Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-12-05
From the Petersburg Express
Remark a bile Escape from Lincolnaom-Safe Arrive,
Home.


From the Petersburg Express
Escape from Lincolnsom-safe Arrive,
Home.
William Fl. Parvin and William B. Willis, of Ao
w ashington Greys" Captain Thomas Sparrow from
w ashington n. c., passed through Petersburg evening
before last on their return home after long mnrisoT
ment at the North. Their escape from further confu
ment and their subsequent avoidance of detection and
arrest, remarkable miraculous They were
taken prisoners in company with many other gallant
North Carolinians at Fort Hatleras We are all &C.
quanted with the circumstances of the surrender From
Hatteras they were taken to Fort Lafayete-the Bas
tile of New York Here they were kept in close con-
nement until the latter part of October, when they
all put aboard steamer and taken to Fort War
ren-near Boston.
The full account of this removal was copied in the
Express some time ago from the New Y ork Herald On
their way to Fort Warren, Parvin and Willis formed
some plan of escape and announced their intention to
Captain Sparrow, who told them they must do it at
their risk If they failed heavy irons and close confne
ment for the balance OF the would be their lot But
they possessed brave hearts and were confident of sue
They supplied themselves with bread and water
candle, matches, &c. On their arrival at Boston The
men were marched ashore in companies as their names
were called Immediately before the names of the
|" Washington Greys" were called, Parvin and Willis
left their company, descended from the deck and found
Here they concealed themselves, and in little while
had built up wall of coal around them so that any
person entering the room would not discover them
Their late companions IN arms were gone, and they
now alone in the dark, unwholesome coal bunk of an
enemys steamer, not knowing what day or an hour
hight bring forth In this condition they remainedN
day probably day and night, when large mum.
Der of sailors were brought aboard the steamer to he
shipped to New York. On the 1st of November The
vessel left Boston, and landed her load at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard. In the hustle and confusion consequent
upon their embarkation heroes thought they might
leave their place OF concealment and make their escape
They gained the deck and went unobserved on shore
with the crowd of sailors. But they soon saw that
their time for escape had not yet come. All around the
Navy Yard were stationed sentnes, whom it would be
impossible to pass. They therefore resolved to return
to the steamer and await yet longer. They COZ
ceaed themselves in the private apartment of the boat
and remained thus for two days, when finally and as
provdentiay, in of her trips the steamer ran au
of schooner in the river, and was reported much
damaged as to cause her to make for Jersey City with
all possible speed. Great excitement was produced
among her passengers, and everything and everybody
were in the utmost confusion. A most favorable OP
portunty for the prisoners to escape and they took
advantage of it. They left their hiding place again,
and as soon as the Jersey City landing was reached
they rushed ashore. They then took passage ferry
boat for New York. In this great city they POUNDS
friend who took them in and kindly cared for them
He advised what they should do and furnished them
with money to complete their plans. They took pas
sage to Baltimore as Union sailors-antiSouthTl
seceshers of the deepest dye In the noble Monumental
City they had not far to go before meeting with leno
of the South and her defenders. Clothes are given
them and they aided in getting employment or
wood schooner, bound for some point on the oSS
Maryland shore. For sixteen days they workedN
beavers and by their unusual industrious habit 1uJi
good behavior they gained the unbounded con6dnSSC
the Captain. His every wish law, and cry ~s,
was done with pleasure. But the proud capaGd To.
soon to be deprived of his prizes 1t was the rg1 ad
Parvin to keep watch and the Captain had rpo "oT
Willis had pretended to do But hands were Ot Is.
as eyes. Sails for the small boat atta6eG " bod
schooner were made and fitted. The prQ'er not forth
come the sign given and the tyo men sI' tbem
upon the dark waters 1t all Hnture WIN Wong
for they knew not whether the s"onense and
friends or enemies After long hours OF SuSPenof bp
weary travel they landed he virginia soe ken
Potomac below Acoua Cpek. Here they were .anU
in custody and sent to Gheral Holmes 6eaoqum
where they we're ioyfply recognize oy oiu with
ances from North Oaolina. They were 'uiD'1'
free passes over thefaroads nome. .1o roader But
Is not this stange and romantic tale' Ieauer D1'
it is nevertheless true, and puts fiction TO tne oiuSH
W. nz from the Progress that Messrs. "lnD'
and Parun arrived at NeWoern ON la0' "'0D
night. The Progress says:
we are glad to hear from them that the Hate[SS
soers are generally WE'LL except COLDS Capt opa a.
8 great favorte with the entire regiment de'yo q,
4 he does bis entire time and talent to making ;T 3D.
happy and contented as the nature OF the case WI"
nit. ronng
They could not tell anything about our QUILTED sEI3
townsman, Lieut. Allen, not having been acquSiD"
with him. I'M have
Through the poeness Of these gentlemen we If The
been placed in possession of the Baltimore sum- "
9Th. from which we make the following extract
DEATHS OF CONFEDERATE PRISONERS AT NE" 1OD p.ct
The following is list of the dead of the Seventh 'o
ment North Carolina volunteers while con1neo AZ
Island New York, with the date of their decease. B.
j. c. Midget, 23d Sept, Capt. Lambs G9mPang 99tb
Griffin 18th Sept, Capt. Gilams CO.; n. 6t Capt:
Sept Capt. Gilams CO.; Thos Carter, z9tn SEP David
sharp's co., A. Modn, 4h Oct, Capt Lamp TG o1 ID
Swain 4th Oct, Capt. Gilams co.; John n. ct Cspt
Oct Capt Clements co., J. B. Collins TN nts
Dukes CO. John B. Scott, sh Oct, Capt CleTsDR Rogers
w. A Philpot 9Th Oct, Capt Clements CO.; nth 0ct
9th Oct Capt Lambs COS James g. H nsv CAPT
Capt Gilliams CO.; M. Robertson, lltn Uc' W Tys0D
CO. Jas Whehurst, 18th Oc Capt DuKe 70, l
18th Oct. Capt. Johnson's co., wilson ". Sct Capta'
Oct Capt. Lnke's co., s. Robertson, z3In Inkes CO.
Lambs CO.; W. q. Brown, 9th Oct, CaP1 .:msns o.
Stephen Kite, 2sth Oct, (Bed0esn Capt. V's'''-