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of the hands of our original captors at Jonesville； Va。
It now became very evident that the Rebels were moving the prisoners from
Andersonville and elsewhere； so as to place them beyond the reach of
Sherman and Stoneman。 At my present place of confinement the fear of our
recapture had also taken possession of the Rebel authorities； so the
prisoners were sent off in much smaller squads than formerly； frequently
not more than ten or fifteen in a gang； whereas； before； they never
thought of dispatching less than two or three hundred together。
I acknowledge that I began to get very uneasy； fearful that the 〃old
soldier〃 dodge would not be much longer successful； and I would be forced
back to my old haunts。 It so happened； however； that I managed to make
it serve me； by getting detailed in the prison hospital as nurse； so that
I was enabled to play another 〃dodge〃 upon the Rebel officers。 At first；
when the Sergeant would come around to find out who were able to walk；
with assistance； to the depot； I was shaking with a chill； which；
according to my representation； had not abated in the least for several
hours。 My teeth were actually chattering at the time； for I had learned
how to make them do so。 I was passed。 The next day the orders for
removal were more stringent than had yet been issued； stating that all
who could stand it to be removed on stretchers must go。 I concluded at
once that I was gone； so as soon as I learned how matters were； I got out
from under my dirty blanket； stood up and found I was able to walk； to my
great astonishment； of course。 An officer came early in the morning to
muster us into ranks preparatory for removal。 I fell in with the rest。
We were marched out and around to the gate of the prison。
Now； it so happened that just as we neared the gate of the prison； the
prisoners were being marched from the Stockade。 The officer in charge of
uswe numbering possibly about tenundertook to place us at the head of
the column coming out； but the guard in charge of that squad refused to
let him do so。 We were then ordered to stand at one side with no guard
over us but the officer who had brought us from the Hospital。
Taking this in at a glance； I concluded that now was my chance to make my
second attempt to escape。 I stepped behind the gate office （a small
frame building with only one room）； which was not more than six feet from
me； and as luck （or Providence） would have it； the negro man whose duty
it was； as I knew； to wait on and take care of this office； and who had
taken quite a liking for me； was standing at the back door。 I winked at
him and threw him my blanket and the cup； at the same time telling him in
a whisper to hide them away for me until he heard from me again。 With a
grin and a nod； he accepted the trust； and I started down along the walls
of the Stockade alone。 In order to make this more plain； and to show
what a risk I was running at the time； I will state that between the
Stockade and a brick wall； fully as high as the Stockade fence that was
parallel with it； throughout its entire length on that side； there was a
space of not more than thirty feet。 On the outside of this Stockade was
a platform； built for the guards to walk on； sufficiently clear the top
to allow them to look inside with ease； and on this side； on the
platform； were three guards。 I had traveled about fifty feet only； from
the gate office； when I heard the command to 〃Halt！〃 I did so； of course。
〃Where are you going； you d…d Yank？〃 said the guard。
〃Going after my clothes； that are over there in the wash；〃 pointing to a
small cabin just beyond the Stockade； where I happened to know that the
officers had their washing done。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said he； 〃you are one of the Yank's that's been on； parole；
are you？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃Well； hurry up； or you will get left。〃
The other guards heard this conversation and thinking it all right I was
allowed to pass without further trouble。 I went to the cabin in
questionfor I saw the last guard on the line watching me； and boldly
entered。 I made a clear statement to the woman in charge of it about how
I had made my escape； and asked her to secrete me in the house until
night。 I was soon convinced； however； from what she told me； as well as
from my own knowledge of how things were managed in the Confederacy； that
it would not be right for me to stay there； for if the house was searched
and I found in it； it would be the worse for her。 Therefore； not wishing
to entail misery upon another； I begged her to give me something to eat；
and going to the swamp near by； succeeded in getting well without
detection。
I lay there all day； and during the time had a very severe chill and
afterwards a burning fever； so that when night came； knowing I could not
travel； I resolved to return to the cabin and spend the night； and give
myself up the next morning。 There was no trouble in returning。 I
learned that my fears of the morning had not been groundless； for the
guards had actually searched the house for me。 The woman told them that
I had got my clothes and left the house shortly after my entrance （which
was the truth except the part about the clothes I thanked her very kindly
and begged to be allowed to stay in the cabin till morning； when I would
present myself at Captain H。's office and suffer the consequences。 This
she allowed me to do。 I shall ever feel grateful to this woman for her
protection。 She was white and her given name was 〃Sallie；〃 but the other
I have forgotten。
About daylight I strolled over near the office and looked around there
until I saw the Captain take his seat at his desk。 I stepped into the
door as soon as I saw that he was not occupied and saluted him 〃a la
militaire。〃
〃Who are you？〃 he asked； 〃you look like a Yank。〃
〃Yes； sir；〃 said I； 〃I am called by that name since I was captured in the
Federal Army。〃
〃Well； what are you doing here； and what is your name？〃
I told him。
〃Why didn't you answer to your name when it was called at the gate
yesterday； sir？〃
〃I never heard anyone call my name。〃 Where were you？〃
〃I ran away down into the swamp。〃
〃Were you re…captured and brought back？〃
〃No； sir； I came back of my own accord。〃
〃What do you mean by this evasion？〃
〃I am not trying to evade； sir； or I might not have been here now。 The
truth is； Captain； I have been in many prisons since my capture； and have
been treated very badly in all of them； until I came here。〃
〃I then explained to him freely my escape from Andersonville； and my
subsequent re…capture； how it was that I had played 〃old soldier〃 etc。
〃Now；〃 said I； 〃Captain； as long as I am a prisoner of war； I wish to
stay with you； or under your command。 This is my reason for running away
yesterday； when I felt confident that if I did not do so I would be
returned under Wirz's command； and； if I had been so returned； I would
have killed myself rather than submit to the untold tortures which he
would have put me to； for having the audacity to attempt an escape from
him。〃
The Captain's attention was here called to some other matters in hand；
and I was sent back into the Stock