, 1862-01-29

Of four regiments, well entrenchcd at Camp
Baldwin, On Alcghany Mountains, and one
regiment {scott'a 44th Virginia), in Crab
Hollow, about two miles to the left Of Camp
Baldwin, together with small forces Of militia
at staunton and Monterey Three Union
prisoners, IateIy escaped from Staunton Jail,
and arriving here on the 18th, after a seven
months confinement, give an Interesting ac~
count Of their capture and escape, and Of the
condition OF Scccssia in the vicinity Of Staun~
ton. They arc youchcd for by their neigh
bors as reliable, and their manner is evidence
Of the want Of coloring in their narration.
They were arrested on the a6th day Of JUNG
last in tho ncighborhood Of Buckhannon,
and were confined in the Jail at Beverly. After
the battIc at Rich Mountain, On the 11th
Of July the rebels, were completely panic
stricken, and although ordered by General
Garnett to hold Beverly for day longer,
scott's regiment 9th Virgiuia>, after stump
speech from the from the Colonel, evacuated
the Town on the double quick, Immediately
upon the receipt Of the news of the defeat at
Rich Mountain, taking with them twenty-one
Union prisoners, among them were Jennings,
Kcedy and Forna, {my informants) Apprc-
bending Immediate pursuit, the gallant Colonel
ordercdthe prisoners; tied together with ropes,
to the rear, in order that they might receive
the bcncit Of the first fire, and with few
guards to urge up their speed with the points
OF the bayo,aets, they we're hurried off on the
run.
Arriving at this place, where it Vas feared
that the terrible Yankees, might, by talk
ing 4 circuitous routt head them Oft,
the order was given @Frisoners to the
trout" and thus at every cross road or dchle
they were given the post Vi ut nor and danger,
acting as body guards for theit cowardIy cap
to>s. The stampede was executed on tile
douh}c1nlck until tue foot Of Alcghany noun
tain was reached, distanc, Of over fifty
miles, by the prisoners witlc ut a norscI Of
1ood. Herc they were met by His ENcellcncY
Governor Lctchcr, just recovering from stu
ria drunk, who kindly ordered the prisoners
to be shot, as they iulrcdcd tile march, aud t'it
was the best thing he could do for them.'
The guard were preparing to obey
orders, and the nluskvts were already
presented, when other officers lnterfercl, the
! execution was delayed, and the Governor,
scarcely able to retain his seat upon the s:Ml-
die, fell back'' on the road to Richmond. In
! ascending the mountain, one Of tue twenty
ole prisoners released himself from his bonds
and ran for life. The guard fired, and in an
instant the regiment WIS in confusion. The
HUH IcsAf VI LIE CUluHlu 1lTGU
! on$ly ut each other, and Il terrible stampede
! occurred. Many. believing themselves r,n-
huEAed by the Yankees, threw down their
| arms, oyercoats, knapsacks and caps, and fled
wildly through the woods tea.nsters cut their
Traces, and mounting their horses, gailopcd
from tho trims, aud those: who retained ]
t snail share Of presence of mind retrcatcd
! from the imaginary foe toward Monterey, mo,
| uscntari1T Increasing their speed. The DARN.
1ankcc-cscaped unharmed, but several klllcG
! retc1s and quite :, number u wounded Wcrt
the fruits Of their unnecessary fright.
Arriving ut Monterey, and dcc1ning them
selves secure, they held y grand jubilee, i1
I which, the prisoners performed 4 prominent
T:1rt-teing marched in triumph :iround tlle
| strctts, bound with ropes, an exhibition Of tilt
rrowcss Of their captor5. They were shortly
afterwards removed to Staunton and contiuet
i'll the fe1on's cells Of their jail. There they
we're allowed no communication with the outcl
world, save through the medium Of druulSe1
guards, and We're honorcd by no visitors except
drunken Officers who took advantage Of cycTJ
OCCASION to curse and rcyi1c them, and TO ire
9ucntly console them with the speedy pros
peel Of release from jail through tile Kind off
ccs Of tic hanglnau- During tue fall and win
ter nor:ths they suffered severely from til.
want Of firc-no blankets or clothing wcrt
furnished them, and their food IN quantit,
hardly sufficient to keep them from starvation
Usually their daily rations consisted Of tGt
Or three sea-hlscuits, and either slight Sic
Of rancid pork or small bit Of beef, Which t
use their own language, "would have to b'
grabbed and eaten fast or the worms woult
run away with it.
Among the prisoners confined with then
was Methodist minister named Osborne, 4
years Of age, whose terrible sutfcrings hay'
SO reduced linn that although formally dis
cha1gcd Il month since, Ic cannot be removed
from Jill, and there he will most probably di
before many days. In the same cell w:.s als'
I nd ~
with tho murder Of Il colnradc. From letter
received By him from friends i'll that State, i
appears that great appvehcnsions are cnter
tanned both Of an attack on the coast by Oh
forces, and uf general uprising Of the Slaves
The ncgrocs arc represented to be very sauc
the able bodied nen arc out Of tue State. o
the 10Th lust, tue three fugitiycs were broug
for trial before tie District Court Of tho Cor
icdcratc States. Fortunately for thcm, th
: papers ard letters found upon their person
and given into possession Of the rebel Co1ont
f Rich Nouutain, and the principal witncsss
against them had been Killed there
There Was therefore no evidence against thcr
i and they were discharged They remained
+ Stannton uutilthc succeeding Sunday, ,plannin
I how to avoid imprcssncnt, and to escape I
their homes. Aided by several Union mcl
Of whom they say there arc many in the vicil
ity, they finally escaped beyond t1c Eu1its
r tho town, provided only With snail loaf .
. bread and small slice Of bacon, box
i matches, and small pocket knife. Traycliu
S through rain and snow the whole day and su
!. cccding night, they rcached dense forest
!, pine III which they concealed themselves aI
slept during the day, and resumed their jourue
l. at night. Thus they Travelled, avoiding the roa,
II and bridges, wading and recrossinS stream
- and grouping their way over the mountain
= until Friday, the l7th inst, when they arriy.
at our outer posts. For two days and nigh
u they wandered Or rested in tic mountain
r during terrible snow storm, without b}ani
cts or oFercoats, with worn out shoes, at
ouc Of them, Fortna, afflicted with dropsy
g the knee, without coat or vest, clothed on
- in pair Of torn trowsers and a check shis
l. Emaciatcd, footsorc and sick from eyposur
C they were stlll in good spirits, sustained
i the prospect Of soon Joining their Ga1nilie
and after season Of leading the advance
n our column against Staunton.
L From their statements I entertain no dou.
Of the intention Of the rebels to abandt
. Staunton without blow. They arc a1rea,
:, - removing their hospitals and stores to Chs
IL louisville, and many f,nilics have already
{, moved. 4 report was in circulation at Stau
Ie der the Blue Ridge, had been blown II
st which, if true, must have been the work
Union men in the vicinity. Provisions 4
SIS scarce aud high. Coffee and tea cannot
1t purchased at any price, and salt, flour Al
,o leather command fabulous prices. Consider
: bic disafieetion exists among the Eastern Y
ginia troops, and tue Western Virginia lew
declare their determination, so soon as til
T. term Of enlistment expires, to return hol
n. and surrender themselves to the Governing
. against which they have served, prefeTiug III
VI tshmcnt here to liberty in Secessia- This
u ter would doubtless lie tue better policy,
i'll woe to them when Milrey again moves Sou