"I'LL DO IT, MASSA, IF GOD BE MY HELPER.'

"

We desired to start at once, but could not persuade him to move before daylight. He said, "Dis chile knows where de pickets is in de day time, but knows nuffin 'bout 'em after dark." Several attempts were made to induce us to remain in the hut till morning; but no amount of safety insurances could persuade us to take such an apparently inconsiderate step.

The idea that it would not be policy to move on before morning inclined us to think that our landlord might be treacherous, and we were not a little uneasy until prayer was offered for our benefit, when we became fully satisfied that we could at least repose confidence in his fidelity. As soon as prayers were concluded, we betook ourselves to a pine thicket, determined to give March no peace until he should set off with us.

THE NEGRO'S CLOCK NEEDS NO REPAIRING.

At about one o'clock in the morning, Wright turned out and told him that day had just began to break. He got up, came to the door, looked for the seven stars, and then remarked, in a very good humored way, "I reckon it's good many hours yet till break ob day, massa. Yer can't fool March on de time; his clock neber breaks down. It's jest right ebery time." Feeling somewhat chagrined at his ill success, Wright returned to the thicket saying, "Glazier, there is no use of being in a sweat; for

you might as well undertake to move a mountain as to get the start of that colored individual." We made no further attempt to dupe our guide, but very impatiently awaited his call. He came to our place of concealment at the first peep of day, and said, "Gemmen, now I'ze ready to take you right plum into Mr. Sherman's company by 'sun up.'" We followed him without ceremony; and just as old Sol began to tint the hill-sides with his first rays, we saw, with unbounded joy,

A GROUP OF BLUE COATS

watching very eagerly our approach; for it was the Federal outpost. At first, we were evidently regarded as an enemy; but by taking off our hats and making friendly signs, their suspicions were allayed, and they beckoned us to come on. A most cordial reception was given us by the picket, which proved to be a detail from the One Hundred and First Illinois Volunteers, Twentieth Army Corps.

We took each man by the hand, congratulating him upon his good fortune in surviving the deathblow to Rebellion in Georgia; and they, in return, rejoiced at our successful escape. Haversacks were opened, and placed at our disposal. There was a great demand for hard tack and coffee; but the beauty of it all was,

MAJOR TURNER WAS NOT THERE

to say what he has often repeated, "Reduce their rations; I'll teach the damned scoundrels not to

attempt an escape." I shall ever remember my feelings when I began to realize the fact that I was no longer a prisoner, and when I beheld the "old flag" floating triumphantly over the invincible veterans, who followed the "Great General" down to the sea.

CHAPTER XVII.

HOMEWARD BOUND.

SAVANNAH, GA., December 24, 1864.

AFTER breakfast at the picket post, we came into the city with a brigade of the Twentieth Army Corps, which formed a part of the rear-guard of General Sherman's army. It would have been a difficult matter, even for intimate friends, to have identified us in our motley uniforms. For myself, I was clad in a coat of Southern gray, blue pants, my shoes, before described, a bewitched looking hat, and gray blanket, which for months had answered the purpose of bed and bedding.

My haversack was a curiosity in its way, being composed of an old towel, which was sewed up by Lemon many weeks before. Said haversack had borne its journey well, but now showed unmistakable signs of dissolution. Sweet potatoes, unless of a fabulous size, slipped through as readily as money through a soldier's fingers; and large must have been the loaf which could retain quarters within its awful depths. I would give Wright the preference of a description, but having had the impudence to look better than I did, he does not deserve it.

Many pleasant incidents occurred during our ride into the city. A major and a surgeon, whose names I have been so ungrateful as to forget, kindly offered us their horses, and dismounted for our convenience. The offer was gratefully accepted, for we were both weak and weary, and Lieutenant Wright had assisted me for some time on our way.

On reaching the city, Wright's first inquiry was for his old regiment; but it was like a search in the dark. The unsettled state of the army rendered it difficult to learn the location of any particular regiment or brigade; but we found the corps to which his regiment belonged, and were sent under guard from corps to regimental headquarters with a demand for recognition, and a receipt therefor.

Such treatment seemed hard at first; but when we reflected upon our checkered costume and suspicious appearance, we readily fell into their way of thinking; for, until we were identified, it would have been no wonder that we were looked upon as spies or desperadoes.

Having played the Rebel so long, we ourselves had our allegiance slightly mixed, but by a deal of recollecting and protesting, we came at length to convince ourselves, and the authorities also, that some time, away back in the past, we had been Union men, and belonged to the Federal army. In accordance with which conclusion we were pronounced genuine Union soldiers, and received certificates of the same to jog our memories in the future. At night we stopped with Captain A. L.