The New York herald., 1862-08-14

EscoDe OF Union Prisoners irom AIch-
INTERESTING DETAILS oF-gHE MANNER IN WHICH
4 THEY EFFECTED THEIR ESCAPE.
laeutcnantF +. Murphy, OF the sixty seS enh New York
Volunteers, who taken prisoner at the battle o
Savage s,aticn while invalid the hospital, and who
subsequently, in company with captain oakey, Fifth
Pennsylvania reserve Lieutenant william Riddle, First
regiment S,kcs' Brigade, aud a Mr. David McAvery, .
Union Richmond who, since his arrival joined
tho Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, made their escape, re
ltes the following very interesting narrative OF the
| ner in which they eiuded their cncmi
We escaped fran Richmond Prison-a place heretofore
used tobacco warehouse No the mcrning Of the
7h, by tearing OIL board lgom the OF the house,
| which led into alley. When We reached the
| alley hearts paiptsted to the utmost de.
| gree, fearing thl. The sentry would discover US:
but after carefully recon1oi.ering few moments,
found the clear, thought. The first sentry
lay asleep across tie alley tie second very shar
distance eff, stretched his back with his head recliaag
on his arms snoring sounily While cropping way
tho dlknas Of the night in the nos sIeat nanner as
not to wake the sleeping sentfes, discovered hsr
wide awake in frant 81 tha prison, Ills made rs 80
cautious AID nervous Cna e larty stumbled oyF
Of tho sleeping senrl,s, but, ueN would have Il
| nc staiiiad that lie unable TO dstiuc cush
what hit lin and concluding il vas his comrade while
were skedaddng, went up and strGc him; but hear
| ing our departing cotstcfs the alarm given and
| chase vas made. We up Eighth street, and ii
shgrt time, finding that tho sentres not TO be
he ID, Sc consulted what best to be DONE
Finding tho Gear, we slept cellar door al
night Early the Lezt morning visited house occu
pied by lady OF the nest thorough going Union scnt
melts, who furnished us with fcod and cothag We
also other Union friencs here, who did eryhing
in their power aid escape. So complete the
disguise afforded by those friends We enabled to
the orhcations Of the city, which enabled to get
the positions OF the forts what part Of the country they
commanded and the number Of guns they mounted.
They report the earthworks be similar those
Yorktown but the information has already been given
to General Mcclellan, and is OF important character
unable to give further particulars In order to
escape from here successfully they forged exemption
tickets which represented them to be employees
government contract work in the Eagle Works Finding
those would not work. General winder being the only
person who could issue pass, they obliged to turn
back, and tried another point to tho left Of
the city, They had not proceeded far when
they hailed by sentry, to whom they made the
that they backberryng Finding they could
pass this way after satisfying the sentry they all
right, hey returned towards the city but when out Of
sight concluding that to the left their direction,
they that through the woods and after footing
some four miles oversaken by storm,
which lasted so long they ubgei 70 lay concealed
!. the words until Hasning When tie they
|
avoided discovery by stealing cautiously away From
here they took northeastery course, crossing the
Chcsahomny at Private Bridge. They pursued this
until night set in and took shelter in old school
house for the night They pursued the
lay until they reached the pamunkey river, keeping in
the woods all the time 10 avoid cavalry scouts, bunting
deserters Not finding any boats at this place they
across the river to point e above Newcastle ferry
which they reached about Dusk Up to this time they
lived upon backberrjes and huckeberries, VIII ch they
found in the woods This night they slept in wheat
stack, and Il following morning started voyage
distance, almost canpetey exhausted they reached
negro yelling, where they procured ash cake
aud bowl Of milk each. They informed here that
The after them they started
lha country immediately keeping the same course utn
they reached King William Court House, where they put
up fr the light at Powells Hotel They succeeded in
elcdug the landlord here so well as TO procure good
supper and lodging for the night; but when they
entered tie breakfast room next morning, somewhat
surprised TO find cavalry officer seated at the table.
Nothing daunted, they cooly sa. down TO breakfast
shortly they commenced operations the cavalry o
departed ana not being preeesesei with his appear
ansS aud manners. they made all hasc and took their de-
parture. When leaving the hotel, they this same
cavalry officer standing by his horse and concluding that
ne, has on b 0w 's e
woods for the purpose Of recsnnoterng They not
here than vo minutes, when two cavalry officers,
accompanied two Privates, galOpng along When
OF sight, they ventnred on the road again. Here they
met three ccored women, who informed them that
tho cavalry officers were after them. They again
turned to the woods, and few moments afterwards
tue cavalry officers Returned with four priyates
md drew up directly opposite where they were con-
ceaied The officers and rrvass held sutation as
70 what course they should pursue They concluded 10
send four down the old West Point road two toward
Pogeils Hotel and two down the West Point road Lieu
tenant Murphy and party finding this location pecu-
liarIy unhealthy struck out in nor.hery direction
After travelling distance they reached the Alaaponc
river, where they found boat, about quarter 0.
mile from it, This they lugged down and launched, bet
waited until dark under the shade Of the bank when
they started off down stream with only They
continued their down the until they reached
owned by named Fsndal Sutherland
Gregory, about twenty miles from West FONT.
they found two and some other effects, among
which was the following portion Of letter. which ap
pend as a curiosity, dating so far back as II does;
KING WILLIAM, OF. I3, 1882
I4s ssep ,hs woss s, T fobs Promise to the car
In these times becomes daicult adapt our OF
duty as patriots 70 or eon ctons q rsh,s
Gnus Unauthorized cncToachments Of the federal 60
s q % Would Sr 81 foG oS Si
a whilst m ADMIT nn s m % 9f r @ a. @ a ssTs
Is r.de NJ love o. country which ttnis ready % save
as bs st fanny in It's own i1reneed camr In fss
country te pro- fets oI despom marked attacks
he properly Of Tho eeni this IS the commence OF ITS
rney pullcd from here to West Point whore they
TiYc al thseo co tns following morning.; after seeus-
they lept souuaiy uAlil IN the morning. Mhon they
s ko tney discovered Tho town bat knowing Whether
WIS ia Inc hands OF Trends or enemies were somewhat
pfzklcd e.las 10 pursue. they concluded
ally 10 pub Tor tho town, and haa not been under way
bt few when two Jwnpcd iuto saiibaat
aiG lqy9 tlain chaso kbey succeeded, however, in
grsehrg tho shoe at 0o l0int where tho M0ta ou!c
sui rlniuukcy fiyo~ form the York They uneNpect-
ediy across ticSets hero, whom they sgp
poCd reos, Jlt he lieutenant wh, was IN command CT
i-in eSogH1iag CAPTAIN oasy - al cd friend, tncic
t0il. brought I, close Insy were Turn shed wth
ipssca here and taken % i!1nsnlrg, whefe fney were
treated utA tle Utmost Nndn.ss b. Colonel t-npooi,
II he h4fth rcur yiN,rl4. Nest day they NanI
tn.e -toan lsand where lhoy took ooats tor Gcncra
ct t4iG.a headquarters. they gayo hlm some vosy
a. aDo incarnation, and received iuglouans ~ - home