The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-02-06

nalt an DOnr aIerWhrl. 0ey vert
hung with cotton ropes, and two Of
the unfortunate boys broke down,
and were allowed to live about sn
hour and zee their comrades put in
cotfine, after which they were again
hnng up They askrd for one hour
to pray which was refused them. -
They asked for some water which
was also refused. After tho poor
boys saw that the last ray OF hope
had vanished, they became recon
ciled to their fate and were launch.
ed into eternity unprepared.
Myself and the balsDt of our par
ty expected from day to day to be
taken out and hung. But we we're
not Informed what disposition they
we're going to make OF us for four
months, when in October last, bsing
ing informed that we were to he tried
BY court martial, AMI we expected
no mercy, so we resolved to leave
the Jail or die in the attempt. On
the eve Of ihe 18th we rushed upon
the TAILOR when he brought US our
supper, deprived him OF the keys,
and re leased ell tie military prison
ers in the jill and en- masse rushed
upon the guard aud dissrned them
We then jumped the fence and made
for the woods. which was enc mile
distant. the guard pursued us, and
fired at us, but with no effect. The
party was now scattered, every man
| ior himself. except myself, William
Knight and E,)ihu Mason. We had
agreed to stick together before we
made the break, aud go through to
our lines together. can't account
for any Of the party but us three, but
| [ believe that the whole psrty got
safe to the woods.
will return now TO our little par.
lty. three in number, who weie
grouping their way through the dark
woods, in Il North East course, a.
near as we could guess 10y the dim
star light. As it was getting cloudy
we had no hopes of ting far on
our journey that night, as We de-
penled altogether on tho stars fol
our guide. But by hard travelling
we secured a good hiding place and
i, ID by the next day, as We did moi
icte,' d to travel any in day time al
vo were i'm the State of Geor
yia.
But we kn, ,'w that as soon as we
got to East Tent .'essce: that we conlc
travel in day time. we were "'so
aware that we could io1nd numerous
friends there that would .,'ssist us OF
70 our lines. But combin.W IN o
unfortunate circumstance seem, u u
keep us back One OF our patty
Mason - was taken dangerously y
lick, and then was the time we want
ed to do our big travelling, as it was
not safe to lay by 30 close to Allan
ia, and it was getting dark, and We
wanted to star, Tor we must travel or
be caught and taken back to that
miserable dungeon. The very thO't
made me shudder, oh, | never had
such feelings in my lie. Poor Ma
IN WAS y good fellow and we hated
70 leave him; besidGs he had a wife
and three children in Wood county,
Ohio, and we were Interested in his
W, flare. Finally we got started and
we wound our way slowly along, br'
made no headway. 30 he eaid ht
could not travel and we carried hin
to q house about two miles distan
The man of the house claimed TO .b'
q Union man, and tre .ted US very
well, and we stayed all night with
him. Procuring a bed for Mason
we put him to bed, and we went t.
the barn and slept ill morning -
NV comrade and myself rose earl J
, in the morning, went to the honae
fo1nd Mason still uuabIo to 60. W.
told him we could not stay with hin
But to our surprise, we looked on
at the window and saw some cival.
ry coming to take us. They hal ;
brigade of blood hounds with the NJ
ami we SAW that tn run was our onl'
, hope, so quick as thou. ht we raj
, out at the hack dor and took tn
WOO Is tor rs'uge. In few inmate
, the chase commenced the hound
5 came yelling an the men hsllooini
like Indians. Their uncarthly yell
r could he heard 10. miles around. bu
such ls their savage nature. The,
: ran us all day wit their hounds an
4 800 cavalry, lu'wl out asnkcl then
4 all, they would try t. run in ahea
OF Us and cut us off by having thei
n dogs in the car, but by good genel
n alship we dc o ,ted them in all thei
i movements, and on wo went deter
mined to have our freedom or !
;, in the attempt, SO after twenty
y five days OF hardships and privd
i lions, almost naked, barefoot, 81 o.
i ing on the bare ground, and subsis
/. ing entirely on raw corn, persnl
K mons, and acorns. There was on
n was one day when we wera almo
h starved to death, we espici ar o.
ID goose, so old that ii could hard
" walk, 80 we Stayed it and eat 1t rs
:. without salt. believe it was t
" only goose that was in the Comic
d eracy, ono perhaps that old Jc