The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-24
IMPORTANT FROM CHARLESTON.
REPORTED ESCAPE OF COL. cORcORAN

-Four Hundred Union Prisoners Lesp
from the Second story or their Prison
During tho Recent Connagr ation-COl.
Corcoran Probably ~ Besufort-Arrt-
val Of one Of the Prisoners I'm New
York-Intercsting Statement or Licut.
Hurd, OF the Second Maine Regiment
Treatment or the Prisoners, Sc, sc.
Considerable excitement was created this city yes
terday by the arrival Of Lieutenant Samuel D. Hurd Of
the Second Maine cavalry regiment with very interesting
Intelligence from Charleston, Richmond and other por-
tions Of the South
Lieutenant Hurd was In Charleston during the recent
terrible conagration which destroyed that hot bed OF Sc
cesson and describes tho excitement CONSERVATION
which existed that occasion Of tho most intense
character.
According TO his statement there were four hundred
prisoners confined In the Jail Of Charleston at
the time Of the ro Colonel Corcoran and himself were
among the prisoners thus and informant
adds that the gallant commander OF the Sixty ninth rcg
mcn had been FRUSTRATED for days with fearful
attack OF typhoid fever Late the night of the fire tho
flames reached tho jail situated In Broad street. and the
front Of the building was almost Immediately in blaze.
The prisoners, may be imagined, greatly alarmed,
and all being together the second story Of tho jail
consultation had, when 1t resolved to attempt
an escape at all hazards Col Corcoran was the first to
venture and mounting the window Of the Jail exclaimed,
Boys here goes for Beaufort the NORTH the
ns,an, leapng from the window down upon the stone
pavement.
This was the last that heard Of Colonel Cor
coran to the time Of the departure Of Lieut. Hurd Tho
other prisoners followed the example of Corcoran and
capped into the streets where of them crawod about
for few days, while others fed towards Beaufort Many
Of them rocaptured and confined Castle Pnckney
Lieut. Hurd that the the prisoners while
In prison Of the most cruel kind. Only quart Of
oatmeal and three pnis OF water per day allowed
the prisoners and these miserable rations
put through any Of cooking week previous
the fire, he says, Colonel Corcoran and the
chained down in solitary cells. and not allowed hold
communion with each other any pretence what
ever. Only few days before tho escape
they were all placed in largo the
second story for what reason informant did not
learn. After jumping from the window of the prison
Lieutenant Hurd and his companions did not nnd any
sentincls guard, the fire having called away NIL the
men, who busiy engaged in efforts to suppress it,
with very little success It was owing TO this circnm-
stance that the prisoners escaped readily Lieutenant
Hurd wandered about the city part Of the next
day, but finally retaken, with eleven others,
who, before stated, confined in Castle Pihckncy
From this place he with his companions, sent on
to Richmond in wretched baggage car with only little
barred window to allow the air to gain COM
pany OF rebel soldiers accompanied them protect them
the road On arriving Richmond, Lieutenant Hurd,
being most feeble condition, was sent TO Norfolk,
from which place he taken to Fortress Monroe,
under flag Of truce and surrendered TO tho
United States authorities He is young man
about twenty four years old, very thin and spare
and has evidently suffered very hardships. At
Bull run he was shot in three pacen the hip knee and
Notwithstanding ampntation OF the leg the hip
necessary Twenty minutes after they escaped from the
prison the building was heapof ruins Lieutenant Hurd
was in Washington on las, Friday, and had interview
with the President and General Mcclellan, when he pro-
cured his discharge from the service and bad his
entered the roll Of the pensioners He thinks it probl-
bio that Colonel Corcoran, not overcome by exhaus
ton succeeded in making good his escape to Beaufort
There appears to be little hope OF this opinion proving
true however, in WOW OF the fact that Colonel Corcoran
In most enfesbed condition previous his escape
and 1t is improbable that suffering from Typhoid
fever he Is said to have been could keep up bis
strength for long period would be necessary to
journey the distance Of some fifty miles between Charles
ton and Beaufort.