THE IMMORTAL SIX HUNDRED
under the bridge, and Kent was taken in by the guard, who came flocking to the relief of the sentinel at the boat wharf.
All were captured but Prewitt and myself. We remained in the water under the bridge, and were not recaptured until daylight. The whole garrison of the fort was under arms; there was no possible way for us now to escape.
While we laid under the bridge we could hear the sentinel telling the sergeant, "Why, I could have killed those fellows. I saw one on my right and one on my left, in the swamp, but thought they were alligators." Poor old fellow, whoever you were, on guard that night, walking your beat, you did not dream that there were three Rebels creeping towards you, determined on your capture. They were determined upon gaining their liberty. You stood between them and home.
When we were taken into the fort this man Gillispie took the oath of allegiance. Chew, Griffin, Kent, Dunlap,
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