ARE GUIDED BY NIGHT TO ALDERMAN--ALDERMAN CONDUCTS US TWENTY MILES
NEXT DAY--GIVES US PLAIN DIRECTIONS--RETURNS HOME--WE FIND ALDERMAN'S
BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO PUTS US ON THE NORTH SIDE OF GAULEY RIVER--WE
FOLLOW DOWN GAULEY RIVER--PASS THROUGH SUMMERVILLE--COME IN CONTACT
WITH AN IRISHMAN--RECEIVE ADVICE FROM HIM AND FOLLOW IT--WE REACH
THE PICKETS AT GAULEY BRIDGE--WE RECUPERATE AT CAMP REYNOLDS--GO TO
CINCINNATI, OHIO--GO HOME ON FURLOUGH.
Our volunteer guide mounted his horse and started to the ford, some
distance up the river, to cross it, while we were conducted to a point
below, where there was a canoe, by Mrs. Mann's two boys. On reaching
the river, and being told by the boys to fasten the canoe to the
opposite shore, we said "good-by" to them, and set about crossing.
In about twenty minutes, after running aground two or three times,
and being compelled to get out into the water to set the canoe afloat
again, we landed on the opposite bank. After securing the canoe, we
took our shoes and socks off, drained the water from our shoes and
wrung our socks dry. We then put on our socks and shoes, and laced the
latter securely, and hastened to join our guide at the point previously
agreed upon. We were soon on the way, our guide on horseback going some
distance in advance on the road. In little more than an hour we reached
the home of our guide. We waited close by for a few minutes while he
put his horse away. He then conducted us on foot to a point within a
mile of James Alderman's house, and then he returned homeward.
Following instructions we had received, we soon reached the house of
the man whose services as a guide we expected to secure to conduct us
on our journey. As we approached it the dogs set up a furious barking.
Mrs. Alderman soon succeeded in quieting the dogs, and we entered the
house. On seeing no one but the woman, we asked where Alderman was.
The woman said he wasn't at home, and she didn't know exactly where he
had gone. We made known our object in calling at such a late hour in
the night, it being near midnight. Mrs. Alderman was evidently alarmed
at our coming. She wished to know how we learned that Alderman lived
there. We told her a young man named Gillilan had piloted us to the
foot of the ridge, and directed us how to find the house. We told her
further that the young man had informed us her husband would conduct us
a portion of the way to the Union lines. The woman's fear seemed to be
allayed on hearing this, and she stepped out the door and called her
husband. Mr. Alderman soon made his appearance, but acted as if he was
not sure we were there on an honest errand. When his dogs commenced
barking he had hurried out of bed, and gone to the woods to secrete
himself--as he had often done before--from the Confederate guards, who
were on the watch for him to impress him into the service. Our business
was soon made known to Alderman, and he consented to conduct us as far
on our way as we could travel by four o'clock the next day.
It was after midnight when we made our bed on the floor of Alderman's
cabin, to rest until the light of the 18th dawned. By sunrise we had
breakfasted, and were on the way, Mr. Alderman going ahead of us
several steps. Alderman carried his flint-lock gun with him, saying he
"might shoot something before he got back." We suggested the risk in
traveling by daylight, but Alderman said he would take us over a route
where we would be seen by none but good Union people. By one o'clock
we reached a house where lived a family named Ramsey. We took dinner
with them. Shortly after two o'clock we set out again on the way. One
of the Ramseys gave us a letter to be left at a point twenty miles east
of Gauley Bridge, known as the Twenty-mile House. By four o'clock we
had reached the small stream called Cherry Run, where we halted under a
temporary shed which had been erected by hunters for shelter. We had no
matches, and Alderman struck fire with his knife from the flint of his
gun and kindled a fire for us. After receiving from Alderman particular
directions how to find his brother-in-law's house, on the north side of
Gauley River, he left us, saying he "must be at home by midnight."
We had traveled twenty miles, and had stopped for the night in a dense
forest, several miles from any house. In all directions from our
hiding-place the ground was deeply marked by narrow paths made by deer
going back and forth for water. We made our supper on the supplies
brought from Mrs. Mann's. We were in a place where we would not be
likely to be seen, and we kept our fire burning until late in the
night. Being surrounded by dense and darkening woods, with nothing to
break the almost perfect stillness of the night but the murmurs of the
little brook near us, we felt very lonely, more so than we had felt
before on our travels. By ten o'clock we were soundly sleeping.
We awoke at the break of day on the morning of March 19th. We
breakfasted early and were on the way by sunrise. We had only to follow
down Cherry Run to its mouth at Cranberry Creek, and then follow down
Cranberry Creek until we came to a road crossing it and running on its
west side to Gauley River. The ford on Cranberry Creek was reached
before three o'clock in the evening. We secreted ourselves in the
woods south of the road and east of the creek until after dark, when we
could travel the road in safety. The greater part of the evening was
passed in sleep. On waking we snatched a hasty meal, and made ready
for further travels. Soon after dark we were on the way. In due time
we were wading Cranberry Creek at the ford, having first taken off
our shoes and socks. We found the water very cool, and a little more
than ankle deep. As soon as we got on our socks and shoes we set out
on the road for Gauley River. The road led to a ferry on the Gauley,
near the mouth of Cranberry Creek. It lacked nearly two hours of
daylight when we reached the ferry. We went up Gauley River until we
came to Cranberry Creek. We then partially stripped ourselves and waded
Cranberry Creek to its east side. We found the water much deeper and
the current stronger than when we had crossed it early in the night.
After dressing ourselves, we went on up the river nearly a mile
further, and halted in the woods to await the dawn of day. We had not
long to wait. As soon as we could see our way we started on up the
river. Soon we noticed a smoke over the river, rising through the
woods, and a few more steps brought us to a point from which a house
could be seen. We gave two or three loud hallooes, and a man came out
of the house and toward the river. A few moments more and he was in
his canoe and half across the stream. As he neared the shore on which
we stood we asked, "Are you a brother-in-law to Alderman?" He said he
was, and we exclaimed, "All's right," with feelings of exultation. We
were soon set across, and the sun was just rising when we sat down to
breakfast.
After breakfast we went to the woods north of the house and hid away
for the day, March 20th. At noon we returned to the house for dinner.
Our host stood in the yard while we were eating, to notify us of the
approach of any one, so we might slip into the brush adjoining the yard
and hide. We were not molested, however, and after making arrangements
with our host--whose name we can not now recall--to furnish us at our
hiding-place enough food for two or three meals, we left the house.
Just at sunset, according to arrangement, we received supplies. Our
host informed us that his house was forty-eight miles east of Gauley
Bridge, and twelve miles from Summerville, the county seat of Nicholas
county. We were also told that the road leading from the ferry ran
down Gauley River, through Summerville, and by the Twenty Mile House,
to Gauley Bridge, where the nearest Union pickets were posted. Our
things having been put in readiness, we started out just at dark on
our travels. In a half hour's time we were upon the road, and making
reasonable progress in a western direction.
A little after midnight we reached the suburbs of Summerville. No
lights were anywhere to be seen. Every thing was still. We stopped
and listened carefully for a few moments, when, hearing nothing, we
advanced briskly through the town on the main road. We kept a keen
lookout on either side of us as we passed through the place. The town
seemed fully half burnt down. On reaching its western borders we again
halted and listened, but all was quiet as before. We supposed the place
might be, at least, a harboring place for scouts. On starting we pushed
forward rapidly, traveling four miles, if not more, by day-break.
During the last hours of the night the weather was quite cold, and the
early morning was frosty.
At daylight, on the morning of the 21st, the road was leading us
through an open country. Ahead of us, over a half mile distant, were
woods, through which the road passed. We intended halting for the
day as soon as we gained the shelter of the woods, and we pushed on
briskly. Just ahead of us, inside an inclosure and beyond a turn of
the road, were a few scattering trees. Among the trees were two or
three hay-stacks. After getting around the turn of the road, and just
as we were leaving the stacks in our rear, we discovered an aged man
pitching hay to his sheep. As he was staring at us, we accosted him
with, "How are you, old fellow?" The old gentleman was an Irishman,
and it was only with close attention we could understand what he said.
We luckily found him strong in his attachment to the Union, and too
old, as he said, to change his principles. He evinced much interest
in our welfare, and readily answered all our inquiries. He told us
it was only twenty-eight and a half miles to Gauley Bridge, and that
Captain Ramsey's Union Scouts were patrolling the country between that
place and Summerville on both sides of Gauley River. He assured us it
would be perfectly safe to travel the road that day provided we did
not stop short of the pickets at night. Rebel citizens would make no
attempt to capture us in day-time, we were told, but should they see us
hiding for the night they would most likely collect a party and take us
prisoners. We decided, after consulting briefly, to push on, at least
to the woods, now only a quarter of a mile distant. As we started the
old man said, "Go on to the bridge, boys, and you'll be safe; don't
stop outside the pickets." We did not suspect the old man of intending
to get us into trouble, and his last injunction fully established our
faith in his Unionism.
On reaching the woods we stepped aside from the road to consider
further upon the propriety of going on. We dreaded to be retaken on the
eve of entering the lines, and we determined to avoid such a calamity,
if possible. We had twenty-eight miles to travel before our safety
would be assured. Since we had already traveled twenty miles without
rest or sleep, the question was, Can we reach the picket-post by dark?
Our resolution to push on, and reach the goal for which we had been so
long striving, was soon formed. We immediately started, and in little
more than a half hour's time we came to a house on our right. As it
was near the road we went to it and asked for breakfast, thinking we
needed something in addition to what we had to strengthen us in view of
the journey to be accomplished that day. We were denied breakfast at
first, and had started away from the house. As we were passing out the
gate one of our party observed, "That's a pretty way to treat prisoners
that's been half starved." The old lady overheard the remark and called
us back. She first assured herself we were escaping prisoners, and then
set before us what she had cooked. She apologized for refusing at first
to give us a breakfast, saying she thought we were some of the scouts
from Gauley Bridge, who too frequently applied for meals. We were
informed it was not uncommon to see "blue coats" passing, which caused
us to feel less uneasiness, as we thought we should not be molested on
our way.
On finishing our breakfast we set out again, having only five miles
to travel before reaching the Twenty Mile House. We arrived at the
place by ten o'clock. We called at the principal house and left the
letter we had brought from Greenbrier county. The lady to whom it was
addressed happened to be in the house, and was exceedingly well pleased
to receive it. Many questions were asked us concerning the affairs
and people in Greenbrier county, but as our information was limited
we could answer but few of them. After learning the time of day and
receiving a biscuit apiece, we went on our way. We had eight hours or
more in which to travel twenty miles, and we pressed on with exultant
hopes. The soles of our shoes had worn considerably, and were too thin
to afford adequate protection to our feet in walking over a stony road.
As a consequence our feet became very sore. Smith once concluded he
would be obliged to stop, and more than once fell far behind. On coming
to a stream of water, Sutherland, Wood, and I, while waiting for Smith
to catch up, removed our shoes and socks from our feet and waded it. We
found the cold water improved our feet wonderfully. Smith soon came up
in any thing but a pleasant mood, and was much disheartened besides.
He thought we "must be in a hurry, keeping so far ahead all the time."
We answered we were in no hurry, and Wood added, "We had forgot a
cavalry-man couldn't stand marching." We told Smith to pull off his
shoes and socks and wade the stream. He complied, but his feet were so
very sore he occupied several minutes in crossing.
[Illustration: "OUT OF THE WOODS."--PAGE 107.]
On getting our shoes on we again pushed forward slowly. At the first
house we came to after fording the stream, we inquired the distance
to Gauley Bridge. "Five miles and a half," was the answer given us.
The sun was more than two hours high, but now the journey seemed
more doubtful and difficult of accomplishment than the journey of
twenty-seven miles had seemed in the morning. We pressed on, however,
and in the course of an hour we met a man of whom we asked, "How
far is it to the pickets?" "Nearly three miles," was the reply.
Our feet were sore, our limbs were weary, but our flagging spirits
revived, and we persistently urged ourselves onward. The sun had
almost run its daily course. The distance to be gone over, before our
twenty-four-hour's march was accomplished, was gradually growing less.
At length the picket-guard was reached, and our goal won; but the sun
had gone down and the stars were appearing. As the twilight was passing
into night we approached the sentinel in the road who came out to meet
and welcome us. Giving each of us a hearty shake of the hand, he said,
"I know where you are from; will you have some coffee?" We replied that
we could not object, and were assured there was plenty of it at the
Company quarters.
Although we were nearly worn down, almost exhausted, in fact, from
the effects of twenty-four hours of constant wakefulness and travel,
we felt an indescribable but silent ecstasy of joy and thankfulness
for our deliverance from the rigorous and pinching destitution of
Confederate prisons. But in the height and fullness of our heart-felt
rapture, we did not forget Taylor and Trippe, the early companions of
our journey. We thought it possible they had perished, but hoped they
had been more fortunate than ourselves. Very soon after passing the
pickets we went, in company with two or three soldiers of Companies
I and H, 5th Virginia Infantry, to their quarters in the old town of
Gauley Bridge, where supper, consisting of bread, meat, and coffee, was
provided us. After supper we visited Captain Dixon, of Company I, 5th
Virginia, in his quarters, he having sent for us.
Companies I and H, 5th Virginia, under command of Captain Dixon, were
stationed at Gauley Bridge as an outpost from Camp Reynolds, which was
below the falls of the Kanawha. We remained at the quarters of Captain
Dixon during the night of March 21st. We did not retire for sleep until
a late hour. From Dixon we first heard the particulars of the battle of
Mission Ridge, in which our Companies had participated. We told Dixon
of the number and condition of the prisoners about Danville, and of
the strength and disposition of the Rebel garrison there.
On March 22d we went to Camp Reynolds, where we remained two days,
during which time we were furnished by the soldiers and their officers
with entire suits of clean clothing. In the evening of March 23d
each of us wrote a letter to our respective homes, to let the folks
know we were alive, and once more within the Union lines. Our feet
having recovered from their soreness, we went next day, in company
with three or four soldiers who were going home on veteran furlough,
to Charleston, Virginia. On the 25th we got aboard a steamer, the
"Victress No. 2," and went down the Kanawha to Gallipolis, Ohio,
arriving there on the day following. On the 28th, having stopped over
Sabbath in Gallipolis, we boarded the steamer "C. T. Dumont," and went
down the river to Cincinnati. At ten o'clock, A. M., March 29th, we
landed at Cincinnati, and immediately reported at Post Head-Quarters,
Colonel Swayne, 99th Ohio, commanding.
After a brief talk with Colonel Swayne, and other officers at
Head-Quarters, we were told to go to the Soldiers' Home and get our
dinners, and then return. We started, and had got but a few steps from
Head-Quarters when the sentinel at the door called out to us to come
back, that the Colonel wished to speak to us. Sutherland, Smith, and I
waited on the street, while Wood went to see what the Colonel wanted.
Swayne asked Wood if he would like a furlough, and Wood answered he
would. The remainder of our party were called in from the street, and
asked the same question, to which we answered in the affirmative.
Furloughs were immediately filled out, signed by the Post commander,
and forwarded to Columbus, Ohio, to be approved by General Heintzleman,
the department commander. We went to the Soldiers' Home, got our
dinners, and by two o'clock reported again at Head-Quarters, where we
received orders to report at Lytle Barracks. Each of us was furnished
with a pass good for five days and nights, giving us the freedom of the
city.
On reaching Lytle Barracks we gave Colonel Swayne's order to the
Captain commanding. The order required him to admit us to the barracks;
to issue us the full allowance of rations; to issue us clothing, if
we desired it; and allow us to pass in and out at all times of day and
night until nine o'clock, P. M. On the afternoon of the 29th we made
out partial descriptive lists, and drew new clothing, a full suit each,
the next morning. On the 30th, after washing and dressing ourselves, we
went out into the city. On the morning of the 31st our furloughs came
from Columbus, approved. With our furloughs we received transportation
papers. Early in the day, Wood took the train and was off for his home
in Western Pennsylvania. Wood, although a resident of Pennsylvania,
had enlisted in the 26th Ohio Volunteers. Later in the day, Smith and
Sutherland left together for their homes in Michigan. On being left
alone of our party, I went to H. H. Hills's drug store, and remained
there over night with a friend, from whom I learned for the first time
of the sad losses my Company had sustained in battle at Chickamauga. On
April 1st I took breakfast at the Indiana House, and very soon after
was aboard the cars and homeward bound. I arrived home in Georgetown,
Illinois, Sunday evening, April 3, 1864, and found my letter written
at Camp Reynolds, Virginia, had not been received. My visit was
unexpected, and the first intimation my father and folks had received
for many weeks that I was yet alive, was when I entered the old home.
The letter came the next morning, April 4th.