The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-21
TIE ESCAPE OF FOUR UNITED STATES SER
GEANTS FROM TEXAS.
To TUr EpIT0R IN THE uERAIn

Ihefs A4Nru III Uls CIT. ytSNTudy yiTOm 'he MtSt
Indies, four escaped United States non.commssioned
officers Of the regular army. These brave fellows be.
longed the Eighth United states infantry, and
the command Colonel Reeves which surrendered
near san Antonio Texas the 9th Of May last, through
the treachefy aud nsrumentaty d the traitor Twiggs
The Of the Sergcans Parker Cook Ellin-
wood and Hospital Steward Carl +. Bourquist,
and al Of them have been honoraby serving
tho government for several years past on the
frontiers OF Texas and Mexico. They state that
officers broke the of the paroles granted
70 the prisoners BY placing them under guard and con
inement. Also they failed in furnishing them proper
allowances of clothing and ratons Under these crcum
the four mentioned above determined upon
and succeeded in making good their escape on the 22d Of
last August They evaded the vigilance Of the guards
placed them and by the aid compass made their
way foot 10 the Rio Grande river, and thence 10
Monterey, Mexico During their journey they suffered
severely from want Of food water and long marches but
being old soldiers, well used TO fatigue and hardships
they finally surnounted all difficulties. In order
avoid detection they were compelled to travel
by night and give tho beaten roads a wide
berth Tho small stock Of money they poe.
sessed necessarily very economically expended.
The Mexcans treated them very kindly, and materially
assisted in their escape At Monterey they found two
three hundred Union families who have been driven out
siderable Of desituton among these loyal people
The soldiers disappointed learning that there
United States Consul residing in the town; but
here they bought cheap ponies and started for Tampco,
which -four hundred and fifty miles distant. After
several days travel they reached the Town Of Tam
pico. They state that Mexican sympathy is for the
Union, and that nine-tentbs Of the inhabitants Of
Western Texas would gladly welcome tho return OF
United States authority but they are kept down
by terror and force Of The forts along
the Rio Graade nearly all deserted by the rebels as
their soldiers will not remain in them without rations
and pay hut countcract this, the rebel officers
trying gain by recruiting the Mexican side Of
the In Texas business Of all kinds is ruined and
many OF the of life bring fabulous prices At
Tampico soldiers kindly assisted by several
Americans and through their ard they enabled
take passage the English steamer for Havana. The
United States Consul Of this latter city obtained passage
for them home sailing vessel and yesterday they hailed
esgh o the American flag wtheelngs Of JOY and thanks
for their safe deyerance. The pay of nearly years
service due the men and doubt this reaches
you ,hes have provided themselves With much needed
comforts. IN conclusion, gives pleasure to
say thst four intelligent and brave
found III the ranks Of the United States Army and
il is tose hoped that they may be amply rewarded by
iukt government OF t'a Urted States soldiers
ing aexas prisonerso Of war, some hundred and
ninety at Camp Verde, sixty miles rom San Antonio,
ard but very few have Joined the enemy though every
intucenien Is held TO them for doing The officers
kept in san Antonio and their namts are:-Brevc'
Lieutenant Colonel Romford sixth United states infantry
Captains 4. g. bliss, V. T. Frank, - yanHosn and W
Jones oil the Eighth infantry; an for the benefit Of
their friends will add that the soldiers
that they in excellent health very xo,n;
be exchanged tina, they may take part in the pre-
scnt struggle
OUR5ORrRESS MONROE CORRESPONDENCE
FORTRESS MossaoE Va, Oct 10, 1861.
An Qsia i, ne Department Of ptrgiaia-Thc Rsseis
Strengthening their Position, the P.nipsuid FLAGS If
True. Sasrtaded Promotion Of Licmtfnont Erancis s.
Haggeysy, uried Stotcs Ndcy-Hateros in,el tsnaeed
,oitl lio,4res Monroe By Addfas' E7ie-B -Bai,inorcIa
rr,x--TAe Coayse 4 hey itrgae, de-, de-
Affairs continue very quiet here with little appc
ancc an early move the enemy, who are ROW
in stroug The peninsula between Yorktown ssad
side, and buSily engaged in erecting new batteries
and strengthening the old searthworks Their force
is divri into three four divisions three OF which
oncamad the James river and fourth, perhaps
located >, Big Bethel, which may be remembered ne
grave nr distinguished military leaders, repntaous
where shcy await attack.
The er, the alert day and night, aud
ly and vzlanty patrol the peninsula the James
the York river
They nay assume the aggressive, and then there is
likely 10 he event two than may imagine
The Hagcf truce business seems to have come 10 an
end We have not single steamer from Norfolk in
nearly week, and we have not, nor will not in lorg
time. aganttroube them to aid nan running govcga-
passenger ana baggage line between the loyal and
rebeous States II had become . bore and nuisance,
and has beon property abateAby the powers that
be- There quite large norber OF persons here
awaiting flag secessia aisopg the 10
mily Of Hon. Alex Dimtry, late Minister Nicaragua.
No flag will be-seut for thirty days at Least.
The nun eFons friends Lieutenant Franeis s. laeper
ty of thc Unted Si,es Navy will fss! grat,fed a, the
intelligence az his promotion 10 the rank Of Comm tnder
in the service. liisscommssion is dated October H.
and reached him dag. lie had aready been ordered
10 the Nandalia, assume command ard win now Join
her by the drs conveyance. He is well known
coinpshed sehslar, gentleman and one Of the most ge.
sid and efficient olccrsn the navy He is promoted TO
Tho vacancy caused by Inc death Of Commander May Of
Baltimore. May is with the great success he justly
deserNcs.
omitted 70 ,ner6,on my unica,Ions from Hat
tefis Inlet that Adaas See have established office
there forward express posts there by
every steamer, of faithful messenger Ni John
y sangon the agent 6are ,hss made the most careful
to send through carces safely Package
shuld BE- directed HatteIss Inos, via Fortress Monroe
me government attention has been called 10 the Bal
mo,e papers which continue polish information con
,ernir affairs here eonnected wha proposed expedition
Detrimental % tho public good They have LOT OF fellows
,tc Bhmo-c dock on the arrival of the Old Point boat
who bore the pa sengers for news and what little they
,i No Il day exaggerated aud spread before tho public
minute details The greater part Of teelr Information is
ae bn they occaa onay get hold Of something that
rue bu; which shoul not be published they have the
yclfape ol tho Union It heart All connunieation be-
ween this and Bamot g should be cut 81 FOR ten or
welve days 10 choke off 1ese fellows. II is time
If that avenue Of via baltimore 70 reasdom The
ooner il IL done the better.
The Late Commissary e'encrai Gibson.
Sr Ix'Up, OCT 10, 1851.
salute or thirteen minute guns was nred at the |
.rsenal at noon to-day, in respect tN tbdpsmory u /
ommifsary General Gibson