Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-01-31
MISCELLANEOUS U.s.,
An EScspcd Prisoner from Cairo-A Faith
fQl %crYant.
tSrou the helena. {h:k.) Shelby

tSrouc the Helena (A.k.) Shelby
A few days since, Major, = slave belonging
TO Mrs. Rabb, of This vicinity, who was taken
nrisoner at the battle Of Belmont and carried
q Cairo, made go3d his escape and returned
nore-and is now at the plantation, among
his res! Gr;eads-a happy, contented, honest
darker. Many interesting incidents connected
with lis captivity, perilous escape, fortunate
meeting with trieaGs in the depths of the forest
d Missouri. his arrival az Columbus, where he
had sha happiness Of finding that his young
master had escaped uahurt on the batte field,
where lie vas taken prisoner, are slt related
by Major in a manner at once concise, straight.
for wal d AID doubtless honest
On the morning Of the battle be was in
s.-uc;cd by bis master, Mr.. Rabb, who was a
private in company 4, 18th regiment, Arkaa-
81; volunteers, to remain at the hospital tent
during the progress OF the copfict, but Inc
enemy having gotten possession Of the en-
canpnent, Re, With others, wss taken prisoner
and vas taken TO Csi-o-was confined in one
Of the guard. rooms several days, during which
::me he YES frequently INTERCEPTED Is to
whether he would ike TO return home.
Being shrewd enough for unprincipled cap.
:ors, he told :hcm that he had 10 regard for
MS Owners, and was delighted st the prospect
OF freedom which vas promised of COURSE
HI vas subsequently taken by IN Illinois cap
;a;a for bis couk, with 4 promise OF Sl2 per
pn.ta. 5ut up to the 3lst Of December re.
ca;r:rg nothing. On that night he managed
to cre1l through The lines, secured an old
lsaky ssifi, which be had seen 10 the willows
aoou: q mile above town The day previous,
wills, out with an officers servant watering
horses. He found tee sEiG destitute OF oars,
bur with a DIT OF plank as q substitute, poor
IS j. was he boldly pushed oct into the stream
landed upon an island first, INSTALLING 1t
for The Missouri shore, where he. wandered
about several aours; again embarked, reached
tie zna;:a shore, where he was near being dis
covered hy 8 sentry near BY OF at Birds Point
BE-! he Guided Toe dTowsy LiIcolnitc, escaped
iato the woods, and made FOR Columbus.
THIS vas OF Wednesday morning, 1st Of
January, and ne wandered about until Friday
following, when he cane upol an humble
dwelling lar back in the forest 40 tells us
.aat o. this time be greatly tatlsued end worn
Gu; o. constantly travelling ard the cravings
O! hunger. He determined to venture into this
ru5e hut ard did SO, finding it tensnted By
thrue s:alesTy men whom he soon found were
Sou.hcrnc-s, 70 whom be, without reserve, told
his tale Of suffering and priva!ions, and who
kindly preferred to accompany him to Colum-
bus, whe-e the four Started and rosched their
destination abou. noon tie pest day, where
the poor fellow experience the joyful happiness
OF again meeting his young master.
Lincoln and lis myvmidous will learn from
thv story Of MAJOR, which We have briefly mar.
rated. that they cannot convert such as he (snd
there are many such in the South) into incen'
diaries and cxecutioners. The truth is, we
know many servants whose attachments for
their masters and overs amount almost to
fre.zy or alteration. There are may be a
few who might be induced to raise their hands
in az resurrection put on foot 10y abolition
sn:sssries, but the loyal slaves in our midst
would 50 iar on;rumber them that they could
do 5nL Slight mischief.