DEEDS OF DARING 8Y The American Soldier NORTH AND SOUTH THRILLING NARRATIVES OF PERSONAL ADVENTURE, EXPLOITS OF SCOUTS AND SPIES, FORLORN HOPES, HEROIC BRAVERY, PATIENT ENDURANCE, IMPRISONMENTS AND HAIR BREADTH ESCAPES, ROMANTIC INCIDENTS, HAND TO HAND STRUGGLES, HUMOROUS AND TRAGIC EVENTS, PERILOUS JOURNEYS, BOLD DASHES, BRILLIANT SUCCESSES, MAGNANIMOUS ACTIONS, ETC., ON EACH SIDE THE LINE DURING THE CIVIL WAR / BY D. M. KELSEY, A tUhor of ^'■Pioneer Heroes and Daring Deeds.'' /V REVISED EDITION. ^.^ ^ ^ ^ V\H^' CHICAGO AND NEW YORK: THE WERNER COMPANY. 1897. Copyright, 18S3 and 1886, By H. B, SCAMMELI.. Copyright, 1897, By Th:e Werner Company. EEDS or DARING. ^ >o vo .ed Kai/'^o- — An ant '^ i^ONTENTS. CHAPTEE I. A PEKSEVERING ]VIESSENGER. The Dispatch Bearers — Danger of the Mission — An Unlucky Meeting — The Mes- senger Gets Left — Sent Back — Another Start — A More Unlucky Meeting — Court-Martialed by Guerillas — A Friend in Need — Sent Back Again — Irre- pressible — A Rendezvous in the Woods — Important Information — Why He Went Back— Gives it Up 23 CHAPTEE II. PAST THE BLOCKADERS. Precautions Before Leaving England — An Uninviting Vessel and Unwilling Cap- tain — Cfhased — Into the Jaws of Death — And Out Again — Followed — A Per- sistent Enemy — But Bad Marksmanship — No Shots in Replj' — Nothing to Shoot— The Blockaders Get Tired— And the Rebs Get a Rest 30 CHAPTEE III. ZOUAVES ON A SCOUT. Ready to Move — Spoiling for a Fight — Reconnoitering — Returning — Three to One — " We'll Back You " — A Surprise — A Skedaddle — A Brisk Engagement — A Rapid Retreat — The Spoils of the Battle — Caring for the Wounded — Another Surprise — A Strong Position — A Desperate Defense — A Hand-to-Hand En- counter — Terrible Odds — Every Man for Himself — Help Comes Too Late — Marks of the Fight 41 CHAPTEE lY. THE ENEMY'S SECRETS, Lieut. Pelouze and His Friend — Interview with the President — On to Richmond — In the Confederate War Department — The Token — A Vengeful Woman — Trapped — The Spy's Escape — Leave of Absence — Ribbons and Photographs — "We Did It I" — Green Fields and Pastures New — A Friendly Enemy — Gen. Grant's Opinion — A Scouting Adventure 55 CHAPTEE y. CAUGHT A TARTAR, A Reconnoissance — A Hard Road to Travel — Surprised — Surrender of Arms — His Captors Get His Ammunition and He Gets His Liberty 69 CHAPTEE yi. A SCOUT TO BALTIMORE. Necessity for Information — Obliging Videttes — A Successful Ruse — An Unexpected viii Contents. Guest, Who Finds Himself in a Hornet's Nest, But Doesn't Get Stung — A Cor- dial Reception — Attentions from the Officer of the Day — Danger Ahead — Get- ting tlie Countersign — A Drunken OfBcer, Who Speedily Sobers OfiT — A Changed Home — Trustworthy (?) Messengers — A Deserved Fate — A Friendly Chat, That Ends Unpleasantly— Crossing the Elver— The F Alarmed — Pursuit — Vexation of the Pursuers — The Pursued Triumpha^ 74 CHAPTEE YII. ZAGONYI'S FAMOUS CHARGE. Fremont — Zagonyi — Fremont's Body Guard — A Kid-Gloved Brigade — The Prairi' Scouts — Valuable Information — Strength and Disposition of the Confederates — "Fremont and the Union" — The Valley of Death — Zagonyi's Attack — Ketreat of the Enen\v— A Determined Foe— His Fate- The Fight Ended — Not a Kid- Gloved Brigade 85 CHAPTER VIII. A VENTURESOME VENTURE. • Too Venturesome for a Leader — A Good Chance — In Ambush — A Disappointed Part}' — A Slim Chance — A Woman in the Case — A Desperate State of Affairs — A Golden Opportunit}' — That Proves to be Less Golden — A Division is Brought Out — Capture of the Scouts — Exchange .' 95 CHAPTEE IX. GARFIELD'S DISPATCH BEARER. Marshall's Invasion of Kentucky — Disposition of the Federal Forces — John Jor- dan — The Precious Bullet — Summoned to Surrender — A Wild Break for Lib- ertj' — Answering the Owl — Pursued and Treed — A Lucky Misstep — The Er- rand Done — Dangers of the Return Journej^ — The Result — Garfield's Reward — John Jordan's Reward 104 CHAPTEE X. THE GREAT RAILWAY RAID. The Georgia State Railroad — Tlie Backbone of the Confederacy — Going South — Twenty Minutes for Breakfast — An Unlooked for Interruption — A Ridiculous Race — Cutting the Telegraph Wire — Beauregnrd's Powder — A Dangerous Delay —The Reason For It— A Fatal Mistake— First Signs of Pursuit— The Race Ex- plained — Leaping Over the Obstructions — Tiie Impossible is Done — Unsuccess- ful Ruses — A New Danger — A Ray of Hope — The Engineer's Plan — The Cap- tain's — The Pursuit on Foot — Captured — Escape of Captain Andrews — Re- capture — His Fate — Fate of His Companions — A Daring Escape — The Presi- dent's Praise — The Missing 119 CHAPTER XI. A SOLITARY SCOUT. His Errand — In the Enemy's Country — A Cordial Reception — A Mistaken Crowd — Cool Impudence — The Gunboats for Land Use — xV Yankee Trick — Decidedly Brilliant — A Horse in Church — A Scared Justice — A Friendly Warning — Asleep in the Storm — In a New Role — The Guest of a Regiment — An Unsuc- cessful Attempt — Pursued by Bloodhounds — Running Water — A Novel Bed — Contents. \ x A Dusky Friend— A Feast— A Horse and Buggy Impressed — Arrived in Style — Safe in Camp I39 CHAPTEE XII. STRINGFELLOW AGAINST ODDS. A Small-sized Eaid — Posting the Force — A Bearer of Dispatches — Disobedience of Orders — An Alarming State of Affiiirs — The Biter Bit — Injured Innocence — An Indignant Prisoner — Something Wrong — The Prisoner Refuses to be Released — Between Two Fires — A Strong Temptation — Resisted — A Sudden Revelation — A Little Battle — A Surrender and Skedaddle — Astonishing the Pickets — A Race — A Battle of Larger Forces — Retreat of the Confederates — Taking Stock of the Spoils — He Called Himself a Fool — And Nobody Contradicted Him..l56 CHAPTER XIII. CAPTURING A CAPTAIN. A Ghostly Visitor — Investigations — A Woman in the Case — Trooly Loil — A Sus- picious Officer — Determined to Find it Out — He Finds it Out — But Gets Lost Himself. 167 CHAPTEE XIY. A SOUTHERN HEROINE. A Woman's Weapon — A Reason for Refusing a Pass — W^hich AVas Not Appre- ciated — A Gallant Enemy — A Post of Vantage — She Heard Their Plans — A Midnight Ride — Almost Caught — Safe Again — An Enemy Not Whipped Out of His Boots 171 CHAPTEE XY. A SPY'S ADVENTURE. The Sp3^ — His Work Done — Leaving the Camp — Hunting the Boat — A Vain Search — His Character Suspected in Camp — Pursued — Bloodhounds — The Stream — Nearly Caught— The Dog's Fate— The Spy's Escape 181 CHAPTEE XYI, ESCAPING THE DEATH-PENALTY. At Lexington — A Violated Parole — Alton Penitentiary — Solitary Confinement — A INIysterious Door — The Mj-stery Solved — Difficulties of the Undertaking — The Tunnel — A Friendly Boatman — Alarmed — Puzzled Guards — A Generous Comrade— Final Escape 188 CHAPTEE XYII. NOT QUITE. Federal Vengeance — The Confederates Take a Hand — Drawing Lots for Life — A Little More Time — His Turn Comes — A Flight Through the Darkness— A Grisly Hiding-Place — A Friend in Need — A Familiar Voice — Ready to Sell His Life Dearly— Nobody Wants to Buy— Not Quite a Dead Man 201 CHAPTEE XYIII. A DARING CAPTURE. The Prince George Cavalry — An Enterprise of Privates — Betrayed by a Dog— Tlie X Contents. Arrest — To McClellan's or Lee's Headquarters ? — The Captor's Prefer to Go to Lee's— Effect on the Crew 214 CHAPTER XIX. CAPTAIISI' LIGHTNING'S TEICKS. Morgan's Kentucky Eaid — One of His Assistants — Keason for the Nickname — A Good Beginning — A Strange Coincidence — A Practical Joke — Lebanon — A Vanished Operator — A Bet Won — And Information Gained — An Astonished Operator — An Important Message — The Enemy Knew Too Much— But Not for Long — A Missing Instrument — An Ahxrmed Operator — Embarrassing Questions — Unsatisfactory Answers — Telling the Truth Does No Harm — A Prudent Operator — "Fixing Up a Plan to Capture Morgan" — A Sharp Kepri- mand — An Astonishing Statement — The Signature Explained — General Orders No. 1— No More Such Work— Ellsworth's Invention 219 CHAPTER XX. A WONDEKFUL PvIDE. Self Praise is Half Scandal — An Enemy's Generosity — Charge on the Battery — A Cannoneer's Resolve — Saving a Gun — Five Hundred Bullets — The Mark Un- hit— Cheered by the Enemy— Safe 231 CHAPTER XXI. A GENERAL'S ESCAPE. Manassas or Bull Run — Hunting for Troops — An Unexpected Meeting — A Trio of Stragglers — Who Exchanged Opinions — One is Suspected — They Had Better Have Let Him Go — A Surprised Federal 237 CHAPTER XXII. A PAIR OF FORAGERS. They Want Their Breakfast — How They Got It — A Traitorous Hostess — Pursued— Close Quarters — A Narrow Escape — Detected — A Good Thing for the Com- mand ....24] CHAPTER XXIII. RESCUING A COMRADE. Infantry Curiosity — Cavalry Disgust — Moral of the Story — Attack on the Train — The Charge — Repulsed — Harper's Perilous Position — A Generous Offer — A Warm Meeting — Safe — A Close Shave — A Frank Confession — A Second Charge, and Its Result 246 CHAPTER XXIV. SECRET SERVICE. A Mysterious Order — The Man Needed — Explanation of the Order — Disappear- ance of the Soldier — Sudden Appearance of the Quaker — Interviewing the Picket — Distributing Tracts and Examining Fortifications — An Innocent Note — With Much Meaning — An Unlucky Meeting — The Quaker Disappears — The Kind of Tracts He Meant — Suspicions Verified — News to Gen. Bragg — A Fine Old Country Gentleman — And Equally Fine Old Whis'' v— Gea. Bragg-'s Contents. xi Intentions— Tom Sees the Joke— Delay— Dangerous Proximity — Allaying Sus- picion — ANarrow Escape — A Second Mysterious Order 256 CHAPTEE XXy. ONE OF MOSBY'S EAIDS. Affairs at Fairfax Court-House— Disposing of the Pickets — The Meaning of It- Prisoners and Booty — A Narrow Escape — Different Statements 271 CHAPTEE XXVI. AN ADVENTURE OF PAULINE CUSHIMAN. Startling Advice— The Toast — Effect on the Audience—" Banished South " — Her Wanderings — Securing a Disguise — Setting Out— A Camp Eire- Friends or Foes?— Foes— Betrayed — Pursued— The Wounded Federal— Help— Captured— — Scaring Her Captors — Escape — After Adventures 275 CHAPTEE XXVII. A DARING RESCUE. i Mysterious Hero — Seeking Danger — Stirring News — Friends in Peril — Recon- noissance — The Journey — A False Alarm — Outside the Jail — In the Jail — Keys of the Cells— A Single-Handed Attack— The Keys Secured— Release of the Prisoners — Retreat — Pursuit Eluded 290 CHAPTEE XXVIII. A PRISONER'S NEWS. \. Friendly Chat— An Unwilling Listener — Exciting Tidings — His Resolve — Cir- cumstances Favoring His Escape — His Departure — Asking Aid — The Guide — Progress Under Difficulties — The End of the Journey — What Was Saved... 300 CHAPTEE XXIX. A BLOCKADE-RUNNER'S FATE. A Volunteer Messenger — The Captain at Last — A Tempting Prize — Yankee Shrewdness— Outnumbered, but Victorious— A Collection of Johnnies- De- struction of the Cooper— A Hundred Men to the Rescue— Only They Didn't Get There— The Penalty of Being Good-Looking 309 CHAPTEE XXX. CAPTURE AND ESCAPE OF MORGAN. The Partisan — The "Marion of the West"— Different Opinions— Reason for Raid —First Triumph— Called Back — Second Start — la Kentucky— Capt. Hines' Scout — A Warm Reception — Marauding — General Scare — Rapid Marching — High Water — Lessening the Force — Surrender of Morgan with Remnant of Command — Securing the Prisoners — Ohio Penitentiary — "Old Man Hevay" — The Prisoners Ride the Guard's Hobby — The Tunnel Begun — A Second Guard Taken in by Flattery — Eeconnoissance Made Possible — A Prize in the Shape of a Spade — Tunneling — Necessity for Haste — A Brother's Devotion — Outside the Penitentiary — Was There Collusion — A Traveling Companion — The Es- cape — Discovered — Morgan's Death 321 xii Contents. CHAPTEE XXXI. A PERILOUS JOUENEY. Necessity for the Trip — Volunteers — The Extra Tallow Cans — Running the Batter- ies — Pursuit — The Obstacles — Useless Efl'orts — The Fireman's Plan — Oiling the Track — Pursuit Baffled — Escape — Delivery of the Dispatches 342 CHAPTEE XXXII. A CRIPPLED MESSENGER. The Siege of Vicksburg — Caps and Dispatches to be Carried in — Departure — A Pleasing Sight — Past the Pickets — Loss of Crutch and Horse — A Canoe — On the River Among the Enemy's Gunboats — A Lazy Fisherman — Passing the Federal Guns — Failing Strength — In Vicksburg — Return — Finds a Horse — A Forager — An Unreliable Guide — A Cautious Enemy — A Lucky Find — De- livers his Dispatches 353 • CHAPTEE XXXIII. IN THE ENEMY'S CAMP. The Scout's Fate — His Successor — The Errand Stated — Setting Out — Precautions — A Friendly Greeting — A Ready-made Disguise — A Guide Provided — The Countersign — The Sentry Disposed of— A Struggle — A Council of War — An Uninvited Member — A Wide-awake Sentry — Discovered' — "No, You Don't!" —"Tallahassee, Tallahassee !"— The Chase— Escape— The Result 362 CHAPTEE XXXIY. "KILDEE" AND HIS FRIEND. The "Birds" — Within the Enemy's Lines — An Unexpected Obstacle — Difficulties of the Case — An Inquiring Mind — Satisfied — A Mad Ride — The Chase — Cap- tured— "Shall We Stretch Legs or Hemp?"— "Let Her Roll, Gallagher" — They Roll 872 CHAPTEE XXXV. AN ESCAPE FROM LIBBY. Defying Search — Resolution to Escape — Opinion of Others — A Companion — An Unsuccessful Plan — Another Mtjde Proposed — Mystifying their Comrades — Passing the Guards — At the Rendezvous — A Keen-eyed Stranger — The Source of Help— At the Picket Post 378 CHAPTEE XXXVI. A DANGEROUS MISSION. Necessity for Trusty Messenger — Col. Baker Volunteers — Dispatches Delivered — Danger Ahead — Worse and More of It — The Whole Confederate Army — A Break in the Column — Dashes Through — Pursued — Difficulties — Stratagem — Success — A Close Contest — Bull Run — The Stream is Crossed — Escape of Messenger. 387 CHAPTEE XXXYII. A BREAK FOR LIBERTY. The Old Prison — Efforts to Escape — Col. Rose's Tunnel— A False Alarm— Hor- Contents. xiii rors of the "Dead Cellar" — Capt. Moran Finds the Passage — The Entrance to the Tunnel — Comrades — Into the Upper Air Again — Out of tlie City — Pur- sued — Separation — The Swainp — Surroundi'd — A Dash fur Liberty — Into tlie Enemy's Arms — Back to Libby 397 CHAPTER XXXVIII. ADYENTURES OE AN ARTFUL DODGER. The Scout's Errand — His Force — Mode of Proceeding — A Bivouac in the Woods — Salt Mule and Sheet-Iron Crackers — A. Rude Awakening— "Let Me Dreau) Again" — Not So Fast Asleep as tlie Enemy Thought — Flight — Surrounded — Concealed — Discovered — The Difficulty of Riding aMule — Where is lie? — Nowhere — Safe 411 ' CHAPTEE XXXIX. CAPTURING A PARTISAN. The Partisan's Record — Efforts to Take Him — A Discovery — Pursuit by Two Men — A Rough Road — A Cold Bath and Its Results — Dashing Onward — The Scent Lost — Another Finds It — The Capture — Return — Value of the Prisoners —The Captor's Surprise. 422 CHAPTER XL. COL. MENEFEE'S RIDE FOR LIFE. The Partisans and their Outfit— A Skirmish in the Woods — Federal Reinforce- ments — Retreat of Confederates — Pursuit — The JNIountain Side— For the Sake of One of His Men— A Steep Descent— A Dash Down It 427 CHAPTER XLI. DAHLGREN'S RAID. The Object— Difference of Opinion— Organization of the Force— Dahlgren's Rec- ord—Departure—A Heavy Storm — Failure to Co-operate— Skirmish near Richmond— The Retreat— Crossing the Stream — Movements of the Confeder- ates—The Ambush in the Woods— Death of Col. Dahlgren— Action of the Confederate Government > 432 CHAPTER XLII. ADVENTURE OF FORAGERS. Relaxing Discipline— Three Foragers- A Promising Barn— Captured— A Council of War— Ten Minutes to Pray In— They Prefer to Pray Somewhere Else — A Race and an Interested Spectator — Who Soon Has a Race of His Own- Escape — Revenge 4^- CHAPTER XLIII. DOWN HILL. Sheridan's Instructions— Why the Feds Withdrew— The Colonel's Horse— Hunt- ing a Captor— Under the Tree— Willing to be Plucked— No Orderly There —The Colonel's Guard— The Adjutant— An Affecting Story— A Halt— In the Shadow— Obligingly Forgetful— Rolling Down the Hill— An Alarming Bugle —Doubt— Yankee Doodle— With Friends 448 xiv Contents. CHAPTEE XLIV A CAPTIVE TIGER. Situation of the Armies — Lee's Invasion of Pennsylvania — Battle of Gettysburg —The Tiger Caught— The Tiger Caged— Life at Eort Delaware— Two Souls with but a Single Thought — The Life Preservers — The Galvanized — Under the Carpenter-Shop — An Indulgent Sentry — The Iron-Clads Tested — Suc- cess 460 CHAPTEE XLY. A CHAPLAIN'S EXPLOIT. Left Behind — Sympathy for tlie Sick — Eeal Sympathy — A Mad Undertaking — Ridiculed by Comrades — Determined to Go — The Preparations of a Non-Com- batant — Approaches the Enemy's Stronghold — " Who Goes There ! " — An Unex- pected Friend — Passing the Enemy's Pickets — Reaching the Hospital — The De- serted Mansion — The Sick Soldier— A Sad Sight—" I Have Come to Take You to Camp, Billy" — Challenged — A Close Shave — Through the Darkness — Safe at Last.....' 473 CHAPTEE XLYI. LIEUT. BAILEY'S EXPERIENCE. Siege of Atlanta — A Mission of Danger — A Determined Charge — A Firm Re- sistance — Captured — A Drunken Captor — " Fall in, Prisoners " — An Effort to Escape — Retaken — The Bivouac — Buried Alive — The Grave — Waiting — Resurrection — A Friend — More Friends — In the " Quarters " — Jim — Setting Out — A Young Scout — Who Proves Unreliable — "Tie-Tickets" on the Rail- road — Worn-out — Disappointment — Rest — A Sleepy Sentinel — Recaptured — Forebodings of Evil — Two Tete-a-tetes — A Plan — A Good Place to Die In^ The Funeral Arranged — Two Minutes to Pray — -A Leap for Life — The Pursuit — Wounded — A Friend in Need — Return Home 485 CHAPTEE XLVII. VISITING HOME UNDER DIFFICULTIES. A Disappointment to Begin With — Determined to Go — Reluctance of Officer — The Union Men of Teimessee — Tinker Dave Beatty — Tricking the Feder- als — Capt. Guild's Plan — A Friend — Dangers of the Attempt — "Our" Men — In Sight of Home — Reception — Departure — Fate of His Comrades — With Friends 500 CHAPTEE XLYIII. CAPTURED BY MOSBY. Congratulations — Spencer Rifles — Congratulations Postponed — Col. Mosby — The Auction — A Disgusted Darkey — Mosby's Defense of His Men — On to Rich- mond — The Bivouac — Plans for Escape — A Cliarming View — A Slim Chance — Scarce of Horses — A Successful Ruse — " Now's the Time, Boys" — A Sudden Melee— The Enemy Scattered— The Flight— Concealment— Why Wash Went for the Corn— Why He Hurried Back — "Looking Out For Yanks"— Find- ing Them ....517 CHAPTEE XLIX. ARRESTING A SMUGGLER. Reasons for the Trade — The Eiforts of the Police — The Military Authorities — Contents. xv Going it Alone — A Green Soldier — A Surly Sailor — A Fine Boat — The Arrest — ^A Combat of Will — He Concludes to Surrender — The Lumber Yard — Com- pletely Vanquished 584 CHAPTEE L. TWO OF THE BLACK HORSE CAVALRY. Organization of the Corps — Circumstances of One Adventure — The Price of Liq- uor — Honor Pledged — " As E:isy as Lying " — A Part of the Price — The Rest of It — An Important Prisoner — Gen. Stuart's Gallantry Tested — He Sees the Joke — The Corps Disbanded 541 CHAPTEE LI. DESTRUCTION OF THE ALBEMARLE. Torpedoes — The Albemarle — Lieut. Cushing's Plan — The Expedition — Precau- tions Adopted — The .Tournej- — Defenses of the Ram — The Attack — Confusion — The Launch — Disabled — Federals Captured — Lieut. Cushing's Narrow Es- cape — Senseless on the Shore — Hears of His Own Death — Creeping Away — Difficulties — The Swamp Road — An Astonished Darkey — A Satisfactory Re- port — A Prize — Floating Down the Roanoke — Perplexed Marines — A Surprise — Honor Claimed by Another Man — The Claim Disproved 550 CHAPTEE LII. CONFEDERATES IN SHERIDAN'S CAMP. Necessity for Information — The Party — "One of Blazer's Scouts" — A Sleepy Picket — The End Accomplished — Another Trip — Confederate Vcjtes for Lin- coln — Issuing Orders to a Federal Officer — Blazer's Scouts in Reality — A Hot Pursuit — Taking the Fence — Back to His Men — A Desperate Skirmish — After Events 562 CHAPTEE LIII. AN ESCAPE FROM A TRAIN. The Road — Removal of Prisoners — Carelessness of Guards — Heavy Rain — Escape — Escape Discovered — Pursued — Baffling the Bloodhounds — The Swamp — A Great Loss — Helped by the Negroes — A Scare — An Unexpected Friend — Re- inforcements — Hope Deferred — A Surprise — A Battle — Flight — Alone and Hopeless— Friends — Counting the Loss — Safe 573 CHAPTEE LIY. A RAID FOR HORSES. A Mount Wanted— A Chance to Get One — Bad Weather— "A Thrifle Nearer " — A Little Too Near — Success — A Brick — A Charge and a Chase — A Fall on the Ice — Another Prisoner — Riding Double — An Affecting (?) Farewell — Bad Luck— A Call on the Ladies— War Toilets— The Dinner They Missed— The Dinner They Didn't Miss^A Good Time — A Rude Awakening — Captured — Well Guarded — " Good Night" — A Prearranged Signal — "He Hasn't Escaped, But He's Going To" — And He Does — Chasing a Riderless Horse — The Rider Escapes on Foot — Gen. Sherman's Opinion on Horses and a Soldier's Mode of Procuring Them 583 xvi Contents. CHAPTEE LV. CAPTUKE AND FLIGHT OF THE COKEESPONDENTS. The Newspaper Man — llunniiig the Confederate Batteries at Vicksburg — Cap- tured — Libby — Plans to Escape — Castle Thunder — Salisbury — Hurry Up — Change in Management — A Forged Pass — Another Plan — An Apologetic Guard — Past the Outer Guards — Prudent Halt — The Gray Mare — Cold Weather— Sable Friends— Losing the Way — "The Old United States" — "Nobody Ever Gits Thar" — The March Across the Mountains— Dan Ellis, the Famous Guide — Generous Enemies — Danger Threatens — A Pretty Guide —The Federal Pickets 598 CHAPTEE LYI. THE INSANITY DODGE. Necessary Precautions — Have Tou Seen a Horse — A Second Meeting — A Well Played Part — An Unsuccessful Search — Delivery of Dispatches 617 CHAPTEE LYII. WHEELEPv'S CAVALPvY ESCAPADES. Stage of the War — Gen. Wheeler's Determination — A Companion — Swimming the Peedee — An Uninvited Comrade — An Earnest Appeal — A Borrowed Name — " Sam. Johnson" — A Hearty Welcome — Sam's Bashfulness — A Sud- den Alarm — Unfounded Anxiety — "Scare 'em out of their Boots" — Signs of the Enemy — The Bugler — Eetreat of the Enemy — Incidents of the Pursuit — Advance of Gen. Hampton 622 CHAPTEE LVIII. DESTROYING THE ENEMY'S STORES. The Deserter's Information— Wouldn't Be Outdone- The Invitation Accepted— The Departure from Camp — Pompey's Distrust— At the Point Threatened — Access to the House — Enemies Near — Caution — The Powder Securely Dis- posed of— A Sudden Attack— A Desperate Struggle— Victory— Rapid Re- treat — Pompey's Dismay 632 CHAPTEE LIX. CAPTURING TWO GENERALS. An Attractive Idea— Cumberland — How They Got the Countersign— Gathering in the Reserve — " Scouts from New Creek " — No Time for Ceremony— A Faithful Servant—" Sent Out to Reconnoiter "—Necessity for Haste— Pursued — Escape With Prisoners — Recognition of Services 644 CHAPTEE LX. A NARROW ESCAPE. A Couple of Deserters — The Court-Martial's Finding— Preparations for the Exe- cution—An Impressive Scene— " Shoulder Arms!" — Baltimore Telegraph Office- A Delayed Dispatch— " For Mr. Lincoln's Sake"— By Way of New York and Chicago— To Harper's Ferry- Just in Time— Pardoned 651 Contents. xvu CHAPTEE LXI. DETERMINED TO ESCAPE. A Spirited Engagement-A Victory Barren of Trophies-Disposition of the Pris- oners-Prison Pastimes-Base Ball-" Opinions of the Press "-Better Sport- Efforts to Escape-Timneling-Failure-A Drunken Driver-Almost Free- Eecaptured-A Daring Plan-Scaling the Parapet-He Escapes- Almost m •Canada-Eetaken by Farmers-Spirit Broken-Spirit Gets Mended-Busy at Work- A Wonderful Achievement— "An Escape Planned "—Guards Doub- led-Strict Examination— Review of Inspecting Party— Discovery of Prison- er among Them— A Sensible and Generous Officer— Remanded to Prison— How He Was Freed ^^^ iiST OF Illustrations. The Dispatch-Bearer's Strategy, . "You're a Yankee Spy," Pursued and Pursuer Fast Aground A Headlong Pursuit, The Fight on Kelley's Island, The Spy's Interview with Uncle Abe The Bogus- Priest, "Spies! Spies! Yankee Spies!" Catching a Tartar, . "Mine isn't," Major Zagonyi, Charge op Fremont's Body G-uard Attack on Zagonyi, . " There's only four or them !" A Piece of Work to be Done, "Who! Who! Who!" The Featherless Owl, Treed, But Not Caught Yet, The Steed, but not the Man, Cutting the Telegraph Wires, . The Pursuit, ..... PAGE. Full Page, Frontispiece. 26 Full Full Page, Page, 38 45 52 56 60 68 72 82 86 90 93 Full Page, 100 . 106 113 114 117 122 Full Page, 126 Full Page, Escaped Prisoners Captured with Bloodhounds, Full Page, 134 A Horse in Church, ..... 143 " Hi, uncle ?" ...... 150 " Stop a minute, won't you ?" . . . . 152 The Scout, ..... Full Page, 154 Four to One, ...... 160 "Why do you wear men's boots?" . . . 169 " Her very life seemed centered in her ears," . 174 The Urgent Midnight Message, .... 177 The Spy and the Bloodhound, . . Full Page, 186 Diagram of Escape of Fifty Confederate Prisoners from Old Alton Penitentiary, . . . . 194 A Southern Underground Eoute, . . . 197 List of Illustrations. XIX Drawing Lots for the Death-Penalty, A Mean Yankee Trick, A Grisly Hiding-Place, Boarding the Vessel, "Do AS I tell you at once," Bull Eun Battle-Field, The Cannoneer's Eide, Turning the Tables, The Mysterious Signals, Quick Work, A Cavalry Charge, An Infantry Charge, Eescuing a Comrade, Gen. Earl Van Dorn, Van Dorn and the Quaker, . " What does this mean, sir V Pauline Cushman, A Midnight Visitor, Guerillas in Camp, Nearing the Chasm, Eescuing the Condemned Scouts, Passing the Batteries at Vicksburg Seeking a Guide, " Leave your address. Pomp," "We are all genuine Johnnies," Burning the Blockade-Eunner, Gen. John H. Morgan, Morgan's Eaiders, Harassed Eaiders, The Escape, EUNNING THE GaUNTLET, Oiling the Track, "Like a shot past the picket," Passing the Port-Holes, Giving the Countersign, The Struggle with the Sentry, Peering into the Tent, Firing the Eockets, "Anything but capture," LiBBY Prison, Passing the Guard, 2 Full Page, 204 208 210 216 224 232 Full Page, ''34 239 • 242 244 Full Page, 248 Full Page, 249 , 255 , , 260 • ' 261 273 276 279 Full Page, 282 285 Full Page, 296 Full Page, 304 306 310 316 FuU Page, 318 322 Full Page, 328 332 340 Full Page, 346 351 355 359 . 366 , 368 , 369 , 370 , 374 • 379 382 XX List of Illustrations. In HiDiNa, A Shot from the Thicket, The Pickets Take a Hand, The Prisoner's Dream of Home Diagram op Tunnel, 2n the Dead Cellar, A EuDE Awakening, The Mule Changes His Mind, A Cold Bath, Menefee's Eide, Gen. N. B. Forrest, Gen. H. J. KiLPATRicK, Crossing the Eapidan, Col. XJlric Dahlgren, Death of Dahlgren, The Foragers Surprised, . A Bad Fall, Eough Eolling, A Critical Situation, . A Non-combatant's Equipment, The Deserted Comrade, Dashing Past the Sentinel, The Burial, The Eesurrection, . A Short Shrift, Stealing by the Pickets, . "Halt — surrender!" Col. John S. Mosby, "now's the time, boys !" " Did any of you ever eat any negro ? " Don't you dare to draw, sir !" Black Horse Cavalryman, A Eepast Disturbed, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, Lieut. W. B. Cushing, Destruction of the Albemarle, A Concealed Listener, Meeting the Darkey, Beguiled by Whisky, A Bad Jump, Homeward Bound, The Toilet, . 385 , ^ 391 . . Full Page, 394 , F^ill Page, 400 . 402 404 , 414 418 , 424 430 , 431 433 , 434 436 . . Full Page, 440 444 , 449 457 , 469 476 . 480 Full Page, 483 . 490 490 503 513 , 519 521 . . Full Page, 528 VEGRO?" 531 . 538 542 , 548 549 , 551 554 . 557 559 , 664 Full Page, 570 . 576 .589 List of Illustrations. XXI " Surrounded by Yankees !" The Signal — "Bonnie Doon/' The Catastrophe, Castle Thunder, Salisbury Prison, Dusky Ministering Angels, Fugitives Crossing the Blue Ridge, Capt. Dan Ellis, The Insane Dodge, GrEN. Wade Hampton, Gen. Joseph Wheeler, . " The best singer in the army," Following the Bugle, . Pomp's Anxiety, . • . Putting the Enemy in the Well, Getting the Countersign, The Reprieve, Old Capitol Prison, Changing Clothes with the Drunken Stoning the Guard, " Where's your cartridge-box ?" , , , 591 • • . 595 Full Page, 602 . 604 . . 606 , , , 609 . 612 c < . 614 • • • 620 k • . 623 • o . 625 • . . 627 . 620 . • . 635 Full Page, 640 646 . ■ . Full Page, 658 , 662 N Soldier, 665 , 667 O o 670 DEEDS OF DARING BY The American Soldier j::!haptef^ I A PERSETERING MESSENGER. The Dispatch Bearers — Danger of the Mission — ^An Unlucky Meeting — The Messen- ger Gets Left — Sent Back — Another Start — A More Unlucky Meeting — Court- martialed by Guerillas — A Friend in Need — Sent Back Again — Irrepressible — ^A Kendezvous in the Woods — Important Information — Why He Went Back — Gives It Up. IT was the night of the 21st of April, 1861, when four men took their seats on the train from the National Capital to Annapolis. They held no communication with each other, and any ordinary observer would have supposed them entire stran- gers ; but this was only an assumed manner, in order to increase the chances of doing the work assigned to them. They were Col. Lander, Maj. Welsh, Mr. "Van Valkenburg and Commissary Patton of the New York Seventh Regiment, and were charged with dispatches of importance from Gen. Scott, then in com- mand of the United States Army, to Gen. Butler. The mission was fraught with peculiar danger and difficulty, as so many of the Marylanders were ardent Secessionists; and the Union men could not, at that early stage of the war, tell readily what chance-met friend would turn out a foe. But the four with whom we have to deal thought they were to be favored by for- tune in this respect, as they reached the Junction without any one of them having been recognized. Such good fortune was not to last forever, though ; for, as the train drew up at the platform, and Mr. Patton, with the 23 24 ^ Persevering Messenger. other passengers, stepped off the car, his hand was warmly grasped by an old acquaintance. '' Why, how are you, Patton 't I thought you were a National Guard — what are you doing here V " Oh, nothing in particular. You oughtn't to think so much," "Oughtn't to think so much'r' What do you mean?" Mr. Patton quietly explained as much of the real state of affairs as was necessary and not imprudent; but the mischief Avas already done. In those days there were men always ready to play the spy over another's actions, to gain in an underhand and surreptitious manner knowledge having a market price; and although few officers were willing to hold any converse with such men, there were some who held that all things were fair in war. One of these informers had happened to overhear the bluff greeting, and lost no time in conveying the fact that a mem- ber of the National Guard was in town. Mr. Patton strolled toward the Annapolis train with his friend, little suspecting that any note had been taken of that friend's words. But the suspicion had spread rapidly, and when he went to the hotel, to find when the train would start, he was put off by evasive answers to that simple question ; they had no time table up to date — thought it would go in fifteen minutes — and the speaker appealed to a bystander. Mr. Patton was about to re- monstrate somewhat angrily, when he saw the train, some forty or fifty yards from him, move off. At the same time he was approached by a resident of the town, whom he afterwards found to be a prominent lawyer there. " What is your business in town, sir ?" this individual asked. "It is not with you, sir," replied Mr. Patton, as j)olitely as the meaning of his words would permit. "But mine is with you; you are suspected of being a spy." "I am no spy, but a messenger from the War Department at Washington to the commandant at Annapolis." The stranger bowed and withdrew ; but only a few feet ; from the new position he signaled to the captain of a militia com- pany that was drilling a short distance away. The drill was interrupted, and the* entire force marched towards them. The captain stepped up to Mr. Patton and demanded his business. "I am a messenger from the Secretary of War to the Command- ant at Annapolis. I do not understand why you question me : are you an officer of the United States ?" A Persevering Messenger. 25 " I am in command of the militia volunteering for home pro- tection. We are not United States soldiers." ''I was not aware that this state had seceded. In any event, I demand that you treat me as a prisoner of war, for I am an oflficer of the United States Government." A little cowed by the prisoner's resolute tone, the officer withdrew to hold a council of war with two or three of his sub- ordinates. The conference was a short one; all had heard every- thing that had been said, and had been affected in the same way. After a moment the captain turned again to Mr. Patton : "Well," he said, "you can't go on, anyhow ; you've got to go back to Washington. We'll send you back in a wagon." "Yery well," replied Mr. Patton; " I suppose your wagon is not ready yet? I'll walk along the road until it overtakes me." This was assented to ; but if he had any hopes of escaping from them in that way, and continuing his journey, they were doomed to disappointment, for the wagon overtook him in a very short time, and he was driven to the outposts of Washing- ton. But, although he had not objected to their arrangements when he was in the hands of the militia, he had no notion of carrying out their plans any farther than necessity compelled. So that the wagon was hardly out of sight when he turned to re- trace his steps, hoping to reach Annapolis by a road which did not lead through the Junction. Being very tired, he felt that he would be unable to proceed much farther, when he was over- taken by a farmer driving home. The offer of a dollar for a " lift," was gladly accepted, and Mr. Patton slept in the bottom of the wagon until the countryman arrived at his destination. Once more on foot, he must find a guide, that the journey might be accomplished as speedily as possible ; and was fortun- ate enough to overtake a boy who agreed, " for a consideration," to act in that capacity. Everything appeared to go well upon this second start, and he began to hope that his progress would not again be interrupted. But as they i^urned into the main road, they were met by a half-drunken fellow armed to the teeth, who ordered them to " hold on, there." "Who are you?" he demanded. "My name is Moore," replied Patton, anxious that his real name and errand should not be known to the guerillas, of whom this fellow was evidently one. "Where (hie) you going to ?" A Persevering Messenger. **I*m going to Annapolis, to oolleot some money due me there." The questioner eyed him critically for a jpcioment, and Patton thought that suspicion would fail to get into that befuddled brain, when the guerilla broke out with : "Say, I don't (hie) b'lieve a d — d word o' that. You*re a Yankee spy ; tha's wha' y'are." "I have told you my name and business," said Mr. Patton firmly; "now let me pass." "Won't let any d — d Yankee spy pass. You've got to (hie) come with me to tavern. Come 'long, now." If the messenger had spoken firmly, his waylayer showed signs of stubbornness such as is only to be seen in a man some- thing more than half- seas-over; and know- ing that a shot, or any other alarm, would speedily call a larger force to the ground, Mr. Patton decided to go to the tavern, hoping to escape on the way, or to find that his captor had no reinforcements there except liquor. But, unfortunately, his calculations were based on false grounds; and he found several other guerillas there, all fully armed, and all as drunk as his captor. The latter announ- ced that he had taken a prisoner, and the whole company was speedily resolved into a court martial. " Gren'lm'n, 'fore we proceed ter c'nsideration (hie) this case, le's have 'nother drink all round." "I move to 'mend — two drinks." The drinks were accordingly ordered and discussed. The captor was called as witness. " Court martial's always held in writing — ^too much trouble in this case for such a fellow's that. Whero'd you ketch him?'' " Down 't the fork; he's a spy." " Vou^re a Yankee Spy.'* A I^ersevering Messenger. 27 "Then he ought to be shot," decided the first, who acted as chief of the judges, and appeared to have some kind of author- ity over the others. " 'Taint so," growled a third ; " hang him, if he's a spy." " Don' know," remarked a fourth, who appeared to be less drunk than the others; " better lock him up." Number five had been nodding over his emj)ty glass j but now awakened with a start, and sagely remarked that they had bet- ter take another drink on it. The wisdom of this decision was so apparent that there was no argument following it, and the liquor was unanimously called for. But if before they had had any idea of prudence, or of obedience to the laws of war, it was washed completely away as the fiery stuff was gulped down ; and in a moment more they were all resolved to hang the spy. A rope was procured, and the prisoner, who saw no possibility of escape, was marched out into the yard. The rope was ad- justed over the limb of a tree with as much skill as if the mem- bers of the court martial had occasionally assisted Judge Lynch, and the preparations were complete. " Hallo ! What are you doing there ?" asked a horseman, who had ridden up while they were making their few rude arrange- ments. "Going to hang a d — d Yankee spy," was the answer, in a tone in which obstinacy and deference were curiously mingled. " Fall back !" was the authoritative command ; and the horse- man, as soon as his order was obeyed, approached Mr. Patton, and said : , " I know you ; you are a member of the National Guard ; I drank with you in Baltimore. Where were you going when they captured you ?" "To Annapolis." " On your own business, or that of the United States Govern- ment ?" " That of the Government." " Well, I can't allow you to go on ; that would be inconsistent with my duty as commander of this district; but if you will give me your word of honor that you will go straight back to Wash- ington, I will release you." Patton, glad to be released on any conditions from the drunk- en set who had held him prisoner, readily consented to do this, and was soon retracing his steps a second time. He arrived at 28 A Tersevermg Messenger, Washington without further adventure, and reported the failure of his efforts to Gen. Scott. In the capital he learned that three colleagues with whom he had set out, had beep no more success- ful than himself, having been arrested and sent back before they reached Annapolis. But he was not thus to be baffled ; he had made two efforts and failed ; and with faith in the magic of the mystic number, ho determined to try the third time. His parole, of course, did not bind him to any course of action, except the direct return to Washington; he had re-entered the capital in accordance with his promise, and had reported to the general in command of the forces there; he was then free to enter upon any other work, and he chose to make the attempt once more. He next disguised himself completely, and in company with a friend who owned a very fast team, drove out of the capital in ,a buggy. The object of the trip was to search for a stolen horse; and every one whom they met was questioned as to whether he had seen the animal in question. Strangely enough, no one had seen any traces of such a stray horse as the two described, and they drove onward. Their ruse forbade their traveling by night; so, as darkness came on, they stopped at a tavern for supper, lodging and breakfast. Having duly refreshed the in- ner man, the two retired to the room assigned them. But Pat- ton, in order to gain time, decided to push through on foot. It was important, however, that this movement should not be known to the people in the house until the next morning; sp he departed, by stealth, when they supposed he had gone to bed ; his companion remaining to take the buggy and horses back to Washington. He made his way to the woods, fearing that on the road he might be stopped ; and journeyed to a considerable dis- tance without meeting with any adventure. But now the sound of horses' feet were heard and the voices of men. He hastily concealed himself; and all his haste was needed ; he had scarce- ly a moment to spare before they were within a few feet of his hiding-place. There, much to his dismay, they halted, and were soon joined by two or three other parties that came from differ- ent quarters. It was evidently a rendezvous, but whether of guerillas or regularly enlisted Confederates, he could not tell. "Where's the Seventh, now?" asked one who appeared to have the authority of a commanding officer. " Embarked on the Washington train this evening," said one. A Persevering Messenger. 29 "Is that bridge all right ?" " Yes, sir," replied another -, the nuts are all off the bolts ; the train is bound to go down." This was evidently the chief thing to be reported, and in a little time the whole body moved off. Creeping from his hiding- place as soon as they were far enough away to render it safe, Patton hastened back to the hotel and aroused his companion. Together they started towards the bridge which had been so tampered with, intending to prevent the passage of the train. His effort in this case was successful, for.the train was not quite due when they arrived at the end of the bridge, and many lives were saved by the timely warning. The third effort to get to Annapolis was now foiled ; for, even if his identity and business were not known at the hotel, he had at least aroused suspicion by leaving with his friend in the mid- dle of the night. Then, too, he was utterly worn out by the three attempts, having driven eighty miles and walked thirty in the thirty hours. So after three distinct efforts to perform the task assigned him, he was finally obliged to turn it over to others, with only the consolation of a duty bravely attempted, though baffled by circumstances. HpHAPTER II. PAST THE BLOCKADERS. Precautions Before Leaving England — An Uninviting Vessel and Unwilling Cap- tain — Chased — Into the Jaws of Death — And Out Again — Followed — A Per- sistent Enemy — But Bad Marksmanship — No Shots in Reply — Nothing to Shoot— The Blockaders Get Tired— And the Rebs Get a Rest. ACEETAIIST wealthy South Carolinian, accompanied by his wife, went abroad in the year 1860. After several months spent pleasantly in Europe, they proceeded to Egj^pt. Here they lingered over the ancient ruins until suddenly called again to the living active world. A special courier had been sent up the Nile with some intelligence of merely personal interest; he brought with him some papers of later date than the tourists had yet seen ; and in these was contained the startling information that the first gun had been fired at Sumter upon the National Flag. ''We must go home at once," said the traveler to his wife; "for every man will be needed in the Southern army before the struggle is ended." Hastily, then, they prepared to depart. A Vigilance Commit- tee of the North had been established in London, as they learned on reaching the English metropolis; the United States Minister, Mr. Adams, is said to have repudiated indignantly all knowledge of the proceedings of this institution; but however this might be, our tourists' friends informed them that the names of Southern men who left England for the West Indies were invariably gaz- etted in the New York papers. To avoid this, our traveler, whose name was one well-known in the annals of his native State, was advised to adopt another, which would not be so read- ily recognized. It was as Mr. and Mrs. Crosby, then, that they 30 Tast the Blochiders. 81 sailed from Sonthamptoii, and by that name we will call them throughout this story. We need not follow them in their voyage to Havana, where they arrived just three days after Messrs. Mason and Slid ell had resumed their interrupted journey to England. Safe under the protection of the British flag of the vessel in which they had crossed the ocean, they had no difficulty whatever in getting into port; getting out was a different matter, when they were at last re-embarked in a Confederate vessel. In the first place, they had to wait several days for the arrival of such a craft. Finally, one arrived — a swift, strong steamer, drawing but little water, and, consequently, most admirably adapted to the work in which she was engaged. She had served as a tug-boat on the Lower Mississippi before the war — and a boat less fitted for the reception of passengers could not easilj" have been found. Nor did she, to the amateur eye, apj^ear sea- worthy. Besides all these disadvantages, the crew were as reckless looking a set of dare-devils as could be picked up in New Orleans for a service so full of perils. Altogether, the idea of a voyage in such a vessel was so uninviting that one gentleman, who, with his wife, had expected to accompany Mr. and Mrs. Crosby, flatly refused to ship in the Victoria. During the stay of this vessel in Havana, she passed into the hands of English owners, who determined to run her back at all hazards. She had brought over a cargo of cotton and sug- ar, on which, in anticipation of future scarcity of these articles, an unusually handsome profit had been made. The proceeds were invested in forty thousand pounds of gunpowder, a com- modity sorely needed in the Confederacy. A number of rifles and other munitions of war were placed in her hold, the mass of the cargo being just under the cabin. As a protection from chance sparks, a layer of bags of coffee was placed over the gun- powder; but the carelessness of all the smokers on board made it wonderful that no stray cigar stump fell into this somewhat inflammable shield. "I don't know exactly what the chances are of our being cap- tured by the Yankees," remarked Mr. Crosby to a fellow-pas- senger, " but it looks as if we Avere quite as likely to be blown up by our own men." The listener, a Louisianian named Beaujeu, only shrugged his shoulders and smiled in reply. 32 Fast the Blockadtrs. " Well, whatevei* happens," put in another of the party, a Mississippian, named Cooper, "we can't accuse the captain of persuading us to ship with him. He has done all in his power to frighten us off, and has ended by insisting that the owners shall charge us an exorbitant fare in gold." " Certainly, my dear fellow, if a stray spark penetrates to the powder, we'll not blame the captain or anybody else," rejoined Crosby. "Nobody'll ever know who was to blame," continued Beau- jeu, with mock pathos. But in spite of the captain's olDJections to passengers, there were several of them on board the Yictoria when about six o'clock on the evening of February 7th, 1861, she steamed out of the harbor of Havana. There was no danger of meeting with the enemy less than three miles from shore, for that dis- tance from the territory of a neutral power they were bound by the law of nations to respect. In those early days of the war, the Federal authorities had not yet learned the importance of guarding the Pennnsylvania coal mines. Anthracite coal was still exported, and thus the Confederate steamers were enabled to obtain, from so-called neutrals, a supply of the fuel so necessary to their safety. There was no smoke from the smoke-stacks of the Victoria as she stood out from Havana, and but for information which the United States Consul at that port had managed to convey to the caj)- tain of a man-of-war just without the charmed boundary between neutral waters and the high seas, the Yictoria would probably have passed unobserved. " Ten thousand stars were in the sky, Ten thousand in the sea," as the Federal hailed the long, low craft which glided like a shadow over the water. No answer was given to the summons, and the boom of a gun was heard. But the shot fell short, for the cunning eaptainof the Victoria had discovered the Federal in time to get his vessel out of range. "Astern chase is a long chase," when the speed of the pursuer is well matched with that of the pursued; but if the latter chances to be the swifter, the former must soon give up the effort. So it was in this case: the Victo- ria easily distanced the man-of-war, and was safe for the present. They had to battle with the next enemy that beset them, how- ever; forthe "gigantic storm-wind" is a foe that no ship can Past the Blockaders. 33 evade. But we are concerned only with their adventures in con- nection with the blockading fleet, and need not follow the staunch little vessel, or the passengers through the qualms of sea-sickness, and amid the storm ; for, although her machinery suifered severely from the strain which it underwent in battling against the gale, she was yet able to proceed on her way at a sufficiently rapid rate to escape pursuit. The build of the Con- federate enabled her officers to descry Federal cruisers before she herself was perceived, and she gave to such a wide berth. The principle adopted on such occasions was: *' Where you see a flag or a ship, avoid it," and, in carrying out such a policy, long detours are unavoidable. About mid-day of the third day from Havana, the officer upon duty suddenly espied, upon his right, the smoke of several steamers, their masts rising clear against the blue wintry sky. They had unconsciously sailed almost into the jaws of the blockading squadron, riding before the passes at the mouth of the Mississippi. Instantly the alarm was given; the head of the little steamer was turned, and as much steam crowded on as the weakened machinery would bear. The engine throbbed like the heart of some immense animal, fearful of an enemy yet more powerful. The officers and men were on the alert; the passengers equal- ly so. The gentlemen offered their services, if assistance should be required ; the ladies clung together and looked on in terror. "Thanks for the offer," replied the captain; but we hope to «how them a clean pair of heels. Do not be alarmed, ladies ; we