The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-19

Iatsrestlns Narrative or m Escsped Csassd-
erase PrDsoner.
VIM. c. Bramlet, Of the eth Virginia cavalry, was
captured Ia November last and carried to Camp
Chase, near Columbus, Ohio. He escaped and ar
rived In Charleston, 8. G., . few days ago. The
narrative Of bis escape and adventures az comlnu.
nicated to the Charleston Courier, are very inter
esting:
He was kept in close confinement until March, .
period OF Eve months. On the 18th Of March some
laborers being sent into the prison to ditch the
prison grounds, Mr.. Bfamlet entered into cOnversa
ton with them, and Anding them Southern Insn in
principle, informed them that he medita1ed an
CAPE They at once expressed their synpathies
with his condition, and offered to assist him far
a. lay In their power. He suggested a. the most
feasible plan change of clothing in his barTacks
substituting laborers suit for the uniform he then
wore. The laborers suit was procured, the change
made, and being furnished with spade, he Joined
the laborers about half an hour before sunset,
leaving the grounds with them ct the hour of
closing. Following his new companions 10 the tool
house. he with the rest deposited his spade passed
on through the Yankee camp and outside Of their
pickets to the turnpike. The party there seated
themselves on . lumber wagon used for bringing
up tho plank for the repair Of the prison walls,
and were taken to Columbus. ,sa1s :.
Upon the arrival at Columbus, one Of the labor
ers, to avoid any suspicion, motioned M. Bramlet
to follow him. and commenced talking very viO-
lenty in the Celtic tongue, our friend apparently
answering and noddine assent. They passed on
through one of the principal streets turned into an
alley, and from thence to the cottage OF the abOrer
Here Mr.. Bramlet remained until about ten o'clock.
when his friend told him that. ~ everything was
then quiet, it might be unsafe for him to remain in
the city, and It would be well Tor him to continue on
his road His friend guided him through back
street to the turnpike, and accompanied him his
way to plank road about mile distant, where he
gave the necessary direc lions as to how he should
proceed.
Mr. Bramlet travelled all that day; but having
just recovered from a severe attack of typhoid
fever, he was unable to make any fast progress and
found that he only walked that day fourteen miles,
Arriving, about half an hour before sunset, at sta
ti0n called Louis Centre. and seeing an express
train come up he stepped into the car and took .
seat Upon the conductors asking him for ticket,
he replied he had none, but that he wished to go
to Sandusky, that he had but one dollar with him
and would ride as far az that would pay.
The conductor took his dollar and told him to
get off at Crystalline Station. Walking on about q
mile from this station, he stopped all night with
German, and next day walked seven miles and a
half, leaning upon an edar stick, being otherwise
completely broken down. He stayed that night
with u Dung man, who shared his supper with
him. antl the next morning again started. Coming
across some laborers working on the railroad from
Columbus to Cleveland he was asked as to his
lameness. He told them that he was Il Canadian
by birth, b ad emigrated to the southern part 7Of
Ohio just b,dore the breaking out Of the war; had
limbs and ms.de him a cripple. and that he was en-
deavoring to- get home to his friends in Canada
One Of the laborers gave him quarter Of dol.
lar. With only this in his pocket, he got aboard the
next train nd told the conductor he wished to get
to Sandusk. but had only twenty five cents, wi
which he de sired to go as far rs possible. The con
ductor nfor med him where he would get of, but ON
arrival at the place and he was about to leave
the car the conductor, seeing his condition, kindly
told him to keep his seat. and that he would take
him to Sandusky
He arrived in San(lusky in the evening, without
money, and In state of starvation. His only
clothes were the labcrer's suit, ragged and dirty
A group of boys observing him, one OF them cried
out Il believe that fellow is An escaped prisoner
Another responded, Eyes, l believe it is old jeff
Davis HIMSELF Hearing this lie became excited
but seemingly paying no attention, forgot his lame
ness, and walked off as rapidly as possible. Keep
ing on for about two miles, and finding pursuit
the excitment subsidized, and reaction took place
and he was again as lane before. 1t was now
raining, with hail and snow falling. and blowing q
yale from the Northeast. With his thin, ragged
clothing, for which he had exchanged his warm
Southern uniform, it seemed As though every BIAS
penetrated through him, and he was in danger OF
fr sexing to death. Upon asking several to be al
lowed the privilege Of staying all night. telling
them his penniless condition, he refused. Con
tinuin his journey, he lost his way on road tha
led Oft INTO clearing instead Of farmhouse, as ht
had SUP 7OSed. Night came on, the rain still fall
ing with y cold, bitter wind piercing him through
aud through almost depriving him of all sensbilty
of feeling At times he would sink knee de- in tn
swamp and m,,,, extrieating himself only by creep
ing ON his hands a1t d knees
At another time Ne became lost in the forest, go
entangled among the thorn thickets. and severa
times gave up in desl 'air, submitting himself Il
fate. Finding box Of matches in one OF his pock
cts, he determined one more effort and getting
few dry chips pulled off the lark of an old hollow
tree and succeeded in starting = fire. by means o
fence rails he was enabled to keep up this fire. AM
standing over it, managed to keep fr'm freezing un
til daylight. Although paralyzed in L'ubs and be
numbed as he was he succeeded in crossing anothe
strip of woods came up to fence, and the ..elcom
sight of a farm house greeted his eyes. Upon cal
ing at the gate he was invited in and sat down l.
warm himself, but was compelled shortly after
from sickening sensation, to 60 out on the pOrcl
tor ventilation Upon his return the farmer CAV,
him a second invitation to take breakfast with him
which he accepted with grateful thanks. The storm
continued and the farmer insisted upon his staying
till it was over. To his inquiries. Mr. Branlet re-
peated the story OF his Canadian birth and said h
would like to get work in order get the means
continue his journey. The farmer Immediately re
commended him to neig nbor who had been inquir
ing for laborers. Mr. BrAmet after again thanking
the. tarmer, started for the place to which he hal
been directed, but mistaking the house, stopped a
another farm house :he proprietor OF which was al
lrishman who invited him in. Here he disclose
his true character, The Irshman had been a da,
or two before to Sandusky to collect some dues o
merchant, W no it seems was an Abolitionist, an
who he discovereo upon his arrival home, had de
frauded him.
While Mr. Bram!et was there this man commence
cursing the Yankees He called them bloody Yan
kee dogs, &c. men who had robbed him ever since
he came from the old country, and he wished tn
Confederates would cut them to pieces.
Mr.. Bram1c hearing this took the farmer asid
and asked him to give his word of honor that b
would no.. reveal what he wished to disclose. H
replied f.e would ii it was anything honorable,
not he lad better keep it. Mr.. Bramlet then tol
him hs was Southerner and military prisoner
endus,voring to make his way into Canada Th
farmer grasped his hand, said his heart wit
HIM. but that he was poor man, not able to d
much in the way of assisting him. He referred hin
POweyer, to q gentleman, the one who had inquire
for laborers saying that he was a friend to th
South, q good Democrat who expressed himse
| openly, was wealthy, and would. he felt assaret
| be glad to aid him.
| Mr.. Bramlet started, and upon arriving at tn
place saw the proprietor in the yard. He told hiI
| that he had been recommended to him to get wOri
| The reply was. that he had thought Of hiring. bu
| the weather being fine he thought with the asss
| ance of his boys and money matters rather tigh
| he would be able to manage with what help he haa
| He asked Mr.. Bramlet what he could do. The r
| ply was, anything. The proprietor scanned hi
| very closely, and did not seem to like his appea
| ance. Seeing he was not likely to succeed, N
Bramlet revealed his true condition. He ws
Immediately welcomed in, and here he staid fl
two weeks, until he had wholly recovered from b
lameness
The proprietor then furnished him the means ,
\ continue his journey. Mr.. Bramlet went to Sx
dusky, thence TO Toledo, from there to Detroit, III
1 getting on board ferry boat was landed upon Il
1 Canadian side at place called Windsor. Upp,
! Canada There he met the Honorable Mr. Elliot
4 Queens Consul, who invited him to his place
/ London. He was Hospitality aud kindly receive
/ by the citizens Of that place, and contribute
made up for him. He was also given free tran
port, or right Of way. on the Crank Trunk Railws
to Quebec, with letter Of introduction to the Ho
Mr. Portman, NJ p, an intimate friend Of Gener
! Wade Hampton Mr. r. and his friends here ma.
| up another contribution, by which means he vi
| enabled to reach St. Johns n b., from whence