The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-02-06

IL, they are nOtnlng more or less than
G. Ierrillas, or common thieves, they claim !
that they are authorized by JEFF. Davis /
to raise Regiment of Partizan Ran
gers and as an inducement they draw /
rations and pay from Government, and |
have all they capture which makes them !
q brotherhood of thieves. They took !
me back about two miles to the house of
Mr.. Cartwright, where, to my surprise,
! found Adjutant Philpott, Lieut.. Hill,
and Lieut. Patton; we all remained there
till next morning, we're treated well and
Jared well. In the morning l told them
that they had no right according to the
cartel to hold me as a prisoner Of wa,
on this point they claimed to be ignor-
ant, and in reply said, that they would
have 10 take me to Col Richardson,
which we were five days liz reaching; up
on reaching the command, the Colonel
claimed that our authorities held their
Assistant Surgeon a prisoner, and he
would not release me until the Surgeon
was released, Colonel Richardson offered
me parole which l refused to accept,
on the ground that Surgeons ought to
be released and not paroled. So the
next day we proceeded to Bolivar under
flag of truce, to effect release of the
Surgeon; on reaching Bolivar, adistance
of thirty miles, the commander of the
post informed US that their Surgeon was
not a Commissioned officer that they
held him as citizen, and further more
they did not recognize them as belong
ing to the regular army, consequently an
exchange could not be effected, so we
went on our word of honor. We all re-
turned to the rebeI camp; they also held
the Assistant Surgeon of the 7th Kan
sas, prisoner, The other officers &C.
cepted their paroles, then they offered
me q parole again, l told them l would
accept one on certain conditions, that
both parties must be governed by the
conditions of the Dix Hill Cartel. Af-
ter being held prisoners of war eighteen
days we were released from captivity,
and on Sunday morning we started to
cross the Big Hatchie, which is naviga.
BILE at this point; as we approached the
ferry we observed some cavalry forces on
the opposite side of the river, so we
made our way back about four miles
knowing there would be o skirmish, we
had not got fairly out Of range of the
guns before the firing commenced and
continued until sun-down, as neither
force could cross, the casualties were
slight, there was no caSualti S on our
side, the rebels had one killed and six
wounded; during Sunday night the rebel
force skedaddled and left US alone. -
Early Monday morning we made for the
river under cover Of the white flag, know
ing that our forces were on the opposite
side; as we approached the river our
forces observed us and not observing the
flag, fired on us but without effect, we
then waved the white flag and proceed
ell to the rivey and there found the Third
Michigan Cavalry. The ferry boat be.
ing on our side, we soon got across the
Hatchie, being nov among our own
troops we felt free again. The rebels
had robbed us of our horses, saddles and
brides. We had to try our speed at
walking, Jackson being the nearest point
of access 10 the railroad, we made for
that point, after walking about eight
miles we suddenly came to the conclu-
sion that we would not walk any further,
it being thirty miles to Jac kson. We
called at rich planters house, observed
nice carriage, and horses, We went in
and told said planter that the rebels had
robbedNs of our horses and he must hitch
up in his carriage and take us to Jack.
son; a. first he demurred, we told him
it was no use that we would not walk
being within our own lines there was no
other alternative, he ha1t to do it. Mr.
Planter said he was afraid the carraige
would break down and that it cost him
$3.50; we told him it made no difference
sS he had his darkie hitch up and we
we're soon riding in true Southern Style;
we reached Jackson next morning, and
sent the darkie back.
During our eighteen days travel with
the rebels we frequently put up at the
best houses in Southern Towns. We
travelled in all about three hundred
miles, among the citizens we we're treat
ed with marked respect. We stayed
one night at the residence of Andrew
Jackson Douelson and was treated with
as much courtesy as though W. had been
his guests, we also stopped over night at
the widow Rchmonds, sister of James
K, Polk, she is a very intelligent woman
and conversed freely OH the condition of
the country, she enquired If had any
positive in telling whether her Brother
VIM Polk, who was o union man was
dead, l told her l had seen his name
announced in the paper as having died
at Nashvlleon the 18th Dec, she repli.
ed fcelingly and said she supposed it was
true. We were treated well here, had
good supper and breakfast, good lodg-
ing and found our boots blacked in the
morning which we considered doing well
for prisoners up west.
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OBo At n neetinp of the members of