The Portland daily press., 1863-02-03
MISCELLANY.
Translated from the Pittsburger Acknowledging
Dec IL.
Remarkable Escape from Rebel Prison.

Several days since, young and intelligent
German, who served as subaltern officer in
the LIST Illinois regiment, and with whom ac-
cidentally became acquainted, gave me mar
alive of his fight from captivity among the
rebels. His story can best be told in his own
words.
Eighteen of my comrades and myself, says
he while out on reconnaissance, were attack
ed, by a rebel force three times our own, and,
in spite of brave resistance, were compelled
TO yield, and were taken prisoners, and were.
conveyed to the Salisbury prison in North
Carolina. Here We were doomed to suffer
much misery, and heartily longed for our free
dom, but all the methods / could contrive for
our deliverance were Immediately rejected
because they appeared impracticable.
One evening, while walking in the yard of
our prison, l noticed that the two soldiers, who
were standing as sentinels before the open gate
OF our prison yard, were raw recruits. The
thought forthwith came into my mind that
this might be favorable circumstance for our
deliverance, and related this to my comrades
we accordingly resolved without delay to
knock down the two sentinels, to fee and to
meet again at a certain place several miles
from the town; We also resolved to provide
ourselves as soon as possible with citizens
dress, and then under my lead, as new recruits,
to betake ourselves to the rebel camp, situated
In that vicinity under Gen. NJ, and join reg
iuient, and there await a favorable opportunity
for our further flight.
The night favored our plan, and every thing
succeeded according to our wishes, and having
caused no alarm we fed in different directions
from the prison. On the way toward the
place appointed Tor our meeting / met Ger
man girl and inquired of her concerning a
grocery that l might buy some provisions.
From her broken English perceived that she
was German, and encouraged by this to be-
heve that my good fortune would not leave
me, related to her in few words my dam
gerous situation. She was extremely perplex-
ed as to what she ought to do, but finally her
good heart beat with compassion for me, and
she directed me to the house Of her parents.
Having arrived there l found the parents of
the girl exceedingly embarrasse ed to determine
how they should act in my case, since, on my
account, they exposed themselves to difficulty
and danger; yet as people from the same ma
tive land, and true Unionists, they furnished
me with a new suit of citizens clothes, and
after had purchased some provisions and
garments for my comrades, and had thanked
my kind protectors, proceeded on my way
TO the place OF our meeting. Here | found
my fellow fugitives awaiting me with impa-
tience.
Since the bright moon illumined the night,
we commenced our march for the camp of
Gen. N. We reached it without accident
about o'clock a. M; here the greatest eau
ton was necessary. As we came near the main
guard Of the camp, we were stopped and ask
ed what we wished and whence we had come.
stepped up to the officer making this inquiry
gave him salute, and declared to him that
we had been compelled to fee from the troops
OF the Yankee General Foster, and with eight
cen companions had come here in order to
join regiment. The captain of the guard
at first bid US stay IN the vicinity Of the guard,
provided US with some bread and kind of
soup, and reported our arrival to Gen. NJ.
After the lapse OF half an hour we were or
dered to present ourselves in front of the
Generals tent Having marched before his
tent, the General enqured concerning our
dwelling places, names, &c, and seemed to be
satisfied with our report. Then he enquired
whether we could exercise; l replied in the
affirmative; and the marching, which we i'm
mediately executed, proved to him that we
might be very useful soldiers. A place was
now assigned for our encampmcnt, and here
we made ourselves quite at home In the af-
ternoon l received command to report my
self In the Generals tent, who, in few words,
informed me that he had selected me as one
Of his captains, since he was highly pleased
with our drill he now handed me a list, that
contained the names OF my comrades, as well
IS the names of recruits that were strangers
TO me ; and these now formed my newly or
ganized company. After this we drilled every
day; we also received arms, and some of us
This course of life lasted about fourteen
days, while no opportunity was offered for fur
Their flight; but at last one morning received
command to march with my company about
five miles from camp, on scouting expedi-
ton. Having reached the point indicated, /
noticed tug boat lying In river in the vi
entity. Well thought l. suppose thou could'st
make this little steamer seryiceable for thy es-
cape; and without hesitation / went to the
boat and ascertained all that was important
for me to know concerning it. One of the ne
groes on board informed me that the master of
the same went into the country the previous
evening and had not returned. My resolution
was embraced; therefore sent the rebel sec
tion OF my company under the two ieuten-
ants over hill into a neighboring forest, and
ordered them to encamp there, saying that the
heat there was not so great as where we now
were posted. To my comrades alone / i'm
parted my purpose TO take flight with the
steamboat; all were pleased with the plan,
and we agreed upon the labor in managing
the boat. then returned to the vessel, drew
my revolver, and for fear that the negroes
might betray us, / ordered them to betake
themselves to the hold; which command they
obeyed after some hesitation, as they appeared
greatly dismayed.
Thus became now the captain of the ship.
All things were done In the best order Wood
was carried into the boat; fire was kindled
under the boilers, and L myself took charge
Of the machinery, since ! am by trade ma
chine maker; and so in short time we were
ready TO sail up or down the river. Finally
resolved on the latter course. knew that
we could not be very far from the sea, and so
relying on good fortune our vessel moved
down the stream. Having found rebel flag
on the boat we raised it on a staff that we
might deceive those who could observe us
from the shore. There were provisions on
board sufficient to last three or four days, and
60 we needed not to suffer from hunger
Those who were not employed in managing
the boat were compelled to stand on guard
with loaded arms ready for any emergency.
On the third day of our trip our improyised
pilot saw Union flag waving on the shore.
and as soon as we were convinced that we
were not mistaken we pulled down the rebel
colors from the staff, and hoisted the United
States flag. and steamed to the shore. We
found ourselves in the vicinity of Gen. Fos-
ter's camp, and after we had related our self
deliverance from captivity, we were treated
with the greatest kindness by the command
ing general, and soon became the "lions of
the day" We received q short furlough,
which shall improve by writing my relatives
in Chicago, and having accomplished this |
shall return and seek my old regiment.