Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1862-07-18
ESCAPE OF MISSOURI AND IOWA
PRISONERS.
How some Of the Isoys Captured
at Shiloh Got away from
| the Rebels.

! StQfeWeHh ~ l<tcNt w. e. Jump, SDU LutS
somi Vo!unteers-TAs Journey South
toQrd
On Sunday, April 9th, Gen. Prentiss'
brigade was attacked about o'clock in tn
afternoon by the rebels, under Gen. Albel
Sidney Johnston.
After their capture our men were marched
off towards Corinth about six miles, and were
compelled to stand up all night, without
anything to eat, the mud being six inches
deep, and the rain pouring down in torrents
On the following morning, they were allowed
one cracker to the man. At 6 p. m. they
reached Corinth worn out and furnished, but
still borne up in spirit by their patriotic love
for the Union. Tuesday morning, the Sth OF
April got aboard the cars and arrived at Mem
phis that evening. Left for Montgomery,
Alabama and reached there Wednesday,
April 10th, via Grenada, Jackson and Mobile,
and in starving condition laid down in a
cotton warehouse for the night, but not a
heart faltered or became the less loyal.
Here day after day they were obliged to
submit to the insults and curses of those who
had been too cowardly to enlist in the rebel
ranks. On Monday, the 9Th of May, news
was circulated that Gen Prentiss had effected
all cAClldIlSC. Ills lhC W iluSSJ CACCSS
of 10Y; the boys threw their hats into the
air, shouted themselves hoarse, and embraced
one another with rapturous JOY The report
proving untrue, they settled down again in
gloom and silence.
Saturday, oath of May, the rebels took
descriptive list of privates to be paroled, and
on Saturday evening the train departed with
those who were SO fortunate as to be selected
for return to land of liberty.
On Sunday they took a descriptive list of
the officers, but contrary to their expectations
they were not paroled.
May 3lst they were marched on the cars
for Macon, arrived at Columbus, Ca, where
one of the young sprigs of chivalry, with a
sabre on his shoulder, walked along the cars
bawling out, Got any of them fancy dry
goods clerks from New York city," "No
we have not; but if you will 60 up to Corinth,
where there is fighting to be done, you will
find plenty of them" This brawling speci-
men of Southern knighthood found it best to
close his mouth and vamose.
Reaching Macon on the LIST they were
marched to Camp Oglethorpe, where they
found many Of their brother prisoners
Nothing of special interest transpired until
June 10th, when Lieut.. Camp, Lieut.. Geo. w.
Brown of company E, 23d Missouri, resolved
to attempt an escape. Lieut.. Mayes was
taken prisoner by the guerrilla Morgan, in
Gallatin, Tennessee, on the 18th Of March,
while returning to his regiment at Nashville
form Camp Trousdae; he is noble spec-
men of the Kentuckian, and bears as loyal a
heart in his bosom as beats throughout the
broad Union.
Monday night came dark and rainy, and
ut o'clock Lieut.. Maycs took the lead, pass |
ing over the line while the guard was walking |
his beat with his back to them. Lieut..
Brown followed, but as he was just across the
beat the breaking of twig arrested his at
Lention and he fell upon his face, remaining |
quiet till the guard passed. Lieut. Camp
then assayed to follow, and had very narrow
escape from recapture, the sentinel passing
within four feet of him as he slipped around
the tree which hid him from view
Proceeding through the timber they aimed |
to reach the river below the artillery camp, |
but the yelping of bloodhounds in front made
them turn back. When they entered Macon |
they put on a bold front, and ran the gauntlet
singing +" Dixie" and whistling anything but |
9 Yankee Doodle" As they passed the gate
1t the Fair ground they met Major Rylander,
If the 10th Georgia battalion, with lantern
n his hand. Nothing was said by either
party, and they walked on toward the river.
With great difficulty they worked their way
through swamp, arriving at the river about
10 o'clock PM. After walking around in the
mud for an hour they found boat locked to
, large tree. The chain was filed in two, and
" y o'clock, midnight, with low murmur
# 10Y, they leaped into the boat and with
nothing but a canteen and tin plate for
,addling, set out on their fugitive voyage
Town the Ockmulgee.
Tuesday morning dawned upon them %
niles below Macon. Their boat was hid in
he willows and they seated themselves in the
,ane-brake to share their scanty crust OF
bread, having but six pounds all told. They
passed the day in full sight of white man
md two negroes chopping wood on the oppo-
ute side of the river At shutdown they en-
,rged from the friendly willows and dropped
lown the river about 10 miles, when, the
darkness being very intense, they tied up and
awaited the moons rising. Near where they
stopped they found a negro's cabin, occupied
~ a white boy and six slaves. The boys
ather had gone home and would not return
ill morning, so they considered themselves
safe, and ordered supper, passing themselves
of for soldiers.
At 3 A. NJ, the moon being up, they en-
oarked, aad having chopped out couple OF
paddles, they were enabled to proceed with
more speed. Shortly afterward, Lieut.. Mayes,
alias "Kentuck," discovered a boat few rods
ahead. Turning our boat in order to avoid it
as much as possible, he cried out, ANY luck
fishing ?" ooh, yes, pretty good" Finding
thew were snagged and using every effort to
ret off. ''Kentuck" halloed, (Which way are
you sailing?" down here piece to set
our lines" ''That's white mans voice"
saws Camp, land perhaps file of soldiers are |
pursuing u.s." The Federalists needed moth |
ing more to stimulate them in their flight, |
and the frail barque flew through the water. |
Finding their pursuers were gaining upon
them, they shot aside into an eddy and under
cover from their pursuers.
In a few moments the strangers were within |
fifteen feet of then, while they were unable to
make out who or what they were. Pausing
for brief period, while our fugitives held
their breath, the mysterious boat pushed
ahead. Shortly after "Old Kan tuck' was
guiding the boat in pursuit, carefully looking |
out for danger ahead, when as they felt them
selves perfectly safe, they found strange
skiff along side. The paddles, which were
their only weapons, were raised and in the act
of falling, when familiar voice arrested the
blow, and 10! the dreaded enemy turned out
to be Lieutenants J. S. Agey, H. Logan,
and Sergeants j. N. Rhodes and Milton
Rhodes, of the Fourth Iowa, who escaped on
Tuesday by passing the guards disguised as
rebel soldiers. Forming their plan Of escape,
they procured cloth, made long slim sacks re-
sembling large bustles, filled them with -four,
rice, dried peaches, &c. &C., tied them around
their bodies, under their coats and stuck sew
eral articles salt, files, &C., in their boot legs
At 3P NJ. Tuesday they approached the
guard, and were asked if they belonged to the
10th battalion. Answering affirmatively they