The weekly union record., 1864-04-09


u. O'Clock. Capt. Jones. Col. kendrick and
Lieut.. Bradford passed out in the order in
which tbey are named. and as Col. X EMERGED
from the bole, he heard the guard within few
feet of him sing out, Pest No. :, half past two
10 the morning, and slls well" Col X saws
he could hardly resist the temptation of saving.
Not so well as you tbiuk except for the
Yauks.' Lieut.. Bradford was intrusted with
the provisions for this squad. and. in getting
through, be was obliged TO leave his hayersack
behind him, as he could not ge, through with
it upon him.
Once out, they proceeded up the street.
keeping in the shade of the buildings. and
passed eastwardly through the city.
\ description OF the route pursued bv this
party and of the tribulations through which
they passed will give some idea Of the rough
time they all had Of H. Col. keudrick had.
before leaving the prison, mapped out his
course, and concluded that the best route TO
take was the one towards Norfolk or Fortress
Monroe, as there were fewer rebel pickets in
that direction They therefore kept the York
river railroad to the lett, and moved towards
the Chickahominy river. They passed through
Boar Swamp, and crossed the road leading TO
Bottom Bridge. Sometimes they waded through
mud and water almost up to their necks and
kept the Bottom Bridge road to their left.
travelling over the ofk river road.
W bile passing through the swamp near the
ChlckaEOminy, Col. kendrck sprained his
ankle and fell. Fortunate, too, was that fall
for him and bis party, for, while be was living
there. one OF them CHANGED 10 look MP, and sa "
IN direct line with them swamp bridge, ard
IN the dim outline they could perceive that
parties with musketS were passing over the
bridge. They therefore moved some distance
TO the SOUTH and, after passing through more
OF the swamp. reached the Chickahominv about
four miles below Bottom Bridge Here. now.
was difficulty. The river was only 200 feet
wide, but it was very deep. ard the refugees
were worn out and tatigued. CHANGING. how
ever, to look up, Lieut.. Bradford saw that two
trees had fallen on either side Of the river. and
that their branches were inierocked Bv
crawling up one tree and down the other. the
iugitives reached the east bank of the Chicka.
hominy and Col. Kendrck could not help
remarking that be believed Providence was on
their side. else they would not have met that
natural bridge.
They subsequently, learned from a friendly
negro that, had they crossed the bridge thev
bad seen, they would assuredly have been re-
captured. for Capt. Turner, the keeper Of Libby
Prison, had been ont and posted guards there.
and in fact had alarmed the whole country. and
got the people up as vigilance committee to
capture the escaped prisoners.
After crossing the natural bridge, they laid
down On the ground and slept until sunrise on
the morning of the llth, when they continued
on their way. keeping eastwardly as near as
they could. Up TO this time they had had
nothing to eat, and were almost famlshed
About noon of the llih, they met several
negroes, who gave them information as to the
whereabouts of the rebel pckets, and furnished
them with food
Acting under the advice of these friendly
negroes, they remained quietly in the woods
until darkness had set in, when they were fur
niShed with comfortable supper by the negroes
and after dark proceeded on their way, the
negroes (who everywhere showed their friend
ship TO the fugitives) having first directed them
how to avoid the rebel pickets That night
they passed a camp of rebels, and could plainly
see the smoke and camp fires But their
wearled feet gave out, and they were compelled
to stop and rest, having only marched five
miles that day.
~They started again at daylight on the / 9th
and after moving awhile through the woods
they saw a negro woman working in a field
aud called her to them, and from her received
directions, and were told that the rebel pickets
had been about there looking for the funitiyes
from Libby. Here they laid low again, and
resumed their journey when darkness set in. and
marched five miles, but halted until the morning
Of the l4th, when the journey was resumed.
At one point they met negro in the field
and she tod them that her mistress was a
secesh woman aud that she had son in the
rebel army. The party, however, were exceed
ingly hungry and they determined TO secure
some food This they did by boldly approach
ing the house and informing the mistress that
they were fugtives from Norfolk, who had been
driven out by Butler. and the secesh sympathies
OF the woman were at once aroused and she
gave them of her substance. and started them
on their way with the direction how TO avoid
the Y ankee soldiers. who occasionally secuted
in that vicinity. This information was exceed
ingly valuable to the refugees. for By it they
discovered the Whereabouts of the Federal
forces.
When about Is miles from Williamsburg,
the party came upon the main road and found
the tracks Of large body Of cavalry. A piece
of paper found by Capt. Jones satisfied him
that they were Union cavalry; but his COM
panions were suspicious, and avoided the road
and moved forward, aad at the Burnt Ordin-
ary' tabout 10 miles from Williamsburg)
awaited the return OF the cavalry that bad
moved up the road, aud from behind fence
corner, where they we're secreted. the fugtives
saw the flag of the Union, supported by a
squadron OF cavalry, which proved to be a
detachment of Col. Spears 1lth Pennsylvania
regiment, sent out for the purpose of picking
up escaped prisoners. Col. Kendrick says bis
feelings at seeing the old flag are ndescribabe.
The party rode into Williamsburg with the
cavalry, where they were quartered for the
night. and where they found eleven others who
had escaped safely. Colouel Spear and bis
command furnished the officers with clothing
and other necessaries.
At all points along the route, the fugtives
describe their reception by the negroes as
most enthusiastic, and there was no lack
OF white people who sympathlzed with them
and helped them on their way.
From these officers we learn that there is q
wide spread I-nion feeling in Richmond TeF