The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-12-01
Escape Of Capt. j. r. SHELTON,
and capt. Geo. w. Deal, and
Soldiers from Rebel PrisOns.

"hO N'upis WcVs W. S~s9 Ass.
Soldier. from Rebel PrisOas.
: ~ a Key West NM 10, 1s64s
By Tie arrival df&he United STATED oteam
er Isonomia, from Apalaetfcola, and . NOR.
tar saaspontr from: ocklookl nnee bay, ] have
peep put in possession. Of details of the es.
cape Of two officers andsfour private soldiers
from captivity among the rebels. The names
of the officers are Captain George w. Deal
and Captain Shelton, of the 18th Iowa In.
fantry, captured at fTilton, Ca, in Hoods
movement to the rear Of Sherman. 1t will
be remembered that the entire regiment was
taken at the time, with the excep sipn. of the
Colonel. The prisoners were marched to
Tallaaega, Ala "a distance of1one hundred
and fifty miles. Theneethey were taken by
railroad 10 Selma, Ala, aud from there down
the Alabama river to Cahawba, where the
enlisted men were put in prison, and the Of
ficers on parole Of honor within prescribed
limits in the city. Cahawba was reached on
the Goth of October, and 1.-THE prisoners were
oraere,,.ao seward ON the 3oth-tbe emil sted
men to no to Savannah, and the officers to
Columbia. & G.. That same evening thew
left IN tho tr.nsnort Coauette for Montpom.
erv where thev took the train for, Colum.
bus, Ga, which place!they reached at seven
o'clock on the evening of, the 3lst. That
evening the two officers planned and exc.
cuted their escape Asking permission to
go for fuel short distance, they evaded the
Y ieilapoe of the guard, and taking a circuit.
Gus route towards Atlanta for half a mile,
they first started in an easterly direction,
and shortly after altered their course towards
the West. Approaching the Chattahoochee
river t}ev struck il about three miles from
Columbus. and followed its course day and
nioht, for three DAYS. subsistinp all the way
on a srasll quantity of meat and corn bread
they happened co have when they started.
At the end of he third day the fugitives
procured batteau from a negro, for which
they gave silver watch. They then EN-.
barsed and travelled by night down the riv-
er, lying mp during the day, till they reach
ed the Flint river, after which they foated
down the stream day and night. They were
INSTRUCTED during the journey by the mar
rows In Gum swamp, where they were com.
PEELED to get out. taking the batteau with
them through, the woods. actually eating
their wav through with a knife they had
purchased from a negro for five dollars. This
obstacle surrnounted.l the adventures reach
ed channel. leading into the Chipola river,
down which thew e,ide3. coming out again
in the Apa,a abicola river. the course O!
which thew followed down to within six
miles Of the town of iApa,achicola passing
Fort tiadsden in broad DAYLIGHT. in r;onor.
ance of the existence of a fort At chat spot
They we're fortunate enough. however in
not beiny detected nv the. rn;ckets .uniiot ~
go L., !,
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