Andersonville, vol 4 | Page 6

of us showed signs of running, thinking,
as they told us afterward, that we were the "patrols." After explaining
to them who we were and our condition, they took us to a very quiet
retreat in the woods, and two of them went off, stating that they would
soon be back. In a very short time they returned laden with well cooked
provisions, which not only gave us a good supper, but supplied us for
the next day with all that we wanted. They then guided us on our way
for several miles, and left us, after having refused compensation for
what they had done.
We continued to travel in this way for nine long weary nights, and on
the morning of the tenth day, as we were going into the woods to hide
as usual, a little before daylight, we came to a small pond at which
there was a negro boy watering two mules before hitching them to a
cane mill, it then being cane grinding time in Georgia. He saw us at the
same time we did him, and being frightened put whip to the animals
and ran off. We tried every way to stop him, but it was no use. He had
the start of us. We were very fearful of the consequences of this mishap,
but had no remedy, and being very tired, could do nothing else but go
into the woods, go to sleep and trust to luck.
The next thing I remembered was being punched in the ribs by my
comrade nearest to me, and aroused with the remark, "We are gone up."

On opening my eyes, I saw four men, in citizens' dress, each of whom
had a shot gun ready for use. We were ordered to get up. The first
question asked us was:
"Who are you."
This was spoken in so mild a tone as to lead me to believe that we
might possibly be in the hands of gentlemen, if not indeed in those of
friends. It was some time before any one answered. The boys, by their
looks and the expression of their countenances, seemed to appeal to me
for a reply to get them out of their present dilemma, if possible. Before
I had time to collect my thoughts, we were startled by these words,
coming from the same man that had asked the original question:
"You had better not hesitate, for we have an idea who you are, and
should it prove that we are correct, it will be the worse for you."
"'Who do you think we are?' I inquired."
"'Horse thieves and moss-backs,' was the reply."
I jumped at the conclusion instantly that in order to save our lives, we
had better at once own the truth. In a very few words I told them who
we were, where we were from, how long we had been on the road, etc.
At this they withdrew a short distance from us for consultation, leaving
us for the time in terrible suspense as to what our fate might be. Soon,
how ever, they returned and informed us that they would be compelled
to take us to the County Jail, to await further orders from the Military
Commander of the District. While they were talking together, I took a
hasty inventory of what valuables we had on hand. I found in the crowd
four silver watches, about three hundred dollars in Confederate money,
and possibly, about one hundred dollars in greenbacks. Before their
return, I told the boys to be sure not to refuse any request I should make.
Said I:
"'Gentlemen, we have here four silver watches and several hundred
dollars in Confederate money and greenbacks, all of which we now
offer you, if you will but allow us to proceed on our journey, we taking
our own chances in the future.'"
This proposition, to my great surprise, was refused. I thought then that
possibly I had been a little indiscreet in exposing our valuables, but in
this I was mistaken, for we had, indeed, fallen into the hands of
gentlemen, whose zeal for the Lost Cause was greater than that for
obtaining worldly wealth, and who not only refused the bribe, but took

us to a well-furnished and well-supplied farm house close by, gave us
an excellent breakfast, allowing us to sit at the table in a beautiful
dining-room, with a lady at the head, filled our haversacks with good,
wholesome food, and allowed us to keep our property, with an
admonition to be careful how we showed it again. We were then put
into a wagon and taken to Hamilton, a small town, the county seat of
Hamilton County, Georgia, and placed in jail, where we remained for
two days and nights-- fearing, always, that the