Litchfield enquirer., 1861-08-01

that he had but one job on hand, on which h
 would employ me for few days, but that h
 had another in view and that if he got it, h.
 would keep me all the summer. I then wen
 with him and worked for him. with two niggers
 for eight days, when he paid me eight dollars
 besides boarding me, telling me at the sam,
 time that he could not get the other job. H. cautioned me not to travel on foot with the va lise, because information had been given to the
 inhabitants that was an abolitionist going back
 to Massachusetts in that manner, and that l
 would be certain to be waylaid and hanged if l should venture. Such being the case, as two young men Of my acquaintance were going to
 Columbus camp to join military organization for Pensacola, and as that was my only chance of escaping from the State, resolved to go with them. Accordingly I went and jolned an in
 fantry company, called the Confederate States sentinels, in order to come to Virginia left my tool chest with it's contents, my clothes and and every thing in Columbus with Alexander P
 Prior, brother of the First Lieutenant of the Company had joined. He said he would take care of them, but never expect to get them back. After we had remained in camp for three I or four days we were sent to Richmond, where we were encamped at the Fairfield Race Course, now called Fairfield Camp. We had been there six days when matured plan of escape. Ask | HIS Aoi dHa oJIdiHliS pass TUT GWO uOuIS, l went to the outskirts of the city, where l slept out of doors till daylight. then started off on foot in the direction of Yorktown to join the United States troops there. This was on the l6th of June. On my way 1 was questioned by several people where I was going, and l al
 ways told them that 1 was going to Williams burg to join the Confederate army there. When asked why did not join at Richmond, always replied that there was no chance of much fight ing there. Upon this, the people would always commend my pluck, and give me plenty to eat and drink. guess played off pretty smart on ! them. After walk of fifty miles l got within nine miles of Williamsburg, when I heard that that city was under martial law; that the pick cts extended from the York to the James river, and that if 1 attempted to pass the lines would be taken and hanged as a spy. On hear ing this 1 started for West Point !; crossing the York river in a boat. Seeking an interview
 with Major Tompkins. rebel officer, 1 applied l for admission into an artillery company. He said he was in want of recruits, and he would speak to me on the subject on the morrow. l slept that night in the guard house, after having a good supper. Next morning 1 was permitted i to go outside the camp ground, when gentle man told me there a Yankee n his company who refused to take the oath of allegiance to the rebel States, for which he supposed he would be either hanged or shot. When 1 understood that the oath was indispensable, took the first train for Richmond. On arriving there l saw some men belonging to my company, but con- trived to elude them. l then obtained employ ment to work at the new Mechanics Institute. in course of erection by the rebel government worked there for nine days for which 1 receiv el SIP. After working there six days went to Columbus for my tool chest and things, lu the man left them with seems to have tele- graphtd la"k about mo, for l soon saw the guards looking all about for me. I therefore kept out of the Way till last Sunday when lett Richmond secretly, at n ght, escorted by a un ion man from New Haven. That night slept ; in railroad car in the suburbs, and next morn
 ing started on Foot for Fredericksburg. Af ter walking thirty miles l got on-the train and arrived at my desi .ation, fortunate in not once having my passport demanded. At Frelericks- b,rg Union man from Maryland told me that
 it was not possible for me to get nearer to the 1 Potomac for if were to attempt it. would i be infallibly taken as spy and shot; that he himself wanted to get to ia t!more, out of the
 rebel States; but that if was of no use. He
 was not. however, going to join any of their military bodies as long as he could escape from
 it. Finding it impossible to get to the river without passport went to Capt. Thorburn and offered to ship as seaman for the rebel na- | y ance with an advertisement saw in one of the newspapers. The captain accepted me, and said he would be glad to get three or four hundred like me. He then gave me pass for Acquia Creek to Capt. Lynch, commanding the batteries there. On my arrival 1 reported to Capt. Lynch.
 After leaving this gentleman, who told me l would be put on guard duty that night (Thurs- day) turned over in my mind how l should contrive to reach the vessel of war which 1 saw riding at anchor about two or three miles from the shore, and which I subsequently, found to be the Pawnee. At length determined on swim ming. Chance favored me, for Capt. Lynch ol- dered me to go to the point to help put on some
 weather boards on the cars that had been knock
 was got through I asked a soldier if he would
 take swim. He said not till sundown, for
 which it wanted one hour. l was glad of this
 and intimating that would at once, pulled of
 my clothes and entered the water. There were
 at the time about forty men within pistol shot
 of me- l suppose none of them had the least
 idea that would dare try to reach the Pawnee which will account for my not being molested
 until had gained distance of about half g
 mile from the shore, when ri1ed cannon was
 fired to bring me back but as paid no heed to
 it, another shot was fired, which went right over
 my head, and fell into the water about eight feet
 ahead of me. Several more shots were fired, but they all fell short I now struck out boldly fol : the Pawnee, but found the current too strong
 for me, and, it then being ebb tide, was carried down the river.
 The sun had long since set, but the moon , shone out bright to light me on my way. Find
 ing it impossible to reach the Pawnee, 1 en f deavored to reach some point on the Maryland shore, occasionally changing my position, and 2 sometimes floating on my back, by way of rest
 Sometimes, too ould have to chafe my fas stiffening limbs to keep up the circulation of the s blood. But, notwithstanding the peril in whicl I was placed, never once lost heart, but looked I up to God for deliverance. Nor did I look ul I to or trust to Him in vain. Nearer and neare :, came to the Maryland shore, and as 1 gained 9 the beach, three miles below, and opposite tt IT where had started from, seven bells were strucl ? from the Pawnee indicating half-past seve, f o'clock. I had consequently, been five hour '. S and half in the water. As soon as had rest
 ed little began to walk to and fro on tn, T beach, naked as was after which walked u] T opposite to where the Pawnee was at anchor . but not daring to trust my aching limbs again, 2 oo gave up the idea of swimming to the ship tha T night. I then lay down on the sand and con r .. trived to obtain two hours sleep. Next morn E ing, at daylight started for the ship. I ha . swan considerable distance, and was about r mile from the Pawnee when was seen from tn f. ship; boat was sent off, and 1 was picked u if and taken on board, where I was treated wit :. the uraatost humo nitv and kindness hy Gantai