USA > New York > History of the Tenth regiment of cavalry New York state volunteers, August, 1861, to August, 1865, pt 2 > Part 40
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
to get off on the dark side of the car-on the side opposite the moon. Then, by dropping down and lying under the projecting part of the car beside the rail, I thought possibly I might escape observation until the train had passed, and, by remaining perfectly quiet, I hoped to escape the vigilance of the guards on the rear car.
Taking my army overcoat and winding it round and round my right arm to break my fall, I only waited for the guard to turn his head in order that I might jump. Owing, no doubt, to the speed we were making, the guard relaxed his usual vigilance, and very soon gave me the opportunity I looked for. I improved it by dropping to the ground, but so great was the velocity of the train that as soon as my feet touched the ground I began performing evolutions that would have done credit to any circus clown. I rolled endwise, sidewise, head up, feet up, and finally landed in a ditch by the side of the road. (This proved the "last ditch " for me, so far as the "Johnnies " had anything to say about my move- ments.) It was deep enough to afford me complete shelter from the eyes of the rebel guard. I did not raise my head to observe my surroundings, but, on the contrary, I lay about as close to the ground and occupied as little space as possi- ble. The train passed on and was soon lost to view far on toward Charleston city. I arose and, getting up on to the track, began to go down toward the city. I had not proceeded more than a quarter of a mile before I came to a small sta- tion and saw a light burning on the outside. I concluded this was not the place for me. I therefore retraced my steps and started into the woods on the north side of the track, bearing east all the time. The woods were so thick, and the underbrush and briers so impeded my progress, that I began to fear I would not get out at all if I continued long in that way ; but I soon found an old cart-road, and I followed it, walking in the grass and in the shadow of the trees, as it was so light one could see almost as well as by daylight. Then, too, the road was full of dust, and, as I wore shoes, I feared my tracks might be seen in the dust, for the first traveler in the morning would discover my tracks, and shoes were such a scarcity I believed the sight of my tracks would excite suspicion. I had not gone far before I came to a plantation, the great white residence looming up in front of me, a mute but dreaded sentinel, for I knew that in that house were white men, and probably outside of it were hounds, and as sure as I attempted to pass that way they would hear me and set up their peculiar baying, which would certainly arouse the sleepers within ; so I decided to flank the house. In front of it there was a large piece of woods ; if I could reach these without being seen, I was in hopes of getting around the house. I climbed over the fence; then, crouching down, I performed quadruped feats in walking on my hands and feet to the woods. On reaching them I started in, but soon found myself sinking and miring down into a swamp of mud and muck. So it was with great difficulty I got out upon hard ground once more. I then decided to try and flank the house on the other side. I crawled back to the road, some five hundred yards distant, and tried it from the other side. I had not gone far before I saw a light and heard voices. As the lights were apparently a camp-fire over in the field, I con- cluded I had stumbled into a camp or a picket-post. It was so light I knew it was useless for me to attempt to pass them. I therefore determined to lie down under some bushes and sleep until the moon went down, when it would be darker, although nearly morning. So, selecting a thicket near by, I threw myself down
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PRISON LIFE AND ESCAPE OF R. H. FERGUSON.
and in a moment was fast asleep. When I awoke, daylight was just beginning to streak the east with its gray color-still, it was darker than when I went to sleep. I now began to reconnoitre to discover' who my near neighbors were. I had gone but a little way before I discovered a log-cabin in a corn-field to my right. Qui- etly I climbed over the fence and went up toward it. Before I reached the log- cabin I was met by a hound, who set up a howl and was soon joined by another, when the two made the morning air ring with their "bow-wows!" I beat a re- treat toward an old hut which I had just passed. Reaching the door I stooped down in a listening attitude to discover if there were any occupants. I soon heard the deep breathing of some sleeping persons. I knocked at the door. Soon an old gray-headed colored man, whom I should judge was eighty years old, cau- tiously opened the door slightly and peered out in an inquisitive way, with dis- may pictured on every lineament of his countenance at seeing a white man at his door at so early an hour in the morning. The following conversation took place between us:
Prisoner .- " Are there any white men about here ?"
Old Man .- " No; dey is all up to de pine lan'."
Pris .- " Isn't there any white man up there in that house on the hill ?"
Old Man .- " No, sah, massy ; dey is all gone to de pine lan'." 4 Pris .- " Where is the pine land ?"
Old Man .- " Up country, 'bout six miles."
Pris .- " What do they do up there ?"
Old Man .- " Oh ! dey go up dar, ebery summer, when it gets hot."
Pris .- " Will they come down here to-day ?"
Old Man .- " Yes; to-day is 'lowance-day'; dey always comes down den, to gib us our rations."
Pris .- " How much do they give you for a week ?"
Old Man .- "Only a peck o' co'n; when dey gib us 'taters, den dey gib us half-bushel 'taters and no co'n. We has to work berry hard to get 'nuff salt to salt de hoe-cake."
Pris .- " Well, can't you hide me in your house somewhere to-day, so the white man won't find me? I am a Yankee, and your men have had me prisoner. Last night I got away from them, and I want to get through to the ocean, and get on one of our gunboats."
Old Man (interrupting) .- " Is yo' a Yankee?" (staring at me in amazement).
Pris .- " Yes; did you never see one before ? Do you know what I mean by a Yankee ?"
Old Man .- " Oh, yes, sah, massy; I hearn tell on ye' mighty of'en. De white folks try to make us belebe yo' all mighty bad people-say yo' gwine to take us all off to some islan' an' kill us. But we dun gone an' neber belebe a word. Massa t'ink we dun know nuffin 'bout Yankee-but he fooled, sartin."
Pris .- " Now, look at me sharply. You see I haven't got any horns on, or a tail-I don't look as if I was going to kill you, do I?"
Old Man .- " Oh, no, massy ; we know all de time you'ns is ou' frien's. Massa Lincum dun gone an' set us all free."
Pris .- " What do you know about Massa Lincoln ? How did you find out he had set you free?"
Old Man .- " Oh, we cullud folks know more 'bout dat den de white folks
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
t'ink we do. 'Cause one o' us heah de white folks talk; den he go tell next neighbor, and so on till all know it."
Pris .- " As you seem to know what the Yankee is, I want to get over where the Yankees are, and I don't want any rebel soldier to see me. Can you tell me how I can reach the coast and not be discovered ?"
Old man .- " I don' know much 'bout de roads, but I 'spect I can take yo' whar some one libs who can tell yo'. But yo' hab to get away from heah right smart, for I 'spect massa 'most heah now. If he cotch yo' heah, he get lot o' hounds, and bring yo'-down to town. I'll take yo' to my brudder-in-law's, and yo' can hide ober dar."
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During this conversation his wife had been cooking some sweet potatoes, and when we were ready to start she filled my hat with three large sweet potatoes, and I started off, eating them as I went. After being shut up in prison for three months without the taste of a vegetable, these sweet potatoes tasted deli- cious. I thought they were better than anything I had ever eaten. No gor- mand ever ate morsel with better relish. We soon reached the old State road that runs between Charleston and Columbia.
"Now, yo' stay heah and I'll go and see if any one comin' down de road," said the old man. So I remained in the woods while he went out into the road and reconnoitred. Then, giving me the signal agreed upon, I crossed the road into the woods on the opposite side, and was soon hidden from sight. After going nearly a mile we came to his friend's cabin, and were soon covered by its friendly roof. Myself and errand were soon made known to them, and they entered into a consultation for my benefit. After talking it over, they decided that I should re- main hidden there until Captain George came up from Charleston, which would be either that Monday or next day. Captain George was a colored man who sailed a sloop down to Charleston every week with wood for the purpose of mak- ing salt. He was said to be well acquainted with the manner and disposition of the rebel troops, and could tell the best route for me to take in escaping. In my ignorance of the country, I had intended to go down the Cooper River until very near town, then cross over to the north or south bank, and, by dodging be- tween their pickets in the night-time, reach the coast; then by using a board or log try and float out with the tide to our blockading-boats; but in this plan I was disappointed, as will soon appear. The cabin in which I was concealed was quite near the railroad track. I could see the trains pass to and fro, and almost hear the Johnnies talk. Monday passed without the appearance of Captain George. During the day several colored men called to cheer and condole with me, and the general prayer was, "May God bress yo' and get yo' frew safe !" They would come in and bring their scanty ration of meal and give it all to me, going without themselves rather than permit me to go hungry. I thought: "Is it possible that these are the people my race is trying to keep in bondage? Are these the human beings my people say are not fit to be free ? Are they to be de- prived of the inherent rights of man ?. Truly, this civil war is a just retribution, brought upon ourselves by a just God for the sins of a nation." I bowed my head and wept tears of sadness and sorrow; and there in that lowly cabin, in the lone midnight hour, I made a vow that so long as God spared my life I never would allow a white man to insult a negro in my presence without cause or provocation. About midnight Monday I was aroused by voices, and listening I found a prayer-
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PRISON LIFE AND ESCAPE OF R. H. FERGUSON.
meeting was in progress down-stairs for my special benefit. I never heard more eloquent or feeling prayers than went up from those colored people for the suc- cess of the Yankees. Then there was'a sermon offered. It appears that the blacks held meetings every night in one region or another, often going four and five miles after a hard day's work. If this is not showing devotion to a cause, I have yet to see any true Christians. Tuesday morning dawned bright and fair. I soon learned that Captain George had come up during the night, and would call on me in the evening on his way back. I passed the day quietly, went out into the garden, and ate raw tomatoes from the vines, thinking they would help to keep off the scurvy if I should get captured again. Evening came, and with it `Captain George. He was an intelligent negro, probably forty-five years of age, about five feet six, and weighed about one hundred and eighty pounds. He had evidently been told who I was, and only waited until I was pointed out to him, when he told me it would be impossible for me to go down the river with him, as he had to have a pass, and the rebel authorities always searched his boat to see if any deserters were on it. I asked him if he could not cord me up in the wood. He replied that they even moved the wood, so fearful were they of losing one man by desertion. Then I asked him how the rebels were stationed in and around Charleston. With his cane he drew a map in the sand and showed me the loca- tion of the troops in and around the harbor and for five or six miles to the north, giving me the position of Mount Pleasant, James Island, and Fort Sumter, doing it as well as any topographical or civil engineer could have done. I saw I could not get through their lines that way, so I asked him how the picket-boats were stationed in the harbor; if he did not think I could float down by them. He said that would be impossible, for the boats were as thick as they could be, and to prevent the picket-boat crews from deserting they put half drafted men and half volunteers in each boat. In this way they prevented a great deal of desertion. Even with all this precaution there would some times a whole picket-line desert. Then I said to Captain George, "What kind of a place am I in? I don't see much prospect of getting out."
"No," he said, "yo' is right in a pen, an' I don' see how yo' can get frew."
" Is there no way I can flank them and get to our lines ?" He did not understand what I meant by flanking, so I explained by saying I wanted to get around the end of them. This he understood, and said he only knew of one way, and he was not sure but the guards were there also. " Well," I said, "tell me that way, for I don't see any other possible course." Like the drowning man, I caught at the first straw for support. He then told me to take the State road and keep it until I crossed Goose Creek bridge, which was in a parish by the same name; then cross the Northern Railroad, and keep on until I came to the forks of the road. Then I should take the right-hand road, and keep it until I came very near a station called Mount Holly, on the same road. Then, by turning again to my right, I would finally reach Strawberry Ferry, on the Cooper River; but he could not tell me positively whether the guards were at that ferry or not. They had been ; but the scarcity of men at the front had compelled them to move away, and he did not think they had been returned. I got him to make a map of my route in my diary. Captain George then said :
"I dun' know nuffin 'bout de road 'yond Strawberry Ferry ; when yo' get dar, you'll fin' out how to go de rest 'o de way. Now, mas'r, I tole yo' all I
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
can 'bout de best way fo' yo' to go. If yo' is careful, yo' may get frew, but I hardly t'ink yo' will. May God bress yo'! Remember, de poor brack man prays for yo'."
He turned and was gone-another good Union man ; willing to do all in his power to aid and help those who fought to save the Union. My only chance for escape appeared to lie in the route he had directed me to follow, as laid down on the map in my diary. Before starting the folks in the house ground up all the corn they had and made me a huge hoe-cake. This lasted me some three days. The manner in which they ground their meal was very laborious. They had a small- sized millstone, fastened in a frame; this frame was square, and had a broad floor in it. On top of the first stone, which was stationary, was placed another, a movable one. In order to turn it, they placed a stick in a hole near one edge of the movable one, and the other end into a socket in the frame overhead ; then they turned it around with their hands, putting the corn in by single handfuls, as fast as it was ground fine enough. This may convey some idea of the immense amount of labor required to grind a peck of corn into meal, or enough to feed a family of six or seven persons. How very few of our Northern people have the slightest conception of the privations those poor blacks were compelled to undergo ! Notwithstanding all this labor and trouble, they made me a corn-loaf that weighed nearly six pounds Then, wishing me a safe and successful journey, they bid me Godspeed. I parted from them with many misgivings, feeling that I was a " stranger in a strange land "; that they were my only friends; that the hand of every white man was against me. After reaching the State road, I proceeded as directed. Crossing Goose Creek bridge, I advanced very cautiously, keeping a sharp lookout for any straggling soldiery of the Johnny persuasion. I had pro- ceeded some four or five miles, when I saw a camp-fire on the roadside ahead of me. Not knowing what it was, I went very slowly until I came up near to it, when who should I see but an old man of about fifty years, with an army wagon, and three or four darkies engaged in cooking supper ! The man sat leaning against a tree, while he gave his orders first to one and then to the other. Giving him a wide berth, for I had no inclination to dine with him, although, I must confess, the savory fragrance of his fried bacon made my mouth water, I passed him unnoticed, and continued on my way, rejoiced at not being discovered. The night was exceedingly dark until the moon rose, which was about twelve mid- night. This was very fortunate for me, as I would undoubtedly have been seen in the early part of the evening. Even as it was, some hound, more watchful than the rest, would often bay out at me as I passed some plantation-house. I kept on my way until I thought it time for me to stop. I turned into a by-path, intending to stop at the first negro hut I came to. In this way I went nearly four miles. Coming to where the road forked, one going into a dense swamp or jungle, and apparently traveled but very little, I went down the other. Stooping down. I ex- amined footprints in the sand. The moon coming out from behind a cloud dis- closed the delicate imprint of a lady's gaiter-boot, evidently made the evening previous. This somewhat alarmed me, for I felt certain the road I was on only led down to some plantation, and in all probability I would be caught if I con- tinued on that road. I therefore turned and retraced my steps the whole distance back to the road I had left. It was necessary for me to find some place to hide before daylight, which was near at hand; and, being nearly exhausted by my night's
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631
PRISON LIFE AND ESCAPE OF R. H. FERGUSON.
exertions, I determined to go to the first house I came to. I had not gone far be- fore I came to the railroad I had crossed the evening before. I crossed it again, and soon found a lane leading up to a plantation residence ; into this I went, and soon came near the house, when a cur dog set up such a howling that I was fear- ful he would awaken all the household. I quickly crossed the path and ran around to the rear of the house. There I found the negroes' cabin, and, knock- ing on the door, soon aroused one, who stuck her head out of the door, when the following conversation occurred :
Servant .- " Who is you ?"
Prisoner .- "I am a Yankee prisoner, trying to get away from your rebel people. Who lives here ?"
Serv .- " Mr. Fritz."
Pris .- " Why ain't he in the army ?"
Serv .- " Oh ! he's a cripple."
Pris .- " Would he catch a Yankee if he got a chance ?"
Serv .- " Oh ! yes, sah. He mighty mean man."
Pris .- " Well, can't you hide me somewhere, so I can not be seen ?"
Serv .- " No, the folks come in here ; but you can go up to de field-hans' cabin and stop dar."
Pris .- " Where are the cabins? I don't think I could find them."
Serv .- " Nearly half mile 'way round de barn, up across de cotton-field, close by de woods."
I left the house, followed by the yelping cur, and was soon in sight of the field-hands' cabin. I reached it, and, knocking at the door, was admitted by a gray-headed old darky. I made myself known and my business there. The old man bid me welcome, and said I could stay there. I stretched myself upon the floor and soon forgot all my troubles in a refreshing sleep. I did not awaken until after daylight, when I was aroused by the darky and told to eat some rice and okra soup. He soon left for the fields, but before going he told me to keep quiet during the day, as the overseer often came round the house, looking for swine, and he might see me. I needed no second admonition to keep quiet, so I lay down and spent the day in sleeping, and mending my old worn rags. At night I began inquiring about the road I should take. The old darky said there was a plantation five or six miles from there called the " Belle Plantation," and there was a darky there who would tell ine the best way to go. "But," said my informant, "I am going down dar myself, and will overtake you on de road. You go on, and as soon as I can get away from massa. I will come on." He had to help the massa find some swine that had gone astray. 1 came very near being seen by him while going to the woods. Fortune favored me, however, and I soon found my landmark, which was a huge oak-tree by the forks of two roads ; and it turned out to be the very road I had gone down the night before in looking for a cabin. Now I went down with more courage, feeling that I was all right. I passed the place where I turned back the night before, and went on rapidly, passing through gates and over bridges, across rice-fields, through swamps abounding with mosquitoes, until I came to a place where three roads crossed. Here I was at a loss to know which one to take. So I sat down and waited for my expected guide. I waited nearly an hour, but no person came. At last I concluded he had taken some other route. Therefore, the best thing for me to do was to take the road
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HISTORY OF THE TENTH REGIMENT OF CAVALRY.
that led to the east, and try and find my way out. Taking the most easterly road, I began my journey. Coming to a gate, I opened it, passed through, and found myself in a fine yard and near a large, fine-looking mansion. Keeping at a re- spectful distance from it, I passed round to the negro cabins. Seeing one at the door of which was burning some weeds and chips in an iron bake-kettle, I went up and knocked. A voice from within said :
" Who's dar ?"
" Open the door and see."
"I can't open de doh'. De watchman dun gon' an' locked me in."
" Who is the watchman?"
" Jeff."
" Who is Jeff? Is he white or black ?"
"Oh ! he brack man."
" Can you tell me where the Belle plantation is ?"
"'Bout a mile down frew de woods."
"How will I find it ?"
" You mus' ask de watchman ; he's in next doh', an' he can show yo'."
I then went around to the next door, which stood open. Peering in, I saw sitting behind the door what I supposed to be a woman, and, thinking I had made a mistake, I went back to the first door, to be sure. He told me that was right, so I went in and took another look, stepping in the door this time. I saw my woman was a man, and fast asleep at that. I spoke to him three times, but it did not arouse him. So I put my hand on his knee and gave him a shake that brought him to his senses pretty quickly. He gave a yell that aroused the whole house, at the same time kicking me with both feet, drawing his.knees up to his chin and kicking out as he sat in the chair The wife opened a bedroom door, and, seeing me, she yelled ; and one or two children yelled, presumably because their parents did. I beat a hasty retreat, in the hope that they would cease their noise before they had aroused the people in the plantation-house. Pretty soon the watchman came to the door, and I said to him :
" What the d-l are you making all that noise about ? Ain't you ashamed of yourself ?"
"'Fore God, massa, I dun to't yo' was de berry debble."
" Well, look here, I want you to show me over to the Belle plantation."
" No, mas'r, I dun can do dat; I'se de watchman heah."
" Oh ! your'e a fine watchman to be sleeping behind the door here. Who was you watching then ? Was you dreaming that the devil was stealing you, when I awakened you? If you can't go with me, tell me which is the way, so I can go myself."
" Does yer see dat hog-path ? Yo' dun follow dat till yo' get frew de swamp; den yo' comes to a big ditch wid a plank over it; go across de plank an' keep right frew de woods till you come to de cabins." .
" Who will I ask for then ?"
" Yo' 'quire for a man by name o' Yawcup."
" Yawcup ?"
"Yes. He's de watchman; he can tell yo' where to go to git across de ribber."
" Now, you see that you don't tell a living person what you have seen to-night,
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PRISON LIFE AND ESCAPE OF R. H. FERGUSON.
for I am a Yankee soldier trying to escape from your people. Tell the other folks to keep quiet, too."
"Oh, no, massa, we don' speak a word. Good-night! I hope God bress yo' and git yo' frew."
I left him and proceeded on my way as directed ; passed through the swamp, which was very dark and dismal, abounding with hooting owls and rustling moc- casins (at that time very numerous and poisonous). I came to a house, which stood away back in the woods. Creeping cautiously up, I found it was empty. Traveling half a mile farther, I saw the negro cabins of what I took to be the Belle plantation. Going up to the first one, I knocked on the door. No reply. I knocked again, with a like result. I then looked across the street; saw a light shining through the window. Upon closer inspection I could distinguish three persons looking out of the door at me. I immediately crossed over, when the fol- lowing dialogue took place :
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