The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-26
EsCAPR or A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR
-HIs ADVENTURES, &C.


Correp0Hde-es oCAe MssoHrt Democrat.
The letter copied below gives q very quaat
account Of the capture and escape Of telegraph
operator stationed at Union City, Tennessee, and
captured with the notorious Colonel Hawkins
a capture, by the way, which never would have
occurred. had either Of the two propositions pro-
posed by Colonel Lawrence, Of the 3ith New
Jersey, been acted on--one TO evacuate, the other
to reinforce. that post. The below was received
by Lieutenant Colonel 4. G.. Moore, row com
manding the Jith New Jersey -
FORT PfCkESs, PENSACOLA, Fla, june tG.
lSA.-My Dear Colonel Moore You will, 1
doubt not be surprised 70 hear from me in this
place. 1 have succeeded in making my escape
from tbe Rebel prison In which was confined
along with two officers, one OF whom was cap
tuEod at Union City at the same time as myself.
How fortunate you were to get out of IL the night
bctorcl' ! was very anxious about you, for fear
OF your Icing taken on your way back TO Colum-
bus. My travels may interest you, and | viii
give you a short sketch Of them.
After fighting six hours, and killing several
Rebels, We were surrendered as prisoners Of war,
and marched twelve miles that day. WITH
the exception Of what ! had on, lost every
thing. We got to Trenton on Saturday, about
noon, and remained ill Monday morning.
From that place we we're marched through
West Tennessee TO West Point, Mississippi, on
foot here we were put on board cars, aud sent
to Mobile. All this time we were marched
hard, and had little or nothing to cat. We ar
rived in Mobile, about the 20th Of April, in q
starving conditions the little given US 70 cat
was rancid bacon and corn meal. We were kept
in Mobile for five or six days, whom we were sent
to Amercus, Georgia, via Montgomery, Alabama,
aud Columbus, Georgia, and from there to Macon,
Georgia. from which place made my escape.
We were near starved out. About the 10Th of
May last, we cut hole in the floor Of our jail,
and tUnneled out making our escape on the
morning of the nth Of May, about two O'Clock
M
but We fooled them by rubbing onions on our
boots and clothes, which killed the scent. After
q great many hardships and much suffering, we
succeeded in reaching this place, after being
thirty days on the way, walking three hundred
and thirteen miles, mostly by night, going by
river two hundred aud fifty miles more making
about Eve hundred and fifty miles through
Georgia., Alabama, and Florida, 10 our lines,
living on the Coniederates. We passed as fur
lOughed men going home, and had forged papers,
and by this means passed through the "enraged'
militia Of Southern Alabama, &c. We were
nearly starved when we got here. l had only
one pair of pants, and they were worn out before
and behind, and an old shirt and hat-not much
left of me but skin, bones, and life. | was dirty,
filthy, and everything that was foul and loath-
some. When we got here we reported to
General AshbOth, whom 1 knew in Columbus I;
he remembered me, and has been very kind 10
me; we are staying with him now waiting
for transportation TO New Orleans or New
York. / will soon be In Columbus. Since
March 2i / have walked something over six
hundred miles, and been through the G. S. OF A..
damn 'em, most emphaiiCally say damn 'em.
If you see --, say to him DR.. Murray
came with me and is well, and will soon be at
Columbus; also, say all the officers of the 7th
Tennessee were well when we left them at Macon,
Georgia; Captain Hayes had been sick, but was
better. / will be in your town soon and will call
and see you. Until then, my dear Colonel, |
am yours, as ever. EDGAR b. MCNARIN,
Military telegram Operator, U. S. Army.
He alludeG TO Cap,a,l Ddiln OF General BrAyman's
staff being sent TO Union City under military escort for
Information to the probable designs Of the Rebels Colo
mel Nj. accompanied the expedition.