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o'clock； the time of our starting； we thought we had come not less than
twelve or fifteen miles。 Imagine our surprise and mortification； then；
when we could plainly hear the reveille； and almost the Sergeant's voice
calling the roll； while the answers of 〃Here！〃 were perfectly distinct。
We could not possibly have been more than a mile； or a mile…and…a…half at
the farthest； from the Stockade。
Our anxiety and mortification were doubled when at the usual houras we
supposedwe heard the well…known and long…familiar sound of the hunter's
horn； calling his hounds to their accustomed task of making the circuit
of the Stockade； for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not any ？
〃Yankee〃 had had the audacity to attempt an escape。 The hounds；
anticipating； no doubt； this usual daily work； gave forth glad barks of
joy at being thus called forth to duty。 We heard them start； as was
usual； from about the railroad depot （as we imagined）； but the sounds
growing fainter and fainter gave us a little hope that our trail had been
missed。 Only a short time； however； were we allowed this pleasant
reflection； for ere longit could not have been more than an hourwe
could plainly see that they were drawing nearer and nearer。 They finally
appeared so close that I advised the boys to climb a tree or sapling in
order to keep the dogs from biting them； and to be ready to surrender
when the hunters came up； hoping thus to experience as little misery as
possible； and not dreaming but that we were caught。 On； on came the
hounds； nearer and nearer still； till we imagined that we could see the
undergrowth in the forest shaking by coming in contact with their bodies。
Plainer and plainer came the sound of the hunter's voice urging them
forward。 Our hearts were in our throats； and in the terrible excitement
we wondered if it could be possible for Providence to so arrange it that
the dogs would pass us。 This last thought； by some strange fancy； had
taken possession of me； and I here frankly acknowledge that I believed it
would happen。 Why I believed it； God only knows。 My excitement was so
great； indeed； that I almost lost sight of our danger； and felt like
shouting to the dogs myself； while I came near losing my hold on the tree
in which I was hidden。 By chance I happened to look around at my nearest
neighbor in distress。 His expression was sufficient to quell any
enthusiasm I might have had； and I； too； became despondent。 In a very
few minutes our suspense was over。 The dogs came within not less than
three hundred yards of us； and we could even see one of them； God in
Heaven can only imagine what great joy was then； brought to our aching
hearts； for almost instantly upon coming into sight； the hounds struck
off on a different trail； and passed us。 Their voices became fainter and
fainter； until finally we could hear them no longer。 About noon；
however； they were called back and taken to camp； but until that time not
one of us left our position in the trees。
When we were satisfied that we were safe for the present； we descended to
the ground to get what rest we could； in order to be prepared for the
night's march； having previously agreed to travel at night and sleep in
the day time。 〃Our Father； who art in Heaven；〃 etc。； were the first
words that escaped my lips； and the first thoughts that came to my mind
as I landed on terra firma。 Never before； or since； had I experienced
such a profound reverence for Almighty God； for I firmly believe that
only through some mighty invisible power were we at that time delivered
from untold tortures。 Had we been found； we might have been torn and
mutilated by the dogs； or； taken back to Andersonville； have suffered for
days or perhaps weeks in the stocks or chain gang； as the humor of Wirz
might have dictated at the timeeither of which would have been almost
certain death。
It was very fortunate for us that before our escape from Andersonville we
were detailed at the cook…house； for by this means we were enabled to
bring away enough food to live for several days without the necessity of
theft。 Each one of us had our haversacks full of such small delicacies
as it was possible for us to get when we started； these consisting of
corn bread and fat baconnothing less； nothing more。 Yet we managed to
subsist comfortably until our fourth day out； when we happened to come
upon a sweet potato patch； the potatos in which had not been dug。 In a
very short space of time we were all well supplied with this article； and
lived on them raw during that day and the next night。
Just at evening； in going through a field； we suddenly came across three
negro men； who at first sight 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 jail would be burned over our heads； as we
heard frequent threats of that nature； by the mob on the streets。
But the same kind Providence that had heretofore watched over us； seemed
not to have deserted us in this trouble。
One of the days we we