, 1863-02-21
ATTEMPTED ESCAPE OF REBEL
PRISONERS.
4 prfvAtc of the 104s1l Illinois Ar
rested for Aiding II, the Ekcape.--A
Faithful Sentinel Rewarded.

Notwithstanding the rigid discipline that /
has been inauguratcd and enforced at CAMP
Douglas, there appear to be those who can
not Withstand the temptation Of bribery,
when there is any possibility Of eyading expo
sure. Although there has been no demon
stration on tile part Of the secesh prisoners
that has any outward show of their desire to
escape from this military prison, there is no |
doubt but any Of them would get out If they |
could; provided they could disguise them
selves so as not to be liable to arrest when
passing through the country. An attempt Of
this kind was made on Thursday night, about
half.past eleven. It will be remembered us
an extremely unpleasant night-dark and
snowy, with strong north wind. At this 1
late hour, the lights in camp are extinguishcd,
and nil the soldiers are supposed to be in their
hunks, sayc the sentinels who are detailed to
serve rs guard, and their officer. At the
southeast corner Of the camp grounds, the
fence is 50 constructed as to be more easily
scaled than at other points. The scantlings
upon which the boards arc fastened, rs well
US the braces to the high fence are upon the
inside, Which would aid any one who might
undertake to climb over. Hence the obsta-
clcs to be overcome arc fewer here, than else
| where on the grounds. About the
hour of midnight during the thickest Of
the storm, private Charles spraguc, Of
Company !, 65th III. regiment, who was on
guard duty, was approached by three persons
in Federal uniforms, representing themselves
to :be priyates of the 104th 1ll.,-which their
uniforms would Indicate. They attempted to
persuade spsague to let them pass his line,
md scale the fencc--that they "iust wanted
10 80 out to have little run round together,
and would be back soon-tllat 1t would be all
right" &c. Spraguc couldn't see it in tha:
light, and positively refused to let them pass.
Their next effort was to "run the blockade y
but he warned them not to cross his line OF
he would blow them through, which he would
have done, unquestionabiJ, for nc is t::a git fss
He cooked his "Belgian," and aimed 1t at the
foremost Of the three, in the meantime giving
the alarm to others Of his comrades On guard
who ut once came to his relief, and the me1
were arrested, and upon examination proved
to be " G. Porter, private Of Company C.
10th ILL.,, J. F. Barheld, Company, D, 17tl
Texas, md B. Coleman, Company H, Of tht
18th Texas regiment
. It appears that Porter had stipulated will
r these prisoners upon certain conditions, ant
, that he was to get them ont Of camp, dis
= guiscd as priyatcs Of his rcginent-that b
had taken the Federal blue oyercoats from
his quarters, when the boys wcr
asleep, and had well laid plan for their cs
r. | cape At the examination before the Proves
Marshal, yesterday morning, 1t was impossl
c bic to get at the true state Of the case, As til
G prisoners upon separate examination gave en-
e tirely different ycrsions-of the plan !; aud it j
|. evident neither of them were truthful.
S straight jacket and low diet Tor few day
: will probably refresh their memory on thi
d point.
c Private II. G. Porter, who undertook to n
j. lease these prisoners, is now In close conhnt
:. mcnt, and will doubtless receive the treat
y mcnt to which the pcrpctration of such
}. crime so richly entities him.
# Private Spraeuc, who so gallantly stood Ii
ground and stcrnly performed his duty,
G from Bond county, I'll. His devotion to dut
' has been rewarded by Immediate promotion
as will be seen by the following order whie
- was read on parade yesterday:
4. | ukAutGAAtE4"ssNAAtA oAAA-f )
> Feb. 20, 1865.
:. Private Charles sprague, Company l, G5
= Ill Infuntry, is this day promoted to the OH
C of Sergeant, for faithfully and fearlcsfly d
cs charging his duty Us sentinel, by prcyenti1
n the escape OF prisoners, and securing tho
~ {signed) DANIEL CAMERON.
~ ~ Colonel c5th Illinois Infantry.
iv- WORD or CAur1os.-Wea are informed
re" the rost oa1ce that many letters arc dcpos
cd there, having, Instead Of the ordinary DO:
(th age stamps, the stamps authorized nv tl,c
,sc ternal Revenue Law. For cxamnlc ~
hes having Q stamp for bank check. vninc =,
50, cents, will afiix 1t with blue postauc to ,
md letters, Of course under The mistaken ,,e,
that, by 4 late decision Of the Commission
to revenue stamps may be used for any dues
/ to the Government. Alllclters SO stamped
md detained for non payment Of postage. No
aill ing but postage sta.nps. postagc currcn
the treasury notes. or coin will pay dues nj
pust OGcc.