The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-09-04
E-srss pc OF. Prisoners from Fort
Delaware.

NeHaWare.
Yesterday afternoon FIVE Confederate pri.
soners A. L. Brooks and G. j. Fuller, compa-
ny 6, 9th Georgia; j. Marian, company D,
9th Ga; Vim. E. Classy, CO. B, 18th Miss.
and Jno. Dorsey, co. A, Stuart's Horse Artil-
iery, arrived here from Fort Delaware having
made their escape from Fort Delaware on the
night Of the 18th inst. The narrative Of their
escape is interesting. Having formed the
plan to escape, they improyised life preservers
by tying -four ecanteens, we'll corked, around
the body OF each man, and on the night of
the 18th inst, proceeded to leave the island.
The night being dark they got into the water
and SWAMI off from the back Of the island for.
the shore. Three of them, swan four miles.
and landed two miles below Delaware City;
the other two, being swept down the river,
foated down sixteen miles, and landed at
Christine Creek. Another soldier a phila-
dalphian) started with them, but was drown
ed a short distance frorn the shore. He said
he was not coming back to the Confederacy,
! but was going to Philadelphia. He had eight
canteens around his body, bat was not an ex-
pert swimmer.
The three who landed near Delaware City
laid in a cornfeld all night, and the next
evening, about dark. started on their way
South, after first having made known their
condition to farmer. who. gave thesa a good
supper. They travelled that night twelve
miles through Kent county, DEL AVID the
next day lay concealed in: gentleman s barn.
From there they went to Kent county, Nd,
where the citizens gave them new clothes and
money. After this their detection was less
probable as they had been wearing their uni
forms the two days previous. They took the
cars on the Philadelphia and Baltimore Rail
road at Townsend and rode to Dover the capi-
tai of Delaware. Sitting near them in the
cars we're Yankee Colonel and Captain, and
the provost guard passed through frequently.
They were not discovered, however, though
to escape detection seemed almost impossible.
They got off the train Mt Delmare and went
by way OF Barren Greek Springs and Quanti-
60, Nd, tothe Nsntieoke river, and got into
q canal.
Here they parted company with five others
who had escaped from Fort Delaware some
days previous, as the canoe would not hold
ten of them. In the canoe they went so Tan
gier's Sound, and. crossing the Chesapeake,
landed in Northumberland county. below
Point Lockout, q point atwhieh the Yankees
are bailding fort for the confinement of pri-
soners. They met with great Kindness from
the citszens Of Heathsvilie who contributed
$l20 to aid them on their route They soon
met with our pickets, and came to this city
or the York River Railroad. These escaped
prisoners express in the liyeliest terms their
gratitude to the people Of Maryland and Della
ware, who did every thing they could to aid
them. There was no difficulty experienced
in either State in finding generous people Of
Southern sympathies, who woad give them
both money and clothing. and put themselves
to any trouble to help them on their journey.
These gentlemen state that a large number
of our prisoners at Fort Delawafe have taken
the oath aud enlisted in the Yankee service.
The Yankees have already, from prisoners
who have taken the oath, enlisted go men in
the Sd Maryland cavalry, iG0 men. in a bat
talon of heavy artillery, aud $50 in an in.
fantry regiment 70 effect these enlistments
they circulate all sorts Of lies among the pri-
soners. The chief lies are to the effect that
Gen. Lee has res;gned-that North Carolina
has withdraw from the Confederacv and
sent commissioners from the State on to Wash
inston to make terms for re-entering the
Union, and that Virginia is only waiting for
Lees army to be driven from their borders,
to resume her connection with the Yankee ma
ton.
They tell the men if they will enlist they
will be sent out West to fight the Indians,
and will never be sent South where there
would be any danger Of their capture. When
prisoner agrees TO enlist his name is put
down in 8 book and he is marched from the
main body of the prisoners 10 another part Of
the island to Join his companions in shame,
who live in tents there. He never comes back
among his old comrades, for fear, as one Of
our informants remarked, .'we should cut his
id throat" They are jeered and booted
by their late companions as they pass ont
from them. They are termed galvanized
Yankees.
Our prisoners are dying in Fort Delaware
at the rate Of twelve day. Their ratipns
are six crackers a day and spoilt beef. Rich
nsond Dispatch.
New Fl0ur.
Twelve hundred barrels Of new Flour were
offered for sale yesterday at the commission
house of Messrs. M. Blair & Co., at a price