USA > Iowa > Story County > History of Story County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization. > Part 36
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CHAPTER XXIX. ROBERT CAMPBELL REACHES FRIENDS.
FED BY COLORED FRIENDS.
After bidding our friend good bye, we were passing a negro hut, and I walked in, telling the negroes that we were Yankees and very hungry, which was a fact. They were very much frightened at the prospect of the master's coming in and finding us Yanks, but we informed them we would skip out if any one should come. They baked all the corn meal they had in the house, though they would themselves do without, as they wouldn't draw for two days, their rations being issued to them as to soldiers.
DROWNING RIVER.
Away again and coming on the railroad we traveled it very cautiously and arrived at the bridge, which was a covered one and very dark. We thought about our capture on the bridge of the Great Pedee river and hesi- tated; but we must go. So we went in crawling on our hands and knees for it was so dark we couldn't see one another. Several times we came near going through, as the ties seemed so far apart. Once we thought the cars were coming, but happily it was a hand car and section hands. At last we were over; and taking a north course, by morning we had flanked Lum- berton and were across Drowning river.
Again there was a heavy rain, and we had just got off the road into the woods when we discovered a rebel and a Yankee, the latter being nearly naked. Soon two more cavalry went dashing by: and we very quickly took through the woods and lay down in the grass. As it was still raining we couldn't course our way very well; but night coming on and being very dark, we got onto the road again and made very good time and be- lieved we had walked twenty miles by daylight.
COMING TO CAPE FEAR RIVER.
We knew we had to cross the Cape Fear River, which a negro had in- formed us was well guarded and further was navigable. Our aim was
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to cross at Fayetteville, which was in our direct course; but finding out that it would be certain capture to go that way, it being morning and we in considerable of a settlement, we lay by all day in a corn field, eating raw corn and pumpkins. We were watching for some negro to go by so we could find some way to cross the river, for it was quite wide. Night came at last and I crawled up to reconnoiter a negro hut and hailed the black man, who was very much alarmed and would look around. I asked him what he was looking at, and he told me he was looking for his master to come every moment, and if he did he would take us and nearly kill him. This negro had no meal in the house and by looking down the road I espied the master coming. So out on the road again.
We were in hopes we would be able to cross the river before morning. It was so well known that we were escapes and so many after us, that we knew we must get across the river. Traveling all night along the banks and looking for boat or skiff, during our search we came near being dis- covered. Cape Fear River was about one quarter mile wide; and as Pad- dock and myself were poor swimmers, we couldn't think of trying it on the swim, though Jim could have made it. So we undertook to make a raft. We had no ax or knife, but a raft must be made. So packing some pitch pine cord wood down to the bank and lashing sticks together with bark and grape vines and our suspenders we had one ready, and we were to shove it off. Jim was to guide it, and we to hang on behind it, swim- ming as well as we could. Laying our clothes on we shoved off the bank, but the raft began sinking. The pitch pine would not float, as it was like a water soaked log. So we gave up that plan and tore the raft to pieces, layed the wood back and obliterated every sign of Yankees being there.
FRIENDS BY THE WAY.
While we were at work some negroes came along on the opposite side and luckily we were not discovered. Concluding that we would have to inquire and that even if the risk was great it couldn't be helped, we pro- ceeded up to a house which was only a half mile off. I inquired of an old lady who came to the door where the ferry boat was and how we could get across. She told us where the boat was and then I told her we were escapes and asked for something to eat; for we had been eating corn and pumpkins out of a field all day, which made us feel rather sick. She was deeply affected and with haste entered the house and brought out some good corn bread also flour cake and meat beside sweet potatoes. Well, it was a good meal to anyone and more particularly to us starved escapes. The good old soul was so kind and sympathetic; and her husband coming up extended his hand in a friendly way. He was a very old man and preacher, too old to be drafted or conscripted into the army. I think he had no desire to go anyhow. We informed him who we were and that we were aiming for Newbern, North Carolina. He says, "Boys. I am sorry
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for you and hope you get there and if you get there tell them that Wm. Hollingsworth is all right and I want you to write to me."
As we were about to start from him, what was our horror to see three soldiers advancing and we were so close to them that it was useless to run. I discovered one had a navy by his side. Looking toward the old man he gave us the hint to make the best of it. I spoke to one remarking about the weather, and one gave me the wink; so, bidding good day, we started off but oh! we listened for the word "halt!" and the old summons "surrender." We had gone but a short distance when we met with two more soldiers who were uniformed. Merely nodding to them and passing on we gained the river, and lucky for us the negro ferryman was there.
OVER CAPE FEAR RIVER.
The negro ferryman at first refused to take us over the Cape Fear river, telling us it would be death to take us over, as he had his orders; but we coaxed him and told him big yarns about what the Yankees would do for him; also we gave him a ten cent silver piece we had found in the road; and we were soon across. We admonished him never to tell anyone he had taken us over; and we were much relieved when we struck for the woods. We kept a good look out for we were not quite safe, having met so many soldiers. We couldn't make out what it all meant. Perhaps they all thought we were Johnies except the one who winked at us. No one could tell by our uniform which side we were on. Maybe our good old friend put them off the track.
After traveling eight miles all night in the brush, daylight came on and found us in a sweet potato patch, and having plenty of corn we struck for the brush again. And finding a good retreat we soon had a little fire started. Roasting corn and potatoes was the order of the next few hours and soon from the effects of our good meal we thought about sleep. So two would sleep while one would stay awake. Night coming on nothing happened to mar our secluded retreat, and we started out again, traveled all night and met with no opposition. Yet our course was difficult; for we kept in the woods and being weak had to halt and rest. At one time we fell asleep and think we put in a good time without any guards out ; but we didn't aim to do that way. When morning came we proposed to travel all day, as we had to cross a railroad soon. We thought we should come to it, and as we heard the howl of blood hounds during the night it was policy to get out of that country as soon as we could. Coming up to the railroad at noon and waiting for a favorable chance we were soon across and had another great relief for our minds for we had been afraid of the patrols on the road.
A FRIENDLY REBEL.
We went two miles beyond the railroad and lay down till dark, when a heavy rain came on; and we all concluded to go to a hut or house and hunt
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for something; for by our constant exposure and hunger we were beginning to fall away very fast. Remarking to one another that if we didn't soon reach our lines we could not make it and must do our best, we went up to a house which was a small neat one. On going in what was our surprise to discover a rebel soldier but there was no use retreating. He appeared to be sickly, so we made up our minds at a glance we could fix him if he under- took to capture us. A woman coming in and also a boy we asked for some- thing to eat. At first she hesitated and hoped we came with no intent to burn them out or steal anything; for she had heard so much about escaped prisoners that she couldn't help being frightened.
Being assured, however, of our good intents, she prepared us some sup- per and then turning around we soon found out our rebel soldier was a con- script and home on a sick furlough. He gave us a great deal of information, saying if it was known that we were in that country and at his house he would be hung. Soon supper was ready and as usual corn bread, the bread being scarce but plenty of potatoes, also a glass of brandy, which did us much good. As his house was on the road and he might be found out we got ready to leave, though the old lady informed us we might stay longer and rest some more, as it was raining so much. Before leaving we took a good look at the map of North Carolina which was the first map of any kind we had seen in any house and they gave us a box of matches and a newspaper, the Raleigh Standard. The soldier sent his boy across a field with us and put us on the direct road or route, the rain still falling in torrents.
OFF THE TRACK.
We had gone perhaps six miles when the storm ceased and the sky cleared up so that we could see by the stars that we had branched off on a wrong road and were going in a south east course. As our strength was giving out fast we couldn't afford to take the back track. But no help for it, we struck across a field looking for the North Star, and after going a mile or so we struck on a road that was running northeast. We fol- lowed this till morning when we halted.
We laid by that day until dark and going into a negro hut called for something to eat. As we told them we were Yankees we were soon fur- nished with the usual corn bread, sweet potatoes and meat, also with a few watermelons. The negroes posted us as to the route and advised us also that there was a planter a mile from there who had a large pack of hounds and followed the business of running down Yankee escapes and runaway negroes. He had captured some Yankees the night before and we would have to go through his plantation.
BLOODHOUNDS FOLLOWING.
It was quite late when we started, perhaps midnight, so that all might be in bed and ourselves less liable to be seen flanking the plantation. We
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discovered near morning that we were on the wrong road. So soon we were going through woods and at last came on a road that was leading northeast. We had gone but a short distance when our blood was chilled by the howls of blood hounds on our track. The planter had found out someway that we were in the neighborhood. I remarked to Jim and Byron that we were gone up the stump this time; but we tied on an antidote for the dogs which the old colored friend had given us, onions and asafoetida. Having done this we again struck out over brush and timber into the swamps. We were aware that the dogs were gaining on us, and we couldn't have gone over a half mile we stopped and laying hold of a sapling made ready to climb. I says, "Jim I don't think I can ever get up this tree." "You will when you see the dogs coming over across that field," he re- marked. Just then they seemed bothered, and we again lit out for the swamp; for when the Yankee-hunters would come, they would get on to tracks again. We concluded our good darkies' scheme was a good one and saved us from capture.
FOLLOWING THE NORTH STAR.
Having gotten away from the dogs, we moved on till noon and then lying down took our sleep by turns. Night coming, found us rested, and we made another start for the "North Star" through the swamps and woods. We found out we couldn't go very fast, as we could see that our endurance was not so good as when we first lit out from the Johnnies. Jim seemed to be going down in strength but his will power was the best of any of us; also his instinct for going through the swamp was much better than Paddock's or my own. I must acknowledge I was poor at this; though I aimed to make up in scouting around the houses for ra- tions. We felt like giving up, only for Jim, who would remark we had better perish in the swamp than go back to Andersonville or Florence or be hung by the Rebs for having gotten away from them so many times.
Moving on, very early we came to a house in woods. I walked up care- fully and all seemed so still that I looked into the window. The corpse of a woman was in a coffin under the window and I got a glimpse of some people in another room. I was not long in getting away from there and informing my comrades of what I saw. We then struck out on a road that seemed to be unfrequented; but we suddenly met two men in a buggy. One of them appeared to be a soldier, and we thought a wounded one. He eyed us and rather held up his horse for a talk, but just nodding to him we passed along and when they got out of sight we made for the swamp and censured ourselves very much for taking the road in daylight. We rested awhile and put out again, but on no road that time.
ENCOUNTERING A SPIT-FIRE.
We moved on till late in the evening and came to Black river and were bothered to know how to cross. Going up to a house we made in-
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quiries of an old lady, and a young woman came out and informed us but we knew well enough wrongfully; and she gave us a piece of her mind saying, "Oh! Yes, you are smart fellows but you can never get to New- bern for all the cavalry in the country is after you." She wanted to know how we had got over the various rivers, mentioning the names, and being rather inquisitive as well as a rank rebel. There was one red apple on the tree by the door, and I asked her for it as nicely as I could. The old lady said, "Yes take the apple," but the young one told me to let it alone as they wanted it for their own boys. So bidding them good day we got out as fast as we could and not wiser for the parley.
IN A POTATO PATCH.
When out of sight of the house we took another direction from the one the young woman had told us to the bridge, and were lucky to find our crossing place. Going over by night we found a potato patch, and we got what potatoes we could carry in a haversack that we made of a towel we took off a line. We here again came near being captured; for as we got up a dog discovered us and kept up a racket and too we were only a few rods from the house; but the man or soldier came out and gave him a kick and made some remark about sleeping. So after we thought he was sound asleep we lit out. I suppose the dog got another kick when the man found out some one had been in the "tater paten."
CAVALRY VERY NEAR.
Coming to a lane and going on a short distance we came to a road running north and one northeast. We were at a loss to know which one to take. As a well was at the road side we took a good drink of water and had just made up our mind to take one road, when Paddock whis- pered, "Cavalry are coming," and sure enough there they came pell mell, and no time to dash into the woods. We just lay down and the horses threw sand on us. As they dashed by we counted them as well as we could, and I thought there were about sixteen of them. One said, "We will take them in at Mareton's Station." The fact that they were riding so fast accounts for them not seeing us.
We felt much relieved and had no desire to find Mareton's Station. So taking the swamp route for some distance we remained till morning. But we wished to leave that country as far and as quickly as possible, so we were soon moving out, but had gone only a short distance when we discovered horse tracks and saw cavalry away in the distance. We knew well enough it was the young woman that had put them on our track.
TWO KINDLY WIDOWS.
At dark we struck out again and as we came on the road we met an old lady. We told her who we were and she told us to come to the house and
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she would give us some food. She also gave us a great deal of informa- tion about the country, telling us her husband and son-in-law were killed three weeks before at Petersburg, Va. "There," she says, "is my daughter, whose husband and mine were taken away with handcuffs on." Both com- menced crying and saying they did not blame the Yankees, but the rich planters who were officers of the Confederacy." "Our men," they said, "told them they did not want to fight against the old flag." We felt very sad when they were telling us, and theirs, like others we had seen, was a sad case. While talking a cavalry man had ridden up to the gate and was talk- ing to the negroes. The old lady walked out to the door and as there was no closet to hide in and no way to get out without being seen we were ready to go under the bed if he should come in. She was asked if she had seen any Yankees that day, as it was known to be a fact that they were in the neighborhood not far away, plundering, destroying property, and enticing the negroes to run away. She told him she would send word if any should be seen. He says, "Keep a good look out" and with a good day the cavalry man dashed away down the road much to our relief.
FIFTY MILES FROM NEWBERN.
The woman who thus refreshed us and turned away the cavalrymen had a very savage bloodhound that wanted to eat us up, and she got him into a shed and tied him, and then fastened the door, so no one could get him out; for we were afraid he would take our track. We were about leaving when we were informed that we were about fifty miles from Newbern, North Carolina, and at the headwaters of the Trent river. It was quite dark and cloudy, and we had gone but a short distance ere we had to stop till morning; for we were afraid of running into some cavalry.
The night was very cold and chilly and a heavy frost was falling; but we were in rags, and Paddock was barefooted. I had a piece of a coat and no shirt. Trotter had a piece of a shirt and no coat. So we were pretty well frozen out as we had to keep rather quiet. When we could see in early morn we struck out, but could hardly get a move on us for an hour or so. We were on the north side of the Trent river, and Newbern was on the north side of the same river between it and the Neuse river. The day be- ing Sunday made it difficult to travel; for many were walking about, and we were in a thickly settled neighborhood. Also there seemed to be a church somewhere, and cavalry were continually passing on the roads sing- ing and shouting.
TOO CLOSE TO CHURCH.
We had made some ten miles when we came to a sudden halt, for in our direct course lay the road running from Newbern to Kingston; and we just had hid in a brush pile, not over thirty feet from the road when a squad of cavalry went dashing by. We stayed all day and saw many vehicles and
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people pass during that time. On close examination we discovered we were close to a church, but we had to remain in hiding as the timber was open. We could hear some portions of the sermon and there we were hungry and frozen, as the day was very chilly. Also Paddock's feet were bleeding all day, and we could hardly keep from going right up to the church and walk- ing right in among them. Trotter was some sick that day and his knees and mine were all bleeding, as we had taken turns in breaking the grass down ahead when we were in the swamp. My health was some better than the other boys, but my teeth and gums were swelling loose and I could pull them out with my fingers-take pieces of gums and pull out. We had parched corn and the ashes from the corn ate my mouth very badly.
Night came at last; we struck out and cautiously going up to the road, no one was visible. We ran along and into the woods and had gone a mile off the road into a swamp when we found ourselves unable to go any farther. So we built a fire and roasted some corn and pumpkins which we had for- tunately found in crossing a field. Remaining here till morning, as we had a safe place we built a fire and lay by it all the night. But in the fall the nights were very cool, and as we had no blankets nor half clothing, we didn't sleep much. We were pleased to see daylight again and were on the move as soon as we could see.
PERSIMMONS AND POTATOES.
Coming to a potato patch and a large persimmon tree, we soon filled our haversack and had just gotten out of sight when the old planter came out of the house. We came near being discovered, for the patch and tree were close to the house. A mile or so on brought us to a melon patch, but the melons were mostly half ripe. Still, we filled up on them anyhow; and dark still found us on the tramp. Finding out we were making slow prog- ress, we reconnoitered a log hut and found it was occupied by negroes. As soon as they learned we were Yankees they appeared very anxious to give us something to eat, and from them we gained a vast store of information. They told us where such and such a body of rebels was located, the loca- tion of the swamps and streams, also where there was a pack of hounds- for we dreaded the dogs more than the rebs, as we had no gun nor could we ever get hold of any, as the negroes were not allowed to have them. Our courage would at times give out and we must yet meet with disap- pointments.
LOST IN A BRIAR PATCH.
We had gone but a short distance farther when we struck a briar thicket in our route and plunged into it hoping it would be a small patch. We found to our sorrow it was a large one, and we were so cut up and bleeding after working through for an hour that we were compelled to give it up and lie down. Thinking perhaps we should never get out, we started a fire
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WELCH SCHOOL, AMES
BEARDSHEAR SCHOOL, AMES
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and roasted our corn, and being safe from any visitors, wild or human, we slept very well. As soon as morn came we concluded we must try and get out. Soon the blood began to flow; for the briars were from the ground up to the top of the trees, which were low bushy ones. The briar vines we had to break with our hands to get along, by this time our clothes were nearly all torn off our bodies, and Paddock was without shoes. Sometimes we could crawl under the briars and then our hands and face beginning to swell, we thought we had got to our last camping ground, and no one would ever find out about us. To think we had made such efforts for the past weeks and then to perish in that briar field! So, holding council, we con- cluded to strike a south course, as we knew the wagon road couldn't be very far south of us, and the way we were going might be miles of briars. We had gone struggling for three or four hours, perhaps a mile, and came to a slight opening where we rested till night. As we were done up and the frost was falling very fast we made quite a fire although at great risk for the road could not be a great ways off. Remaining all night but with noth- ing to eat, morning came on and we were again on the move. Going half a mile further we came to a wood. As we could hear the rattle of carts we concluded to move southeast and the great trouble now was to keep a good distance from the road.
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THE REBEL PICKET LINE.
After getting out of the briars and into the open woods we had to be careful to prevent discovery, as the road through the woods would take some crooked turns and we were liable to run onto it. We wanted to keep at a fair distance from the road, and we had a horror of the briar patches. Well, we took a rest and being so near Newbern, thought the danger was nearly over. We were much cheered up and talked of the good times we would have when we would reach our lines. An hour or so helped us so that we again struck out; but we had gone but a few steps when Trotter motioned for us, and down we went. Sure enough, not fifty yards from us were two cavalry men; but they were looking the other way. So we remained crouched down in the grass until the cavalry men went on, much to our relief. Then we again struck out, observing great caution; for the signs indicated that there had been more than two rebels around.
Nothing more happened that day, however, and night found us very weak and faint. We had not eaten anything since the night before, and then it was only parched corn. So crawling up to a negro's cabin, they gave us corn bread and sweet potatoes and informed us where the picket lines were. The negroes told us that everyone knew about the three Yankees, and his master was after them, and we must be more on our guard than ever in going through the rebel picket line, which we much dreaded, as the chances were very good to be picked up. As near as we could find out, we were twenty-four miles from Newbern, North Carolina. That night we Vol. 1-21
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