Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-18
Nov Gel. DeVilIeYs Escaped from the Rich
nond war Prison.

Nov Gel. DeVillIeYs Escaped from the Hfch.
nond war Prison.
The following narrative appears in the Holmes coun-
ty Farmer (ohO) Of January 20d copy Of which left
By the enemy Romney in their late hurried
alton of the has been sent by Capt E. A Stands
The narrative is confused and evidently untrue in some
particulars, but will serve TO entertain the reader
ADVENTURES OF A UNION OFFICER WHO ESCAPED FROM
RIBELs.
Colonel de ViIers, of the Eleventh Ohio Regiment,
Who was captured in Western Virginia, and who made
his escape from Richmond three months ago, de-
tailed his ex oerienee in Cincinnati few evenings since.
By stealing an officers hat and coat, and lying behind
the prison gate until he heard the counter sign he man.
az, TO get the freedom Of Richmond. His subsequent
adventures are thus detailed in the Commarcias re-
port:
ABOUT SIX miles from Richmond he encountered
by guard and to his challenge replied "a friend with
out countersigu" He hsd the precsucn 10 lay the
douhe-bareltd shogur which be had contrived TO get
before he escaped from Rchmord down, before he ap
preached this guard Approaching, they asked him
where he was from aud whittier he was going. He re-
piled from Richmond TO Petersburg. They then asked
why he cid not take the railroad and be Sad he mi sed
the cars They took him in custody aud mnch.d one
on each side of him upon narrow bridge, crossing
stream near at hand The situation desperate but
he was determined never to 60 back to Richmond alive
40 when he got about the MIDDLE of the bridge he struck
% the rght and efl knocking Of the guards on one
sid AID the other the other side, and giving them
both good swim Thence ho made his way towards
Petersburg subssting for three days upon nothing out
raw beans "whch not very good for his digestion"
Upon this tramp distance OF sItyhve miles he car
red his sk Tor crossing rivers IA pine board upon his
shoute During his travels, he was several Zines shot
At When he go; in the neglboTbood OF hagrudets
forces his hardest time bga He tried 10 pass senti
4 and lin he tygie
10 quick succession. He shot He did not know
whether he his tie two sentnels not but they never
ap.wsred But the whole brigade roused and he
ogk to the James River in what nc hed his Kill name
w. mis- pine hoard companion BE landed on the other
side in swamp recrossing again jamestown, when
he lost his suu He had cast away h5 Off ers coat and
il may well be imagined what remained OF bis suit was
by this time rusty enough. SO he took open course
Az asked for work. hut like the poor men IN the South
when they ask for wors they told TO go into the SER
vice Even the ladies do not look upon young man I'M
les, he Is in the Gvice viewed from th test, there
were more patriots in the South than in the North they
we're all soldiers old ald young
He hired Sith German Blacksmith, at Sl5O cents
per week. having cOncllted 10 remain awhile aud learn
something of the condition OF the rebel forces. lie
stayed fortnight observing all the rebel movements
A. tie expiration of this time he gOi tired ct black
| smithiug gad wanted to 20 home He found good
German Union man. 10 whom he told his story Without
reservation This OF great service 10 him he led
|
| Yankee trick and made blindnan OF himself; he
couldn't see aud the German was his guide. Dropping
| the Yankee French, he became French subject and
ss,ied TO goo back TO Fruuc because he could not get
any work 10 do heIe and so he told Gen. Huger when
| he got into his command. This General promised to
send him TO Fortress Monroe with flag of truce. The
flag of truce that sent: he accompanied blind still
| AID led by bis faithful German Union man.
Colonel d. Vliers here mentioned the fact Of General
Woods refusing about this period, to receive any more
Aics owing TO the treacheTy which had been pracs,d
and but two of the twenyfour persons who had been
AIKEN with the flag accepted He contriVed, unoo-
served to tell captain Of the flag party that he
pysor err UUiou officer and had assumed blindness as
disguise, and he should take him but the young off
Ger said he could not understand iE and said he would
| inform General Wool He did so and Wool, being an
Oh soldier comprrhended the matter once immedi-
aty sending another boat on: TO bring him but 1t was
100 late for the Ttbl officer Eaid IL was not worth
| while waiting for tie Yankees and fastened on -
Having lost uis German guide, General Huger himself
| led him (the poor old bliad man, with unaffected
sympathy 10 the hotel and assured him that he I'll luld
20 vi the next ag of truce that was sent; aud he
;ae1s NO SddO sboS; he & old french blind man that
wanted TO 90 home Colonel DE Yillfrs remarked hat
q neral Huger evi-esd true n3ness towards him You
nav be assured said he that did no; take long to
| Jump into Union boat; With the Il &, there we're be.
sides, number OF ladies who "le the South for
The plrpose OF going North 70 do business Though h.
tlud he oull the garces they exchanged ard
though old and somewhat ceaf be could hear the officers
tell the ladies to learn all they could and back with
| the Misunderstanding them much success. at il
surprising what hIe tpes they made " When he Got
into safe quarters be threw CT bis d. guise and dtcrspi
iute-saW and was srong-obseTyJg, without surprise
himself the establishment Of the ladies' a. the change
he took care that these ladies' though they North
/ did not 20 South TO report