Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-12

A romantic and interesting story IS told
ov two soldiers ho have lately escaped
from rebel captivity, Of their adventures
in Dixie The two men we're Mark Wood
and Alfred Wilson, of company C, 2lst
Ohio regiment, and were captured while
upon secret expedition, in April last,
under orders from General Michel
twenty-five men were detailed for the ser
vice. They were disguised in citizens
dress and left shelbyville April 7lh, rep
resenting themselves on the road as Ken
tuckians on their way to Chattanooga to
Join the rebel army. From Chattanooga
they went to Marietta, Georgia. 1t seems
that their object was to destroy the railroad
communication in the vicinity Of Chatta-
nooga. At place called Big Shanty they
got on board train of cars, at a given sig
nal the coupling pin which held the train
together, was drawn out one of the par
ty, who was an engineer took charge Of
the engine, and they started down the road
to carry out their purposes of destruction
They shortly stopped, tore up some rails
behind them and cut the telegraph wire.
This they frequently repeated until they
came to bridge, when they put one of
their cars upon it, piled on wood and set
it on FIRE. By this time however, suspi-
cion had been reused and train started
in pursuit of them and overlook them at
this bridge, before it was too much burned
to prevent crossing. Here the party
took to the woods, every man for himself.
The writer says:
&" Our troubles now commenced, and the
greatest Of all disasters was the division
Of our party; it was now every man for
himself. We started for the Tennessee
river, but, being entirely unacquainted
with the country, mistoOk our way, and
after being hunted through the woods, and
twice fired at, made our escape. Our
travels from this time were a succession
of hardships and difficulties. We crossed
the mountains, Hade the Tennessee river,
where we found a small boat with which
we made our way down the river to Ste
phensOn, Ala. Here we found the entire
rebel force in a complete state of cOnfu-
sion, occasioned, as we learned, by visit
from our cavalry, which had made q dash
into the town, captured a few prisoners
and left that morning.
We had succeeded in passing through
the town safely, when we suddenly came
upon a force of rebel cavalry commanded
by Colonel Stephenson, who took US pris-
oners just fourteen days after leaving the
balance of our party. We were immedi-
ately recognized as belonging to Andrews
party, and after being confined one night
in Stephenson, we were taken to Ghatta-
nooga and confined in Jail where we found
the while party. It 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 Pettinger of the I'd
Ohio was taken out as q witness, and by
alternqte offers of pardon and persecu-
tion, they endeaVored 10 make him testify
against Andrews, but he was true to his
word and companions, and the court could
gain nothing from him. Andrews and
pettinger were then sent back to US in
Jail, aud We expected nothing less than
the wi ole party would be hung At Ihis
time, about May 10Th, Chattanooga was
threatened by our forces and for safe
keeping, we were run of 20 Madison,
Georgia.
At lIaFietta, the cars were stopped by
mob, who threateusd 10 drag ~ from the
cars and hang us 10 tree but the officer
in charge of the train prevented them
from carrying IL into execution, by placing
a strong guard around the car, and the
moh, after a great effort, was dispersed.
We arrived safelF at Madison, where,
after being kept in confinement three days,
we were informed we were 10 be again |
taken to Chattanooga, as tbs Yankees did |
notintend to try and take that place. Ac- !
cordingly we were again taken back TO |
that place, where the whole party, twenty
two in number, we're enainsd Rith heavy |
irons aud confined in d dark dungeon |
thirteen feet square, and for six weeks |
were fed on bali fare of the most misern- |
bldQuality. We were stripped of all in |
our psekets, and left without q cent
Again the court maFtial vas ordered, but |
this time at Knoxville, and twelve of our /
party were taken there and confined in |
large iron cages. The court found seven
Of them guilty of being spies and lurkers
aroand the camps |
Andrews afterwards escaped hut Yas |
and hing On the 7th of June
he was taken from the Jail and hung,
or rather strangled TO death, for the tree
on which they hung him was so low that
when his head touched the limb his toes
touched the ground, and it was necessary
10 dig the sand away in order that he
could be choked. His irons and shackles
we're still on him.
After remaining in Jail about seven
days the Provost Marshal came to our cell
and took out the seven that were tried at
Knoxville, Fis7 Wilson, Ross and P. G.
Shaderick, Of the I'd Ohio, Slaven and
Robinson, 33d Ohio, John Scott, DIST Ohio,
and #m. Campbell, citizen Of Louisville,
Ky. These were taken from the cell into
IN adjoining room, and then sentence of
death wss read TO them and permission
refused them to return to their comrades
before execution, which took place in half
IN hour after leaving us They we're hung
with cotton ropes, and two of the party
broke down, and were allowed to live
lbout an hour, and see them put their
in coffins, after which they we're
gain hung, UP, and their lifeless bodies
passed our jail Winu0w -fn-rss5U,1t- I---lE-41a
hour
The balance Of the party stayed in jail
until the 10Th of October, when they es-
,aPed, and these two, after great hardship,
reached the Federal feet at Apalaohicola
Hon. B. T. Wade. |
As the time approaches for the re-assem-