We are now less than half a mile from Mr. Kimball's. After
dark last night we went to Mrs. Dickinson's house and partook of a splendid
supper. I wrote a paper directed to the officer commanding the first Yankee
troops that should arrive here telling what she had done for us runaway
Yankees. She talked a great deal, and I thought was careless leaving the front
door open. Three or four times I got up and shut that door. We had taken off
our blankets and other wraps and left them in a sort of a kitchen, and were
talking in the best room. I heard the gate click, and on looking out saw two
rebel officers coming to the house and not six rods off. We jumped into the
other room and out of the back door and behind a corn house, bare headed. The
officers were asked into the front room by the daughter. They asked who the
parties were who ran out of the back way. She said she reckoned no one. They
kept at her and jokingly intimated that some of her skulking lovers had been to
see her. See kept talking back and finally said: “Mother, did any one just go
away?” And the old lady said: “Why, yes, brother Sam and his ‘boy’ just went
off home.” Them confounded rebels had come to see the girl and spend the
evening, and we shivering out in the cold. Joked her for an hour and a half
about her lovers and we hearing every word. Finally they got up and bid her
good night, saying they would send back some men to guard the house and keep
her lovers away. Just as soon as they were down the road a ways, the daughter
came out very frightened and said for us to hurry off, as they would send back
troops to look for us. Hurried into the house, got our things and some dried
beef, and started off toward Mr. Kimball's house. Reached here just before
daylight and lay down back of the house about eighty rods, in the corner of the
fence, to sleep a little before morning. Just at break of day heard some one
calling hogs. David got up and went toward an old man whom we knew was our
friend Kimball. Came to us, and was glad to shake hands with genuine Yankees.
Said one of his neighbors was coming over early to go with him to hunt some
hogs, and for us to go farther off and stay until night, and he would think up
during the day what to do with us. Did not want anything to eat. Came to this
place where we now are, and feeling that our journey was most ended. Mr.
Kimball said that Sherman was not over fifty miles off, and coming right along
twenty miles per day, and our plan was to hide and await coming events. Mr.
Kimball is an old man, probably sixty years old, white haired and stoop
shouldered. He had five sons, all drafted into the rebel army. All refused to
serve: Two have been shot by the rebels, one is in some prison for his Union
proclivities, and two are refugees. The old man has been imprisoned time and
again, his stock confiscated, property destroyed, and all together had a hard
time of it. Still he is true blue, a Union man to the back bone. Really think
our troubles coming to an end. Kimball said: “Glory to God, the old Stars and
Stripes shall float over my house in less than a week!” It's a noble man who
will stand out through all that he has, for his principles, when his interests
are all here. Is not only willing, but glad to help us, and says anything he
has is ours, if it will help us toward our escape. Later. — Have been laying all day watching Kimball's house.
Along in the morning the neighbor spoken of came to Kimball's, and they both
went off on horseback to shoot hogs. The swine here roam over a large territory
and become most wild, and when they want fresh pork they have to go after it
with a gun. You may be sure the hunters did not come near us with Mr. Kimball
for a guide. A negro boy went with them with a light wagon and mule attached.
Near noon they returned with some killed hogs in the wagon. At three or four o'clock
the old man came down where we were “to look after his boys,” he said. Is in
the best of spirits. says we are to hide to-night where he tells us, and stay
until our troops reach us. That is jolly good news for me, as I hate to travel.
Said come to the house after dark and he would have a supper prepared for us,
and has just left us. Later. — Have
just eaten a splendid supper at Kimball's and getting ready to travel three
miles to a safe hiding place.
SOURCE: John L. Ransom, Andersonville Diary, p.
146-8
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