Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-08-31

politics are always, the most unclean era of
ours was the era of Know Nothingism. The
reek of it has not now passed out Of the
public nostrils; and yet such are the attrac-
tions Of Office, that we have doubtless a
plenty of men among US, who, for the sake
of hope which, in their case secret or
ganization alone can afford, are anxious to
try their fortunes again in similar enter
prise.
Rscnpe of Two Union Prisoners from
Kichmond SIrenEth OF the Enemy Mt
Bull Run-HIs FOrtifcatiOns, Etc.
The New York Herald of Thursday says:
We are enabled to present to our readers
the following interesting narrative of the
escape of Quartermaster Sergeant Henry 9.
Jencks, of the Second Maine Regiment and
Captain Samuel De Golyer, of the Fourth
Michigan Regiment, from Richmond. An
account of the escape and adventures of
these gentlemen has already appeared in the
Herald but the following, embracing addi-
tonal particulars, taken from the lips of Mr..
Jencks himself is well worthy of perusal
'On the 18th Of August, Captain De Golyer
and myself agreed upon a plan of escape
which we carried into effect; but / would
rather not tell how we effected it as il might
| iDjure others. We remained in a ravine for
| about twenty minutes, when, not hearing
| any alarm made at our escape, we Judged
that it was time to be off, and accordingly
we put out, exercising our ingenuity to
| avoid the sentinels, which we did till we
were about three miles out of Richmond,
| when we found ourselves in the midst
of extensive Notifications. Thinking that
soldiers were there, we remained quiet for
about three hours, when we again started and
got safely through, having taken our boots
off and walking in our stockings to avoid
making q noise. We had Travelled about
half mile further when we came to bridge
without any plankiug. From this circum.
stance we judged that there were no soldiers
in the neighborhood. We therefore crossed
and travelled all night, but next morning we
found, to our CONSERVATION, that we had re
turned to the bridge. We then concealed
ourselves in an extensive piece of woods,
where We had laid for about an hour, when
some slaves made tkeir appearance in the
neighborhoOd and began to chop some large
timbers for a tOrtifcation. We were much
scared at this, and lay thinking how we
should get out of the scrape, when the over
| seer made his appearance, and having
| hitched his horse near us, began to mark the
| trees for the slaves to cut He then came
close to where the slaves were, when we
crawled further into the wood, to a ditch
covered over with briars. We proccred some
pieces of wood, which we laid at the bottom
Of the ditch, on the mud, and lay on them
the whole day.
A soon as it was night we recommended
our journey, and Travelled about fifteen miles
having no other guide but the North Star
which was not always visible, as it was very
cloudy. The roads in that section of coun
try are very intricate, and as we Travelled
only at night, we often retraced our step:
toward the point we had started from. We
had several hair breadth escapes, every dey
seeing cavalry patroling along the roads
and compelling US to seek the shelter of the
woods On the ninth night we reached tht
banks of the Potomac, about ten miles from
Acquia Creek, and little above Mathia
Point.
When we left Richmond we had ten cents
worth Of soda crackers and one loaf Of whit
bread. By strict economy these lasted Il
five days. The rest of the time we sucsisteC
upon half an ear of raw green corn, anC
about a gill Of raw wheat apiece. We haC
great trouble in crossing The other rivers til
we came to he Potomac.
On reaching that point it was just day
break, when we ran nearly on large body
of cavalry, the horses OF which were plcketet
near by. We fell back into the woods au(
lay there till night, when we went rounG
the cavalry and struck the beach some wha
below. We walked up and down for tbre,
or four miles in search of boat, but coult
find none. We were, however, resolved Il
make an attempt to cross, for which purpos,
we picked up quantity of drift-wood, anC
tying the pieces together with our clothing
made raft. 1t was but a frail thing, bat i
wes the best we could do under the circum
stances. We started for the opposite shore
on the raft. There was a cold wind blowing
at the time and a strong tide setting agains
us. Our limbs were nearly frozen, and were
quite stiff. After being about seven hour;
in the water, we approached within half q
mile of the MarylaHd shore, when, to our
CONSERVATION, the raft began to go to pieces
| made up my mind that we would not be
able to reach the shore. However we floated
on for about half an hour more, when the
raft struck against something, and immedi-
ately went to pieces,
just then felt rope strike my face, upor
which Captain De Golyer and myself reached
upward, caught the rope, and drew our
selves on to the deck Of a vessel that wa
loading with tobacco; she proved to be tn
schooner Catherine Jane, of Baltimore. Tn
captain and crew Immediately rubbed US W
gave us warm drinks, and wrapping US il
, blankets, left us to our repose. We slept 70
about five hours, when we got u2, quite re
7 fIeshed. Shortly after we were landed O
) the Maryland side, up which we walked 70
| about ten miles when We came in sight
the blockadiDg squadron, off Acquia Greek
We hCisted shirt on pole as a sigma
when boat was lowered from the steame
Union, and took rs on board, where we wer
treated with the greatest kindness, supple
with shoes and stockings aud other neces
saries, and partook of warm dinuer, {
which we stood much in need We Wer
then put on board the steam propeller ia
Sephine, of New York, and taken TO wash
iDgton, where be arrived safely on the 22d G
August.
Mr.. Jencks states that he ascertained tina
there were no fewer than eighty thousau
rebel troops at Manassas Junction on the da
of the fight. He says when ne was takel
\ prisoner, while being conveyed TO Manassas
: he met ten thousand fresh troops going t
the field, as re- endorsements, and during tn
night be remained at Manassas twelve train
2 arrived filled with soldiers. He says tn
. fortifcatioDs at Richmond are very formde
q bic, but that there were not more than tw
Thousand FIVE hundred troops there while b
remained. The entertainments at Manasss
are on very extensive scale The little vi
lage is completely surrounded with them an
5 rifle pits. The country is full of ravines
z, that section, so that the enemy has very litt
a trouble, paratively, in fortifying himse
), Speaking of the loss of the rebels at Bull Ru
Mr.. Jencks says he saw an official repo
: from the Confederate Secretary of Wl
Y showing that of thirty-six regiments engag
the loss was five thousand in killed al
. wounded. Mr.. Jencks could not ascertai
y however, how many regiments we're engage
y ANOTHER SLIGHT CHANGE IN THE SoUTHE
T. PRoGRAMME.-The Memphis Avalanche,