, 1861-09-17

TREATMENT OF BULL RVA PRIss1Eks.

Especial Dispatch to the N. I. tribune
WMH1HaG1oK. Friday, Sept 49, 1867.
Lieut.. ". Il. Raynor Of the 1st Ohio Regi.
ment, Capt J. E. Hurd Of the 81 Regiment
New Yc1k, arrived here this afternoon, having
escaped last Thursday from Richmond. They
had been confined since the battle Of Bull Run.
Lieut. Raynor was captured at the last charge
Of The Rebel cavalry upon Gen. schenck's
brigade. He was in great peril at that time,
have Elsin him if not restrained by his COM
pauions After the battle It was discovered
that the Rebels bad 0000 troops, aid that
their loss was $500 OF 5000.
On reaching Richmond he was confined In
tobacco factory with large number Of other
cuptors taking little heed Of their COM
fort. Rebel officers at first thronged In upon
them with insolent defiance, until complaints
were made, which gave them some protection
At fist toleTab1e privileges were allowed,
but Of late, especially since 1he HatteIas ana.I,
gradually tnsufcrsble, and R1ynor resolved to
leave With his two companions. Congressman
Ely was invited to accompany them, but was
unwilling to risk IT, although ready to give
5000 for chance Of getting home. The plan
by Thleh they escaped waa ingenious; o,oe+
ed, and are distinguished by red badges upon
their coats. The fngitives procured q red
shirt, tore It In stIipe, and decorated them
selves. Raynor left the prison at o'clock in
the afternoon, and the two others at CLOCK
Raynor, having borrowed e, bought com.
pass, map Of Virginia, BEDFORD tor RATS, and
matches. Murphy, in bis capacity Of Quar-
master, supplied three sandwiches. They
passed steaithily ont Of Richmond, through
very heavy earthworks, on which, however,
70 guns were mounted; travelled all night,
sleeping but one hour. The next morning
they took to the woods, and marched al
day, escaping observation with great diff
Gully.
Great caution Was necessary, as rs men who
had previously tried to escape were brcu xhs
taken within sight OF the Union flag st New
po1t News. On Friday night they crossed
Chickahoming River, and passing a farm took
raw corn and raw potatoes for food. On Sat-
urday they swan Panunkey River, carrying
their clothes on raft.
Ou sunday they crossed Mattapony River
opI la bridge, and hid in swamp TIL night.
Here again they were nearly detected By
Ie eroe6. On Monday they travelled little on
sccount Of fatigue. On Monday night they
Fsseed through q towr where Ra5nor tore
dowr Eandbills from shop to ascertain the
LEGALITY. Thus they found themselves in Caro-
line county, the bills being an advertisement
Of sale OF Ga1nett's estate in that county.
Their course Was then clear.
On Tuesday, fatigQed again, they were COM
Felled to tEayel slowly; their feet being swoi, d;
some distance On their hands and knees, to
! avoid detection from dwelling house On
| Tueedsy night they crossed the Rappshan-
| mock in boat fortunately tound-
Being neatly surprised, Murphy left his
| shoes on store and completed the journey
buefooted. All this time they lived on ap'
| rlee, corn and wheat gathered from the fields.
| On Wednesday they walked over the hills and
I through swamp, and struck Pope'6 Greek,
| where they found boat in which they pro-
ceeded to the Potomac, which they crossed
reaching . tisbingemack On the Maryland
| tide st o'clock P. II.
They we're received generously, and directed
how 10 proceed to find the United States
l.ockading Equadron. The ? arty this morn.
| irg were taken On bosrd the Howell Cobb,
from which they we're sent TO Aquia Greek,
AID thence by the Rssolutc to the Navy
Yard.
Lieut.. Rsynor Will return at once to Ohio,
whele he will be welcomed with enthusiasm
By his friends. He reports that attempts to
escape were made by Leut- Caleff of the Mss
eaci uEetts llth, and Sergeant Tompkins o
The Unite States cavalry, When he LEFT thsy
had not been brought back, and had probably
escaped.
OF the condition and strength Of the rebe
army, none OF the three gentlemen were ablt
to come to any satisfactory conclusion al
Though they are all intelligent, educated ant
/
principally with privates Of the rebel army o.
c.tizers, who, OF course, we're only apprlsed
Of the movements by popular rumor. They
conclude, however, that they have very pow
erful force, with an abundance OF provisions
The rebels themselves appeared to ba in ex
ctl1ent spirits, and anxious for another batt1'
with the Yankees.
Mr. Murphy was surprised at the larg
| number Of Irishmen in the rebel ranks. The,
we're indifferently clothed, the material u se
being a!moat entirely Of a graJ home-spu'
cloth. They were well armed with Spring
field and other improved muskets, aud Colont
Colts revolve1s seemed to be as numerou
amopg prjyates al they were in our OF
, | ranks 4 favorite arm which they wore wa
huge bewie:knife. No specie Vas in circ1
lation of any moment, shinplasters being tt
, only circulating medium in extensive us
Merchants would not receive bills in psymen
except certain quantity Of goods were pu
, chased.
t The fortiicstions about Richmond, as the
, learned by the Richmond papers, had bee
completeG few days before their escape, an
the negroes Who had worked upon them ha
. | ht.en discharged.