Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-07-07

young man, Aodrsv Johneoo. ir.. nephev TO
Md Andy. and chip Of the old block. since
leaving Memphis our grub was getting vorse.
We nov we're fornished plenty Of corpm zeal
water and salt. half enough Of fresh meat.
aud every third day enough uolasses for one
meal.
We left Mobile on the Sd Of April. went
up the Alsbama River to the Tombi2bee. M
that to the Black Warrior. and up that to
Tuscumbis. The old Capital Of the State, and
head Of navigation on the Black Warrior.
Here We we're treated like doge. Corn bread
without salt. and meat unfit to eat, with bad
water. There were but 1860 or 400 pris
oners Three men we're shot for clicking
their heads out Of the Windows. and We we're
not allowed the liberty of the yard Some
Of the Manassas boys were still there pris-
onsrs since last July. Also Belmont and
Donelson boys. l began to look for chance
10 escape. and made three different attempts
The last will briefly describe: traded
tor secesh Uniform with one OF the Bel
mont boys. l then passed out towards the
ont-houso. and in coming back / passed the
guard - . political prisoner. Three others
10 secssh Uniforms followed. We vent into
the Tennessean's Room. from there went to
the room where they chain the boys. We
climbed up to the joice and crawl.d on that
over a room that vas used in good old
times" for an ice house, but low nailed up
and the door guarded. that being the only
way thst it could be got into, according to
The rebel reasoning We Jumped down from
the joice into the savdust. and commenced to
cut out with 40 old butcherknfei hsdsm U pgled
We succeeded in getting thro'. vas halt way
out. when the town clock struck twelve.
Twelve o'clock .. night. tbs 9th Of May, 1861
will ever rememb-r. When felt the pure.
fresh air, it Sc emed a. if l was snatched from
the Jaws Of dea h. felt three times al strong
as really was, for had the yellow fever aud
diarrhea. Our dangers had just comneuced.
Our point to- reach wac Deca ur, Ala aluo.t
rue north We went down TO the river with.
ou. accident, every dog in town following ns
At the river We found four eklff., chained and
locked. We did not dare to pound them with
rock, go We set to work AMI cut the staple
out with the old butcher knife. We crossed,
set the ekiffs loose. and got into cane brake
and swamp. We followed along ali III. ht and
next day until about 10 o'c!oc. without eating
anything or placing foot on what you would
call dry land. Wa then run on to mountain
dear the Tombigbe river. where we found .
hog. We killed him, roasted snd ate him
o,thout bread or salt, We crossed branch
OF the Tombigbae, being twenty miles west.
and in the timb.r. The night Of the 7th, in
going up Moth River, we struck road about
midnight, ana / flowed 5. seeing no houses.
We pulled If our ehoes, the other three boys
did. threw mine away a. Iuscaloosa) so as
not 10 make any noise. After following the
road about four miles in silence and singl- file,
We run On to a picket who was guarding
bridge We got within twenty FIVE sards of
him before We saw him. We halted and th ank
ed our stars be did not see Us yet. v e took
to the brush. and then concluded 10 60 north
east until we found the Trscaioosa and Decs-
tur road, about eighteen miles east Of rs. The
aext morning We confiscated another half
starved hog. aud that evening stopped at the
6rst house, only two women and some children
in-told them We were out Of the twelve
months service in Virginia. and we're now 60
,ng to Jasper to re-enlist to 60 to Corinth and
and told % thut fifteen cavalry men we're tax.
ing supper at the next house (about 600 yards)
that csm. from TUscaioosa sftsr fur rao4ees
that hsd escaped from there. We promised
to call aud zee them, and get description Of
the Yankees and il We esw or heard of them
on our route wew would raise the alarm and
get the planters negroes and dogs after them.
But, Of course, os soon as We lief, the house far
enough not to be seen, we took to the timber.
Thus we travelled but We would kill no more
hogs. The planters were Ignorant enough to
believe any hing. and being geographically ac-
quainted with Virg MIA we could not be fooled
that way, and for the time being, Of course.
having great hatred to everything northern,
and besides being very patriotic. we got along
very well, keeping otf the main road ali the
tia e, for on that road the news Of cur escape
was ahead Of US for nearly a hundred miles
ofo ha
planters ali along first on account of the con
script &C. second on the property qualiica-
tion bill; third the overbearing and tyranni-
cal speeches and acts Of their leading officers
and fourth, when we found one that dared to
give vent to his feelings. he would say We
had no sufficient reason to take up arms at
fret. don't know what the Yankees did
they never hsrme me. | was well satisfied
Then checking themselves they would say,
But my country is 10 danger. must he!p,-e-
Iieve her." Al, through their country found
that the main supporter Of liberty. the cradle
Of peace, prosperity and independence fs not
TO be found here, as with Us. for where will
yon go in our country without finding school
house, here they are curiosity which the in
hab,tauts have only on rare accasioDs au OPP
portunity to see. Tho Methodtsts found the
hottest Of them all. fairly boiling over tor the
total annib,lstion Of ali Yankees. Force the
var beyond the OHIO. and on their own soil
compel the hired micions Of Ahe Lincoln to
beg md plead for pesce on their bended knees,
w. slept ont ten nigh.e and finally reached
the Tennessee River, at Decatur. the rebels
being in Decatur and our forces
across the river We waited until mid
night, for we could not get skff
canoe. and one Of the boys could not swim q
P Short. 10th ken,ucsy,) and my feet were
blistered. At II o'clock we went down the
river bank and found two canoes, but both
we're lock ed and could no. be got loose with
out attracting the attention Of the rebels that
uers running around to wn all night. We went
to house and offered $40 if the man would
take Us over, but lie would cot We stole. or
rather took, the paddle. out of the yard. broke
loase one of ,he canoes. jumped in and made
for the '.other eide of Jordan" When oIt SO
or 60 yards, We could hold 10 NO longer. We
gave three cheers for the Union. the Yankees
and the Government, and commenced to sing
boisterous eongs. when bang. bang. whiz. whiz
came bull 'ete flying Tor the man who owned
the canoe raised the alarm and trey fired ..
least 10 shots at us but thanks to the dark
ness W. escaped unhurs, untouched. But you
may depend We made rapid time after this
We got on ehore, gave three more cheers,
hnc wing ourselves to be thin few hundred
yards Of Yankees, and, although We longed to
see q live one O. ce mere, we laid down until
morning. About daylight We went up and
und that Co. F, 18th Ohio, had Us prisoners
sli night. although vs did net know it until
then. We reported ourselves. and meeting
with those ve we're acquainted With, got .
good breatfsss from the boys. for hard bread
that used to deepise was now luxury-corn
bread had "play ed out" with us.
From there We went to Athers. Ala. where
ws received many . good welcome from Cols.
Torchin, Ly die and Stanley. and al their boys.
From there 10 ven. 10 Huntsville, snd re-