Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-01-02

Colonel de Villiers, of the Eleventh
Ohio Regiment, who was captured in
Western Virginia, and who made his es-
cape from Richmond two or three months
ago, detailed his experience in Cincin-
natl, few evenings since. BY stealing
an officers hat and coat, and lying be-
hind the prison gate until he heard the
counter.sign, he managed to get the free
dom Of Richmond. His subsequent nd =
ventures are thus detailed in the Comn,er-
ciaPs report -
About six miles from Richm ond, he
was encountered by guard, and to his
challenge replied, "a friend without the
cauntersign." He had the precaution
to 10y the double -barreled shotgun which
he contrived to get before he escaped
from Richmond, down, before he ap
preached this guard. Approaching they
asked him where he was from and whittier
he was going. He replied from Rich
mond to Petersburgh. They then asked
why he did not take the railroad, and he
said he missed the cars. They took him
in custody, and marched one on each side
of him upon q narrow bridge crossing q
stream near a. hand. The situation was
desperate, but he was determined never
to 90 back to Richmond alive; so when
he got about the middle Of the bridge he
struck to the right and left, knocking one
of the guards on one side and the other
on tho other side, and giving them both
y, good swim ! Thence he made his was
toward Petersburg, subsisting for three
days upon nothing but raw beans, (Which
was not very good for his digestion"
Upon this tramp. distance of sixty
five miles, he carried his skiff for crossing
rivers, Ga pine board), upon his shoulder.
During his travels, he was several times
shot at. When he got in the neighbor-
hood of Magrudcr's forces, his hardest
time began. He tried to pass sentinels
several times, and at one time he was
twice shot at in quick succession. He
shot too. He did not know whether he
hit the two sentinels or not, but they
never answered. Bat the whole brigade
was aroused, and he took to the James
River in what he called his skiff, namely,
his pine board companion. He landed
on the other side in swamp, recrossing
again near jamestown, when he lost his
gun. He had cast away his officers coat,
ana it may well be imagined what remain
ed of his suit was by this time rusty en-
ough. So he took an open course, and
asked for work but like the poor men in the
South, when they ask for work, they are
told to 60 into the service. Even the la
dies do not look upon young man unless
he is in the service; viewed from this test,
there were more patriots in the South
than in the North; they were all soldiers
old and young.
He hired with German blacksmith,
at 81 so cents per week, having conclud-
ed to remain awhile and learn something
of the condition of the rebel forces. He
stayed fortnight, observing all the rebel
movements. At the expiration of this
time he got tired of blacksmithing, and
wanted to go home. He found good
German Union man, to whom he told
his story without reservation. This was
of great service to him; he led him for
nine days, the Colonel having adopted
another Yankee trick and made blind
man of himself; he couldn't see, and the
German was his guide. Dropping the
Yankee French, he became French sub
ject, and wanted to 60 back to France,
because he could not get any work to do
here ; and so he told General Huger when
he got into his command. This General
promised 10 send him to Fortress Mon
roe with flag of truce, The nas of
truce that was sent, he accompanied, blind
still, and led by his faithful German Uni
on man.
Colonel de Villiers here mentioned the
fact Of General Wool's refusing, about
this period, to receive any more flags,
owing to the treachery which had been
practiced, and but two of twenty-four
persons who had been taken with the flag
were accepted. He contrived, unobscrv-
E ed to tell the captain of the flag party
that he was n prisoner, Union officer,
and had assumed blindness as disguise,
and he should take him but the Young
officer said he could not understand it,
, and said he would inform General w ool.
lie did so and Wool, being an old SOL
dier, comprehended the matter at once,
Immediately sending another boat out to
bring him but it was too late, for the
rebel officer said it was not worth while
Waiting Tor the Yankees, and hastencd
: off. Having lost his German gnidc, Gen
, lIuger himself led him (the poor old
, blind mani with unaffected sympathy to
the hotel, and assured him that he should
go with the next flag of truce that was
sent AMI he further took the trouble OF
writing a special letter to General Wool
about "the old French blind man that
wanted to go home" Colonel de Vii
+ liers remarked that General Hugar evinc.
, ed true kindness towards him. You may
be assured, said he, that it did not take
: long to jump into Union boat. With
a the flag, there were, besides, u number ot
ladies who cleft the sunny South for the
+. purpose of going North to do business, -
4 Though he was blind, he could see the
glances they exchanged and though old
and somewhat deaf, he could hear the Of
!. iicers tell the ladies to learn all they could
and come back with the information
wishing them much success. at is sur.
I. prising what fine spies they made ~
= When he got into safe quarters he threw
= = off his disguise and decrepitude-saw and
was strong--observing. without surprise
himself, the astonishmcnt Of the ladies at
the change. He took care that these la.
= = dies, though they went North, did not
E go South to report.