The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1864-03-08

lfiendly negfo that had itey crossed
the bridge they had seen hey wolld
assureslly have been Fe-cplured, for
Capt. Turner, tlp krep'r q Lssby I
Poison, had been out and posted gua'ds I
there, and in faci had alarmed The /
whole country, and got tb' people np
as sigilani committee 10 eapta'e The T
escaped prisoners.
After crossing ovei tltls natural
bridge they laid down "a the glpnnd
and slept Until sunrise an the morn
ing Of the llih, when thy cosllnued
on their way, keeping eatwarily as
near a. they could. Up Il this time
they bad nothing 10 cat. aEd q Al
mos furnished. About boon OF the
ilt ta met several aegnes, who
gas taea i6iorna,ion o. q lhe whore
abo8 8 tae Re9ei piekets. and fur.
ushed em etb food.
Acting uHder tbe advice u these
iuendy grop they remainfd quiel-
l in jhe ools tl darkness; had set
il, wien hry Wer furbishcd with a
comfortable sup er by the negroes,
and after dark proceed, d on tlrir way,
The negroes (who ever5 where how ed
their iliendship to The iugitims)ha
Ing first directed them how /, avoid
the Rebel picket> That night they
passed camp Of Rebels, and could
plainly see the smoke and camp fires.
But their wearied feet gave out and
they were compelled 70 stop aud rest,
having only marched five mihs that
day.
They started again at daylight on
the 18Th, and aGer moving awhile
through the woods they saw a negro
woman working in field and called
her to them, and from her received
directions, and were told that The lseb-
el pickets had been about there look
ing for the tugiiives from LIBBY
Here they laid low again, and RESUME
ed their journey when darkness 81 IN,
and marched five miles, bat halted un-
til the morning Of tie lith, when The
journey was resumed.
AT one point they met a negro in
the field, and she told them that her
mistress was Secesh woman, and
that she had a son in the Rebel army.
The party, however, we're exceeding
ly hungry, and they determined tase-
cure some food. lilis they dil by
boldly approaching the house and ~.
forming the mistress that they we're
fugitives from Norfolk, who had been
driven out by Bulsr; and the Seen-'i
sympathies of the woman were a
once aroused. and she gave them OF
her substance, and started them on
their way with directions bow to ayoid
the Yankee soldiers, who occasionally
secuted in that vicinity. Thi> intur
nation was exceedingly valuable to
the refugees, for by it they discovered
the whereabouts IF the Union forces.
When about fifteen miles from VIII
liamsburg, the party came upon the
main road, and found the track, ot q
large body OF cavalry A piece Of pa
per found by Capt. Jones sallshe hin
that they were Union cavalry bai
his companions wete suspicious, and
avoided The road aud moved forward
and at the Burnt Ordinary (aboul
ten miles from williamsburg awaited
the return Of the cavalry that had
moved up the road AID from brhind
a fence corner where hes were 50
creted, the ingtiiyes 4w 10 Gag oi
the Union, support 4 by squadron
o. cavalry, which proved 3 bc d..
iachmrnt Of Col Spear, Ei,rn!h
Penpsy lvania regiment. ,tni o0t iof
The purpose of picking up escaped
prisoners. Col. Kenlrck says his
feelings al seeing the old Gag are ia.
describable.
The party rode into Williamsburg
with the cavalry. where they were
quartered for The night. aud where
they found eleven Other. who had es
capped safely. Col. Spear and hi'
command furnished The officers witt
clothing aud oilief necessaries.
At all points along tile route tht
iugitives describe their receptions b,
the negroes as most enthusiastic, anC
there was no lack OF white people whc
sympathized with them and helpeC
them on their way.
From these officers we learn llla
there is a wide spread Union feeling
in Richmond. JEFF. Davis is held ii
deicsiaion, but all who do not heasli-
" indorse the Rebel Government are
spotted and watched. There are a
this time eighteen persons conliHed ii
Castle Thunder on chat ges Of attempts
to assassinaie the Rebel President
These prisoners also confirm the re
port that an ailemjh was made 10 burr
Jeii7s mansion. and that one morning
his servants found coffin upon hi
porch.
IN their escape the officers werr
aided By citizens of Richmond--uo
foreigners Of the po,r classes only, bu
by natives and persons OF wealth.
They know their friends there. bu
very probably withhold any mention
Of their names. OF these who got ou
Of Libby there we're number OF sicl
ones, who were cared for by Uniof
people, and wilieyentually reach th,
Union lines tbrough their aid.
Tie officers also report tie fact tlta
.rsr... tf.4s.. an s,.it H.. ii - Z.