Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-12-05

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Colonel De viIIIeTs' Narrative of BIS Rs.
cnpe from Richmond Tricks Of French
Yankee.
Colonel De Viliers was introduced to the
audience in Union Hall last night by Judge
Storer. He remarked at the outset that his
brave companions, Colonels Woodruff and
Neff, had been most upjustly misrepresented.
They were captured with honor, while at
tending TO their duty. 1t was thought tho
Union forces had won the battle aud they
were ordered with detachment to make
the attack by General Cox, but their force
was too small. General Cox desired De
Viliers to go, as he knew the ground well;
"and," said Colonel De ", "I did, ladies and
gentlemen They were deceived BY mean
device, for when they got to the point
where the action took place, they saw the
Union flag flying as plainly as could be. He
CT rossed, and was met by demand to sur.
render. He complied, and was taken to
TompkiDs farm, where he was astonished to
find bis companions, Colonels Woodruff and
Neff, prisoners also. The next morning they
were taken under strong guard by Captain
Jenkins TO Chsrlestowp, where they were
subjected to almost constant insults from
Governor Wise. General Wise hurried them
off to Richmond. Wherever met on the
road, they were greeted with cries of "Take
the Yankees out and hang them" He sup
posed, however their time had not come.
Here they we're taken to a tobacco ware.
house with forty other prisoners, in q room
without tables or beds. Their food was
thrown to them on the floor, and none but
rich officers who had plenty of gold could
get better accommodations.
Being by profession doctor, Colonel De
", when he had sufficiently recovered, was
asked by the hospital doctor to assist which
he consented to do; and he was then per-
miited to enjoy more liberty.
He shortly formed plan for escape.
Without the countersign he could not get
out of the gate, even with his full uniform.
So be lay for about two hours behind the
guard house, lin the night, as should have
been stated before,) until he was happy by
bearing it. The guard called out, at his ap-
prosch, 'Who comes there2" IA friend,
the gate was opened, and he was once more
free. He made his way to Manassas juno
ton, which is nothing but a swamp. About
six miles from Richmond, he was encouu-
tei ed by guard, and to his challenge re-
piled, "a friend without the countersign."
They took him in custody and marched him
toward Richmond, but in crossing marrow
bridge over a stream he knocked the guard
off on each side of him and escaped.
Hence he made his way toward Peters,
burg, subsisting for three days upon nothing
but a few raw beans, (which were not very
good for his digestion"
Upon his tramp, for distance of sixty-five
miles, he carried his skif for crossing rivers
"a pine board), upon his shoulder. During
his travels, he was several times shot at.
When he got in the neighborhood of Magru-
der's forces, his hardest time began. He tried
to pass sentinels several times and at one
time was twice shot at in quick succession.
He shot too. He did not know whether he
hit the two seutinels or not, but they never
answered. But the whole brigade was
aroused, and he took to the James River in
what he called his skiff, namely, his pine
board companion. He landed on the other
side in q swamp, recrossing again near
jamestown, when he lost his gun. He had
cast away his officers coat, and it may we'll
be imagined that what remained of his suit
was by this time rusty enough. So he took
an open course and resolved to ask for work;
but like the poor men in the South, when
they ask for work, they are told to go into
the service. Even the ladies do not look
upon a young man unless he is in the service;
viewed from this test, there were more pa
triots in the South than in the North they
were all soldiers, old and young.
He hired with a German blacksmith at
81 80 per week, having concluded to remain
awhile and learn something of the condition
of the rebel forces. He staid fortnight
observing all the rebel movements. At the
expiration of this time, he got tired ofblack'
I'd faI ~ ua 4
a good German Union man, to whom ht
told his story without reservation, just as i
be were telling it here tonight. This wa!
| of great service to him; he led him for nint
| days.. the Colonel having adopted another
Yankee trick, and made blind man of him
self; he couldn't see, and the German wa
his guide. Dropping the Yankee French, hi
became French subject and wanted to &
back to France, because he could not get any
work to do here; and so he told Genera
Huger when he got into his command. Thi
| General promised to send him to Fortres
Monroe with flag of truce.
He made one unsuccessful attempt to b
sent with flag of truce but was not accepted
General Wool at that time fearing SOM
treschery might be practiced, was very eau
tious in admitting them. He made secou,
attempt however, and having lost his Ger
man guide General Huger himself led hin
| (tbe poor old man, Win unanecteu Sympatn
to the hotel, and he assured him that b.
should go with the next flag of truce whic
was sent; and he futher took the trouble {
writing special letter to General Wool abou
the old French blind man, who wanted to g
home. Colonel DeVilliers remarked thS
General Huger evinced true kindness towar
him. You may be assured, said he, that
did not take me long to jump into the Unio
boat.
With the flag there were, besides, nun
ber of ladies who "left the South for th
purpose OF going North to do business.
Though he was blind, he could see the glance
they exchanged; and though old and somr
what deaf, he could hear the officers tell th
ladies to learn all they could, and come bac
with the nformation-wishing them muc
success. st is surprising what fine spi'
they makel"
When he got into safe quarters he thre'
off his disguise, his decrepitude-saw an
was stfong-observing without surpri!
himself, the astonishment of the ladies at II
change. He took care that these ladit
though they went North, did not go South
report
He soon afterward had an interview vii
General Scott and General Mcclellan.
might be remembered that flags of truI
did not carry many more ladies back az
forth-an order having been issued forbi
ding it.
The sketch. of which an abstract is give
above, was heard with deep interest by &
present, and many parts were heartily a
plauded. Although he had been offered
Brigadiership by General Scott, he wou
not accept one until be earned 1t with