Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-26

| there DC any must nave OIleF DOtIeS Indl
ours, other blood must run through thei
veins, and other lungs breath their air
,9c could never live in such world.
Remarkable Escape of an impressed
Rebel Soldier.
We find in the Syracuse Courier anc
Union the narrative of Frances Colehan, al
escaped soldier from the rebel army a
Pensacola, from which we extract;
had good opportunity to find out thC
private opinion OF great number of the
soldiers, and | have no doubt there were
over one hundred men in Fort Barrancas
alone who were as loyal to the Union a:
myself. OF course we all desired to escape
from the despotism which compelled US tc
serve under the accUsed flag. We Otter
corrugated plans of sscape, but something
would always seem to interfere with every
project we formed and we were unable tC
execute any of them.
On the Dist of December last, was on
guard as sentinel in charge of the 81
Founders on the beach, which were heav-
lily loaded with grape for instant use, and
could sweep the beach and water for q
long distance around. Unmindful of my
duty l rcry ca-elessiy allowed Timothy
Conovan to spike both guns The spikes
were short pieces of steel wire, shaped like
rat-tail file: Conovan drove the spikes
firmly down into the vents broke them
off close, and then put down the vent COW
ers so that no one could see them. That
night we held private council and the
following persons resolved to make their
escape the next day or perish in the at
tempt: Timothy Conoyan, Springfield,
Massachusetts,; James Smith, Buffalo New
York; James Smith, Buffalo New York;
james Parker. Milwaukee Wisconsin; Ed
ward English, Baltimore. Maryland, Albert
johnson, q sailor, and myself.
There was an old leaky boat hanging
up in a rickety old shed near our quar-
tiers, and four rods from the water. We
had previously looked upon that old boat
as the means of our deliverenee. By
stealth we had caulked and tarred it and
made it perfectly tight and safe. Before
the break of day ON the morning of the
22d of December. we crept one by oneout
of our quarters and silently congregated
in the shed where in darkness we held a
brief council as to the disposition of the
sentinel who was on duty, and who was
pacing up and down the beach in front of
US. One end of his beat was Immediately
between US and the water We were all
well acquainted with him, and were un-
willing to take his life in that murderous
manner, although we knew he would in
stantly fire upon us and alarm the camp.
We concluded to pause until he turned
on his beat and when near the further end
we would make a rush for the water, and
Ill o1, a rfolOoI-
and daylight was beginning to streak the
east. No time was lost. 1t was life or
nothing now. The moment the sentinel
turned his back we seized the boat, and
swiftly and silently rushed for the water,
into which we dashed the boat and fixed
the oars instantly began to glide from the
soil of accursed Dixie. The noise of the
oars arrested the attention of the senti-
mel. He turned, challenged, and instant
ly fired. The bullet whistled harmelessly
past us. In q moment the whole camp
was in perfect state of confusion and
alarm, but before they comprehended the
matter we were beyond the reach of minies
or musket. They resolved to give us the
grape, and the two-thirty-twos were rang
ed upon us. Bnt when the captain rails
ed the vent covers, and discovered the
broken spikes, he fairly danced with his
rage. We saw this, and raising in the
boat, pulled off our hats and gave them
wave and cheer.
The United States troops in the fort,
had witnessed the whole affair from the
beginning, and when we waved our hats
they gave us an enthusiastic and tremen-
dous cheer As weapproaehed the beach,
hundreds of them came down to meet US,
and numbers rushed out into the water,
seized the approaching boat, and carried
it high and dry upon shore. Before |
could stir frommy seat, some one slapped
me on my shoulder, and looking up,
beheld Rowland Parish, of Fairmont)
Geddes, an old schoolmate, now o mem
ber of the New York Seventy-ffth Vol
unteers, from Auburn. Right glad was
l to find so quickly an old friend and
neighbor. He. too had been watching us
during that mile and half row for life.
We were Immediately taken before Col.
Brown, who closely aud rigidly question
ed us. But our statements were so plain,
and we found so many old friends and ac-
that we were soon relieved
of all suspicion. Two days after, two ne
groes escaped, and being interrogated by
the Colonel, fully corroborated our state
ments. They said that the suspicion and
anger of the rebels were so great that
they came near hanging two or three per-
sons, including the sentinel, as accessories
to our escape.
We stopped in the fort eleven days, and
on the 2nd of January were placed on the
United States steamer Rhode Island, which
arrived at Philadelphia January 18th
The next day we sailed for New York,
md landed atFort Lafayette, where we
we're detained FIVE days, when an order
came from Washington for our release
We took the oath of allegiance with a |
hearty good will, and are once more at |
liberty.