful, discordant yelping of the dogs grad- 
 ually dying out and I felt much relieved. That 
 was the last I saw of the two darkies ; I hope 
 they reached the North safely, but there were 
 many chances against their doing so. I managed 
 to get a little sleep during the afternoon, but it 
 was un refreshing and unsatisfactory, being broken 
 
 by dreams of imaginary perils. 
 (284) 
 
"WHO GOES THERE? 285 
 
 Tuesday nighty November i^th. — Fatigued, 
 hungry and foot-sore. For the first time, I regret 
 that I have made the awful trial. Saw several 
 fires in the woods with small parties around them. 
 After travelling for about two hours, very slowly 
 at first, but improving a little as I progressed, I 
 heard the pesky hounds again, but from the direc- 
 tion and distance of the sounds I did not appre- 
 hend any danger. How often have I heard with 
 delight the deep-toned and mellow music of the 
 hounds and, boy-like, joined with them in the 
 exciting fox-chase. Many a long fast and severe 
 drubbing have been my punishment, when a lad in 
 Ireland, for playing truant to follow the Erycourt 
 and Bannagher " packs ; " but now I am sick of 
 the music I once thought so thrilling. 
 
 Plodding along, ruminating on my hafd luck, I 
 start the ascent of a hill of some steepness, and 
 at a point where the road took a sharp turn to 
 the left, I see a cross or branch road a short dis- 
 tance in front. Scarcely had I made this dis- 
 covery when I was challenged with : 
 
 " Who goes there ? " 
 
 I made no answer but continued to advance 
 towards the sentinel. Misfortunes were crowd- 
 ing too fast upon me, and for a moment I thought 
 of giving myself up, and so ending the heart- 
 breaking worry, fatigue and never-ending struggle 
 for food. But a second later my mind underwent 
 a complete change. It was now death or no sur- 
 
286 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 render, and, turning, I dashed away down the 
 declivity in the direction whence I came, just as a 
 whistling bullet passed by my ear as a parting 
 salute. Leaving the road, I now took to the fields 
 and ran for a long distance contrary to my direct 
 route, oblivious to any physical defects resulting 
 from fatigue or other causes. There was no pur- 
 suit, however, and I soon after checked my pace 
 and again changed my course. Doubtless the 
 sentinel who fired upon me thought the disturber 
 nothing more than a speculative darky out in 
 quest of a chicken, and perhaps indulged in a 
 smile as he saw him split the wind when his 
 musket cracked. After a good many roundabout 
 movements, I came upon the road again, on 
 which I continued without incident, until once 
 more I turn off and seek a hiding-place. 
 
 Wednesday, November i6th. — About twelve 
 o'clock, midnight, while gliding along at a fair 
 gait, being pretty thoroughly warmed and lim- 
 bered up, I espied on my left a commodious and 
 comfortable-looking dwelling, and at a respectful 
 or convenient distance from it could be seen a 
 small cabin. I approached the latter cautiously, 
 but rapped confidently. I was becoming well 
 posted as to where I should be the most likely to 
 find friends. Nor was I mistaken now. The 
 door opened and a thoroughbred African, stout 
 and well built, with a large shock of thick, black, 
 woolly hair, peered curiously at me. I explained 
 
A SHOW FOR THE NEGROES. 287 
 
 to him the reasons for my late call ; told him that 
 I had met, a day or so before, a very fine old col- 
 ored man in the person of Jim Reese, with whom 
 perhaps he was acquainted ; adding that my ex- 
 periences with the colored folks thus far had been 
 pleasant ones, etc. 
 
 He invited me in, stirred up the log fire and 
 told me to come nearer to it. He then retired to 
 an adjoining apartment. I could hear some move- 
 ments and low whisperings on the inside, and 
 presently my friend returned, and said: 
 
 *'If yo' have no jections, de odder uns inside 
 (nodding to the door of the inner apartment) 
 would like fo' to see yo'." 
 
 "AH right," was my reply, cheerfully;"! am 
 satisfied, if my appearance does not frighten 
 them." 
 
 "Joe" (for that was his name) went inside 
 again, and soon returned followed by another 
 darky much taller and more slender than him- 
 self. This latter negro was very shy and respect- 
 ful, although there was quite a strain of humor 
 apparent in the twinkle of his eye. He, in turn, 
 was followed by the eldest of the inmates, a man 
 probably fifty years of age, and evidently the head 
 of the household. In a short time there were four 
 men and two women in the room. They were all 
 plantation hands and very ignorant. 
 
 From the account given me they were receiving 
 rather rough treatment at the hands of their 
 
288 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 master. They were rarely permitted, they told 
 me, to leave the plantation, and then only for a 
 short distance, and of course knew nothing of how 
 the outside world was getting on. Of the great 
 war then in progress they had heard a little, and 
 had a faint idea of its cause, but they could not 
 realize or appreciate the stream of human blood 
 that was being spilled in that deadly struggle, of 
 which they and their race were a moving though 
 innocent cause. 
 
 What little information they did possess was 
 altogether one-sided. The Yankees were invari- 
 ably getting whipped and the rebels were always 
 victorious. I took the opportunity to relate a 
 chapter of our side of the story, describing as 
 best I could some of the late victories of the Union 
 forces, and predicting a speedy termination of the 
 war with the slaves all free. They listened atten- 
 tively and appeared to derive a great deal of sat- 
 isfaction from the news. 
 
 " Oh, golly, Joe, do yo' heah dat ? an* Massa 
 Henry say all de time dat de Yanks am gettin* 
 whipped," remarked the slim fellow, throwing up 
 his hands and indulging in the most comical 
 suppressed laugh imaginable, in which all present 
 joined heartily. 
 
 By this time they were all in good humor and 
 intent on being hospitable. Said one : 
 
 " Boss, I s'pose youse hungry, ain't yo' ? '* 
 
 " Yes," 1 reply, " but Fm used to it." 
 
"GO WAY FROM DAT DO. 289 
 
 "Well, we ain't got much," said another, "but 
 we'll knock aroun' an' do de bes' we kin fo' yo'." 
 
 In a short time they placed before me some 
 corn-bread and fat pork (the only food they had), 
 but I relished it, and ate plentifully of it. 
 
 I now took leave of these kind and good- 
 natured chattels, being well rested and thoroughly 
 warmed, and started on my way, if not rejoicing 
 at least decidedly improved in condition and 
 spirits. Half an hour later I came in view of the 
 railroad that I had been anxiously looking out 
 for. After travelling for about a mile on the 
 track I came to a trestle-work spanning a ravine. 
 I thought perhaps this might be the locality where 
 Jim Reese had directed me to find his son and 
 namesake, although it did not quite correspond 
 with the description he had given me. I discov- 
 ered a cluster of cabins on the left, and selecting 
 the poorest looking one of the group, I ap- 
 proached and rapped. I was answered in a shrill 
 voice from the inside, with : 
 
 " What yo' want out dar ? " 
 
 " I want to get in." 
 
 *' We don't 'low no men folks in heah." 
 
 " Can't you let me in for a short time while I 
 talk to you ? " 
 
 " No, sah, yo' go on way from dat do', yo' heah? " 
 indignantly. 
 
 " Is there a colored man named Jim Reese on 
 this plantation ? " I asked. 
 
290 THE FLYING GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 *' Go on ober to de big house ober dar; de men 
 folks will tell yo'." 
 
 The cabin to which the girl directed me was 
 the best-looking one on the premises, and I had 
 serious doubts of the prudence of arousing the 
 inmates. Sure enough I did awaken the wrong 
 man this time, the first and last mistake that I 
 made of this kind. When the door opened, there 
 stood before me a large white man, over six feet 
 tall, with full bushy whiskers of a fiery red color 
 and carrying in his hand a shot-gun. Promptness 
 and tact alone (qualities I cannot, as a rule, lay 
 claim to) could save me now. 
 
 *' Have you a colored man named Reese in 
 your ' quarters,* sir ? " I asked in a quick, business- 
 like manner. 
 
 " No, sir," was the curt reply. 
 
 " Beg pardon ; sorry to have disturbed you, but 
 I have been misinformed," said I, at the same time 
 turning around and in a loud voice calling out, as 
 if addressing a party at a distance from the house, 
 " Move on, John ; he is not here." This all took 
 place in a very short space of time and if ** John " 
 did not move on, I know I did, and that too in 
 double-quick order. I continued on the run until 
 well out of slo^ht and g^unshot distance when, find- 
 ing no pursuit, I proceeded more leisurely. 
 
 While tramping along some time later I saw a 
 camp-fire In the woods about one hundred yards 
 from the railroad. I was almost certain that it 
 was the camp of some runaway prisoners, like 
 
A SPOILED JOKE. 29I 
 
 myself, who had made a fire to cook their food 
 and to warm themselves. I could not think of 
 any other cause for a camp in such an isolated 
 location. Leaving the track, I went in the direc- 
 tion of the fire, determined to give my supposed 
 foolhardy comrades a scare. The leaves were 
 dry and crackled under my feet, so I walked slowly 
 and cautiously until I could see by the flickering 
 light a half dozen recumbent figures around the 
 dying blaze. 
 
 Upon getting nearer, I noticed that they had 
 erected a rude structure of logs, with no roof, 
 probably ten by twelve feet square and three feet 
 high. This latter fact caused me some uneasi- 
 ness, so I got down on all-fours and crept still 
 nearer, but came to a dead stop on making a dis- 
 covery. Those were no harmless walking-canes 
 resting upon the logs and pointing in my direction. 
 No, I was only ten yards away and could not be 
 mistaken ; they were guns. That their owners 
 were, happily for me, in the tender embrace of 
 Morpheus is the reason, perhaps, that I am left to 
 tell the tale. 
 
 The intended joke had recoiled upon myself, 
 and I was the scared party. I craw-fished back 
 as stealthily and nearly as lightly as a cat, keeping 
 my eyes bent in the direction of the sleepers until 
 I was a safe distance away and again upon the 
 railroad. I concluded that the soldiers composing 
 this party must have been detailed to cut fire- 
 wood for the use of their army. 
 
CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 An Inquisitive Stranger — Meeting with Six Escaping Officers 
 — A Cruel Blow — Alone Again. 
 
 Breathing a sigh of profound relief, and medi- 
 tating on the incidents of the night, I proceeded 
 on my way, with my head down, and picking my 
 steps on the cross-ties. I had not gone far when 
 my attention was attracted by hearing footsteps 
 in my front. Looking up, I saw a man approach- 
 ing; as he neared me, he said: 
 
 " Good-morning, sir." 
 
 I returned the salutation, and kept slowly mov- 
 ing ahead. 
 
 ** You are travelling late,'* said the stranger. 
 
 " Yes; a little like yourself in that respect^" was 
 my reply. 
 
 He showed a disposition to move after me, and 
 said that he would like to ask me a few questions. 
 I told him, In reply, that I hadn't time to accom- 
 modate him just then, and added: "I am not in- 
 quisitive myself, and do not recognize your right 
 to be so." 
 
 He seemed for some time undecided what to 
 
 do, and stopped where he was until I had gone a 
 
 good distance. He was quite a stout fellow, and 
 (292) 
 
A STARTLING MEETING. 293 
 
 I feared at one time that we were going to have 
 an encounter. 
 
 It was approaching dayHght when I got upon 
 the long trestle-work previously spoken of by old 
 man Reese. It was not yet light enough to see 
 the plantation on the left, and I crossed entirely 
 over the structure, and reached a thickly wooded 
 place on the northern end before I discovered 
 that the place I was in search of lay on the oppo- 
 site end. I sat down on a loof in the woods, in 
 view of the railroad, undetermined what to do. 
 I was fast losing the chance of seeing young Reese, 
 from whom I expected to get some needed assist- 
 ance. 
 
 Day was breaking now, and I could see the 
 plantation. As it would not be practicable to go 
 to the place in daytime, I must act quickly or not 
 at all. I started to retrace my steps, but when 
 about half-way over I saw in the dim, uncertain 
 light of morning a squad of men coming towards 
 me. Here was a predicament in earnest. I could 
 not jump off, and running on the narrow ties was 
 out of the question ; I therefore determined to 
 brave it out. We met full abreast, and halted and 
 looked at each other. The first words uttered 
 were : 
 
 *' My God, Egan ; is that you ?" spoken with a 
 decided accent on the last syllable of my name. 
 The speaker was Lieutenant Thomas B. De- 
 Weese, of the 2d United States Cavalry, and his 
 
294 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 companions were Captains V. K. Hart and Charles 
 S. Kimball, and Lieutenants William Nelson, O. 
 W. Dimick, and Charles G. Davis, three from the 
 regular army and three from the volunteer ser- 
 vice, all of whom I have mentioned as meetincf in 
 another part of this book. We were all feeling 
 decidedly uncomfortable until we made the mu- 
 tually pleasing discovery that we were comrades 
 and fellow-sufferers, engaged in the same hazard- 
 ous mission. 
 
 To one who, like myself, had passed through 
 so many trials in my lonely tramp, the companion- 
 ship of these gentlemen was an agreeable chani^e 
 indeed. I realized, as never before, the truthful- 
 ness of the divine proposition, " It is not well for 
 man to be alone." I abandoned my intention of 
 seeking young Reese, and returned with my com- 
 panions to the woods. 
 
 Thursday, November i "jth. — A nice, pleasant day, 
 and I found it doubly agreeable in comparison 
 with those lately spent by me in loneliness and 
 solitude. We had a refreshing wash, but very 
 little to eat. We found a shady dell, where we 
 enjoyed a calm and uninterrupted repose of some 
 hours to prepare us for the night's march. It was 
 strange, but fortunate, that we had an officer with 
 us who had a fair knowledge of the locality we 
 were now in. Lieutenant DeWeese, having been 
 an assistant-engineer on the division of the rail- 
 road we were following, some years before the 
 
UNCEREMONIOUSLY DISMISSED. 295 
 
 war, was the guide of his party, and continued to 
 act as such to the end ; his route, however, was 
 the same as the one I had mapped out, and was 
 following with comparative accuracy at the time I 
 met his party. 
 
 As evening approached, and while preparing 
 for the night's march, the six officers held a pri- 
 vate conversation among themselves. I thought 
 it rather strange that they did not wish me to 
 hear what they had to say, but I soon learned the 
 topic of their conference. When they had finished 
 talking, they came forward and told me that they 
 were sorry to inform me that we should have to 
 part company, as their party was already too 
 large, and that any further addition to it would 
 endanger their safety. 
 
 To say that this announcement stunned me but 
 faintly describes its effect. I can liken it to noth- 
 ing but the sensation one experiences when a 
 little cold steel is being inserted into the region 
 of one's short ribs. I realized, however, that there 
 might be a grain of truth in what they had said, 
 and even if I had not realized this I was too proud 
 to permit my feelings to be shown in my face or 
 manner, and simply replied : 
 
 ** What you say is doubtless true, gentlemen ; 
 large bodies move slowly. It is not my wish to 
 further impede your progress or endanger your 
 safety by my unwelcome presence among you. 
 I am * as independent as a wood-sawyer.' I was 
 
296 THE FLYING;, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 equal to the situation before I had the pleasure 
 of meeting you, and I am fully as competent now 
 to continue so ; you may either precede or follow 
 me, as you elect." 
 
 They went ahead, and I remained standing 
 ■where I was until they were long out of sight, but 
 I could not help feeling as though this last was 
 indeed "the unkindest cut of all." 
 
 Reader, I appeal to you : was there any chiv- 
 alry, loyalty, or fraternity in this unmerited slight 
 put upon me by my fellow-comrades, at a time 
 when such an action would be most keenly felt? 
 The addition of one man to their number could 
 hardly in reason be considered a very large factor 
 in their sum of danger. You will see later how 
 they also came to this conclusion. 
 
 Finally, I started on my weary and now doubly 
 lonesome pilgrimage, and had been on the march 
 about an hour, keeping on the railroad track and 
 in the direction of Walhalla, when I saw a light 
 from a fire some distance ahead on the edge of 
 the track. About the same time I noticed, a few 
 yards in front, some men on the track approach- 
 ing me. I got off to the left, and lay down in some 
 scrubby brushwood, and awaited their advance. 
 As they filed by me, six in number, I recognized 
 the officers with whom I ha.d parted an hour 
 before. They had evidently seen the light in our 
 front some time before I came up, but must have 
 halted to rest or hold a council, thereby enabling 
 
A NECK AND NECK RACE. 297 
 
 me to overtake them. At all events, they were 
 now beating a retreat. When nearly opposite 
 where I lay they got into a field, made a wide 
 circle, and flanked the fire ahead. On the other 
 hand, I kept right on, going slowly and cautiously 
 as I neared the blaze. It proved to be a bonfire 
 lighted by some children, who were even then 
 playing around it. I passed unnoticed. 
 
 Finding that I was now unexpectedly in the 
 lead, I determined to keep it. To do so I in- 
 creased my gait, putting my whole heart into the 
 effort, wounded pride and self-pity urging me on. 
 The night was pretty far advanced and a drizzling 
 rain had set in, when I came in si^ht of a lon<:, 
 straoralinor villaore. It was Walhalla. I could see 
 a nurnber of street lamps extending away into the 
 perspective, and concluded that it would scarcely 
 be safe to venture through the town. Accord- 
 ingly, I took the woods to the right, making a wide 
 detour, and cominof out far northward of the town. 
 Just as I landed upon the pike, here running 
 parallel with the railroad, I again met my recent 
 friends, the officers. They had passed right 
 through the town without mishap, and had by this 
 ^Miieans succeeded in catching up with me. 
 
 It was now breaking day, and the rain increas- 
 ing to a steady downpour. The "big six" filed 
 to the right, but I went straight on, hoping sin- 
 cerely that I might not meet them again, lest they 
 should think I was seeking their company. After 
 
298 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 going two or three hundred yards farther, and 
 finding the woods. too open, I penetrated the tim- 
 ber for some distance before I pitched my tent 
 (the blanket I carried) under a large tree, the 
 gnarled roots and overhanging boughs of which 
 kept it sufficiently high from the ground to afford 
 me some shelter from the rain. 
 
CHAPTER XXXII. 
 
 Lost — Eattng Raw Corn — Colored Friends Again— Third Meet- 
 ing With DeWeese and Party — Casting my Lot With theirs. 
 
 Friday, November \Zth, — Heard some desultory 
 
 shooting near by, a by no means agreeable sound 
 in these open woods. By a great effort I suc- 
 ceeded in lighting a fire and roasting a couple of 
 sweet potatoes. It has poured down rain in- 
 cessandy all day. I am completely drenched, 
 and suffering hardships not often encountered; 
 hungry and wet ; drowsy and much in need of 
 sleep, yet too chilly and uncomfortable to suc- 
 cumb to somnolency. As night approached the 
 rain increased ; gloom, then utter darkness and 
 desolation as if in keeping with my deplorable 
 situation, seemed to pervade my surroundings. 
 No darker night ever enveloped man. 
 
 I moved off, groping my way in search of the 
 pike I had quitted at daybreak, and for an hour 
 or more I was like one playing at *' blindman's 
 buff," stumbling and falling in my efforts to find 
 the road. At last I sat down, completely bewil- 
 dered. When leaving my hiding-place I had left 
 a small fire there ; now, if I could find it, I would 
 try to study my bearings better. After some 
 19 (299) 
 
300 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 more wanderings, stumblings, and falls, I de- 
 scried the flickering spark again : 
 
 That little spark, bright silent friend, 
 Fresh courage to my heart doth lend ; 
 Though flickering low, and dying out, 
 It starts a hope, removes a doubt. 
 
 From pensive study at its blaze, 
 A clearer dawn breaks through the maze 
 Of utter darkness, woe and damp, 
 And once again I start my tramp. 
 
 I was more fortunate this time in getting on 
 the pike. I supposed it to be the one I was seek- 
 ing, but after travellincr some time I became dis- 
 satisfied with the direction it was taking ; it circled 
 too much to the right, and could not be the one 
 I had diverged from in the morning. However, I 
 resolved to continue on it until I got better in- 
 formation, or found a highway leading more to 
 the left. I had to move slowly, using my cane 
 like a blind man. In the inky darkness. 
 
 About nine o'clock p. m. I saw a light glimmer- 
 ing through the murky atmosphere. When 
 nearer I found it came from a large farm-house. 
 On the opposite side of the road, to the left of 
 this dwelling, was a barn of good dimensions. 
 This I entered and found a large quantity of un- 
 husked corn. The corn w^as of the very best 
 grade. I shelled some of it and placed it in my 
 haversack, feeling glad in my deplorable con- 
 dition to get even it. In fact, this kind of food 
 
A CHARMING OUTLOOK. 3OI 
 
 was the chief article of diet that I had durlnof the 
 month of my escape. 
 
 While standing in the barn and looking across 
 to the opposite side, I could see a house present- 
 ing all the home comforts of farm-life. It was 
 cheerfully lighted up, with a warm fire of logs 
 blazing upon the open hearth, and all the sur- 
 roundings indicated peace and prosperity. 
 What a contrast to my deplorable fix, and the 
 lonely situation of my young wife and babes on 
 our little farm in the wilds of West Virginia ! 
 
 I dare not go to this house, but very naturally 
 judged that the owner must have a large number 
 of colored servants ; so I waited patiently until the 
 lights were all out before reconnoitring for the 
 negro "quarters." It seemed a long time to wait, 
 but finally all was still and I emerged from the 
 barn and passed to the rear, over a fence and 
 into a kitchen garden, when I saw at its foot a 
 house of humble pretensions, from the small 
 window of which a dim liorht was burnine. I 
 advanced to the door of the cabin and rapped. 
 It was opened at once by a robust, middle-aged 
 colored woman, who was accompanied to the 
 door by another female much younger than her- 
 self. They were both surprised and somewhat 
 scared at the appearance of their singular-look- 
 ing and late visitor. The younger woman spoke 
 first. 
 
 " Who are you, and what do you want ? *' 
 
302 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 " Do not be afraid," I replied, " I am a friend." 
 I then told her my circumstances ; that I had 
 waited until the white folks at the large house 
 were all in bed ; that I was hungry, tired and wet, 
 as was plain to be seen, and needed some as- 
 sistance. The elder neeress was nervous and 
 fearful, and plainly reluctant to give me any 
 countenance, but I soon talked her into a more 
 sympathetic frame of mind, and she stirred up 
 the fire and invited me to sit down near it. I 
 did so without further ceremony, and soon my 
 soaked clothing was steaming and rapidly dry- 
 inor. Xhe two women retired for a short time 
 while my clothes were drying, and soon I could 
 hear a partly suppressed conversation in an ad- 
 joining room. 
 
 After its termination the pair returned, fol- 
 lowed by another girl and two sturdy " bucks." 
 The newcomers eyed me with undisguised curi- 
 osity, but appeared kindly disposed. They 
 listened to what I had to say with attention and 
 evident interest. The negress who had opened 
 the door in answer to my knock appeared to be 
 the head of the household, and now -gave orders 
 to the girls to prepare me something to eat. 
 They went to work at once to do so, and I could 
 see them getting ready on a scale entirely un- 
 known to me for months. In return for their 
 kindness I informed them as best I could of how 
 things were going on in the outside world; of 
 
FAITHFUL SERVANTS. 303 
 
 the progress of the war, of their consequent near 
 approach to freedom, etc. 
 
 To my surprise these faithful servants doubted 
 my word. One of the girls said: 
 
 " Missus tole me dat you treated de cullud 
 folks mitey bad in de Norf ; an' dat you couldn't 
 whip de Souf, nohow." 
 
 It was plain that this slave loved her mistress, 
 and had an implicit faith in her statements. In 
 fact none of this party seemed to yearn for free- 
 dom while enjoying this evidently kind treatment 
 from their owner. 
 
 "If all slaves, or servants, were treated as 
 kindly and humanely as you evidently are," said I, 
 " we should, possibly, have no war now. But 
 good masters die, and then the servants may 
 have bad times with somebody else." 
 
 " I hope my missus won't die," exclaimed the 
 innocent creature. 
 
 " I hope not," was my rejoinder, " but we must 
 all pay the debt of nature some day." 
 
 By this time there was placed before me a 
 bountiful meal consisting of bacon, flour bread, 
 apple-butter, fresh milk, etc. It would surprise a 
 delicate person were he to see how much of this 
 substantial fare I disposed of. My friends then 
 filled my haversack w^ith meat and bread, and 
 being thoroughly warmed and dry, I was in prime 
 inarching order. Before starting, I made some 
 necessary inquiries of one of the men regarding 
 
304 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIKED YANK. 
 
 the roads along my route, and carefully noted the 
 instructions he gave me. His knowledge was 
 merely local, but it was v-ery essential on account 
 of the darkness that prevailed. He said I was 
 to leave the pike I was then on and take a diag- 
 onal course to the left. I surmised in the early 
 part of the night that I was going a little astray, 
 but the result showed that in falling in with these 
 darkies I had struck the right place after all. 
 
 I left these contented and kind-hearted people 
 with feelings of deep gratitude. Taken in gen- 
 eral, I believe the negro race to be very sympa- 
 thetic and kind. 
 
 It was not quite so dark now as in the early 
 part of the night, and I soon succeeded in getting 
 on the road to the left, of which the darkies had 
 told me. Being satisfied that I was in the proper 
 path I tramped along contentedly, but had not 
 gone far when I saw a fire about twenty-five yards 
 ahead, and probably six or seven yards from the 
 road. My first Impression was that it must be 
 the fire of some wagon train that had encamped 
 for the night, and I took my usual precautions In 
 finding out, and again made the discovery of my 
 late lukewarm acquaintances. They were hud- 
 dled around the blaze and the steam from their 
 dripping garments was ascending In small clouds. 
 As they sat there they presented a drowsy and 
 woe-begone appearance, and looked as though 
 they had been fasting a long time. I conceived 
 
RETURNING GOOD FOR EVIL. 305 
 
 the idea of glvingr them a Httle scare before I 
 passed by; so, when close up, I gave the word to 
 "charo-e" in a loud and audioritative tone, as 
 thou^di addressinor a squad of men. The escap- 
 ino- Yankees showed no "white feather," however, 
 but remained quiedy seated until I advanced. 
 They recognized me and inquired how I had 
 fared since leaving them, and all appeared agree- 
 ably surprised at my good luck. 
 
 I was not very communicative, however, and 
 was preparing to move on when I bethought me 
 of my full haversack and their empty stomachs ; 
 and, although I felt that they had acted heart- 
 lessly towards me, I could not bear to see them 
 hungry, so I divided the contents of my sack 
 equally amongst them, and felt a good deal better 
 for having done so. I then moved on, but the 
 entire party, without exception, united in entreat- 
 ing m.e earnesdy to remain with them. A conflict 
 ensued between wounded pride on the one side 
 and extreme lonesomeness on the other; but at 
 last I submitted to their urging, and cast my lot 
 with them for the through trip. 
 
 There are many who, doubdess, would not have 
 done as I did in this instance, and I have a proper 
 respect for that type of manhood, but, although 
 high-spirited and sensidve, my anger is but short- 
 lived. They were very agreeable in their man- 
 ners now, asking me many questions in reladon 
 to my tramp and success since parting from 
 
306 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 them. I was brief In my replies, saying that I 
 had made no great effort ; that it was luck ; that 
 I was an odd number, etc. 
 
 It was still raining, dark, and growing colder, 
 but all were in as good spirits as at any time since 
 the escape. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 Continued Rains — Wading Streams — A Beautiful Slave — Cold 
 Weather — DeWeese's Cane — Swimming the Cullaloo — Mork 
 Colored Friends. 
 
 Saturday, November igth. — We resume our 
 march ; the weather simply wretched. In the 
 darkness Captain Hart fell into a deep chasm, 
 but luckily received only slight injuries. About 
 an hour before day we aroused a young darky 
 who got us something to eat ; he also conducted 
 us to a neighboring hen-roost, but we failed to 
 capture any of the fowl. It has been raining in- 
 cessantly and getting much colder; all things 
 considered, this is the most wretched night we 
 have yet experienced. 
 
 After leaving the negro we came to a rapid 
 stream, swollen by the late hard rains. We 
 climbed a bluff overlooklnor Its banks to look for 
 a more favorable crossing-place, but had to re- 
 turn to the point from which we first approached 
 It. All stripped but each hesitated to go In, not 
 knowing the depth. I took the water first; but 
 Nelson, young, stout and brave, was In Imme- 
 diately after and spurted ahead. I presume he 
 thought It scarcely proper that the only gray- 
 
 (307) 
 
308 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 haired man In the party should be the first to try 
 the depths of the turbulent stream. It took us 
 breast-high and tested our best ability to keep 
 upon our feet. The water was cuttingly cold 
 and chilled us to the marrow. When on the 
 other side, the getting into our pantaloons and 
 shoes with wet feet and sandy legs was a cold 
 and uncomfortable operation. We proceeded 
 until daylight without anything of note trans- 
 piring. 
 
 Sunday, November 20th. — Shortly after night- 
 fall, and while on the march, we came in sight 
 of a commodious and fine-looking residence. A 
 careful investioration shows that there are no 
 white gentry about the premises. The house- 
 keeper (or, more properly, the mistress) is a 
 quadroon. She learned from some of her under- 
 servants of our presence, and sent word that 
 she desired to see us. One of these servants, 
 a pert, loquacious girl, told us very confiden- 
 tially, for such a short acquaintance, that " de 
 massa" liked the young lady housekeeper "berry 
 much." Her master was not married and the 
 mistress of his household was his slave, yet her 
 authority was supreme about the house. 
 
 The owner of these people^was not, as good 
 fortune willed it, at home at the time of our visit. 
 The appearance of his mistress, a splendid-look- 
 ing brunette, tall and shapely, with lustrous, mild, 
 black eyes, as beautiful and as graceful as the 
 
COLD, WET AND HUNGRY. 309 
 
 queen of a fairy extravaganza, was a great sur- 
 prise to us. In her treatment of us she proved 
 as good as her looks. For our better safety, 
 we were conducted to what is set down in my 
 diary as the "Travellers' Rest." We fared 
 sumptuously here, getting chicken, sweet pota- 
 toes, apples, etc., and even tobacco for those who 
 wished to use it. An occasional oasis like this, 
 in our wide and dismal desert, was a much- 
 needed stimulation. 
 
 The night had grown bitter cold, with a 
 severe frost, when we again started. Our pro- 
 gress was very slow, soon being stopped by an- 
 other stream of no small dimensions. We did 
 not make more than three or four miles in all the 
 night and were staggering from loss of sleep. 
 We decided to camp near the river front. 
 
 Monday, November 2\st. — Still embarrassed 
 about crossing, the stream, though very anxious 
 to proceed. The weather has grown still colder 
 but the day is bright ; we get some beans and 
 corn, which we cook and make a hearty meal. 
 We cut new hickory canes and throw our old 
 ones away. Whenever on our long march we 
 met with a fine hickory sapling suitable for a 
 walking-stick, we would cut It down and discard 
 our old ones. This was the practice of all of our 
 party except DeWeese. He brought home the 
 cane he first started with from prison. He was 
 an expert carver in wood, and an abstract history 
 
3IO THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 of his escape was cut in plain characters on the 
 bark of his cane. While the other officers, like 
 the writer, kept a book record of the events of 
 their flight, he carved his in enduring wood, to 
 remain for all time a curiosity and heirloom in 
 his family. 
 
 As night approached, we became determined 
 to cross the river at all hazards. At the point of 
 our encampment it was fifty yards wide at least. 
 We had no Idea of Its depth, but made up our 
 minds to swim it if needs be. DeWeese called it 
 the " Cullaloo." Stripping off and tying our clothes 
 high up around our heads, we plunged In. It 
 was freezing and snowing now, and the water 
 was bitterly cold, but we at last succeeded in cross- 
 ing the "angry flood" and devoutly hoped that 
 we should not soon again be called upon to 
 undergo another such test of endurance. 
 
 The ordeals undergone for the past two days 
 have been a severe tax upon our reserve vitality. 
 Half an hour after our cold and enforced bath, we 
 came in sight of a rapid stream. Whether it was 
 another river, or the same one whose numerous 
 meanderines we had to cross several times while 
 keeping to our northwest course, I could not say. 
 However this may have been, the hard and bitter 
 fact remained that we must again face the ordeal. 
 
 Once over, we realized that we were beginning 
 the ascent of the rueeed mountains of the Blue 
 Ridge in North Carolina, whose swollen streams 
 
"JIM AND "BETSY. 3II 
 
 were too frequently impeding our progress. 
 Travelling grows more difficult, and in addition 
 to other impediments the frost proves a severe 
 punishment to Lieutenant Dimick and myself, as 
 we are nearly shoeless. The hard rough road 
 and jagged stones feel like spikes to our poorly 
 protected soles. All are now badly in need of 
 something to eat. Dimick and myself made 
 great efforts to capture a stray sheep which we 
 discovered in an enclosure near our path ; but 
 we failed to secure it. 
 
 Later, I was successful in finding a negro 
 "quarters." I find black Jim, who is suffering 
 severely from the toothache (a rare complaint 
 among the darkies). Jim makes us acquainted 
 with two or three of his friends, including a buxom 
 young girl. They appear to be well taken care 
 of and to have plenty to eat, and when this is so, 
 they are generally found to be contented and 
 happy. All of them show us as much kindness 
 as possible, but "Betsy" is the most assiduous 
 and successful in providing for our wants. Lieu- 
 tenant Davis, in recognition of her efforts, and 
 as a compensation for what she had given us, made 
 her a present of a gold finger-ring. After eat- 
 ing moderately we still had a little remaining, 
 which we carefully packed aw^ay in our Indispen- 
 sable haversacks. 
 
 Tuesday, November 22d. — We secured a nice 
 resting-place. The day is pleasant and agreeable 
 
312 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 and we enjoy our repose to its fullest extent. 
 We also greased our shoes thoroughly with some 
 tallow procured from the negroes last night, the 
 first process of the kind that they have under- 
 gone since starting upon our journey, and one 
 which they much needed. And then we go 
 sound asleep. 
 
 Soon each heavy-laden brow gently fell; 
 Who closed last his eyes, I cannot tell; 
 And who first did blink an owlish wink 
 At departing day, I cannot say; 
 I slept so sound, on that damp ground. 
 In dreams I'm off to the field of strife, 
 Where drops so many a precious life, 
 Of comrades dear in their country's cause, 
 For the flag and for our countiy's laws. 
 
 In that same sleep, I had a dream, 
 
 I did not then divulge the same. 
 
 As only lovers of fireside bliss 
 
 Can rightly feel a dream like this. 
 
 I thought I was back in Glade Run water. 
 
 With my wife, two boys and little daughter. 
 
 The eldest child but six years old. 
 
 My heart was home in that loving fold, 
 
 While little arms with childish delight 
 
 Were clinging to papa so close and tight; 
 
 But I woke to a cold embrace that night. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Lost Again — Dimick's Feet Give Out — Bidding him Good-bye— 
 ' His Unexpected Reappearance — Challenged — Capturing Geese. 
 
 As night approached, my companions and my- 
 self prepared to move. When others rest from 
 the labors of the day, and '* the ploughman home- 
 ward plods his weary way," we take up a lonely 
 march to our Mecca of freedom. Nothinor un- 
 usual occurred during the night's tramp, except 
 the appearance of a hard frost, which together 
 with the rough travelling and Interminable stream- 
 crossing made our tramp one never to be for- 
 gotten. 
 
 Wednesday, November 23^. — We made an 
 early start and continued until we came In sloht 
 of the small village of Clayton, which we flanked. 
 Our commissary stores are now entirely con- 
 sumed, and all of our party are very hungry. 
 DImIck reconnoitred a nelorhborlne neero 
 "quarters" for supplies, but returned empty- 
 handed. Lieutenants Davis and DImIck again 
 tried It with no better success. Hope seemed to 
 centre on me, and I do not recollect of havlnor 
 tailed in a single instance to procure food of some 
 
314 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 kind. This time I brought relief after a short 
 absence. 
 
 The night has grown so dark that we have 
 small hopes of making any further headway while 
 this darkness lasts. After marchinor and counter- 
 marching for a couple of hours we become satis- 
 fied that we have lost our way, and finally decide 
 to lay up for the remainder of the night. It is 
 freezing hard, and yet we are very thirsty ; we 
 try industriously to procure some water but fail. 
 It appears to be either a feast or a famine with us 
 as regards water. In the morning w^e discovered 
 that within ten feet of where we lay there was an 
 abundant supply of the limpid food. As another 
 addition to the night's unpleasantness, I found my 
 trousers badly torn, and having no drawers or 
 lining, I find myself badly off indeed. 
 
 Thuj^sday, November 2^th. — While it was yet 
 day, a couple of our party set out in search of the 
 road,' which we unfortunately lost last night, and 
 succeeded in finding it. We moved out early in 
 the evening in the direction of Franklin, and 
 found the road very rough, and marching on it 
 very painful. Not long after starting, we sighted 
 two small wagon-trains and successfully flanked 
 them. L'ater on We passed three sportsmen with 
 hounds, presumably going coon-hunting. 'Tis 
 fortunate, we think, that the game sought for is 
 not biped " coon," like ourselves. In the earlier 
 days of our flight, the fellows of these modern 
 Nimrods paid us more attention in this respect. 
 
DIMICK GIVES IT UP. 315 
 
 And now comes another sad trial. DImick's 
 shoes are at last completely worn out, and he is 
 literally walking on his " uppers." It was painful 
 to see him flinching and suffering as his tender 
 soles pressed the sharp rough ground. He is 
 the heaviest man in our party, weighing probably 
 one hundred and ninety pounds. He had no 
 blanket, but used instead a well-worn United 
 States overcoat, minus the cape. We were all 
 anxious to travel fast, but had to check our speed 
 in order to not hurry him. Presendy we stop 
 and wait until he cuts off a portion of the skirt of 
 his coat to bind around his sore feet. After an 
 hour's hard marching this temporary protection 
 also gives out, and we wait until he has again 
 fixed up his feet. He hobbled along after this 
 last make-shift, suffering severely in his efforts to 
 keep up with us. 
 
 At last he said he could stand it no loneer and 
 would have to give up, or go on more slowly 
 until he could procure something to put on his 
 feet. No wonder he had to succumb: the poor 
 fellow's feet were fearfully cut and bruised, and 
 were bleeding profusely. With genuine regret 
 we all shook hands with him and bade him o^ood- 
 bye. I was the last to part with him and felt 
 miserably sad on the occasion. All of my com- 
 rades, also, were very sorrow to have to abandon 
 him ; but Dimick, it will be seen, suffered more 
 
 from mental than bodily torture after we had left 
 20 
 
31 6 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 him behind. His complete Isolation and the ex- 
 treme lonesomeness of his situation over-balanced 
 the pain he endured from his bleeding feet, as 
 was shown by the almost superhuman efforts he 
 must have used In running after and overtaking 
 us, which he did In about three-quarters of an 
 hour after bidding us a supposed final good-bye. 
 We were, of course, agreeably surprised to find 
 him with us again, and we thereupon slackened 
 our pace to conform to his necessity; and out of 
 humanity to our unfortunate comrade we soon 
 lay up for the remainder of the night. 
 
 Friday, November 2^th. — On our march to- 
 night we find the country through which we were 
 passing becoming more populous ; and the dogs 
 begin to give us considerable annoyance. 
 
 It was some time after midnight, perhaps two 
 o'clock A. M., when we got Into the village of 
 Franklin. In passing a few houses In the sub- 
 urbs we were not positive that we were getting 
 into the town, but as we proceeded we found the 
 buildings becoming more numerous. We then 
 concluded that we must be in about the centre of 
 the town, and that It would be about as safe to 
 advance as to retreat. Why we had acted so 
 thoughtlessly as to make an attempt to pass 
 through such a dangerous place I cannot tell. I 
 had little to say on the subject. 
 
 The town was silent and dark, and we glided 
 along In Indian-file. The village consisted of 
 
HALTED BY A SENTRY. - 3x7 
 
 apparently one long main street. When a couple 
 of squares farther on, we could see a faint light 
 glimmering In the distance, as if at the head of 
 the street. We still kept on and the light grew 
 brighter. Suddenly we were halted, the voice 
 sounding loud and clear on the still air; but such 
 a challenore ! Our well-drilled officers are not 
 likely to ever forget it. The words of this picket 
 can hardly be written so as to spin them out as 
 they were delivered. 
 
 " H-a-l-t ! w-h-o c-o-m-e-s t-h-e-r-e ? " 
 he drawled. 
 
 The answer from our leader came w^ith prompt- 
 ness, decision and ready wit. 
 
 " Will Willis/' 
 
 " C-o-m-e h-e-r-e t-I-1-1 I s-e-e y-o-u," w^as the 
 next demand of the guard. 
 
 *' Oh," replied DeWeese, " If you are so particu- 
 lar, I don't want to pass," at the same time mak- 
 ing a right-about, and from quick to double-quick 
 was the order of our retreat. From the sleepy, 
 half dead-and-alive manner of our challenger, we 
 entertained fair hopes of securing a good start, 
 but thought It almost certain that we should be 
 pursued. The reader is safe in surmising that I 
 was not, by any means, last In this retreat. I 
 vaulted over a fence, passed through a kitchen 
 garden, without taking the tlmie or trouble to 
 scratch for possible potatoes or turnips, and on to 
 the rear. I found myself alone, but reasonably 
 
T,\S THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 satisfied that I had made good my escape. I 
 continued in a circle and came out at the northern 
 end of the town, and there luckily rejoined my 
 comrades. Doubtless that old " home-ofuardsman " 
 reflected deeply on what a wayward, naughty boy 
 that " Will Willis " was to have been out of bed at 
 such an unchristianlike hour. We did not slacken 
 our speed much until we felt that we were at a 
 safe distan-ce from the town, and then daylight 
 sent us to cover. 
 
 Saturday, Novembei'- 26th. — Our slumbers are 
 very much disturbed and our spirits greatly de- 
 pressed by the frequent firing of small-arms and 
 the ominous cry of hounds. We are all in a de- 
 plorable condition for the want of a change of 
 clothing, especially of inner garments. 
 
 Nieht, and our time for marchino-. We feel 
 mystified as to where we are going, and after 
 "travelling about five miles in a hap-hazard direc- 
 tion we met a citizen. He informed us that we 
 were but four miles from Franklin. Then he 
 directed us to the right road, and, unobtrusive 
 gentleman that he was, asked us no questions. 
 It was rainino- a little at the time of our meetinor 
 and quite dark, and he did not seem to notice 
 anything unusual or suspicious about us. This 
 darkness, and consequent absence of the stars, 
 was the cause of our going astray. We are again 
 feeling the pmching pangs of hunger, and think 
 ourselves fortunate in the possession of a few ears 
 of raw corn. 
 
TWO GEESE CAPTURED. 319 
 
 Away after midnight, when passing a farm 
 re'sldence, we noticed a good-sized pool of water. 
 This pond In itself was not particularly attractive, 
 but on Its placid bosom there floated objects of 
 absorbine Interest and attractiveness to me. The 
 moving forms were those of geese, and my late 
 acquaintance with that species of fowl was highly 
 conducive to a desire, on my part, for a renewal 
 of our intimacy. The boys passed on, unmindful, 
 but Dimick and the writer tarried. The geese, 
 however, kept in the middle of the pond with ill- 
 mannered pertinacity. If we are to succeed in 
 capturing any we must not be afraid to wet our 
 feet. I took deliberate aim, fired my stick and 
 then took to the water instanter, Dimick closely 
 following. 
 
 • 
 
 And of that pretty flock of geese, 
 God forgive us, we took one apiece; 
 And putting them gently under an arm, 
 We squeezed their necks to prevent alarm. 
 
 We soon caught up with our companions, who 
 were, as may be imagined, well pleased with our 
 success. 
 
 The night Is now far advanced and growing 
 darker. We have not yet found the right road. 
 
CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 The " Stair Falls " — Living " High " — Dimick's Funny-Looking 
 Coat — " Skirmishing" — A Friend Indeed. 
 
 Sunday, November 2yth. — At daylight we 
 traversed the woods round about for some dis- 
 tance, looking for the road. At last becoming 
 assured of our bearings, we went into camp. The 
 sun was then cominor out brio^ht and stronor and 
 the day promised to be one of the finest we had 
 enjoyed for some time. 
 
 We are up in the mountains now ; the country 
 is rough and thickly timbered, chiefly with chest- 
 nut. In our hiding-place we feel quite safe from 
 intrusion and can look upon and enjoy some 
 wild .and romantic scenery. From where we 
 build our fire we can see and hear a cascade of 
 the prettiest outline. The volume of water is not 
 large, but is clear as crystal, with the spray spark- 
 ling like many-hued gems, as it falls, in the 
 morning sunlight. The water tumbles over three 
 different natural projections, like steps, of a uni- 
 form distance from one another, and of the same 
 inclination and degree of uprightness. The whole 
 might properly be called the " Stair Falls." 
 
 As raw corn has been our chief subsistence 
 (320) 
 
COOKING AND MENDING. 321 
 
 lately, the mess we are now preparing Is quite a 
 luxury. One member of the party has a little tin 
 bucket and in it is boilinor corn on a comfortable 
 fire. The rest of us are makinor aoose feathers 
 fly, and as many hands make light work, It does 
 not take us long to pluck, singe, disembowel and 
 wasli the geese. Each man then helps himself to 
 a liberal slice and proceeds to broil it over our 
 camp-fire. We wash down this healthful and 
 appetizing meal with copious draughts from one 
 of the mountain springs, and the sum of our 
 earthly happiness is complete. 
 
 My increasing nakedness now demands some 
 attention, as a little longer extension of this kind 
 of life win compel me to return to the primitive 
 costume of Father Adam, unless some measures 
 can be taken to arrest the rapid destruction of 
 my garments by the brush and the briars. To 
 check the** o-rowlnof evil I borrow a needle and 
 thread from one of our men, and soon a visible 
 iinprovement w^as made in the continuity of my 
 " make-up." 
 
 Dimick also has been quite busy. His feet 
 are the greatest source of trouble to him, and the 
 application of goose grease Is very soothing to 
 his poor soles. Since his shoes gave out he has 
 used a great quantity of rags In tying up his feet. 
 His overcoat, which originally was very long, Its 
 skirts extending below his knees, has been under- 
 going during the past few days a startling and 
 
32 2 • THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 ludicrous metamorphosis. Two days ago the left 
 skirt commenced to shrink visibly, giving Dimick 
 the appearance of careening heavily to the star- 
 board, but yesterday the right side entirely disap- 
 peared, only a few shreds remaining close up to 
 the arm-pits ; and to-day — must I record it — the 
 remaining portion of the opposite tail has followed 
 its fellow, and now the heavy and cumbersome 
 army greatcoat of a few days ago has become a 
 trim and natty pea-jacket, giving to the fat and 
 good-natured lieutenant the appearance of an 
 overgrown schoolboy. 
 
 To-day is one of our *' skirmishing" days. The 
 warm sun, the safe retreat, and above all the 
 pinching necessity of the disagreeable occasion, 
 gave us busy employment for some time. The 
 above is hint enough on the delicate subject of 
 " skirmishing " to any of my readers who have 
 languished in the South as prisoners of war. 
 
 Lieutenant Davis reports having seen an old 
 citizen in the woods to-day. 
 
 Night. — We descend this chestnut range of 
 mountains, and at the base we strike a narrow 
 road and follow it, but finding it to lead toward 
 the southwest we go slowly and cautiously. We 
 meet a gentleman and three ladies on the road, 
 but let them pass without their seeing us. 
 
 Here Dimick makes the discouraging discovery 
 that he has forgotten his haversack, which con- 
 tained the entire supplies of our party. 
 
ACCUMULATED MISFORTUNES. 323 
 
 We now come to what we suppose to be the 
 Little Tennessee river, and turn with the stream 
 towards its northwest source. The weather has 
 again turned cold and the night dreary. We 
 have no fire, are very hungry, but have nothing 
 to eat. 
 
 Monday, November 2^th. — We are in a thickly 
 populated district, and are very uneasy, for which 
 reason we lay up all day without fire, cold and 
 hungry. The latter is becoming a chronic com- 
 plaint in our little band. This constant^ exposure 
 in such weather as we have had is trying even to 
 an iron constitution. May God sustain us ! 
 
 Friendly night again, and we are once more on 
 the tramp. But ill-luck seems determined to stick 
 to us, as we lose our way again, returning after a 
 half hour's march to where we had encamped. 
 We start again, and clamber up and slide down 
 an exceedingly steep mountain shortly after mak- 
 ing our second attempt, suffering many cuts and 
 bruises in so doing. On account of the pitchy 
 darkness we make but little or no headway, and 
 all are feeling much discouraged in consequence. 
 I now proposed that we detail one of our number 
 to seek information as to our route from the in- 
 mates of the first isolated farm-house we should 
 meet, but I was overruled. We lay up in a deep 
 canyon, thoroughly disheartened. 
 
 Tuesday, November 29M. — Our party cannot 
 agree upon any given course to follow. Being in 
 
324 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 a thickly wooded and rough country bordering on 
 East Tennessee, we might now travel in daytime 
 without much fear of arrest, but we have been 
 wanderinor up and down all the mornincr lookinof 
 for some sort of a road, and not finding an)' we 
 sit down discouraored under a laro-e tree. The 
 
 o o 
 
 day is nice and warm, and we take a good wash 
 in a pool of clear water. We have no bread or 
 meat, or anything but a little raw corn to eat. In 
 a gloomy mood we hold a council, and I renewed 
 my proposition of yesterday, saying I thought it 
 imperative that we should secure some informxa- 
 tion at once, and did not think there was much 
 risk in the part of the country we were then in, 
 believing there was a goodly sprinkling of loyal 
 citizens there. 
 
 Dimick was the only one who favored my views, 
 and, although in the minority, we became resolved 
 to carry them into effect. Lieutenant Dimick, 
 cool, brave, and unpretentious, now started to go 
 to a house that could be seen at some distance, 
 and with no other habitation within three-quarters 
 of ^ mile of it. I advanced near enough to watch 
 his movements. I saw him approach the house 
 and speak to a small boy outside, after w'hich he 
 entered an outhouse, or barn, near by. He re- 
 mained inside for some time, and when he 
 emerged from the building he w^as accompanied 
 by a man. Dimick performed his duty well, and 
 our plan proved a complete success. 
 
A FRIEND IN NEED. 325 
 
 The stranger approaching us Is a stout, well- 
 built man, about thirty-five years of age, and 
 dressed in a suit of good homespun cloth. His 
 name we learn is Henry P. Grant, and his home 
 Brown's Creek, Macon county. North Carolina. 
 He is a fire-tried Unionist, brave, prudent, deter- 
 mined, and Inflexible. All the ingenuity of the 
 rebel authorities failed to make him fio:ht ao^ainst 
 his country and flag. 
 
 By reason of his well-known principles, he was 
 under the necessity of watching and hiding night 
 and day, in season and out of season, in order to 
 keep out of their clutches. To-day he thought he 
 was captured at last when Dimick darkened the 
 door of the barn where he was huskine corn. 
 His little son was posted on the lookout while 
 his father w^orked, but Dimick appeared before 
 him so suddenlv the little fellow did not have 
 time to give the alarm. Grant and Dimick tell 
 us that they each eyed the other suspiciously, 
 thinking that each confronted an enemy, and 
 both prepared to fight before surrendering; but 
 when, instead of enemies, they discovered they 
 were friends, their friendship was warm indeed. 
 
 All of our party are now made acquainted with 
 Mr. Grant, who Is In entire sympathy with us. 
 From where we stand we are In sight of his house, 
 but safe from observation. It Is only three o'clock 
 p. M., and Grant Is anxious to relieve our distress 
 and give us tha shelter of his hospitable roof at 
 
326 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 once, but there Is a slight obstacle In the way — 
 there Is an armed rebel soldier In the house. 
 
 The question of a method for surmounting the 
 difficulty at once becomes the subject of a council, 
 in the deliberation of which our friend Grant took 
 the leading and chief part. The first decision, and 
 a most natural one the reader will agree, that we 
 arrived at was that Mr, Grant should at once 
 return to his home and procure something where- 
 with to appease the cravings of our consuming 
 hunorer. . 
 
 On making known the circumstances to his 
 wife that estimable lady, the faithful and worthy 
 companion of a good man, entered at once Into 
 sympathetic unison, acting and planning with her 
 husband for our aid and comfort. The first result 
 of his interview with his wife was his quick return 
 to us with a bountiful supply of wholesome and 
 substantial food. We ate somewhat sparingly, 
 thinking it not prudent to eat much at a time 
 after our Ion or fast. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVI. 
 
 Among Kind Friends — A Rebel Soldier in a Queer Role — Neai* 
 
 ING the End. 
 
 Our host now tells us about this rebel soldier 
 who is quartered in his house. His name is 
 Burton McQueen. He is a good-looking, stout 
 young fellow, of about eighteen or twenty years 
 of age, and belongs to the "Thomas Legion,'* 
 which is doing post duty fifteen miles from where 
 we are. The boy is home for a few days on a 
 furlough to see his widowed mother, made so by 
 the death of her husband, who was impressed into 
 the rebel service, and who was killed in action. 
 Her boy is the widow's only natural support re- 
 maining, but he cannot support her now. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Grant appear to be her main stay at present. 
 She occupies a house adjoining that of the kind 
 and hospitable Grants, who are assiduous in their 
 attentions to the lonely widow. So it is no 
 wonder that the poor woman is greatly attached 
 to this worthy couple. 
 
 Young McQueen returns to his command to- 
 morrow morning. The Grants are anxious to 
 give us a cordial reception in their own house to- 
 night, but this cannot be done without the knowl- 
 
 (327) 
 
328 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 edge of the McQueens. We therefore conclude 
 to confide our situation to the widow, and dele- 
 gate Mr. and Mrs. Grant to perform the delicate 
 duty. 
 
 The result of their mission to Mrs. McQueen 
 exceeds our most sanguine expectations. They 
 found upon broaching the subject cautiously that 
 the widow was in hearty accord with them in their 
 desire to assist us. She had, it seemed, no real 
 sympathy with the Southern cause; or If she once 
 had, the loss of her husband and the constant 
 dangers of her son had turned that feeling to a 
 far different one. 
 
 The boy, In her hands, was as clay, and soon 
 all is well, and when night came we were con- 
 ducted to the house, a very comfortable one not- 
 withstanding the numerous raids of the hungry 
 enemy, where w^e were introduced to Mrs. Grant, 
 with whom we all cordially shook hands. Seated 
 around a •spacious and well-swept hearth, with 
 old-fashioned andirons supporting logs of hickory, 
 ash and beech which composed the Incomparable 
 fire, a new life seemed to be Infused Into the 
 members of our party, as was not strange under 
 such cheering and home-like Influences. 
 
 Mrs. Grant was bustlinor about like a true 
 housewife. Intent upon preparing us a nice meal. 
 In a short time the table was spread with a snowy 
 white cloth, the viands piping hot were placed 
 thereon, and all were invited to draw up their 
 
A MERRY FEAST. 329 
 
 chairs and set-to. Our worthy host, who had re- 
 tired a few minutes previously, now returned, 
 bearing a good-sized flask in one hand and a 
 drinking-glass in the other. Standing before us, 
 he said: 
 
 "Gentlemen: Before you begin your meal I 
 wish you to honor me by partaking of some- 
 thing of my own manufacture, which I have here. 
 In your present condition, a little tonic, it seems 
 to me, would not hurt you ; it is pure apple- 
 brandy." 
 
 He then approached the writer, and in handing 
 him the beverage hoped that his venerable friend 
 would set the example. How many of my read- 
 ers under such circumstances might have refused 
 the kindly offer of our host, I am not prepared to 
 say. If any, they possess, in a marked degree, 
 an abstemious virtue that I can lay no claim to, 
 although I have never indulged to excess. 
 
 It was suggested that a toast was now in order, 
 so I poured out a moderate portion of the spark- 
 ling fluid, and holding it aloft, said: 
 
 " God bless our country and perpetuate its 
 union ! God bless our good President Lincoln, 
 and give him wisdom and years to finish the 
 grand work he has begun ; and may we all, and 
 especially our worthy friends here in North Caro- 
 lina, live to see and enjoy the fruits of our many 
 sacrifices and our devotion to the cause of freedom 
 and liberty. A long time between drinks ; God 
 bless us all." 
 
330 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 Supper over, and all being In the best of 
 humor, it was suggested that it would be only 
 proper and courteous for some of our number to 
 call upon Mrs. McQueen. Lieutenant DeWeese 
 and Captain Hart were chosen to perform the 
 duty, and were introduced by Mrs. Grant to a 
 comely and pensive matron of about fifty-five 
 years of age. The general subject of our con- 
 versation was the war, and its widespread 
 scourges, which phase of the subject we dwelt 
 upon at considerable length. We received, be- 
 fore we left, many assurances of friendship from 
 the widow. 
 
 What a happy change In the situation of our 
 little party! A few hours ago we were lost in the 
 mountains, our spirits well-nigh broken, and 
 we staring gaunt hunger In the face. Now, sur- 
 rounded by kind friends, our wants attended to, 
 and our hearts beating joyfully with the thought 
 that we shall not again suffer the privations 
 and heartaches that we have daily and hourly 
 undergone since the first day of our long and 
 hazardous flight. We realize, now, that we are 
 fast nearing the end of our journey. 
 
 It has been decided that we shall start in the 
 morning in company with young McQueen, who 
 is returning to his command, and who has vol- 
 unteered to act as guide through the woods and 
 mountains. After spending the happiest evening 
 of many months, we retired to sleep and dream, 
 
A CHEERFUL MARCH. 33 1 
 
 under the protection of a roof, the first covering 
 of the kind for, lo, these many days. 
 
 So passed the auspicious twenty-ninth of 
 •November, 1864. 
 
 Wednesday, November 30///. — Bright and early, 
 kind Mrs. Grant prepared us a dainty and sub- 
 stantial breakfast. After we had taken a re- 
 freshing ablution, our host made his appearance 
 with the susplclous-lookino: botde of last evenlno- 
 and. If I am not mistaken, all the boys took the 
 " oath " again. After breakfast we took leave of 
 Mrs. Grant and the widow McQueen, and turned 
 our backs on the fair haven of Brow^n's Creek. 
 
 Upon leaving all of us were provided with a 
 full day's rations In our haversacks, and Mr. 
 Grant accompanied us for about two miles to 
 where he had another farm. The house thereon 
 was unoccupied, and was used in winter to store 
 apples and other farm products. When there, 
 he gave us all the apples we could carry, and 
 bad^ us good-bye. 
 
 We have never seen or heard from him since ; 
 at least I have not. 
 
 We were all now in prime marchlne order, 
 and started out briskly and with lieht hearts. In- 
 eluding our friend DImick, whose soles had at last 
 been covered by the kindly thoughtfulness of Mr. 
 Grant. We had a jolly time on the march, crack- 
 ing jokes and -singing snatches of our camp songs, 
 
 and even taking turns carrying the musket of our 
 21 
 
332 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 rebel guide. His was a strange case, present- 
 ing as it did the startling anomaly of a man, 
 sworn and armed to shoot Yankees, acting as 
 their friend and guide. It is questionable if any- 
 thinor similar to it occurred duringr the war. He 
 conducted us in safety a distance of fifteen miles 
 on our journey in the broad open light of day, 
 and to within fifty yards of the outposts of his 
 command, which place we reached shortly after 
 dusk, and so close were we that could hear the 
 soldiers enjoying themselves with music and 
 dancing. Our guide's reason for bringing us so 
 close to the rebel camp was because our only feasi- 
 ble route lay in this direction. I do not know how 
 my comrades felt, but I recollect distinctly to have 
 been considerably perturbed when I discovered 
 our near proximity to the enemy. The man 
 could have easily given us up, and by so doing 
 be assured of favorable mention, and probable 
 promotion, for his zeal ; but he proved true to his 
 mother and faithful to his promise. • 
 
 Burton McQueen's case may be a subject for 
 debate and wide divergence of opinion. Many 
 will claim, no doubt, that he did right, and that 
 his action was commendable ; while others, with 
 fully as strong argument, will prove that his action 
 w^as traitorous and In direct violation of his oath 
 of allegiance. In justice to the young man it is 
 but fair to state, however, that he w^as not in the 
 Confederate service from choice. He was im- 
 
A FRIENDLY ENEMY. 333 
 
 pressed Into their ranks, as was also his father. 
 The matter, therefore, narrows down to the ques- 
 tion whether compulsory obligations should or 
 should not be binding-. At all events our Con- 
 federate guide not only piloted us safely the 
 distance before named, but in leaving us gave 
 important directions as to where we should cross 
 the next river; also where we were to find a 
 loyal family named Welsh, who would assist us. 
 
 After a kindly parting with our friend in gray 
 we started on double-quick time, and did not 
 slacken our speed until we had covered a good five 
 miles. Although not a word was spoken on the 
 subject, our minds were alike filled with one idea. 
 Would our guide betray us at the eleventh hour? 
 This thought urged us forward, and not until the 
 river lay between us and the camp of the enemy 
 did we feel safe and were we heartily disposed to 
 do the young fellow justice. Such, however, must 
 always be the fate of one who, like him, violates 
 a solemn obligation. 
 
 As indicated by our late guide we shordy 
 came to the point of the river where we were to 
 cross. It was at or near the confluence of the 
 I Tuckaseeand Tennessee rivers, and was fully one 
 hundred yards wide, makino- the crossine a fear- 
 ful undertaking. Had we not been so well used 
 to this business we micrht have hesitated to enter 
 such a broad and rapid current ; but stripping to 
 the buft^ we waded into the rushing stream. The 
 
334 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 water was Intensely cold and very deep at points, 
 but we made the passage safely, with our gar- 
 ments badly soaked. 
 
 Although not aware of it at the time, we had, 
 happily, crossed our last great barrier. We 
 wrung the water out of our clothes, put them on, 
 and started briskly to restore the circulation in 
 our benumbed frames. 
 
 A quarter of a mile from the river we entered 
 the house of Mr. A. B. Welsh. We had been led 
 to believe that this gentleman was a friend, 
 but we found him quite cool and somewhat 
 suspicious at first. In those trying times the 
 loyal frontiersmen were required to be as inno- 
 cent as doves and as wise as serpents to steer 
 their course safely. The family were surprised 
 when we told them that we had swum the river, 
 and after learning who we were, and how we had 
 suffered, their hearts warmed towards us. Mr. 
 Welsh for a time kept up a semblance of South- 
 ern sympathy; but his better half was stoutly 
 Union in her sentiments. 
 
 About this time I found I had sustained quite a 
 loss ; my trusty butcher-knife was gone. Before 
 removine my clothes at the river I had unbuckled 
 my belt containing the knife, laid it down on 
 the bank, and forgot it afterwards. I was deter- 
 minded to return and recross the stream to secure 
 it, but Mr. Welsh promised to send his son, a 
 young man, for it early the following morning. 
 
KINDLY LOQUACITY. 335 
 
 The young fellow went, but failed to find the 
 treasure, and it was then too late for me to go 
 back. I felt the loss keenly because of its as- 
 sociations and the protection it had afforded me, 
 but it transpired, happily, that I did not need it 
 much afterwards, as we were getting into a 
 friendly section. 
 
 Our day's march from Grant's to Welsh's was 
 about twenty-two miles, and we fully appreciated 
 the hospitalities of this happy home, where 
 warmth, cheerfulness and kindness reigned, and 
 every moment's interchange of views and feelings 
 produced a warmer current of reciprocal friend- 
 ship. Our treatment so much resembled that 
 which we had received at Grant's, that to enume- 
 rate their many kindnesses would be merely a 
 repetition of what I have already said. The same 
 cleanliness existed and the same expedition was 
 used. The only marked difference was in the 
 conversational powers of the respective house- 
 wives. Mrs. Grant was quiet and of a rather 
 retiring disposition, while Mrs. Welsh kept up a 
 running stream of small talk while preparing our 
 supper. Having a loving and interesting family 
 herself, she was curious to know how we were 
 situated. 
 
 *'Are you married ? " she asks one. 
 
 *' No, ma'am." 
 
 ** Is your mother living ? " 
 
 " Yes, ma'am.'* ... .^.. . 
 
336 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 " May God hear and pity the cries of the 
 mothers of this country! " she piously ejaculated. 
 
 She had a question and a pious and appro- 
 priate ejaculation for each. 
 
 My comrades were all young men, and I be- 
 lieve unmarried. I was then about forty years of 
 age, and In answer to her question said I was 
 married and the father of three children, aged 
 respectively two, four and six, and my wife but 
 twenty- two years old. Surprise, sympathy and 
 censure were then equally blended In her manner 
 and remarks, but sympathy ultimately predomi- 
 
 » 
 
 nated. 
 
 When supper, a most Inviting one, was ready, 
 the sprightly little lady whispered mysteriously 
 to her good man, and he retired and directly re- 
 turned with a decanter contalnlnof some first-rate 
 apple-jack of his own make. Like our friend 
 of last evening, giving the preference to age, he 
 first passed the bottle to me. After our meal, to 
 which we did full justice, we learned from the 
 family that they were subject to frequent nocturnal 
 visits from their rebel neighbors, who suspected 
 them of sympathy for the Union, and of harbor- 
 ing Yankee refugees. 
 
 It was thought advisable under these circum- 
 stances that we should sleep out In the brush 
 rather than In the house. When we made a 
 move, however, Mrs. Welsh spoke a few words 
 to her husband, who then came to me ^nd re- 
 
UNWAVERING HOSPITALITY 337 
 
 quested that I should remain In the house, as she 
 had a good bed for me. I thanked her, saying- 
 that I was a stranger to such luxuries, and de- 
 clined the offer, giving as a reason that I thought 
 it safer to be with my comrades. 
 
 I shall never forget with what kindness she 
 persisted upon my remaining, urging that the 
 night was cold ; that I needed rest, and that she 
 thought the change would do me good. I then 
 was forced to tell her plainly my real reason for 
 refusing. I could not go into her clean bed, for, 
 breathe it softly, I was lousy, as indeed was every 
 man who was confined in rebel prison pens. 
 Strange to say this disgusting announcement did 
 not cool her charity, or cause her to cease her 
 kind importunities. At last I submitted reluc- 
 tantly, after devising a plan to prevent the infec- 
 tion of the bed by the disgusting vermin. I 
 divested myself completely of all my " duds, " 
 and tying them up in my blanket made a bundle 
 which I placed in the middle of the uncarpeted 
 pine floor, and then crept into bed in the pre- 
 sumable fashion of Father Adam before the era 
 of fiof-leaf niorht-shirts. 
 
 I was soon asleep and enjoyed a most refresh- 
 ing slumber until morning. We all ate a hearty 
 breakfast, which was made doubly pleasing by 
 the untlrinor efforts of our kind friends to make 
 us comfortable. Mr. Welsh and his son Q-ot their 
 rifles and hunting-traps and proposed to escor/ 
 
338 THE FLYING, GRAY-HATRED YANK. 
 
 US up the mountains. When starting, all of us re^ 
 ceived a liberal day's rations, as on the day before. 
 Father and son each had among his supplies a 
 canteen slung over the shoulder ; one contained 
 Sorghum molasses, and the contents of the other 
 was at the start but a surmise. Througrh the 
 kindly guidance and protection of the Welshes 
 we escaped two parties of armed rebels. 
 
CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 Arrival at Cage Cove, Tennessee — Tuckaleechie Cove — Al- 
 most There. 
 
 Thursday, Decembe^^ \st. — After taking leave 
 of Mrs. Welsh with feelings of genuine regret, we 
 started briskly, leaving the valley of the Little 
 Tennessee and striking out boldly for the Great 
 Smoky, one of the highest mountain ranges in 
 North America, guided by Welsh and his son. 
 In our ascent of the mountain we met with 
 several tiny streams, rapid, sparkling and limpid; 
 their banks bordered thickly with balsam fir, the 
 water clear and cold, and as pleasant to the taste 
 as it was pure in appearance. Our guides tell us 
 that the water of these streams is equally as cold 
 in summer. 
 
 Following the course of one of these mountain 
 brooks until noon-time, we arrived at a point 
 commanding one of the finest views along our 
 route — a broad table-land where a mound of 
 earth had made a natural dam, obstructing the 
 current of the bright living waters and forming 
 one of the prettiest little lakes imaginable, its 
 sides fringed with a thick growth of laurel and 
 spruce pine, and in their front a frame of moss- 
 
 (339) 
 
340 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 grown rocks of countless shapes and sizes. On 
 a pretty elevation near the water's edge we called 
 a halt and held an informal picnic, and such a one 
 as I have never since enjoyed, although the cold- 
 sliced ham with bread and molasses, washed down 
 with apple-brandy (which one of the canteens was 
 now found to contain), might not be considered, 
 under other circumstances, a remarkably sump- 
 tuous repast. 
 
 Our genial surroundings shed a new-found 
 happiness upon the members of our little party. 
 We are breathing a healthier atmosphere and en- 
 joying a greater security than heretofore, en- 
 abling us to travel in daylight and converse with 
 one another without much restraint, and feeling 
 that w^e are fast nearing our deliverance ; so, with 
 thankful hearts, we eat, drink, and are merry, not 
 fearing for the morrow. After our enjoyable col- 
 lation we shook hands and reluctantly parted 
 with the Welshes. They turned and retraced 
 their steps down the mountain's side; we con- 
 tinued to ascend its rugged heights. After travel- 
 ling for an hour, we stopped and cast a long last 
 look of erateful emotion far down into that hos- 
 pitable valley lying below us, w^iere dwelt a noble 
 type of Irish-American patriotism. 
 
 The -good water, the bracing air, the quantity 
 and quality of our rations, has had a visible effect 
 upon all of us, and by nightfall we arrived at the 
 summit of the mountain, calculated by one of 
 
ON THE BORDER LINE. 34I 
 
 our party to be 6,476 feet above the level of the 
 sea. 
 
 We selected our camping-ground, gathered 
 some dry leaves, put down our blankets and pre- 
 pared for undisturbed repose. We can now in- 
 dulge in talking aloud ; for nearly a month past 
 we have been schooled to whispering : 
 
 Fearful lest some evil breeze our covert should disclose, 
 And lead to our recapture by our ever watchful foes. 
 
 Miles away from the habitation of man we go 
 to rest, conscious of the unlikelihood of our being 
 disturbed, except possibly by some wild denizen 
 of the forest. We build a fire as a precaution 
 against this latter danger, and then go to sleep. 
 Far in the night, when our fire was smouldering 
 and almost out, we were startled from our slum- 
 bers by a mighty rush among the dry leaves, 
 followed a second later by the snorting and bound- 
 ing away of deer. 
 
 Friday, December 2. — We find ourselves now 
 on the State line of North Carolina and Tennes- 
 see. The soil of the mountains is very rich ; the 
 earth is black and loose and heavily timbered. 
 Cage Cove is five miles from where we stand, 
 with a continued steep descent the whole distance. 
 It is the first settlement we find in Tennessee, and 
 our hearts beat joyfully when we find it inhabited 
 by the truest types of Union men. Oh, how de- 
 
342 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 llorhtful to find ourselves amonof friends once 
 more ! 
 
 The men here on the border have had to pay- 
 dearly for their loyal principles, but they are a 
 brave and determined set, and often make it de- 
 cidedly unpleasant for small bands of horse- 
 thieves and other marauders who come among 
 them, as we discovered when at the foot of the 
 mountain, and before we entered the Cove. We 
 there entered a narrow bridle-path, upon which, 
 after travelling but a short distance, we came to 
 a halt, attracted by a fresh-dug grave, in which 
 were imbedded two upright posts, to which was 
 nailed a small board bearing the following inscrip- 
 tion in rudely painted letters : 
 
 " Let this be a Warning to All Horse-Thieves 
 
 AND Guerillas." 
 
 Much property of these loyal citizens had been 
 taken away or wantonly destroyed, and a number 
 of their best men had been murdered by parties 
 of marauding guerillas. Only a month previous to 
 our arrival a gang of rebels had galloped into the 
 little settlement, and murdered one man and mor- 
 tally wounded another, the former a Mr. Gregory 
 and the latter a Mr. Shields. Mr. Gregory's son, 
 we learned, was one of the rebel party, and the 
 parasite was well aware that his party were going 
 to murder his father. 
 
YELLING FOR JOY 343 
 
 The Cove extended westward as far as one 
 could see, and was completely encompassed on 
 the east and south by large mountains. It was 
 level and fertile, and had been a happy and pros- 
 perous little settlement before this unholy and 
 fratricidal strife. 
 
 As we emerged from the woods and found our- 
 selves in the Cove we felt highly elated by the 
 knowledo^e that at last we were amonof friends. 
 But that newly made grave should have admon- 
 ished us to act prudently upon entering the vil- 
 lage. We numbered seven, and were wild, stal- 
 wart-looking fellows, all armed with stout hickory- 
 sticks, which at a distance might be taken for 
 more dangerous weapons. As we approached 
 the first house a young girl appeared in the door- 
 way. The house was yet about 200 yards in our 
 front, and to the right of us. At the sight of the 
 damsel several of my companions raised a mighty 
 shout, whereupon the girl suddenly disappeared 
 within, apparently badly frightened. 
 
 I felt very indignant at such imprudence, which 
 was calculated to create a false and unnecessary 
 alarm, frightening the worthy people without 
 reason, and, being in those days of a somewhat 
 impulsive and hasty disposition, I indulged in some 
 cutting remarks as to their newly found bravery 
 and culpable lack of judgment. 
 
 They were evidently much hurt by my remarks, 
 and maintained a silence and reserve for some 
 
344 THE FLYING GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 time afterwards. We now noticed a man mounted 
 upon a white horse, some distance in advance of 
 us, riding into the centre of the town, and we then 
 realized that he was o-ivine the alarm to the set- 
 tiers that the rebels were in the Cove. 
 
 We proceeded to the next house, where we 
 found only women and children. We explained 
 our circumstances and who we were to them, and 
 they at once set about preparing us something to 
 eat from their scanty store. We asked them to 
 send word as soon as possible to their neighbors 
 that we were friends and not enemies. 
 
 After the excitement had subsided, and when 
 we were comfortably disposed of in the house, my 
 comrades held a whispered consultation apart 
 from me, and at its termination advanced and de- 
 manded that I should apologize for the insulting 
 lanofuao^e I had used towards them. 
 
 " Gentlemen," said I, " I am sorry you feel so 
 much hurt by what I consider a deserved rebuke 
 for a rashness so evidently alarming to these 
 worthy people ; I cannot apologize, so you will 
 have to decide as to the best way to redress your 
 imaginary grievance." 
 
 These officers, whom I have earlier introduced 
 to the reader, were gentlemen of undoubted 
 bravery, refinement, and education, and were well 
 qualified for their successful and arduous journey. 
 Three of them were of the regular army and the 
 other three of the volunteer service, selected by 
 
Mm 
 
 mt\ 
 
A FALSE ALARM. 345 
 
 the former as suitable companions In the effort to 
 
 escape. 
 
 Thinking that seven men were too many for 
 this poor woman at whose home we were to enter- 
 tain, a few of our number went to a neighboring 
 house. I was one of the party that remained. 
 We were just sitting down to a much-needed and 
 very welcome meal when the startling report 
 reached us that the rebel raiders were really in 
 the Cove. I favored remaining and taking the 
 chances where we were but was overruled ; how- 
 ever, I did remain until I had somewhat appeased 
 my appetite and secured something in my haver- 
 sack. 
 
 We then started for a low, log block-house, 
 situated in a small clearing in the woods, accom- 
 panied by twelve well-armed and determined 
 Union men. Among these brave men of the 
 border was a Mr. George Rowan, seventy-nine 
 years old, and famous as a hunter who hardly ever 
 missed a "buck," even when on the run. He was 
 active, light of foot, muscular, and willing to show 
 the marauders who infested his neighborhood what 
 old "79" could do. 
 
 At last it is found that it was our entry that 
 had caused the alarm, and we returned to the 
 settlement. 
 
 Saturday, December ^d. — After being right 
 royally entertained by our friends of Cage Cove 
 we prepared to depart. I was so fortunate as to 
 
34^ THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 secure the loan of a horse from one of the settlers. 
 It was agreed that one of the citizens should 
 accompany us as far as Knoxville as a guide, and 
 should brinof back the horse and some articles of 
 necessity from the city for the settlers. We also 
 took a memorandum of some notions Intended 
 for the ladies, and ammunition and other articles 
 for the men, as a partial return for their kindness 
 to us. 
 
 We struck out for Tuckaleechie Cove, four or 
 five miles distant, which place we soon reached, 
 end found all good and loyal men there. We 
 stopped at the house of a Mr. Campbell, and were 
 very kindly treated. Here I met Mn Samuel 
 Wetzel, from my State (West Virginia). He 
 knew me, and did all in his power to make us 
 comfortable. He even gave me his horse to ride 
 to Knoxville, and I transferred the one I rode to 
 Lieutenant DeWeese. 
 
 Sunday, December /^th. — Half a dozen men 
 of this second Cove mounted their horses and 
 came with us for about twelve or fifteen miles, in 
 order to put our foot-men across the many wide 
 and rapid streams along our route. During the 
 day's tramp we passed through a fine and richly 
 cultivated country, and at noon we ate our lunch 
 upon the banks of a beautiful stream within ten 
 miles of Knoxville. 
 
 When about six miles from the city, our guide 
 pointed out the residence of a Mr. Brown, who 
 
SALUTING THE OLD FLAG. 347 
 
 appeared to be very comfortably situated. We 
 found Mr. Brown very reserved, and reluctant to 
 admit us at first, but he afterwards treated us very 
 well. He was true to the Union cause, and had 
 two sons In the United States army. 
 
 Being now well fortified Inwardly, we feel Invig- 
 orated both In mind and body, and look forward 
 eagerly to our reunion with our gallant com- 
 rades in arms, from whom we have been so long 
 and so unwillingly separated, and to reach whom 
 we have made such mighty efforts and endured 
 so many privations. 
 
 When at last we came in sight of the glorious 
 old flag, the Stars and Stripes, waving grandly on 
 the fort at the southern end of Knoxvllle, it was 
 not to be wondered at that we raised a shout 
 whose tones reverberated from valley to hill, and 
 returned with the pleasing assurance of the advent 
 of our longed-for deliverance. The videttes were 
 on the alert, and at our appearance thought no 
 doubt that the enemy was approaching. We 
 were challenged and closely questioned by the 
 pickets, and then conducted to the town by a cor- 
 poral of the guard. When near the town, and 
 still In the vicinity of the fort, we observed evi- 
 dent marks of recent fighting, which had occurred, 
 we learned, only a few days previous to our 
 entry. 
 22 
 
CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 Arrival at Knoxville — Governor Brownlow — Interviewing 
 Paymasters — Chattanooga — A Sparring Match — Lookout 
 Mountain — The German Soldiers — Sheridan's Ride. 
 
 Arrived at Knoxville, we saw some four or five 
 gentlemen approaching us. They were evidently 
 all officers except one. The civilian wore a suit 
 of dark-colored, plain-cut clothing, and I recog- 
 nized him at siorht, althouo-h I had never seen him 
 before. Walking straight over to where he stood, 
 I said : 
 
 "You are Governor Brownlow, are you not?" 
 
 " Yes," he answered, " but I do not recall your 
 face." 
 
 "We have never met before," said I, "but the 
 last book I have read claims you, sir, as its able 
 author; and Its frontispiece is a well-executed 
 steel engraving, so perfect a likeness of yourself, 
 indeed, that I could not possibly mistake the 
 oriofinal." 
 
 This was the famous " Fighting Parson," then 
 Governor of Tennessee, who proved as true to 
 the Union as he was to the Gospel, and as ready 
 to confirm his position with the sword too, if needs 
 be. His intelligence, braver}^ influence and pa- 
 O48) 
 
1 
 
 
 GOVERNOR WILLIAM G. BROWNLOW, 
 
 "THE FIGHTING PARSON." 
 
GOVERNOR BROWNLOW. 35 1 
 
 triotism, more than any other single cause, helped 
 to restrain his State from going wholesale into the 
 Confederacy. While I am taking a short glance 
 at the great Governor of Tennessee, his friends 
 are scrutinizing us with somewhat humorous curi- 
 osity ; and no wonder they do so, for we presented 
 a decidedly ragged and unkempt appearance and 
 were almost barefooted. What was once Dimick's 
 old blue overcoat is now the funnieat-lookine 
 garment possible to imagine. As I have already 
 stated, it was at first a very long one ; but when 
 his shoes played out, before we reached Franklin, 
 he commenced at the bottom of the skirts and 
 kept clipping them off to protect his bare feet 
 from the sharp and frosty ground, until now, when 
 we arrive in Knoxville, he has remaining only two 
 sleeves, or parts of them, and a strip of the body 
 probably twelve inches long; this veritable "cut- 
 away " on a big, tall, good-natured, gallant fellow 
 like Dimick, was calculated to make even an 
 anchorite laugh. 
 
 I took from my haversack an ear of corn and 
 showed it to the Governor, as a specimen of the 
 chief article of diet upon which we subsisted 
 during our long race for liberty. He called the 
 attention of his staff (his son, a lieutenant, being 
 one of them) to the kind of luxury we fared on. 
 All were very sympathetic, notably the Governor 
 himself, who gave orders that we should be prop- 
 erly attended to and cared for. His orders were 
 
352 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 carried out punctiliously and with cheerful alac- 
 rity ; we being conducted to a commodious build- 
 ing, where a warm bath was prepared for us. In 
 a short time each came from the healthy ablution 
 regenerated, and as happy as a brave young sol- 
 dier when donning his first shoulder-straps. 
 
 The city was full of good stories of the gov- 
 ernor, one of which I must tell. Long after every 
 other American flag had been hauled down in 
 Knoxville, he courageously kept his flying. On 
 one occasion a Louisiana regiment en route for 
 the front halted in the city. Seeing the Brownlow 
 flag flaunting defiance in the breezes, they sent two 
 men to cut it down. The parson's daughter an- 
 swered their summons and, learning their errand, 
 drew a revolver from her dress pocket and, leveling 
 it at them, defiantly replied : 
 
 " Come on, sirs, and take it down ! " 
 As they backed off before her determined ad- 
 vance they said something about getting more 
 men to do the work, to which sne sneeringly 
 answered : 
 
 " Yes ; go and get some men; you are not men." 
 On the following day, wishing to pay some 
 grateful attentions to our kind friends of Cage 
 Cove, we procured some needed articles, including 
 boots, shoes, powder, gun-caps, etc., and sent 
 them back with our late guide. 
 
 Being out of money vve applied to a paymaster 
 who was at this time in Knoxville, for some of 
 
THE CRUTCHFIELD HOUSE. 353 
 
 the back pay due us, but he refused. We there- 
 upon telegraphed Major Clark, United States Pay- 
 master, then in Chattanooga. He answered us 
 promptly, saying: 
 
 " Come on ; it will give me pleasure to relieve 
 you." 
 
 On Wednesday morning, December 7th, we 
 started for Chattanooga by train, but had a slow 
 ride, not arriving there until 5.30 o'clock p. m. 
 We put up at the Crutchfield House, kept at this 
 time by a Mrs. Bishop. It had the poorest ac- 
 commodations that I ever received at any hotel 
 charging $3.50 per day. The rooms were without 
 fires and almost barren of furniture. We even 
 had to make a deposit of fifty cents each for the 
 privilege of using a towel. The hotel was crowded 
 with a promiscuous gathering of civil and military 
 dienitaries and hano^ers-on. All seemed to have 
 plenty of money and seemingly were bent upon 
 spending it. The presence in the town of three 
 United States paymasters was probably the cause 
 of the unusual plethora. 
 
 In such a modey crowd, as was but natural to 
 suppose, "John barley-corn " flowed freely, giving 
 loquacity and vivacity to the veteran braves, and 
 courage and self-importance to the civilians. 
 There was present a young man of the latter 
 class, who was conspicuous among all the assem- 
 bly for his style and bearing. He boasted of how 
 he had disposed of a young pugilist the evening 
 
354 ™E FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 before In a soft glove encounter, and displayed at 
 the same time a set of gloves, as If to say, "Who 
 will try them on with me?" In the absence of 
 other amusements, the " manly art " was generally 
 practiced by our men during the war, especially 
 so when large bodies of troops were quartered 
 together for any length of time. 
 
 The room In which we were assembled was 
 quite a spacious one, and had a large stove at Its 
 centre for heating purposes. No one seemed 
 disposed to put on the"mits" with the young 
 man, who exhibited fine physical proportions, and 
 looked a formidable antagonist. .Although I kept 
 shady for some time, I was determined that he 
 should not retire untried. Finally I suggested 
 quietly to one of my comrades to Introduce me for 
 a friendly pass with the redoubtable youngster. 
 As he did so, all eyes were directed towards me, 
 and a great many present treated my acceptance 
 of the defiance as a joke, and laughed good- 
 naturedly, as did also the young athlete himself. 
 The contrast was quite striking between the 
 youthful and blooming giant and the gray-haired 
 and somewhat cadaverous-looking old man. 
 
 My opponent smilingly tossed me the gloves, 
 and we were soon In position. When I stood 
 before my man I had no misgivings, but I sparred 
 cautiously for a while, until I got an opportunity 
 to use my right, causing him to spin to the left. 
 I followed this up a second later and while he 
 
ON LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. 355 
 
 was yet on the move, with a blow from the 
 " kithogue " on his left ear, which sent him crash- 
 ing against the stove before mentioned, and we 
 had a time gathering it up hastily to prevent a 
 fire. There was no disposition on the part of the 
 young fellow to renew the encounter. 
 
 The remainder of the evening passed very 
 pleasantly, and I made a great many new acquain- 
 tances. 
 
 The next day I received five months* pay from 
 Major Clark, being about one-half of the amount 
 due. The other officers were paid also. Major 
 Clark would have given us more but we would 
 not accept it, as we were running a risk in carry- 
 ing even so much, especially those of us who later 
 volunteered to cross the enemy's path again, via 
 Cumberland Gap and Wild Cat Knob, in order to 
 reach Cincinnati. 
 
 On Friday, the 9th, the medical director pro- 
 cured ambulances and had us conveyed to the 
 summit of Lookout mountain, whereon there was 
 then an officers' hospital. The place was well 
 kept, with beautifully laid out grounds, and its sit- 
 uation and the ample supplies in store made it 
 an eminently admirable place for convalescents. 
 The treatment received there also proved highly 
 conducive to the building up of the shattered 
 health of many a gallant veteran. The journey 
 thither was one of almost continuous ascent from 
 Chattanooga to the top of the mountain, axid con- 
 
356 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 seqiiently our progress was slow and somewhat 
 tedious. We arrived about dinner time, and were 
 cordially received and treated in a characteristic 
 soldierly fashion. We enjoyed our dinner and 
 other little attentions, with the relish of those who 
 had lone been denied such luxuries. 
 
 There was another feature connected with the 
 neighborhood that occupied our thoughts in no 
 small degree. We were now looking upon the 
 wild and natural fastness where the famous battle 
 *' above the clouds " was foucrht. As we look out 
 upon this famous battle-ground with the appreci- 
 ative eyes of old soldiers, we feel an involuntary 
 thrill of pride at the wonderful achievement of 
 the Union forces on this memorable occasion. 
 What a galaxy of military genius and chivalry rep- 
 resented our army here ! With such leaders as 
 Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Hooker, Thomas, 
 Geary, Wood, Dodge, Granger, the Smiths, Ew- 
 ing, Carlin, Davis, Palmer, Osterhaus, Howard and 
 Brannon, it is no wonder that those able and 
 trained generals, Bragg and Longstreet, with 
 their gallant army, flushed with their late success 
 at Chickamauga, and occupying as they did a po- 
 sition of vastly superior natural advantages, could 
 not withstand the resistless onslaught of the 
 Union troops. 
 
 Satwday, December \oth, was a wet and dis- 
 agreeable day. Heavy clouds encompassed the 
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GENIAL GERMANS. 359 
 
 below. But everything was pleasant and comfort- 
 able within the hospital, where there was a good 
 table of substantial fare, and clean and warm 
 sleeping accommodation, all furnished for the 
 moderate charge of ^i per day. 
 
 The ward to which we were assiojned was occu- 
 pied chiefly by officers of German birth or descent, 
 and they presented such a picture of happy con- 
 geniality as I have seldom witnessed. They 
 appeared to have to eat everything desirable and 
 palatable to the German taste, and seemingly no 
 stint of the beverage so dear to the heart of the 
 thoroughbred Teuton. Seated on their cots, which 
 were drawn up to form a circle for the occasion, 
 with packs of cards between them, and each with 
 a meerschaum pipe between his lips, making the 
 atmosphere of the ward redolent with smoke, they 
 looked and acted the picture of genuine and com- 
 plete contentment. 
 
 Having incidentally touched upon the subject 
 of the German soldier, I would here say that their 
 proverbial thrift and industry, their admitted 
 soldierly qualities, fraternal Intercourse and loyalty 
 to one another, and their well-established jealousy 
 of any infringement on the laws of liberty and jus- 
 tice, are such as to be, in my opinion, well worthy 
 of emulation. 
 
 We remained up until a late hour in the enter- 
 taining company of these hospitable comrades, 
 who had many war reminiscences to recount 
 
360 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 which were, of course, entirely new to us, on ac- 
 count of our remoteness and complete Isolation 
 while in prison. We, In turn, described to them 
 the luxuries, the pleasures and the hospitalities 
 we uniformly enjoyed while the guests of our 
 friends In the "bright, sunny South." And now 
 we seek our peaceful couches, when the muse. In 
 one of her mistaken freaks, taps on my dull cra- 
 nium, and so I think : 
 
 For hardships and dangers passed, comes a partial reward at last, 
 In our right royal reception at Lookout mountain, 
 
 Where the pure and bracing breeze doth fan the lofty trees, 
 And sparkling falls the water from the fountain. 
 
 With pleasure and with pride we hear of Sheridan's ride 
 From Winchester, twenty miles from his command, 
 
 Whom he found in full retreat, scared and badly beat, 
 But at once he brought them to a royal stand. 
 
 Then bis waving sabre flashes, as through the ranks he dashes, 
 
 While cheers of inspiration rend the plain. 
 He shouts " Right about, my boys, we'll give Early a surprise, 
 
 And send him back far faster than he came." 
 
 When the aides received the word, their horses soon were spurred 
 
 Into the broken ranks, extending left and right, 
 Then to the front and rear they rapidly repair 
 
 With instructions to push into the fight. 
 
 The response is free and fast as they hear the bugles* blast. 
 
 To the charge, in martial notes resounding, 
 Then on the double-quick, through bullets hot and thick, 
 
 Unchecked our gallant troops came fiercely bounding. 
 
 Now Early's whole command here made a stubborn stand, 
 
 But from centre to circumference it was shaken. 
 At last they wheel about, their retreat becomes a rout. 
 
 With five thousand of their number prisoners taken. 
 
A FREAK OF THE MUSE. 36 
 
 Their cannon, too, and rifles, with many lesser trifles, 
 
 They sustained amongst their heavy loss. 
 Some rebels make a plea that Early took a spree, 
 
 But, in truth, the noble Sheridan was his " boss." 
 
 And now we see it plain, how a single man may gain 
 
 A great victory from seeming dire defeat. 
 Among all the shining stars of the votaries of Mara, 
 
 General Sheridan is the hardest yet to beat. 
 
CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Another Perilous Journey — Captain Grant — Almost a Duel — 
 Cincinnati — Home at Last — Christmas, 1864. 
 
 For months prior to the date of our arrival 
 within the Union Hnes, Knoxville and Chatta- 
 nooga had been the rendezvous of escaping pris- 
 oners of war from every rebel prison within a 
 radius of six hundred miles, all of whom made 
 these places their objective points. The majority 
 of them were now anxious to get home ; some to 
 stay there, but more to rejoin their commands at 
 the front as soon as possible. Among the number 
 most anxious to return to the North were Major 
 Clark and his two assistant United States pay- 
 masters ; but how to do so was the absorbing 
 question. 
 
 Generals Thomas and Hood were at this time 
 engaged in a deadly conflict at Nashville, on the 
 line of the railroad over which we would be forced 
 to travel to reach our destination. It was ques- 
 tionable when the line would be open for traffic, 
 and our party had already grown impatient. 
 There remained therefore but one practicable, 
 though exceedingly dangerous, course left to us; 
 
 that was to make the trip overland by way of 
 (362) 
 
A HAZARDOUS TRIP. 363 
 
 Cumberland Gap and Wild Cat Knob, to Cincin- 
 nati, 
 
 This route would involve eight days* marching 
 and being unguarded by our troops for at least a 
 hundred miles, the journey would be attended with 
 considerable risk to so small a party as ours 
 proved to be. This latter fact was owing, in a 
 great measure, to the backwardness of a majority 
 of the men, who had been incarcerated for many 
 weary months in Southern prisons, to incur un- 
 necessary dangers, especially so as they were now 
 in the enjoyment of comparative luxury and 
 among friends. 
 
 None of the six officers with whom I escaped 
 volunteered for this hazardous trip over the Cum- 
 berland mountains, preferring to remain where 
 they were, and bear the ills they had, rather than 
 fly to others they knew not of. 
 
 On Sunday, December nth, after a hearty 
 breakfast, we took leave of our kind comrades at 
 the military hospital on Lookout Mountain, and, 
 accompanied by several other officers, walked 
 leisurely down to the city. The day was fine and 
 the road good, being a gradual descent all the 
 way. We found the exercise very agreeable and 
 exhilarating. Arrived at Chattanooga, we found 
 a telegram, dated Knoxville, from Captain Albert 
 Grant, in which he informed us that he was or- 
 ganizing a determined little force to make the trip 
 above mentioned, and asked us to get all the vol- 
 
364 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 unteers In Chattanooga that we could, and to come 
 to Knoxville immediately. 
 
 We went to work, and by nightfall had quite a 
 respectably sized squad ready for departure next 
 morninof. We found no imorovement in the ac- 
 commodations at the Crutchfield House. When 
 ready to retire, wq were shown to a dormitory as 
 large as a barracks and as cold as an iceberg. 
 The beds were as hard and as flat as gridirons. 
 The covering of each consisted of a sheet and a 
 comfort^ but what a misnomer for that holey and 
 wafer-like article! The furniture In the room 
 consisted of a rickety and three-legged chair, 
 which I fear one of the boys mistook, next morn- 
 ing, for kindling wood. 
 
 We left Chattanooga for Knoxville early Mon- 
 day morning, December 12th, but owing to the 
 bad condition of the railroad caused by continued 
 neglect of repairs, our train was compelled to run 
 very slowly, and we did not arrive at Knoxville 
 until about an hour after night. 
 
 Captain Grant was awaiting us at the depot, 
 and received us very cordially. We were quite 
 well pleased with the genial manner of the viva- 
 cious captain upon this, our first acquaintance. 
 He informed us that w^e could secure quarters at 
 the United States hospital. We accordingly went 
 to the place named, but were not admitted. Our 
 next move, guided by the captain, w^as to the 
 Franklin House, where we were fortunate enough 
 
SIGNING THE VOUCHERS. 365 
 
 to secure ofood accommodations, and where we 
 passed a very pleasant evening In the company 
 of a jovial party of officers, among whom our new 
 commander was acknowledored to be the most 
 jolly. He appeared to be considerably elated at 
 the prospect of commanding an expedition to be 
 composed of so many commissioned officers, many 
 of whom far outranked him. 
 
 The next day, Tuesday, December 13th, was 
 spent In completing all necessary arrangements 
 for our march over the mountains. By night- 
 fall we had procured a supply of cast-off arms 
 and accoutrements, together with some broken- 
 down horses and mules from the quartermaster 
 at Knoxville. This officer, before delivering these 
 supplies, required vouchers In due form from some 
 responsible member of our party, for the safe 
 convoy and proper rendering up of the property 
 to the government upon our arriving at Cincin- 
 nati, or sooner, if practicable. 
 
 Captain Grant, I understood, signed the receipts 
 presented to him, thinking It no doubt a mere for- 
 mality In this case, as the material received was 
 of such a character, being almost valueless, as to 
 lead him to believe that it was of little use to 
 the government or to any one else. When, there- 
 fore, we arrived at the little town of Crab Orchard, 
 in Kentucky, where the good-natured captain de- 
 livered up the property in his charge, he was so 
 pleased with the success of his expedition over 
 
366 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 the wild and rugged mountains that he neglected, 
 thoughtlessly, to secure proper receipts from the 
 quartermaster at Crab Orchard. Like the quarry- 
 man, however, who lost the contractor's crowbar 
 and who on the following pay-day informed a 
 friend that he had found the missing tool, and 
 being asked by that individual, *' where ? " replied, 
 " in the boss's ledger ; " so Captain Grant a 
 short time afterwards found his biof crowbar in 
 Uncle Sam's ledger as a " bar " to his back pay, 
 which, owing to his long imprisonment, amounted 
 to a considerable sum. 
 
 On Wednesday, the 14th, arms, ammunition 
 and accoutrements were issued to us by Com- 
 mander Grant. He also made an assignment of 
 a few of our number to the different positions In 
 the little force. He designated me to take charge 
 of the rear guard. Among the latter I recall the 
 names of a few, as follows : Captain Fuller, Lieu- 
 tenants Thornburg, Conn, Good, Coleman, Ap- 
 plegate and Tinker; Sergeants Gordon and 
 Crow ; Privates Carlisle, Sells, Westfall, Bowers, 
 Nelson, Munnell, Darcey and Monlan ; and citizen 
 Davis. 
 
 The first-named officer, Captain Fuller, of the 
 West Virginia State Militia, together with Private 
 Darcey above mentioned, and two other comrades, 
 while away from their command on a scouting 
 expedition, were captured by four rebel raiders. 
 The captain related, and his story was fully cor- 
 
THE TABLES TURNED. 367 
 
 /oborated by Private Darcey, that while being 
 marched to prison through the mountains of North 
 CaroHna, the party called a halt one day about 
 dusk, at a deserted cabin on the summit of the 
 mountain ; they made a fire, cooked their food, 
 and soon after lay down and fell asleep, the 
 Confederates foolishly neglecting to guard their 
 prisoners. Captain Fuller, however, remained 
 wide awake and, at the proper time, gently awak- 
 ened his comrades, and whispered to them to se- 
 cure the guns of their escorts. This they quietly 
 did and at last, when the " Johnnies " awoke and 
 rubbed their eyes, they found themselves the 
 victims of a bold Yankee trick. 
 
 Captain Fuller now told his ex-captors that his 
 and his comrades ' safety demanded that they be 
 summarily disposed of. This announcement 
 scared them badly and they begged piteously to 
 be allowed to go unharmed, promising to take 
 any obligation required to not make any alarm, 
 or attempt their recapture. As a matter of fact, 
 there was little chance of their beino- able to do 
 so in the wild and Isolated region in which they 
 were. After administerinof most solemn obli^a- 
 tions to each, and taking the guns and side-arms 
 of the crest-fallen " Johnnies, " Fuller and his 
 party departed and made good their escape to 
 Knoxville. 
 
 As we rode out of Knoxville at ten o'clock a. 
 
 M. we presented a rather motley and Incongruous 
 23 
 
368 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 appearance in our variegated uniforms and with 
 our rusty firearms, and astride of animals in all 
 stages of disease and decrepitude. Military dis- 
 tinctions in our party were, in a great measure, 
 lost sight of during the period of our journey. 
 The major and the sergeant, the colonel and the 
 corporal, rode familiarly side by side on terms of 
 the greatest intimacy, sharing each other's burdens 
 and privations with true brotherly solicitude. 
 
 It required no little courage to face such a road 
 as we now had before us, of about two hundred 
 miles in length, and through an almost unbroken 
 wilderness. 
 
 About an hour after starting one of our team 
 mules lay down with the proverbial deliberation 
 of his species, and no amount of coaxing and 
 beating judiciously divided availed to bring him 
 out of the mire. With some further effort he 
 was released from his harness and extricated from 
 the mud, and replaced in the wagon by one of 
 the pack mules, and we moved ahead again. 
 
 Throughout our journey, whenever any of the 
 teams would stall, or get into particularly bad 
 places, which, as may be surmised, was quite 
 often, our men would cheerfully place their 
 shoulders to the wheels, and so keep the tired 
 animals up. By these means, together with the 
 good care taken of the stock, we were enabled 
 to make surprisingly good headway. 
 
 Being busy attending to the duties assigned to 
 
IN THE enemy's COUNTRY. 369 
 
 me, on this difficult trip, I here quit my diary en- 
 tries for good until I rejoin my company before 
 Richmond. 
 
 I believe it was on the eve of our first day's 
 march that we came to a rapid stream, the de- 
 scent to which was steep and winding. The oppo- 
 site side was high and closely wooded to the 
 water's edge ; a most favorable time and place 
 for the enemy to attack us would be here, while 
 we were fording this river. It was getting dark 
 as we approached the stream, and we could dis- 
 cern several flickering lights in the woods in our 
 front and on the opposite side of the current. 
 Our advance checked up long enough to enable 
 us to get into more compact shape, and for a 
 brief consultation among the officers. 
 
 It was decided to feel for the enemy, or to 
 awaken him if found where the lights indicated. 
 To this end se\^eral well-aimed shots were fired 
 in that direction, without awakening any response. 
 We then took to the river, which proved barely 
 fordable, passed over safely without molestation, 
 and encamped for the night on a level space about 
 a half mile beyond the river, where we picketed 
 our animals and disposed of the wagons in such 
 a manner as to afford us the best protection in 
 the event of an attack. 
 
 We also had guards properly placed around the 
 camp with a schedule of reliefs, and used every 
 precaution to guard against a surprise. The 
 
370 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 presence In our midst of three United States 
 paymasters made us more watchful than we other- 
 wise might have been, knowing that the enemy, 
 if aware of their proximity, would naturally be 
 greatly interested in the capture of such a booty 
 as these gentlemen might reasonably be supposed 
 to have in their possession. Happily this night 
 of our greatest apprehension passed without in- 
 terruption. Our trip, aside from its dreary tedious- 
 ness, was devoid of any particular interest as re- 
 gards incidents, if I except the following humorous 
 episode, though at one time it promised to be tragic 
 in its character. 
 
 In the organization of our somewhat diversified 
 band, in which the colonel or the major was 
 liable to be called upon occasionally to perform 
 the duties ordinarily appertaining to the private, 
 it was not to be expected that a very strict system 
 of discipline could be maintained, although, as a 
 rule, rank and grade were temporarily waived in 
 passive submission to the gentleman who had as- 
 sumed command. The one exception to this ar- 
 rangement was Captain Todd, a small, vivacious 
 young fellow, full of life and spirits, and possessed 
 of considerable good nature, though at times a 
 trifle headstrong. When passing a small settle- 
 ment in the mountains, the houses of which pre- 
 sented the external appearance of possessing 
 some home comforts, Todd and one or two com- 
 rades made an incursion in the direction of the 
 
A DUEL IMPENDING. 37 1 
 
 abodes and confiscated, as contraband of war, 
 whatever articles caught their fancy, and v/ere 
 easily portable. When these acts of pillage came 
 to the ears of Commander Grant, he became 
 virtuously indignant at such a flagrant breach of 
 discipline, and forthwith he sought out the doughty 
 little captain and severely reprimanded him for 
 his offence. 
 
 Todd was on his dignity in a moment, and re- 
 torted to the censure in terms anything but com- 
 plimentary to the dignity of a commander who, 
 as in this case, was honored with the control of as 
 many commissioned officers as a brigadier-gen- 
 eral. Crimination and recrimination were hurled 
 at each other by the thoroughly infuriated officers, 
 who were already grasping the hilts of their rusty 
 swords. At this critical juncture several officers 
 interposed, and a truce was called. So ended for 
 that day what appeared to be a near approach to 
 a bloody encounter. That night when the two 
 belligerents sought their couches it was only to 
 brood over their respective grievances of insult 
 and injured dignity, which grew larger the more 
 they were thought of, until by morning both 
 gendemen were in a state bordering on frenzy. 
 As a result, a challenge passed between the two 
 officers as soon as day permitted the hostile inter- 
 change. As to which of them issued the san- 
 guinary document I am.not prepared to say, but 
 I believe it was Captain Todd. 
 
372 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 By this time the entire command had become 
 apprised of what was transpiring. The majority 
 of us looked upon the matter as a huge joke, but 
 all were prepared to prevent if necessary any such 
 foolish passage-at-arms. The humorists of our 
 party derived a great deal of enjoyment from 
 several interviews obtained under the guise of 
 deeply concerned friendship with the challenged 
 party, who had, under the rules of the code, the 
 choice of weapons. He was asked what weapon 
 he preferred ; if he named a revolver, one of the 
 jokers would interpose, and with great serious- 
 ness inform the duellist that his opponent was a 
 dead-shot If the sword was mentioned, another 
 friend would volunteer the information that with 
 that w^eapon the challenger was invincible, and so 
 on all through the list. Another objection to 
 such a method of settling their grievances, and 
 one that appeared to have been momentarily lost 
 siorht of, was that one of the articles of war in the 
 book of army regulations expressly prohibited, 
 under a severe penalty, any resort by officers to 
 the code of honor. 
 
 I cannot say which of the points raised as a bar 
 to bloodshed had the most potential effect, but I 
 am safe in stating that, after this latter intimation, 
 our peaceful interpositions were not so strongly 
 resisted by either of the valiant gentlemen. For 
 two or three days following the issuing of the 
 challenge the dying embers of the hostile blaz^ 
 
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. 373 
 
 would flicker up again, but at last it died out com- 
 pletely in boyish forgetfulness, leaving but slight 
 traces of this amusing interlude to an otherwise 
 weary journey over the worst road in all crea- 
 tion. 
 
 We found a detachment of our troops at Cum- 
 berland Gap, and enjoyed in consequence more 
 repose and creature comforts there than at any 
 place since leaving Knoxvllle. Cumberland Gap 
 is a natural stronghold ; wild, rocky, and precipi- 
 tous to such a degree as would enable a small 
 body of troops to withstand an army. Henceforth 
 to the end of our journey travelling was safe and 
 pleasant, and nothing occurred during the re- 
 mainder of the trip worthy of mention. 
 
 Our minds were now alike concentrated on the 
 sweet thoughts of home and friends, and when 
 •we reached the first railroad station a partial 
 separation among the members of our band took 
 place, and at Cincinnati a complete breaking up 
 of the party. So far as I am concerned it was 
 almost ^a final one, having seen but one of our 
 entire number since, and that was Captain Grant, 
 whom I met some years later in the city of Wash- 
 ington, he still being in trouble with the govern- 
 ment authorities regarding his non-accounting 
 for the stores furnished him for our expedition. 
 
 When I arrived in Cincinnati about the first 
 thing I did was to telegraph my wife that, God 
 permitting, I would see her in three days from 
 
374 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK, 
 
 date of message, which would be Christmas, 1 864. 
 I was at home according to promise. My unex- 
 pected return and gaunt and pallid appearance 
 looked so much like a resurrection of the dead 
 that some of my friends, and, indeed, one of my 
 family — my eldest son — questioned my identity. 
 Of course this state of affairs was merely mo- 
 mentary, and soon we were gathered around the 
 festal board, laden with a bounteous Christmas 
 dinner, which, as may be surmised, we discussed 
 with joyful hearts and good appetites. 
 
CHAPTER XL. 
 
 Leaving Home — Chapin's Farm — A Foot-Race for a Paper Col- 
 lar — Hatcher's Run — On to Petersburg — Storming of Forts 
 Gregg and Whitworth — Tribute to General Harris — Escape 
 OF THE Enemy. 
 
 After a long and painful absence, covering a 
 period into which were crowded incidents of such 
 character and number as do not fall to the lot of 
 most men, I am at last at home in the bosom of 
 my little family and surrounded by kind friends, 
 all glad to have me with them again and anxious 
 that I should remain. Having "exchanged" my- 
 self by running away from prison, there was 
 nothing to prevent my remaining quietly at home, 
 watching events until all the danger was over, and 
 then, reporting to the proper authorities, rejoin 
 my company at the close of the war. 
 
 But, as before stated, my strongest incentive 
 to undertake the many hardships connected 
 with my escape from the South was not so 
 much the thoughts of the endearments of home 
 as the hope of rejoining my command at Chapin's 
 Farm, before Richmond. This I did ten days 
 prior to the expiration of my leave of absence of 
 one month granted by the Secretary of War to all 
 escaped prisoners, and this fact should be accepted 
 
 (375) 
 
376 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 as sufficient evidence of my unaltered determina- 
 tion to do my full duty to the end. 
 
 About the middle of February I again parted 
 from my family and started for the front. I could 
 not help feeling that my chances of returning 
 were very slight indeed. It was easy to perceive 
 and natural to expect that, as the struggle ap- 
 proached its final and conclusive blow, the conflict 
 would be continuous, fierce, desperate, and much 
 circumscribed In its scope, and for all these 
 reasons doubly dangerous to the participants of 
 both armies. 
 
 As a member of a skirmishing company I ex- 
 pected to occupy an active and adv^anced position 
 in the front, where, if there was any work to be 
 done, we were sure of being among the first 
 called upon to assist in its performance. 
 
 Filled with these thoughts, I prepared a day or 
 so before my departure a few lines of farewell to 
 my wife and family, with instructions that the seal 
 be not broken except in the event of my death. 
 This letter, of course, has never yet been opened, 
 and still remains among my papers. 
 
 When passing through Washington, D. C, on 
 my way to rejoin my company, then with the 
 Army of the James, I neglected to call upon 
 "Honest Abe," our martyred President, with 
 whom, as Is well known, the humblest soldier In 
 the land was always sure of securing an audience 
 and a coi-dlal welcome. Had I Imagined that I 
 
BACK TO MY COMMAND. 377 
 
 should never again have that honored privilege I 
 assure the reader I would not have overlooked it 
 then. 
 
 The Army of the James, Major-General E. O. 
 C. Ord commanding, was encamped on the plains 
 at Chapin's Farm, confronting Richmond. A few 
 days after my arrival there, on the 1 7th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1865, the I St Division of the Army of West 
 Virginia, embracing the loth, nth, 12th, and 15th 
 West Virginia Infantry Regiments, was incor- 
 porated Into the 24th Army Corps, Major-General 
 John Gibbon commanding. Our regiments formed 
 the 3d Division of this corps, commanded by 
 Brevet Major-General John W. Turner; the ist 
 Brigade of this Division was composed of the 
 loth, nth, and 15th Regiments, under command 
 of Brigadier-General (later Brevet Major-General) 
 Thomas M. Harris; while the 12th Regiment was 
 incorporated In the 3d Brigade, under command 
 of Colonel William B. Curtis, of the 12th. 
 
 All of the boys of the company appeared glad 
 to see me after our lonor and somewhat event- 
 ful separation. I found them, on my return, well 
 seasoned veterans, with a record made durlno- 
 my absence that was a source of pride to both 
 the men and their captain. 
 
 Wherever and whenever there "are large bodies 
 of troops encamped for any considerable period, 
 as was the case here at Chapin's Farm, at the time 
 of which I write, there will often occur laugh- 
 
378 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 able Incidents, originating In the wild exuberance 
 of some of the younger men, seeking a means of 
 whiling away the tedium of camp-life. One of 
 these litde episodes took place shortly after my 
 return to my company, which has often since 
 been laughingly recalled to my mind by many of 
 the men who participated in the mirth-provoking 
 race. 
 
 The line officers not having much to do, were 
 wont to devote a goodly portion of their time to 
 the self-pleasing task of adorning their persons 
 as becomingly as was possible under the circum- 
 stances. It was about this time that "paper 
 collars " appeared on the market, and when the 
 officers found these little articles in the list of the 
 sutler's supplies, they eagerly purchased his en- 
 tire stock, and lost no time in arraying themselves 
 in their best uniforms and adorning themselves 
 witli one of these immaculate delusions. 
 
 When I found all my brother officers thus ap- 
 parelled, I too followed the general lead, rather 
 than appear odd. These innovations, however, 
 were looked upon with high disfavor by the rank 
 and file, and so, shortly after the appearance of 
 the delusive parchment choker, the men instituted 
 a regular and determined raid upon the obnoxious 
 collar, and soon countless bits of white paper 
 could be found strewn about the camp in all 
 directions, remnants of the shattered pride of the 
 officers. 
 
RACING FOR A PAPER COLLAR. 379 
 
 One day, during the progress of this crusade of 
 extermination, I was sitting In my little " quarters " 
 engaged In some writing and arrayed in one of 
 the hated little neck-bands, when my attention 
 was attracted, by a mighty shout in my immediate 
 neighborhood, to a large crowd of men approach- 
 ing in the direction of my quarters. I soon learned 
 of their object, and immediately became resolved 
 for fun. 
 
 Jumping up, I loosened the breast buttons of 
 my jacket, and as the foremost despoiler appeared 
 at the entrance to my tent I made a rush in his 
 direction, like a headstrong pig, but, stooping 
 under his arms, I escaped his clutches. Once 
 outside in the open ground I straightened up and 
 started away from my determined pursuers over 
 a field as level as possible, and of hundreds of 
 acres in extent. 
 
 It is difficult to imagine a more exciting chase 
 than now took place. At first the large number 
 of my pursuers was appreciably augmented by 
 fresh recruits, but soon the crowd dwindled down 
 and the contest remained only to the best and more 
 determined runners. These often and often 
 succeeded in putting their hands on me for an 
 instant, but by an active turn or sudden twist I 
 threw them off and sped away. One by one the 
 men abandoned the chase until I was free to 
 rest, and finally to return to camp, where I found 
 a great crowd awaiting me, of whom I requested 
 
380 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 the honor of being permitted to wear the collar 
 of which they had failed to divest me. I am 
 pleased to be able to state that my request was 
 cheerfully granted, and I was ever afterwards un- 
 molested in the exercise of my right to wear the 
 article in question. 
 
 The next move of any importance of our divi- 
 sion was on the 26th of March, 1865, when we 
 were ordered to Long Bridge, on the Chicka- 
 hominy. The place of our encampment had been 
 at New Market, whither we had gone a few days 
 before to aid General Sheridan to effect a cross- 
 ing of that stream on his way from the White 
 House to the south side of James river; but on 
 our arrival at the designated point we found that 
 General Sheridan had already effected a crossing 
 several miles below. The division then returned 
 to New Market, where it received orders to pro- 
 ceed at once to the left of our line at Hatcher's 
 Run, to co-operate in the general movement 
 against the enemy. 
 
 The 1st Brigade, loth, nth, and 15th Regi- 
 ments West Virginia Infantry, under command 
 of General T. M. Harris, was the first to strike 
 the enemy's lines at an angle where two of his 
 forts were concentrated near Petersburg. In ap- 
 proaching these outer forts Companies A and 
 B of the 15th Regiment, Captain Dovenner in 
 charge of the former, and the writer of the latter 
 company, were ordered by General Harris to ad- 
 
AT THE VERY FRONT. 38 1 
 
 > 
 
 vance as skirmishers, which we at once did, driving 
 in the enemy's outer posts. 
 
 In marching in advance here we passed the 
 late encampment of a portion of the enemy re- 
 cently engaged in the conflict with our farces. 
 The scene that presented itself was a horrible one 
 to look upon. The ground was cut up in many 
 places by newly made graves, sticking up from a 
 number of which could be seen the ghasdy heads 
 of the hastily and imperfecdy buried soldiers. 
 The woods and ground for a good distance sur- 
 rounding the late rebel camp were also badly 
 shattered and cut up by our shot and shell. I 
 was afraid the awful spectacle would have a dam- 
 pening effect upon the ardor of our boys now 
 going in, who were expected to give a good ac- 
 count of themselves. The sight had no apparent 
 bad effect, however, and they performed their 
 duty, as usual, without faltering. We kept 
 steadly on In front of these forts, compelling the 
 enemy to fall back to his trenches. 
 
 Being now as far as we could go without making 
 reo-ular targets of ourselves for the enemy's 
 sharpshooters, protected behind his breastworks, 
 I halted my company, and ordered the men to lie 
 down. We found ourselves In an open field at 
 the time I gave this order, without the slightest 
 protection of any kind, even while lying prostrate 
 on the ground, and a number of my men were 
 badly w^ounded while thus exposed. Fearing a 
 
382 THE FLYING, GKAY-H AIRED YANK. 
 
 sudden approach of the enemy from an unex- 
 pected quarter, and In order to see perfectly all 
 that was going on in front of and behind us, I 
 remained standing and in consequence had 
 several narrow escapes. For a short time, while 
 in this exposed situation, I had the slight pro- 
 tection of an Isolated sapling of about seven 
 inches In diameter, and probably fifteen feet in 
 height. Such as it was, it undoubtedly saved 
 my life from a bullet which otherwise would have 
 taken me full in the breast. 
 
 During this day my clothing was cut in five 
 different places, and one of my boots became 
 pretty well filled with blood from a flesh-wound 
 in the calf of my left leg, which, though painful, was 
 not serious enough to cause me to discontinue 
 the usual performance of my duty. We were 
 doing no practical good in our present open situ- 
 ation ; we had complied, as far as I understood 
 them, with our instructions, which were to ad- 
 vance, feel for, and locate the enemy ; and now to 
 remain longer in the position we then occupied 
 would, I calmly believed, be more censurable 
 than praiseworthy. I therefore ordered my com- 
 pany to fall back. 
 
 I may have been influenced in making this 
 move as soon as I did by the entreaties of one 
 of my men, who called my attention to the fact 
 that we were under a cross-fire, and urged that I 
 ouorht to order a retreat. We fell back to the 
 
BEFORE THE SHARPSHOOTERS. ^S^ 
 
 main body, which soon after moved forward in 
 grand line of battle confronting the two forts, 
 which now opened fire upon us with grape. It 
 was in this movement that I received the wound 
 in my leg referred to above. 
 
 On reaching a low ground not far from the 
 most troublesome of the two forts our brigade 
 halted. We were directed to keep up a sharp 
 fire upon the enemy whenever he showed his 
 head over his breastworks. By this means we 
 checked his destructive fire very materially, and 
 were enabled to hold our position without much 
 trouble or serious loss. About this time we re- 
 ceived orders from our general to be more spar- 
 ing of our ammunition. Being senior officer on 
 the line, I complied with the instructions by order- 
 ing the skirmishers to slacken fire ; but I soon 
 found that to continue inactive must be at the 
 expense of the lives of my men, as they now com- 
 menced to fall all around me, being picked off in 
 safety by the enemy's sharpshooters. So, think- 
 ing it better to save lives than powder and lead, 
 we renew^ed our practice to the extent previously 
 Indulged in, with an immediate good effect ; but 
 now General Turner rode out to where we were, 
 and in an angry tone ordered us to cease firing 
 altogether. His orders were repeated and 
 obeyed, but the moment they were so a perfect 
 fusillade of shot poured into us, giving the gen- 
 eral a better understanding of our position. 
 24 
 
384 THE FLYING, GRAY- HAIRED YANK. 
 
 I do not know how he escaped the shower of 
 leaden hail which fell thick and last around hlwi. 
 On his perilous retreat back to the main bo'ly 
 he called out to us to keep up a slow fire, but to 
 husband our ammunition. We did 50, and per- 
 formed some nice sharpshooting on our pa-t, 
 for the remainder of the afternoon, when we fell 
 back, under orders, on the main body. This pi ;> 
 liminary engagement occurred on the ist ot 
 April, 1865, and during the night of that date we 
 enjoyed but little repose, being under arms a.i 
 night. 
 
 The death-like sdllness that reigned during 
 the early hours of the night gave no intimation 
 of the stern work about to be inaugurated on 
 the morrow. It was the calm, however, that pre- 
 cedes the storm. To many a hero whose thoughts, 
 doubtless, were on a smiling home and fond 
 friends, if in this immediate and mighty conflict 
 he might be spared to see the one and grasp the 
 warm hand of the other, it proved a last night 
 before the orreat dawn of the resurrection. Many 
 of these brave boys, whose patriotism predomi- 
 nated over every other feeling, were seen by us 
 on the following day to gallandy and unselfishly 
 mount the breach unbidden, and to face the steei 
 of a desperate foe at least five dmes their num- 
 ber.* 
 
 * The heroes of the storming of Fort Gregg. 
 
THE LAST STRUGGLE. 385 
 
 About two or three o'clock in the morning of 
 April 2, 1865, there burst upon the ears of the 
 armed mass of expectant listeners such a thun- 
 derous sound of Bellona's pent-up resources as 
 never before or since reached the eager hearing 
 of her chivalrous votaries. A simultaneous ad- 
 vance on the enemy's works throughout the 
 length of the whole line extending several miles 
 was now inauofu rated. 
 
 All of the many appliances of modern war- 
 fare, from the great siege-gun and other monster 
 cannon down to the death-dealing Gading gun; 
 the sixteen-shoodng breach-loading rifle, carbines, 
 muskets, and even six-shooting navy revolvers, 
 were here brouo^ht into combined and terrible 
 requlsluon by the determined and frenzied forces 
 of the two great contending armies engaged in 
 the last supreme struggle of a long and bitter war. 
 
 This \w2is indeed a moment to " try men's 
 souls," and many of the participants in the awful 
 event never recovered from the nerve-shattering 
 ordeal. One very stout-looking soldier named 
 Reese, a private of Company G, of our regiment, 
 became a raving maniac on the instant, from the 
 great and unexpected shock to his nervous 
 system caused by the tremendous and sudden 
 roar of cannon and outpour of musketry on that 
 memorable morning. In his wild ravings he con- 
 tinued to cry out, as he walked aimlessly up and 
 down near me : 
 
386 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 " Put up your sword; put up your sword; let 
 us shed no more blood ; the war is over, the war 
 is over." 
 
 For some time after the thunderous opening 
 of hostihties by the, cannon from the batteries on 
 our right and left we were compelled to stand in- 
 active, awaiting the break of day before moving 
 on the forts In our front, one of which lay on the 
 opposite side of Hatcher's Run ; the other pro- 
 tected by deep and wide trenches which sur- 
 rounded it, and which the enemy had flooded with 
 water to further impede our entrance. 
 
 When the faint dawning of day gave us light to 
 see our way, *' Forward March " was given. It 
 was a general move all along the line, and it was 
 grimly understood by every one that earnest 
 business and no faltering was now to be the pro- 
 gramme. We w^ere not to be denied admittance 
 to their inner circle much longer, and so, when 
 we came to the water, which was intended to 
 check our aggressive advance, we tarried not on 
 the brink of that Rubicon to think, but plunged 
 right in, and the trees and debris which the enemy 
 had cut down and thrown into the water, and 
 which were now floating there, designed as an- 
 other obstruction to our advance, proved rather 
 a benefit instead, affording us as they did a chance 
 to get from one fallen tree to another, and by 
 holdinof to the limbs a number of the foremost 
 men scrambled across without getting wet. 
 
STORMING A FORT. 387 
 
 While making- this difficult crossing our com- 
 rades on dry ground in our rear diverted the fire 
 of the enemy within the fort from us considerably. 
 The first over did not even wait to be reinforced 
 by those immediately following them, but went at 
 once directly to the fort. This little band was 
 very much scattered and entirely exposed to the 
 fire of the enemy, who had us under such close 
 range that a plucky resistance on his part must 
 have inevitably caused great havoc amongst us. 
 As it was, however, they became panic-stricken, 
 and threw away every impediment to their very 
 expeditious flight. 
 
 While thus eno-aored I had not much chance to 
 take notice of what was o^oinof on at the fort next 
 and to the right of us ; but it was carried at the 
 same time and in much the same manner as was 
 ours. In both of these forts there were large 
 numbers of men and much war material cap- 
 tured. 
 
 After the successful taking of these works our 
 scattered command formed in proper shape and 
 in line of battle, and soon moved forward in grand 
 array, facing the three last and greatest works of 
 the enemy at Petersburg, Virginia, viz., Forts 
 ^^^§^^» Whitworth, and May. These forts were 
 nearest our extreme front, in the order named. 
 From our point of approach the forts formed an 
 imperfect triangle ; Forts Gregg and Whitworth 
 were, if on a direct line, about two hundred yards 
 
388 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 apart, but the latter retired about fifty yards from 
 the former, while Fort May, the last and greatest 
 of these forts, was about six hundred or seven 
 hundred yards to the rear, and in about the centre 
 of the other two forts. 
 
 Before making the assault on the two nearest 
 forts we were halted for the purpose of making a 
 reconnoissance. While thus halted we were 
 within easy range of the enemy's sharpshooters, 
 who commenced making it decidedly unpleasant 
 for us. Soon we noticed, on a gently elevated 
 plateau to our right, a splendid troop of hand- 
 somely equipped and richly caparisoned horsemen 
 cantering briskly forward in a diagonal direction 
 to the front. It was a thrilling, and, in a soldier's 
 eye, an admirable sight to see such " shining 
 lights " thus expose themselves to the discretion- 
 ary action of the enemy, who, had he been so dis- 
 posed, could have annihilated the larger portion 
 of that distinguished party. This was General 
 Grant and his staff making a personal observation 
 of the field before us. After an apparently satis- 
 factory inspection the general and his party rode 
 leisurely back to the point whence they came. 
 
 This calm and dignified exhibition of intrepidity 
 was well calculated to engender a great respect 
 and pride in the minds of the men for such brave 
 leaders. At the time of this action of General 
 Grant's there was nothing to prevent the concen- 
 tration of the enemy's fire from the three forts 
 
GENERAL GKANT AT THE FRONT 389 
 
 upon him and his conspicuous party. Why the 
 enemy did not do so may be food for reflection. 
 It was, indeed, an unexpected and deferential act 
 of courtesy, which justly earned the reciprocal 
 kindness extended one week later at Appo- 
 mattox. 
 
 Soon after General Grant and his staff fell back 
 the 3d Division of the 24th Corps, under the com- 
 mand of Brevet Major-General John W. Turner, 
 was ordered to advance on the two forts in front 
 of us. The loth, 1 1 th, and 1 5th Regiments, West 
 Virginia Infantry, constituted the ist Brigade of 
 this division, and was under the command of 
 Brevet Major-General Thomas M. Harris. 
 
 In advancing, the ist and 3d Brigades had a 
 fort each to encounter; the ist on the left and 
 confronting Fort Whitworth, the 3d Brigade on 
 the right in front of Fort Gregg. In moving on 
 a right line the 3d Brigade became engaged first, 
 as Fort Gregg was, as I have before stated, the 
 most advanced in position. As we neared these 
 works the enemy's fire therefrom became very 
 fierce and destructive, and the two brigades halted 
 at nearly the same time and lay down. 
 
 At the time of lying down I found myself, with 
 two men of Company K of our regiment, a few 
 yards in advance of the remainder of the troops 
 of our brigade ; these two boys kept steadily on 
 at their work of loading and firing at the heads of 
 the enemy whenever he exposed himself to fire at 
 
390 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 US. I assisted by biting cartridges for them ready 
 to ram home, and, while thus employed, a bullet 
 passed through my left sleeve at my wrist, and 
 came out at the elbow; on glancing involuntarily 
 behind me after this narrow escape I saw two men 
 lying dead, one across the other, the uppermost 
 having just received a bullet in the centre of his 
 forehead. Whether or not this bullet was the one 
 that first passed through my sleeve I can only 
 surmise. 
 
 In our advanced position I had a distinct view 
 of what was transpiring on our right at Fort 
 Gregg, and never have I witnessed anything to 
 compare with that bloody struggle for its posses- 
 sion on the one side and retention on the other. 
 While gazing at this desperate hand-to-hand en- 
 counter going on upon its ramparts I lost all 
 thoughts of personal danger under the excitement 
 of the moment, and lay spell-bound, waiting the 
 final issue of the struggle. A few of the men of 
 the 3d Brigade nearest Fort Gregg were seen to 
 make a sudden break and climb the breastworks 
 of the rebel stronghold, only to be immediately 
 bayoneted by its reckless defenders. Another he- 
 roic band, bearing the Stars and Stripes, instantly 
 followed, and a moment later proudly planted the 
 beautiful banner high on the rebel ramparts. I 
 cheered immediately, and the shout was taken up 
 and repeated by comrades all around me; but, 
 alas ! our joy was but momentary ; a second 
 
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IIAND-TO-HAND WORK. 391 
 
 later the Union flag, together with its noble de- 
 fenders, fell, and in its place stood the Bars and 
 
 Stars. 
 
 And now, unbidden, another handful of men 
 scaled the fort, and once more the rebel insignia 
 is hauled down and our colors again float triumph- 
 andy in the blood-charged breeze. And so the 
 flags alternated, carrying with them in their rise 
 and fall the hopes and fears of the thousands of 
 overwroucrht onlookers; but at last the- officer in 
 charge of this gallant brigade gave the word to 
 charge, and in they went, with an irresistible rush, 
 maddened at the slaughter of their late comrades, 
 and determined to avenge their deaths. That 
 onslaught could not be checked, and though the 
 reckless rebels fought to the bitter end the strug- 
 gle was soon over. 
 
 At the same time that the general advance was 
 ordered on Fort Gregg, General Harris gave the 
 word to charge on Fort Whitworth. This latter 
 fort was the larger one and had more than twice 
 the number defending it. General Harris did 
 not say " Go," but " Come, boys," and was the first 
 to shoot ahead himself. I had no idea, at that 
 time, that he was such a runner as he proved to 
 be. I considered myself, in those days, a fair 
 athlete, but in the race to this fort I could not get 
 one foot ahead of our gallant general. We both 
 got into the rebel works at about the same time, 
 and in close company with a few of our fleetest 
 
392 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 men. I went in bareheaded, losing my hat by a 
 missile from Fort May directed at us to cover the 
 retreat of about half of the rebel defenders of 
 Fort Whitworth. We found upon our entrance 
 the remaining half, with one exception, submissive 
 captives ; this latter was the youngest member 
 of the crowd, and he was the last to quit shooting 
 at us. Even after he had been disarmed, he kept 
 shaking his little fist defiantly in our faces, and 
 offerinor to fio^ht all the Yankees in the field, 
 sinele-handed and alone. 
 
 In passing I wish to state, without attempting 
 to make invidious comparisons, that In every 
 action directed by General Harris, of which I 
 have any knowledge, I became more and more 
 impressed with his cool and accurate judgment, 
 his pronounced ability and undoubted courage. 
 Whenever he moved he did so at the opportune 
 moment, and then his movements were rapid and 
 decisive, doing the work assigned him nobly and 
 with a savinor of life at once commendable and In 
 perfect keeping with the spirit of true military 
 ethics. 
 
 All of the rebel works but one. Fort May, were 
 now carried ; but after the severe fighting of the 
 previous two days a cessation of hostilities, ap- 
 parently by mutual consent, succeeded, and we 
 had time to look about us, and take a view of the 
 havoc done in the recent struggle. I can compare 
 the appearance of Fort Gregg to nothing but a 
 
FRIGHTFUL CARNAGE. 393 
 
 slaughter-pen. The blue and the gray were there 
 promiscuously heaped together. Their kindred 
 blood commingling presented a sight that could 
 not fail to impress one indelibly with the horrors 
 of a civil war. 
 
 I was informed that the defenders of Fort Gregg 
 were sons of the Green Isle, which fact I can 
 readily believe from their stubborn resistance to 
 our troops. Among those found therein wearing 
 the blood-stained blue I recognized some of the 
 23d Illinois, the remnant of Mulligan's Irish 
 Brigade. One of the latter, named Dwyer, with 
 whom I had been talking only a short time before 
 he went in, was found among the slain. I ques- 
 tion if half a dozen of the defenders of the fort 
 survived its capture. 
 
 Late in the afternoon General Grant again 
 made his appearance at the front. 
 
 Now he had Lee, with all of his command, en- 
 compassed within that little spot at Petersburg 
 comprising Fort May. I thought this must be 
 the " last ditch," as with our superior force we 
 could easily keep him there, until our large avail- 
 able supply of artillery was trained upon him, 
 when, in my opinion, he could be brought to un- 
 conditional terms. 
 
 Apart from my own circumscribed vision and 
 meagre sources of information I do not know 
 what disposition was made of our forces on the 
 night of the 2d of April. I was awake and on 
 
394 "^^^ FLYING, GRAY- HATRED YANK. 
 
 duty all of the night, and, as far as I could learn, 
 was nearest to the enemy's works ; sufficiently 
 near, at all events, to plainly hear the moving of 
 , wagons and see the flickering of innumerable 
 lights flitting back and forth through the rebel 
 camp, presenting unmistakable signs of an evacu- 
 ation. I lost no time in reporting my observations 
 and conclusions to my immediate commander. 
 
 All night long these evidences of flight con- 
 tinued, and when daylight came it revealed the 
 mortifying fact that General Lee and his entire 
 command had quietly decamped. 
 
CHAPTER XLI. 
 
 Pursuit of Lee — General Ord's Kindness — An Ideal Soldier — 
 His Bloody Boots — Appomattox — General Sheridan — Capture 
 OF the Last Battery — My Trophy of the Last Ditch — Sur- 
 render OF Lee — Return to Richmond — Mustered Out. 
 
 After breakfast and other preliminaries, we 
 started after the Hght-footed enemy. 
 
 During our week's pursuit of Lee nothing 
 worthy of special mention transpired until we 
 arrived in the neighborhood of Rice's Station, 
 Prince Edward county, Virginia, where we suc- 
 ceeded in getting into such close quarters with 
 the enemy that he offered a vigorous objection by 
 opening a brisk fire upon our advance. The 
 rebel fire was so obstinate that our heavy line 
 of skirmishers was held in check, and the re- 
 peated and loud commands of General Harris to 
 the skirmishers to advance were unavailine. The 
 general, losing patience, came to me and asked 
 how many men I had. When I had told him, he 
 ordered me to advance with them and take charge 
 of the skirmish line in our front. 
 
 I prepared to obey, and just at the time that 
 my men were in proper alignment and ready to 
 move forward, an officer, splendidly mounted and 
 accompanied by a staff of fine military appear- 
 
 (395) 
 
3q6 the flying, gray-haired yank. 
 
 ance, rode up to where we were. Although the 
 gentleman had not seen me during the previous 
 eight or nine months, I was flattered to find that 
 he recognized me, as he held out his hand and 
 grasped mine. This was the gallant General 
 George Crook, whom I had long revered. 
 
 The esteem of such men as Generals Crook 
 and Harris should, to a certain extent, make even 
 cowardly men brave, and we now felt very proud 
 as we moved off in nice order and took charge 
 of the skirmish line which afterwards did its work 
 handsomely, pressing the enemy back until the 
 shadows of night secured to both sides a tempo- 
 rary respite. Even after nightfall we advanced 
 some little distance farther and straightened and 
 strengthened our lines. At early dawn next morn- 
 ing we advanced on quick time after the elusive 
 enemy. But he did not wait for us but left his 
 temporary entrenchments in a great hurry, leav- 
 ing some things of value to him behind, including 
 medical stores. 
 
 In the pursuit of Lee from Petersburg to Ap- 
 pomattox, embracing a period of a week, there 
 were only a couple of encounters with him, one 
 at Sailor's Creek, on the 6th, with the cavalry, and 
 the one mentioned at Rice's Station with Infantry; 
 and It maybe Inferred from the few engagements 
 had with him, and the distance covered, that, there 
 was fast time made on that march. The last day's 
 tramp will be admitted to be a fair test of the 
 
> 
 
 o 
 
 > 
 
 H 
 H 
 O 
 X 
 
 o 
 o 
 c: 
 
 H 
 I 
 
 C 
 
 c: 
 
 W 
 
THE LAST day's PURSUIT. 397 
 
 Sterling qualities of our men. Their endurance 
 and determination will be understood in the 
 record they made of thirty-five and a half miles 
 without halting, except for a short time to eat. 
 
 On this trying occasion it was admirable, con- 
 sidering the heavy weights they had to carry, the 
 hard fighting, litde sleeping and forced marching 
 of many days previous that they had undergone, 
 to see how few of the brave boys faltered or fell 
 back. One of the most potent reasons for the 
 almost superhuman efforts of the men was found 
 in the uniform kindness and encouragement to 
 the rank and file by General Ord, who often 
 during the day expressed his sympathy for them, 
 and said : 
 
 *' I promise you, boys, that this will be the last 
 day's march you will have to endure." 
 
 They believed him and responded with re- 
 newed exertions. If it had not been for this 
 encouragement on his part, there would have been 
 far less of our number in Lee's front on the next 
 morning, April the ninth. 
 
 An incident of this last hard day's march will be 
 my excuse for again introducing to the reader my 
 orderly sergeant, Lawrence May. 
 
 While trudging wearily along, two of my men 
 came to me and told me that Orderly May's feet 
 were badly cut up and bleeding from the effects 
 of marching In a pair of new boots. I dropped 
 back to where the poor fellow was, and at once 
 
398 THE FLYING, GRAY-rlAIRED VANK. 
 
 noticed the evident signs of his sufferings in his 
 noble but painful efforts to keep up. 
 
 "Orderly," said I, "I see your feet hurt you 
 badly." 
 
 " Just a little, Captain ; I can get along all 
 right," was the uncomplaining reply. 
 
 " I wish you," I replied, " to get Into one of the 
 ambulances ; that Is what they are for, and you 
 are plainly not in a fit condition to walk." 
 
 " I never rode in one, sir," said he, proudly, 
 "and I hope I sha'n't have to now." 
 
 Knowing the soldierly pride of which May was 
 possessed in so marked a degree was what held 
 him back from complying with my request, I did not 
 urge him further; but, unknown to him, I watched 
 him closely, and as the torture from his boots in- 
 creased, he could not conceal his terrible suffer- 
 ings from anybody. My heart ached for him and 
 I became determined to relieve him in some way. 
 Realizing and appreciating the heroic and uncom- 
 plaining spirit of the man, and wishing to spare 
 his feelings as much as possible, I went to our 
 regimental surgeon, Dr. Walter S. Welsh, and 
 explained matters to him, and requested that he 
 issue direct and imperative orders to May to go 
 into an ambulance. 
 
 The orderly was at all times subordinate, but 
 in complying with this order, he did so as reluct- 
 antly and with as shamed a face as though he was 
 on his way to the gallows. 
 
APPOMATTOX. 399 
 
 We had scarcely gotten him well disposed of 
 within the wagon when he was again In the 
 ranks, persisting vehemently that he was all right 
 and well able to walk. The humiliation attach- 
 ing to his position in an ambulance appeared to 
 him to be a greater torture than were the pinch- 
 ings of his boots, and so he refused to remain 
 longer In the waoron. When his boots were re- 
 moved the next day, after the white flag came 
 out, they were found to be thoroughly soaked 
 with blood. 
 
 During his term of service, of nearly three 
 years, May was never sick ; never absent, but 
 always at his post; he-was unoffending, modest, 
 virtuous, and gentle ; and as true In the perform- 
 ance of his duty as Is the sun in his course. This 
 man has never received a pension and would not, 
 I believe, under any circumstances, ask for it; 
 and so it Is that many a faithful servant of the 
 government is neglected, because through dif- 
 fidence and modesty he neglects himself. 
 
 We are at last confronting Lee at Appomattox 
 Court-House. 
 
 The action here of the corps to which we were 
 attached has been briefly given In the State Adju- 
 tant-General's report for 1865, and is, in the main, 
 correct. The only fault I am inclined to find 
 with this report Is that It does not, as In fact such 
 a general summary of the event could not well 
 
 be expected to do, go quite far enough ; and It Is 
 25 
 
400 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 these unintentional omissions that the writer seeks 
 to supply. 
 
 The report referred to is as follows : 
 
 " In the pursuit of Lee's army, which followed, 
 the 24th Army Corps bore a conspicuous part, 
 and the West Virginia troops, by their gallantry 
 and endurance, elicited warm expressions of 
 admiration from the commander of the corps, 
 General Gibbon, as also from Major-General 
 Ord, commanding the Army of the James. 
 
 "It was the ist and 3d Divisions of the 24th 
 Corps that formed a line across Lee's front on 
 the morning of the 9th of April at Appomattox 
 Court-House, and brought from that commander 
 the flag of truce which resulted in the capitula- 
 tion and disbanding of the rebel Army of North- 
 ern Virginia, having marched on the 8th and 
 morning of the 9th thirty-five miles to gain that 
 position. This line was formed across the road 
 to Lynchburg, on which Lee was retreating, and 
 but for which he might have continued his 
 march. 
 
 " The troops from West Virginia also claim 
 with pride the honor of silencing the last battery 
 that General Lee ever had put in position ; this 
 was effected by a skirmish line sent forward by 
 General Harris, under Captain James A. Jarboe, 
 of the loth Regiment, armed with Spencer seven- 
 shooting rifles, closely sustained by the brigade. 
 Of this battery two or three guns were captured." 
 
V) 
 
 n 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 n 
 
 D 
 
 C/l 
 
 o 
 
 n 
 
 p 
 
 irq 
 n 
 
 O 
 
SHERIDAN AT THE FRONT. 403 
 
 Who captured them ? 
 
 Very early on the morning of the 9th we were 
 taking a hurried breakfast while encamped in a 
 plowed field, at one end of which ran a narrow 
 lane. I was very near this road, and while busy 
 trying to heat my coffee I noticed a lone horse- 
 man riding out from the direction of a stone 
 house in our rear to where we were. The horse- 
 man was an officer in fine uniform and astride of 
 a splendid horse : 
 
 " There goes Sheridan," shouted the men. 
 
 Anxious to get a closer look at this American 
 counterpart of Marshal Ney I left my coffee, and 
 ran up to the lane whereon "little Phil" was 
 riding leisurely along and alone. He was going 
 in front of Lee*s army, which was heading for 
 Lynchburg. I never saw a fairer picture of health 
 and composure. His features were faultless in 
 my partial opinion, but it may have been that the 
 final result, then so near its accomplishment, lent 
 an added charm to his expression. How sad to 
 learn that at this writing (July, 1888) such a 
 shining light is so nearly extinguished! From 
 all accounts this bright life is fast waning and de- 
 scending towards the horizon below which so 
 many of his compatriot luminaries have lately 
 disappeared. 
 
 In less than ten minutes after Sheridan had 
 ridden past we received orders to march quickly 
 in the same direction. We did so at once. 
 
404 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 On coming In Lee's front, and after emerging 
 from a skirt of woods, we came into an open 
 field of triangular shape, containing perhaps ten 
 or twelve acres. Here was General Sheridan at 
 the head of a small force of his cavalry, in the 
 front and on the flank of which were woods, and 
 in that position the enemy's infantry had every 
 advantage of our cavalry. But General Harris 
 was at hand with his infantry and we soon saw 
 our immediate commander in close conversation 
 with the lltde " Field-Marshal ; " the result of 
 their conference was that General Harris at once 
 detailed a strong line of skirmishers to operate 
 against the enemy in these woods. He called 
 two officers to take charge of this line ; their in- 
 structions were separate and distinct. One of 
 them. Captain James A. Jarboe, of the loth West 
 Virginia regiment, as brave and as good a man as 
 was on the field, was assigned to the left of the 
 line ; and the writer received instructions from 
 the o-eneral to take charo^e of the skirmishers on 
 the right of the line. I did not at any time while 
 confronting the enemy receive orders from Cap- 
 tain Jarboe, but always immediately and directly 
 from General Harris, who was very close to me 
 most of the time, and cognizant of every move as 
 soon as made. 
 
 Reaching the woods mentioned, we engaged 
 the enemy's skirmishers and drove them steadily 
 back. Their officers In trying to rally them as- 
 
"KNArSACK CAVALRY." 405 
 
 sured the dejected and despairing "Johnnies" 
 that there was nothing in their front but cavalry. 
 
 "By G ," was the desperate reply, "you'll 
 
 find that they are knapsack cavalry." 
 
 Incidentally the appellation embodied in the 
 above remark does not appear inappropriate in 
 view of the marching qualities then exhibited by 
 our men. 
 
 The enemy finding their skirmishers thus 
 driven back, hurried forward two brass field- 
 pieces, which they were placing in position about 
 two hundred yards in our front at the time we 
 emerged from the woods. General Harris, who was 
 near me, ordered an advance, when we went in on 
 double-quick for the battery, which started at the 
 same moment in more than double-quick time for 
 the rear. While this chase was in progress Gen- 
 eral Harris, with a heavy line of battle, was moving 
 up briskly some distance in the rear of his pur- 
 suing skirmishers. The rebel battery in our front 
 continued retreating to the enemy's main body as 
 fast as the old horses attached to the pieces could 
 move ; but meeting a strong fence in their front 
 they were forced to halt for a few mornents, en- 
 abling us to overtake them. They therefore 
 abandoned their guns and two of their horses ; I 
 tarried long enough in the pursuit of the rebel 
 skirmishers to cast a wistful glance at a little 
 artillery saddle which formied a part of the trap- 
 pings of one of the abandoned horses ; and then 
 
406 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 over the fence we went, after the fast retreating 
 enemy. Five minutes had probably elapsed after 
 the capture of the artillery pieces when the "white 
 flag " came out directly in our front. 
 
 The scene that followed its appearance has 
 often been so graphically described that I have 
 not the hardihood to attempt it here. 
 
 After the cheering and excitement had in a 
 measure subsided I bethought me of the little 
 saddle. Returning to where the horses were, I 
 removed it and later placed it in a trunk and sent 
 it home. I have never parted with it, and regard 
 it, justly I think, as the real trophy of the " last 
 ditch." It was exhibited by the Grand Army of 
 the Republic, together with other curiosities and 
 mementos of the late war, at the Pittsburg Ex- 
 position, in 1879. 
 
 General Grant being about seven miles in the 
 rear when the ''white flag" appeared, we had a 
 long and Impatient wait before the brave remnant 
 of Lee's army marched passed us after being pa- 
 roled for all time. During the interval of waiting 
 I made use of the opportunity to convey to the 
 members of my little command an idea of the 
 feelings that such an event as the present one en- 
 gendered In me. I told them that I was hungry 
 (as indeed they all must be) and had but few 
 crackers remaining, but those few I proposed to 
 divide with our late enemy, but who now and 
 henceforth were our friends, with but one country 
 
" GOOD-BYE, BOYS 1 " 407 
 
 and one flag. This family feud was over and 
 I sincerely hoped forever. The sooner its griev- 
 ous wounds were healed by manly forgiveness 
 and kind words the better for all concerned. 
 There are few survivors of the late struggle who 
 have suffered more, personally, from the treat- 
 ment of the enemy than I ; but on this day I would 
 cheerfully give the brave though mistaken fellows 
 the hand of eternal friendship ; and more to the 
 same effect. 
 
 How pleased I was to discover later that in 
 exhibiting this conciliatory spirit to a fallen foe I 
 was only anticipating the wishes of General 
 Grant, as was shown in his liberal treatment of 
 General Lee, giving him horses, mules, and side- 
 arms and twenty thousand rations besides. 
 
 Compare this magnanimous action of a victori- 
 ous leader with the brutal exactions demanded 
 under kingly rule, and gracefully say, with me : 
 Long live and God bless our glorious Republic. 
 
 As the disbanded army, now without a head, 
 was passing before us, heading for Lynchburg, 
 at a go-as-you-please gait, our brave boys carried 
 out the suggestions made to them by their of- 
 ficers, by sharing with the defeated " Johnnies " 
 the contents of their haversacks, and by using 
 such pleasing and friendly expressions as : " We're 
 all going home now to the girls we left behind 
 us ; " " Good-bye, boys,'' etc., etc. 
 
 General Harris, with his command, marched 
 
408 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 from Appomattox to Lynchburg, where the bulk of 
 Lee's disbanded army concentrated before start- 
 ing for their respective homes. From Lynch- 
 burg, where we distributed rations among the 
 needy soldiers, we proceeded to Richmond. We 
 w^ere among the first troops to occupy the South- 
 ern capital after its evacuation, and we were sur- 
 prised to find, upon our entrance, such a large 
 portion of that beautiful city in ruins and ashes. 
 The devilish incendiaries were, not the invading 
 Unionists, but those whose duty it should have 
 been to build up and protect it. Were it not for 
 the determined and successful efforts of our men 
 the confiagradon would have been general and 
 entirely destructive to the city. 
 
 We retain some pleasant recollections of Rich- 
 mond during our stay there. There seemed to 
 be no stint of money among our boys, so every 
 day while we remained gayety and good-fellow- 
 ship seemed to be effectually dispelling the previ- 
 ous gloom ; acquaintanceship and genial inter-_ 
 course were fast obliterating the embittered feel- 
 ings engendered by the war. Soon the places 
 of amusement began to reopen their doors, and 
 resume their wonted attractions ; business houses 
 displayed their wares and commenced a lively 
 competition for the patronage of the Yankees ; 
 and things generally again took on their old time 
 look. 
 
 I do not recall an Instance durlno- the two 
 
ON DUTY IN RICHMOND. 409 
 
 months we were In Richmond of the slightest 
 insult being offered to any of its Inhabitants by our 
 men, which remarkable fact was unprecedented 
 in history and a noble line of conduct in vic- 
 tors, and quite contrary to the many warnings of 
 the leaders of the late rebellion, in their highly 
 colored harangues to their credulous people on 
 the subject of an invasion of the South by Union 
 troops, which dire calamity was sure to be 
 f®llowed by a policy of extermination, confiscation 
 and assaults upon the honor of their wives and 
 daughters, etc., by the '* Northern Vandals." 
 
 While encamped near Richmond we were 
 visited by two gentlemen who had occupied posi- 
 tions of distinction in the executive branch of the 
 Confederacy, and who were, prior to the outbreak 
 of the war, well acquainted with a number of our 
 men ; one was Judge Draper Camden, of Clarks- 
 burg, West Va. ; the other, Mr. Jonathan Ben- 
 nett, of Weston, West Va., who had been the 
 late Auditor-General of the Confederacy. Both 
 gentlemen felt, under the changed condition, 
 somewhat timid, especially Mr. Bennett, who, by 
 reason of his course during the war, was not 
 popular in the section of country whence he came, 
 and from where several of our companies, now 
 doing duty here, were raised. 
 
 I extended every possible courtesy to the gen- 
 tlemen during their visit to our camp, and as we 
 walked through the grounds together my pres- 
 
41 THE FLYING, GRAY-HAIRED YANK. 
 
 ence, I am pleased to state, was sufficient to in- 
 sure them from all indignities, or any unpleasant 
 remarks. 
 
 On the 14th of June, 1865, our regiment was 
 mustered out at Richmond, and our fares paid to 
 Wheeling, where on our arrival we were paid 
 off and finally discharged. 
 
ROSTER 
 
 OF 
 
 COMPANY B, 15TH REGT. W. VA. INFANTRY VOL. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Rank. 
 
 i" 
 
 When 
 
 mustered 
 
 Remarks . 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 into 
 
 service. 
 
 
 Egan, Michael 
 
 Capt. 
 
 Sept. 
 
 I, 1862. 
 
 Taken prisoner of 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 war. May 9, '64, es- 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 caped Nov. 4, '64. 
 
 Nicholas, William J. 
 
 I St Lieut. 
 
 27 
 
 (( 
 
 « 
 
 Promoted to Capt. 
 Co. D, Oct. 27, '63. 
 
 Detamore, John W. 
 
 2d Lieut. 
 
 36 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 Promoted to 1st 
 Lieut. 
 
 Power, Patrick 
 
 1st Sgt. 
 
 26 
 
 (( 
 
 « 
 
 Promoted to 2d and 
 to 1st Lieut. 
 
 May, Lawrence 
 
 1st Sgt. 
 
 38 
 
 (( 
 
 <( 
 
 
 Belt, Hedgman 
 
 2d Sgt. 
 
 28 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 Davis, James L. 
 
 3d Sgt. 
 
 30 
 
 <( 
 
 « 
 
 Would not fight. 
 
 Ward, John D. 
 
 4th Sgt. 
 
 21 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 ^ 
 
 Fisher, George A. 
 
 5th Sgt. 
 
 
 
 
 
 Wood, A. J. 
 
 Corporal 
 
 zz 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 Promoted to Sergt. 
 
 Hitt, Jos. W. 
 
 <( 
 
 30 
 
 <« 
 
 « 
 
 Killed in action, 
 June 18, '64, near 
 Lynchburg, Va. 
 
 Bush, John J. 
 
 « 
 
 35 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 Ellis,« James Ji". 
 
 «( 
 
 23 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 Died of starvation 
 
 *.. ' 
 
 
 
 
 
 in rebel prison. 
 
 Monypenny, T. W. 
 
 u 
 
 21 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 Rohobough, A. E. 
 
 (( 
 
 24 
 
 <( 
 
 <( 
 
 
 Montgomery, Henry 
 
 (( 
 
 34 
 
 (( 
 
 « 
 
 
 Brown, Thomas 
 
 (( 
 
 31 
 
 March 
 
 31, 1864. 
 
 
 Tanner, John 
 
 Wagon'r 
 
 59 
 
 Sept. 
 
 I, 1862. 
 
 
 Adams, Isaac 
 
 Private 
 
 48 
 
 (< 
 
 <( 
 
 Working on fortifi- 
 cations at Wash- 
 ington, D.C., since 
 Nov. 19, '64. 
 
 Arbogast, Daniel 
 
 « 
 
 27 
 
 (( 
 
 « 
 
 
 Baily, Albert 
 
 (( 
 
 20 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 /■ 
 
 Butcher, M. E. 
 
 « 
 
 23 
 
 K 
 
 « 
 
 
 Bond, Levi W. 
 
 (( 
 
 19 
 
 (( 
 
 <t 
 
 Died in prison. 
 
 Burkhammer, Joseph 
 
 « 
 
 18 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 Burns, Patrick 
 
 Corporal 
 
 21 
 
 « 
 
 (< 
 
 Diedsince mustered 
 out. 
 
 Brown, Jesse 
 
 Private 
 
 34 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Baily, Philander 
 
 «( 
 
 18 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 
 Died at New Creek 
 Nov. I, '62, of 
 measels. 
 
 (411) 
 
412 
 
 ROSTER. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Bush, Henry H. 
 
 Bowan, John E. 
 Crawford, Joseph 
 
 Carney, Michael 
 
 Cutwright, Isaac 
 Conrad, Geo. W. 
 Clark, John 
 Croul, John W. 
 Davis, Lorenzo L. 
 Dai'is, Wm. H. 
 
 Doory, John 
 Dinsmore, John A. 
 
 Dodson, Chas. E. 
 Daily, Charles 
 Finster, Simon 
 Fisher, Jacob C. 
 Garton, James 
 Horan, Peter 
 Huran, Kieran 
 
 Hanson, Chas. W. 
 Hacker, William G. 
 
 Hall, Joseph 
 
 Hines, Thomas 
 
 Jones, Benjamin S. 
 Jenkins, Joseph 
 
 Jewell, Albert 
 
 Knapp, Wm. T. 
 Laurrell, John 
 
 Lamb, Skidmore 
 Literal, James 
 
 Rank. 
 
 21 
 
 Private 
 
 (( 
 
 i8 
 
 (( 
 
 i8 
 
 (( 
 
 26 
 
 « 
 << 
 « 
 
 25 
 29 
 
 25 
 25 
 19 
 35 
 
 Regt. 
 
 32 
 26 
 
 Armorer 
 
 
 Private 
 
 18 
 
 
 19 
 39 
 
 37 
 22 
 
 (( 
 
 20 
 
 << 
 
 ^l 
 
 « 
 
 20 
 
 (( 
 
 22 
 
 « 
 
 43 
 
 (( 
 
 18 
 
 << 
 
 18 
 
 (( 
 
 46 
 
 Corporal 
 
 31 
 
 27 
 
 Private 
 
 22 
 18 
 
 U^Tien ]\Iitstered 
 into Service. 
 
 Sept. I, 1862. 
 
 March 31, 1864. 
 
 Sept. I, 1862. 
 
 March 31, 1864, 
 Sept. I, 1862. 
 
 Oct. 16, " 
 Sept. I, " 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 A fine young man, 
 starved to death at 
 AndersonviUe 
 prison. 
 
 Taken prisoner of 
 war at Cedar Creek 
 Oct. 19, '64. 
 
 Diedsince mustered 
 out. 
 
 
 
 March 31, 1864 
 Sept. I, 1862. 
 
 
 
 Sept. I, 1864. 
 
 u 
 
 (( 
 
 June 20, 63. 
 
 Sept. I, 1862. 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 In hospital at Sandy 
 Hook, Aug. I, '64. 
 
 2d Sergt., but vol- 
 unteered as Regt. 
 armorer. 
 
 Killed in action at 
 Cedar Creek, Oct. 
 19. '64. 
 
 Wounded at Hatch- 
 erRun, April 2, '65. 
 Wounded at Cedar 
 
 Creek, Oct. 19, '64. 
 Killed in action 
 
 near Staunton , Va., 
 
 June 10, '64. 
 
 A wild youth, who 
 would go where he 
 pleased. 
 
 Discharged at New 
 Creek, Dec. 9, '62. 
 
 Prisoner of war at 
 Salisbury, N. C. 
 
ROSTER. 
 
 413 
 
 Names. 
 
 Rank. 
 
 1 
 
 18 
 
 W'7itf'« Mustered 
 into Service. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Monypenny, James 
 
 Private 
 
 Sept. 
 
 I, 1862. 
 
 
 Monypenny, William 
 
 (( 
 
 37 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 • 
 
 Monypenny, Albert 
 
 « 
 
 29 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Monypenny, Napoleon 
 
 (( 
 
 22 
 
 (< 
 
 (« 
 
 Died of typhoid 
 
 B. 
 
 
 
 
 
 fever at Wheeling, 
 Oct. 14, '62. 
 
 Means, Calvin 
 
 (( 
 
 30 
 
 <( 
 
 (( 
 
 
 McCudden, James 
 
 (< 
 
 23 
 
 <( 
 
 « 
 
 Wounded at Hatch- 
 er Run, April 2,'65. 
 
 McManus, Patrick 
 
 (( 
 
 21 
 
 « 
 
 «< 
 
 
 Monypenny, Henry 
 
 (( 
 
 28 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 Prisoner of war at 
 Salisbury, N. C. 
 
 Means, Isaac 
 
 (( 
 
 38 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 Died of wounds re- 
 ceived at Cedar 
 Creek, Oct. 19, '64. 
 
 Newcomb, John 
 
 Wagon 'r 
 
 43 
 
 <( 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Nicholar, Carr 
 
 Private 
 
 19 
 
 (( 
 
 << 
 
 
 Nicholas, M. C. 
 
 <( 
 
 28 
 
 (( 
 
 {< 
 
 
 Osborne, Harrison 
 
 « 
 
 25 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 Patten, Hinton 
 
 « 
 
 21 
 
 << 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Plunket, James 
 
 << 
 
 18 
 
 <( 
 
 (( 
 
 Severely wounded 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 at Cedar Creek, 
 Oct. 19, '64. 
 
 Pletcher, Jonathan 
 
 « 
 
 27 
 
 (( 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Fletcher, Wm. H. 
 
 « 
 
 24 
 
 « 
 
 (( 
 
 Captur'd at Charles- 
 ton, W. Va., Aug. 
 10, '64. 
 
 Rohobaugh, John G. 
 
 (( 
 
 19 
 
 «\ 
 
 €t 
 
 Wounded at W^in- 
 chester, Va., Sept. 
 19, '64. 
 
 Sheerer, Andrew 
 
 (( 
 
 27 
 
 (( 
 
 *t 
 
 Died of wounds re- 
 ceived near Staun- 
 ton, Va. 
 
 Swicker, Manly 
 
 <( 
 
 19 
 
 « 
 
 it 
 
 
 Sheerer, Henry 
 
 (( 
 
 25 
 
 (( 
 
 it 
 
 Died of wounds re- 
 ceived in action 
 near Staunton, Va. 
 
 Steinback, Geo. W. 
 
 (( 
 
 19 
 
 It 
 
 tt 
 
 
 Shoulder, Jacob L. 
 
 (( 
 
 24 
 
 « 
 
 it 
 
 Died of typhoid 
 fever at Jarvis 
 Hospital, Balti- 
 more, Md., Sept. 
 13, '64. 
 
 Sleeth, Adam C. 
 
 « 
 
 25 
 
 « 
 
 tt 
 
 
 Spouse, Wm. 
 
 (( 
 
 25 
 
 it 
 
 tt 
 
 
 Sheifer, Jno. T. 
 
 (( 
 
 32 
 
 (( 
 
 tt 
 
 Died in rebel 
 prison, Salisbury, 
 N. C. 
 
 Simmons, W. 
 
 (( 
 
 25 
 
 « 
 
 tt 
 
 
414 
 
 ROSTER. 
 
 Names. 
 
 Rank. 
 
 1 
 
 28 
 
 When Mustered 
 into Service. 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Sneed, Achilles H. 
 
 Private 
 
 Sept. I, 
 
 1862. 
 
 Captured at Cedar 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Creek, Oct. 19, '64. 
 
 Turner, Johnson V. 
 
 « 
 
 33 
 
 (( 
 
 *t 
 
 
 West, Charles 
 
 (( 
 
 26 
 
 (( 
 
 « 
 
 
 West, Alexander 
 
 « 
 
 28 
 
 <t 
 
 (( 
 
 
 West, George 
 
 (( 
 
 38 
 
 <( 
 
 (( 
 
 Died of wounds re- 
 ceived at Winches- 
 ter, Sept. 19, '64. 
 
 Waldeck, F. M. 
 
 « 
 
 21 
 
 (( 
 
 u 
 
 
 Ward, Henry M. 
 
 (( 
 
 19 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 
 Woofler, Albert 
 
 (( 
 
 x8 
 
 « 
 
 « 
 
 Died of starvation 
 while prisoner of 
 war at Salisbury, 
 N. C. 
 
 Wilkinson, Joshua S. 
 
 (( 
 
 21 
 
 June 20, 
 
 1863. 
 
 Captured at Cedar 
 Creek, Oct. 19, '64. 
 

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