The New York herald., 1863-11-09
sUFFERIHCS OF UNION 0FFICEHS.
Additional Particulars OF The Escape
from Libby Prison. rTt
ADVENTURES BY FLOOD AND FIELD.
WHAT THEY saw AND SUFFERED In DIXIE,
60. &C., &s.
Mr. w. Fl. stiner's Despa teh.

Mrs w. Fl. Stiner's Despateh.
FoRrREss MosRoz, Nov. 8, 1863
As stated at the conclusion Of my letter Of yesterday
was unable 10 gi,o, owing to tho closing Of the mail
tho full particulars OF the interesting statements q MAJOR
Houstan and Lieutenant Won weltzien. and now con-
.tuue them left of "when, three hours after starting
tho rebel cavalry got their track; and then COM
insnced the struggle for life and liberty"
TIE START
was decided on by these daring officers TO happen
about dusk Accordingly, at hsfpast Ave O'Clock P. NJ
on the oath u Major Housa!n ordered his companion
follow him on q pretended round, having provided him
rst with two large glass bottles and the provisions for
thelr Journey under his arm.
| LEAVING TIE cfEicERs' QUARTERS,
ahe two passed through the hospital Of the enlisted men
stopped at the head OF the STARE and posted faithful
man the window TO givo tho alarm in OF ap
proach from outside. Finding the way clear, the two
Union officers donned their disguise, and walked boldly
past the two rebel senres doing guard duty the
trauce also five moro rebel soldiers who sat at the
door Prior to leaving the fugiIves were directed to
low the James rive road, which they pursued. They
travelled fast circumstances would permit, and not
10 excite suspicion, but great distance from
libby when they heard
| THE CAVALRY AFTER THEN,
while they were In oren field The fugitives al once
laid fiat On their faces, AID witnessed with JOY that the
were out OF sight the officers took to the woods and
travelled that way aI night.
4 A rR.ls;p THROUGH THE PINES
In times OF peace is no pleasant task to pedestrians
much less TO who stakc life aud liberty at.
tempt to escape and omreed by necessity TO take
shelter among the thick woods Of tie acred soil" es.
pecs!ly when unaclianted with tho I0pe- direction TO
take The fugitives resumed their wea! march the
next morning, and after walking until five O'Clock that
alternoon found themselves within
THREE MILES RICHMOND,
cQlored informed them, whom they CHANGED to
meet In the woods and who them directions how to
Lnd the way " the City. at dark they came to place
known as the "two mile broastwork,r finding there
hrtlery picket, and they passed the night in sight OF
ihe Al dawn the next morning the travellers again
assumed the pilgrims s!a, end, beng shown the road
by colcred man. struck the path
road which they travelled twenty miles .bs, day
until they arrived at plantation known as Mat.ox 9
farm. Hero they stopped and made arrangements
(or food and shelter for the night They had
LOT been Lero than Eve minutes before
she oquacious host informed them that "our (rebe)
cavalry had moment before left lis house, being
Libby prison. and then on their way TO White OAK
Swamp. Finding this place unsafe rendezvous, as the
rebel troops might return at any moment. the fugtye
under prctex OF returning shortly left the house and
Sgsn took 10 the woods remaining there over night AZ
daybreak they started a. ain ON the same road, and
walked and hall Eai!e below Long Bridge, the
Chickahornuy. awaiting an opportunity to fall in with
ccored person who could direct them properly Being
disappointed IN ind one, = .sey were compelled to take
snd came the farm younger Mattox, Of the
s
ui sight thereof the became conscious Of their
presence and gave them poremptory order u 50 into
the house.
TIE ErcrrN Is srsrGcTzp.
Young Aattox, having osred hrs unwilling guests
oNtonr ~
Union prisoners from L sy prsc and asked OF the two
why they did ne. return the previous evening 70 his
pressed his surprise at seeing officers cnemy's
ceuntry without arms. To this Major Houstan replied
on business he did no, consider necessary
10 carry his side arms aud that he never allowed any
sosny 20 spproach him nes,er than the range Of n,s
about his person This answer did not seem TO satisfy
sox anc he proposed to take them TO Botoms Bridge
he said thoro was rebel camp consisting Of five
compauies in command Of colonel 10 this proposition
the iugi,ivcs acquiescet decrminng at the same tmc
10 kill the scouudrsi on the way.
CoxsuLfA1i0S
VAS held by Mattox with his wife, who retired from
meantime tho Major and Lieutenant eisurely surveyed
Tho yard and made rcmarks about the crops &c, and
Sim whether he was ready 70 show .scn to Bottoms
BRIDGE TO which he answered, "thst he did not know
wheihes n va worth whe,' they then stated that
they would return 10 his mothers no use and apologize Tor
their appearance last evening aud eav the house,
had proceeded about hundred rods when they made
TEE CHCKAnoNjNY SWAMP,
whore they wsded through feet OF water Tor about
Sandred ysrds h. the rear Of Msoxs house Tney went
about Que hundred rods below on the Cbicxshcminy
~ a boa. coming towards hem. oniy BY lyins down
snd hiting In she bushes they escaped obseFvation
Proceeding about quarter si mile urhers theJ beard
lhe
md saw SIX mounted men ,omins On saop IN straight
all haste towards the river, and, piunging n of the
seves IN the brush. Tho ca-olry came on, yelling Ike
demons "Ihc Yankee Of bitches here iu the
Ewamp,v aud at the scme time Cred their esrbme-
seven tcs tho river and came very near hstiDs
thsm Submerged In four feet OF water the unfortunate
fnsitivcs dia nct dare 10 leave their hcus place AM
remained ~ the seven hours when they azau
gen,urcd FORTH taxing the old stage route OIL the thcxa
homny and made Tor Jones' Ford This brought them 20
WIDOW foLLARps fAkN,
whore they begged for shelter night and chahae
70 dry their drenched garments. Ihe request was re-
fused ne widow saying that she coud not anord 70
snd shelter soldiers who should DO with tho army
and not runriDs abou. tho country The plea on great
patriotism 10 the Southern cause however, cafed the
widow 70 relsut and allow them to remain From
The conversation q. the supper taoo the Aao iovnd
that he and his companion w.ro
AeAls susPIcn "yASKyKs,n
from the that th OF the widow asked the Har
his rank. The latter replied that lie was MAJOR }. "
Jarrett, OF the Fnty -thud North Carolina infantry
srd 'hs % Vas o. b 1 w NJ va. Hcw 3, nsas ,".
stationed for the prosoc.ioa Of the nLabiials against
Yankee raiders. Although this story evidently sasaei
lhe widows -on" still wanted 10 Know why he, ss
major had black velvet cuffs which indicated surgeon
rank This question the MAJOR solved by replying That
bis cuff becoming sna0by could not aford coat
aud black velvet c'sor u be bad than gray cioh
At this bouse the fugtves remained over night enoyty
rest and supper and JreskrSt for which they rad eight
dollars rebel scrip, and ouy lued suspicion by sheer
smfuderce And lying
AGAIN ROAD.
The next ornug they inet darkey, who informed them
that sooas cynsssny UP and down the road hgut
Lng alter two YANKEE generals who had oscaIcd from
Richmond The uayelers tbercup1n took aa casterly
course towards jenkins farm where tho rebels quarter
nd winter and soc ht refuge in deserted negro hut
where they I'll within two hours n dawn the
next noflng chilled 20 the bono with cold and damp
ness whom they slated again and arrived at
WIDOW RArFoRDs HOUSE,
where q ussrCSs, engaged Va splitting wood, ~ seo
sng their splrcz-h, butredIy cane towards ihom,
saying "I Egcc you " ihs osskers what
vun away from Rchmoudp and begged therl 70 10
place che ircate The woOds aud cOnooa themselves,
PROMISING 90 come roaslhe and asskt them
~hc arriyed orty after anc brought some butt,rmk
rsd two biscuits she iiormei sbe issitiyes tEaI he
,naf,sr engaged 10 csag up corscrps 70 ne negh
bortood, and wss rbout start-s iof Rlcbnoed WIN
nunlher OF impressed "patiiots' CO leaving $40
promised 70 send ocored man who would guide them
l. ne uYion lines. iu his she isci uots hstanding
rhc exl i. ed all cncnTars bLd ons. in this con
rca'uea thcy remained three days, winch ,bcy unsly