Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-04-10
A Vermonter's Escape from the
South.

4
Charles Hamilton, who alleges tina
he is Vermonter, having made hi
escape from the South and reached New
York, communicates the following lette
to the Tribune
Permit me through your columns t,
let my friends know that have escaped
from q rebel prison, and reached thi
city.
/ was arrested last June for Treason
TO the rebel government, and sentenced
to close confinement during the war
What my sufferings have been since tha
time, no one can conj lecture, unless they
have passed through the same ordeal.
have lived in the South for the last Ter
years. My all was there. | lost my
wife in 1859, and was left with three
children to support With industry and
prudence / had managed in that time 10
accumulate handsome little property
which after my arrest was wrenched
from me, and my children were left beg
gars. Mine is not the only instance
There are thousands who have suffered
in the same way. The rebel govern
ment is more like an inquisition than
anything else. If it is known that a
person has any loyalty toward the Union,
he may at any moment be dragged from
his family and home, locked up in a
loathsome prison and his property confs-
Gated.
have seen sights that made my blood
run cold-sights that would make a saw.
age blush men hung up by their heels,
bucked down, gagged, and merciessly
beaten, for expressing Union sentiments
! sincerely thank my God that | have
escaped from a reign of tyranny and
terror, and am once more in a civilized
and Christian country-the land of my
birth, where repose the ashes of my faith
er and mother. cannot find words
sufficient TO express my gratitude when
set my foot once more on this soil.
l will state some of the particulars Of
my escape from atlanta, Ga, and nv
journey here. left Atlanta about the
middle Of last December. A rebel lieu
tenants uniform and means of travelling
were furnished me by some kind friends.
In this disguise succeeded in leaving
the city Of Atlanta in the night. took
the cars at one from Atlanta en- route for
Montgomery and Mobile, and thence TO
Grenada, Miss. My object was to get
through to Memphis. After trying
about ten days | found it was impossible
to do it. | then changed my uniform for
citizens suit, and made my way back
to jackson, Miss. Having no papers tc,
show who was or where ] was going
| was arrested in jackson as a conscript
and sent to Brook Haven, a camp of in
struction. There by good fortune and
the influence Of friend, ! procured an
exemption paper on account of my age.
| then started on foot and reached the
Bogue Chitto River, where | purchased
skiG, and travelled in it for about 100
miles, sleeping on the ground in toe
woods at night, and living on cora bread
which had purchased from negro
The river is very small stream when
low, and 1t is an uncommon thing to see
even skif navigate its waters. The
river at that time was very much swo- !
len, and | had only TO keep the boat
headed with the current and avoid the
numerous logs across the stream. After
travelling about 100 miles in this way,
was surprised one morning by TWO rebel
euerrllas, who presented their guns and
ordered me to halt | hailed according
ly, bu it was on the opposite SIDE Of the
river. i made my escape, bat received
a bullet in my leg. Although a flesh
wound, il became in a few days very
painful.
How far I Travelled through swamps
AID hogs | do not know, for was unac.
quainted with the country but after
several days | succeeded in reaching
Covington, La, where / found Capt.
SIocumb and his guerrillas burrin all
the cotton they could find, that il might
not find its way over to New Orleans
was told by him that my exemption
paper was not good in Louisiana, and
that ! should have to report at Camp
Moore, before | could travel in thai
State. On this announcement was al.
mot ready TO give up in despair tired
and sore, with my feet blistered, and
hardly knew what to do. | obtained a
lodging that night, a piece of corn bread
and seine coffee, made of parcned corn
i lay down but not TO sleep, for | was
considering how 10 outwit Capt. Socumb
and bis band. | rose next morning with |
resolution to pass this point or die in
the attempt.
| succeeded in quoting all his fears
by inyiting him constantly TO partake OF
Louisiana rum, which was plentiful, and
before IL o'clock that day he came TO
the conclusion | was a clever fellow. |
told him | had friend in Madisonville.
whom was very anxious to see, and