The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-08

We find in the Syracuse Courier and Union
the narrative of Francis Colehan, an escaped
soldier from therebel army at Pensacola, from
which we extract:
had q good opportunity to find out the pri-
vate opinions Of great number Of the soldiers,
and have no doubt there are over one hum
dred men in Fort Barrancas alone who were as
loyal to the Union as myself Of course We
all desired to escape from the despotism which
compelled us to serve under the accursed flag.
We often cogitated plans of escape, but some.
thing would always seem to interfere with
every project we formed, aud we were unable
to execute any of them.
On the 2lst Of December last, l was on
guard as>sentinel in charge of the 80 Founders
on the beach, which were heavily loaded with
grape for instant use, and could sweep the
beach and water for long distance around.
Uumindful of my duty, rery carelessly allow
Timothy Conovan to spike both guns! The
spikes were short pieces of steel wire, shaped
like q rat-tail file. Connovan drove the spikes
firmly down into the vents, broke them off
close, and then put down the vent covers so
that no one could see them. That night we
held private council and the following per-
sons resolved to make their escape the next
day, or perish in the attempt: Timothy Como
van, Springfield, Massachusetts,; James Smith,
Buffalo, New York; James Parker Milwaukee,
Wisconsin; Edward English, Baltimore, Mary.
land; Albert johnson, q sailor, and myself
There was an old leaky boat hanging up in
q rickety old shed near our quarters, and
about four rods from the water. We had pre-
viously looked upon that old boat Is the means
ed and tarred it and made it perfectly tight
and safe. Before the break Of day ON the
morning of the 22d Of December, we crept one
by one out of our quarters and silently coDgre-
gated in the shed, where in darkness We held .
brief council to the disposition ofthe sentinel
who was on duty, and who was pacing up and
down the beach in front of US. We were all
well acquainted with him, and were unwilling
to take his life in that murderous manner al
though we knew he would instantly fire upon
us and alarm the camp.
We concluded to pause until he turned on
his beat, and when near the farther end We
would make q rush for the water, and run all
risks. 1t war already seven o'clock, and day.
light had begun to streak the east. No time
was to be lost. 1t was life or nothing now
The moment the sentinel turned his back We
seized the boat, and swiftly and silently rush.
ed for the water, into which We dashed the
boat, and fixing the oars instantly began to
glide from the soil of Dixie. The noise Of the
oars arrested the attention of the sentinel He
turned, challenged, and instantly fred. The
bullet whistled harElessly past US. In . mo-
ment the whole camp was in perfect state
of confusion and alarm, but before they COM
pretended the matter We were beyond the
reach of minnie or musket. They resolved
to give Us grape, and the thirty-tWos were
ranged upon US. But when the captain raised
the vent covers, and discovered the broken
spikes, he fairly danced with rage. We saw
this and rising in the boat, pulled of our hats,
and gave them wave and cheer.
The United States troops in the fort had !
the whole affair from the beginning.
and when We waved our hats they gave us an |
enthusiastic and tremendous cheer. As We |
approached the beach, hundreds Of them came |
down to meet us, and numbers rushed out into |
the water, seized the approaching boat, and |
carried it high aud dry upon the shore. Be- |
fore could stir from my seat, some one slap |
ped me ON the shoulder, and looking ur, l be-
held Rowland Parish of (Fairmount) Geddss, |
IN old scbo0lmate, now member Of the New |
York Seventy fifth Volunteers from Auburn. |
Right glad was to find 90 quickly an old |
friend and nsighbor. He, too had been watch |
ing US during that mile and half row for life. |
We were immediately taken before Col.
Brown, who closely and rigidly questioned 10. |
But our statements were 20 plain, and We found |
80 many old friends and acquaintances, that /
We were soon Afterwards relieved Of al Suspi- /
cion. Two days after two negroes escaped, |
and being Intercepted by the Colonel, fully /
corroborAted our statements. They said that /
the suspicion and anger Of the rebels were "a /
great that they came near hanging tvo or /
three persons - accessories to,our Escape.
We stopped in the fort elsves days, and on |