Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-07-24

and after some time found one locked to
large tree by a heavy chain and lock- At
midnight they had filed the chain, and with
tin pan and canteen for paddles they start
ed on their perlious voyage down the Ocmule
gee river.
Ga the morning of the 18th they were
twenty-five miles from Macon, and slowed
away in a canebrake, eating their allowance
of six ounces of bread fer the day They
started with only six pounds of bread for the
! three persons. All day they lay in the willows
in sight Of a white mau and two negroes, who
were telling trees. At sundown they started
! again and rowed about ten miles, when it be-
came so dark that they tied up till the moon
rose. They found negro cabin, and six slaves
aud the little son of their master, the sole oc-
cnpants. A supper was prepared for them of
bacon, corn bread and molasses. They passed
for rebel soldiers, aud the slaves were afraid
of them and gave them the best they had.
A one o'clock A NJ, they started, and
having constructed some rude paddles, pushed
off with increased speed They had not gone
far before they diScerned a boat ahead They
tried to avoid the new comers. but finally hail
ed them, supposing them to be rebels, and the
strangers were of the same opinion. But after
much lodging they proved TO be runaways, like
themselves.
This new party consisted of Lieutenant J.
S. Agey, Lieutenant G. Ii. Logan, Sergeant
j. \. Rhodes and Sergeant Milton Rholes,
all of the Fourteenth Iowa Y EoIunteers. They
all agreed to tie their fral canvass together
and share common fate. The new comers
ftoId of the manner of their escape. They pro-
cured cloth and made sacks resembling bustles,
which they filed with rice, -four and dried ap-
! pies These sacks were tied around their
! bodies. Files aud small meat saw, with a
! little salt, were secreed in their boats. Thus
provided, and dressed in rebel uniform they
left the grounds On passing the gate of the
Fair Grounds they were asked by the guard
! if they belonged to the battalion. An afir-
NATIVE answer passed them ont. The four
went to the river side at q distance of three
miles below the town, where they secreted
themselves until night; and then by saving
down with meat saw quite good sized
tree, they procured a boat and started in
search of freedom Several hundred miles lay
before them; but they were as anxious as men
could be, and were, in fact, desperate.
The two boats were now lashed together and
| fitted with rowIocks. The ruuaways used
moss to mnff1ey them, and the same material
for their beds aud covering. At three o'clock
2. NJ, on "Wednesday, 18th, they landed,
built fire and cooked some rice. At eleven
o'clock they were in sight of Hawkinsville-
Here they saw three steamers apparently de-
serted. Passing the town, on the opposite
shore, they escaped observation, although sew
eral men we're Oh the bank fishing by the light
OF large fire. After passing the town they
pulled for dear life, and on The morning of
Thursday, the 18th, were forty miles from
Hawkinavie At eight o'clock they went on
shore and cooked two fish which they had
| caught. One was struck by an oar and killed
and the other jumped into the boat. Taking
a shortanap, they again took their oars, pull
ing four all the time.
They were frequently hailed from the shore
and always gave the late news of rebel vic
tory and cheer for JEFF. Davis. At times they
passed for detectives /; but if they had been
taken, or rather forced to 60 on shore, they
had the following order prepared for inspec-
tiOn -