Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-04
Capture by Rebels and Release of an Ex-
Councilman OF Cincinnati.

Councilman Of Cincinnati.
Ex.Counclman H. A. Edwards, of the
Second Ward, left this city as Quartermaster
of Groesbecks Regiment; he was perform
ing duty as such with that portion of the
regiment which marched under General
Sturgis from the Hannibal and st. Joseph
Railroad, at Utica Station, to re-enforce Col
onel Mulligan at Lexington. He was left a
few hundred yards in the rear of the brigade
when it left Richmond, No., on its retreat to
Liberty. He was captured on the 18th by
four men, who rushed from the woods into
the road and called on him to halt. The re-
mainder of his story is given in the words Of
his own letter, written on Sunday last, from
Camp Benton, ST. Louis:
They took me rapidly away through woods
and fields to large hollow, where some
seven or eight more were sitting on logs,
each having in his hand gun. They kept
me there until nearly dusk in the evening,
and then started for Lexington.
As we passed along the road the little
party OF seven or eight was increased to sew
enty or eighty persons, all of whom came
t ON the bushes on either side of the road.
All were mounted and armed with some
kind of gun. These men were the farmers
who lived in the immediate nei lhbJrhooI Of
Richmond. As we came nearer Lexington
the little army grew to monstrous proper
lions by such acquisitions. At sunrise, on
Friday, the l9th they crossed the river and
ook me into Lexington, where the battle
was then going on fiercely between the lit
tie band Of Federal troops, half famishiug,
and thirty thousand rebel soldiers.
| sat in buggy within three hundred
yards Of the intrenchments, and had an eY-
cellent opportunity of seeing the siege. After
taking me to headquarters and robOing me,
was sent to prison and fed on corn bread
and fresh beef without salt, until released
Ny uniform consisted Of a blue fatigue coat
and pants, with qIite military cap. They
all took me for an officer, but l declared
was not ard represented that | was re-
porter for the Times; and not having the in-
sigma of Office or rank on my shoulders they
believed me, and were about to let me 20,
but one, wiser than the rest, asserted that
the Times was an Abolition paper, and, con.
sequently, me an Abolitionist.
found before had been there long that |
was acquainted with great many rebel
officers, among whom were Colonel Il. B.
Cloy, formerly from Kentucky Major Say
ers, Major Cunningham, and Captain Parker,
from Indiana and Captain Henderson, for
mtrly of the Cincinnati Enquirer, and Demo-
cratic Citizen, of Lebanon.
] was introduced to Generals Price, Rains,
Parsons, Thompson (Jetf) }, and a number Of
the other officers, all of whom treated me
kindly.
can not in this give you an account OF
the condition, habits, manners or hopes o!
these miserable Wretches.
Before commencing an attack they all get
pretty well intoxicated, and rush madly up
to the cannon's mouth. Their loss was ter.
rible in killed and wounded. Hardly house
in the city that did not display the hospital
flag, and after the surrender OF the post and
the dead were removed, could see from the
prison the black wagons hurrying by with
those that had died after being removed Il
the hospital, which will swell The rebel los
to eleven OF twelve hundred, while the Fed
erAl loss was but fifly.two killed and on'
hundred and sixty wounded, some of whom
may still die.
l do not desire to fall into their hand
again. and may remain in this city.