The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26
THE WEEKLY PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT
Capture aud Release of DR.. ID. W.
n VI sin N ana Or st. Paul. t' ,"7 :

Capture aud Release of DIR. ID. w.
u "a 800 III ana 6f st. Paul. ' '"' +
~ We published some time since brief
account of the capture and release of DR..
d. w. HAND, near Suffolk, Virginia. We
fluid fuller account in the Philadelphia
I,quire,., which will interest the many
friends of the gallant Doctor = 57Ui1i .i'
Special Correspondence of the phada Inquirer.
SUFFOLK, Va, May &C. 1868.
DR.. Hand, Medical Director of this post,
returned yesterday from Richmond. His
adventures since his capture, though brief,
are interesting, his observation of affairs in
rebeldom having been close and intelligent.
On the 10th inst, the Doctor, having
visited our troops who were engaged near
Carrsville in tearing up and removing the
railroad iron, hadreached, on his return,
point within seven miles from Suffolk and
an equal distance within our most advanced
lines, in company with Captain Stevens
an an orderly. when number of men
suddenly rose, gun i'm hand, at the side of
the road, and commanded "halt." The
other two Immediately stopped, but the
Doctor, thinking he could escape, threw
himself forward on his horses neck, put
spurs to his horse, and dashed forward.
One shot was fired it pierced the animals
neck, which fell dead, throwing the rider
heavily in the saudi His struggles to rise
were instantly terminated by the blow of
a musket. when tae party, with their pris-
Oners, te:irirg IN attack from our pickets,
strong frce Of which from Rhode
Island regi -aent Her5 posted within three
hundred yards OF Vie spot, and between
the rebels and their line OF retreat, irnme-
diately cOmmenceia retrOgrade movement.
The party proved to be an Orderly Ser
geant and eighteen men of the Second
Mississippi. They appeared all to be edu-
Gated men, gentlelnany in their habits and
treatment of the prisoners, which was eX
ceedingly kind and polite. The Sergeant
asked the Doctor how he came to do such
a foolish thing Is atteinpt his escape, I'M
der the circumstances, stating that three
other rifles were detailed for the purpose,
and in readiness, had the first one missed
The rebels placed the Doctor on a cap
tured horse. and Immediately took up their
march, through swamps and thickets, to-
wards the Blackwater, with e. eat silence
and caution. They wound about through
all manner of by-paths, occasionally losing
themselves, when they would apply at any
farmhouse for guides and information. A
short time before daylight the whole party
were irretrievably lost in swamp, when
they told the prisoners they might lie down
and sleep awhile. In the meantime the
rebels sent out scouts, and after about two
hours they again started Having passed,
as it were, through the midst of our recon-
NOTHING force of six or seven thousand
men, about noon they struck and crossed
the Blackwater at point about four miles
below Zuni, and proceeded to Franklin,
where the prisoners were handed over to
Gen. jenkins, commandant at that post.
Gen. jenkins treated the prisoners with
the utmost kindness and liberality. He in
vited the Doctor to his own tent and table,
and told him that he would be uncondi-
tiOnally released on his arrival at Rich
mond, but would have to go there first,
owing to imperative orders that all prison.
ers should be transmitted or released only
through regular channels While in Gen.
Jenkins charge the Doctor was called upon
by large number of rebel officers, who
had been engaged in the recent siege of
Suffolk, and were curious to converse on
| the subject. All treated him with great
courtesy, and discussed all subjects with
freedom and literally, protesting to be
tired of the war and anxious for peace, but
stating the tixedness of their own views,
the unanimity of their people, and their
universal determination to stand by their
cause till we should "let them alone. -
Many offered him money, and insisted that
he should use it and return it at any time
at his convenience. The Doctor, however,
happened to be sufficiently supplied in this
respect, nothing having been taken from
him by his captors except his spurs, which
were secured as matter of precaution and
never returned. On his journey to Rich
mOnd, which was by rail from Franklin
through Petersburg, he saw no evidence of
the presence of troops. The road seemed
in good order, but the cars and locomotives
were old and rickety.
In Richmond the Doctor was called on
by several rebel officers, who supplied him
with under clothing, brushes, &c. Prices
of provisions were high; for instance, two
dollars for dozen Of eggs Two dollars
of Confederate money were readily given
for one-dollar green-backs, and five dollars
for q one-dcllar gold coin. The impression
of the Doctor, than whom there is no better
or more patriotic supporter of the Union
cause, was that the rebel troops were in
good condition and superior discipline and
efficiency. They are convinced that the
Almighty is on their side, for what else,
say they, enabled General Lee, with fifty
Thousand men, to foil and battle General
Hooker with one hundred and fifty thou
sand2 He thinks, however, that they are
in great anxiety about their ability to hold
out. They seem to be on their last legs in
many respects, particularly in regard to
their railroad rolling stock.
The Doctor was released Internationally
on his arrival at Richmond, and sent
through their lines TO Fortress Monroe, his
whole trip lasting about nine days.
Truth for Once.