Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-12-18

hunted through the WO0uS ana tWlce ureu
at, made our escape. Our travels from
this time wcrc a succession of hardships and
difficulties We crossed the mountains,
made the Tennessee river, where we found
a snail boat, with which we made our way
down the river to Stephenson, Ala. Here
we found the entire rebel force in q COM
plete state of confusion, occasioned, as we
learned, by visit from our cavalry, which
had made dash into the town, captured q
few prisoners, and left that morning.
I'VE had succeeded in passing through
the town safely, when we suddenly came
upon force Of rebel cavalry, commanded
BY Col Stephenson, who took us prisoners
lust fourteen days after lesving the balance
of our party. We were Immediately recog-
nized rs belonging to Andrews party, and
after being confined one night in Stephen
SON. we were taken on the cars to Cha'ta-
nooga aud confined in Jail, where we found
the whole party 1t was endeavored to make
us give the name of the engineer, as they
had terrible fate in wait for him, but not
one of the party would divulge his name.
"A Court. martial was ordered for the
trial of Andrews, and Pittenger of the I'd
Ohio was taken out as witness, and BY al.
ternate offers of pardon aud persecution
Andrews, but he was true to his word and
companions, and the court could gain moth.
ing from him. Andrews and Pittenger
were then sent back to us in Jail, and we
expected nothing less than the whole party
would be hung. At this time, about May
10, Chattanooga was threatened BY our
forces, and for safe keeping We were run
of to Madison, Ga. EGo- n
AT Marietta, the cars were stopped bya
mob who threatened to drag us from the
cars and hang us to tree, but the officer in
charge OF the train prevented them from
carrying it into execution, by placing
strong guard around the car, and the mob,
after great effort, was dispersed.
"Wo arrived in safety ut Madison, whe o
after being kept in confinement three days
we were informed we weio to he taken 10
Chattanooga again, as the Yankees did not
intend to try and take that place. Accord.
! ing; we wcro again taken back to that pl ace,
where the whole party, twenty two in
number, were chained with heavy irons and
confined in dark dungeon thirteen feet
square, and for six weeks were fed on half
fare Of the most miserable quality. We
were stripped ofall in our pockets and left
without a cent. Again the Court Martial
was ordered, but this time at Knoxville
and twelve of our party wcrn taken there
aud confined in large iron cages The
Court found seven Of them. guilty of being
spies and lurkers around the camps.
Our forces at that time advanced upon
Cumberland Gap, and Knoxville was
threatened and in order that we might be
safely kent, the whole party, including the
ten at chattanooga, were sent to Atlanta,
Ga. Previous to leaving Chattanooga, An
drews' sentence was read to him, which was
that he was to be hung in six days. II was
then determined to attempt an escape by
cutting though the jail, which was accom-.
pllshed in one night, and Just at daybreak
Andrews twisted his blanket into form of
rope, and succeeded in reaching the fence.
John Whollam next followed, but was dis
covered. Andrews in attempting to climb
the jail guard fence, was also seen and
fired upon by the guard, but succeeded iu
getting over. WhOllam also made dash
and cleared the: fence; both then took to the
river, and for the time escaped. .sif
"Three days afterward Andrews was CAP.
tured and brought back, and seven days
elapsed before poor Whollam was found
He had travelled eighty miles down the
river, and was twice within hail ofthe Union
gunboats, but was afraid to make himself
known. As soon as those two had been
brought back, Andrews was chained hands
and feet, and the irons rivited on, the
shackles being of immense weight and
sufficient to have held an OK. Tho whole
party were then run off to Atlanta, Ga. On
the 7th Of June Andrews was taken from
the Jail and hung, or rather strangled to
death, for tho tree on which they hung him
was so low that when his head touched the
limb his toes touched the ground. and il
was necessary to dig the sand away in order
that he could be choked. His irons and
shackes were still on him.
After remaining in Jail about seven days
the Provost Marshal came to our cell and
took out tho seven that were tried at Knox
vile, viz; Wilson, Ross and p. g. Shaderick
Of Second Ohio, Slaven and Robson
Thirty.third Ohio, John Scott, Twenty frs,
Ohio, and William Campbell, citizen Of
Louisville, Ky. These were taken from
the cell into an adjoining room and ther
sentence of death was rsad TO them, and
permission refused them to return to Their
comrades before execution which took place
in half an hour after leaving us. They
were hung with cotton ropes, and two Of
the party broke down, and were allowed to
live about an hour, and see them put their
comrades in collins, after which they were
again hung up, and their lifeless bodies
passed our jail window in about half an
hour"
The balance Of tho party expected from
day to day to be taken out and hung, but
were not disturbed in their miserable exist.
ence for four months. In October last be.
ing informed that they were to be tried by
court martial, and expecting no mercy,
they, on the evening of the 18th, rushed
upon the jailer when ho brought up their
supper, deprived him of his keys, released
tour other prisoners, and in body fell upon
the guard and disarmed thom. They then
scaled the fence and made for the woods,
about a mile distant. The guard putsucd,
firing, 4 tho party scattered, svery.man for
himself except Wood and Wilson, who kept
together and made their escape How many
were shot or ro-taksn they do not know. -
Capt Fry, one OF tho party, staggered and
tell. after being repeatedly shot at, and was
probably. killed. After being twenty-five
days in the woods. Wilson and his on.rade
reached tho Chattahooche river. aud there
found . boat, in which they got to Coluni-
bus, Ga, snbsisting on raw catfish and ber-
ries on the way.
They did not ventura into tho oitv. hut