The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1864-09-07
From the Washington Star, August %
ESCAPE FROM A REBEL PRISON
An Interesting Narrative

An Interesting Narrouvcs
Thomas McCauley, Orderly Sergeant,
Company Z, Fourteenth New York Cav
airy, who was taken prisoner at Donald
sonville, Aug. 18th, 1858, aud sent to
where he was confined in Lib
by Prison, and afterwards sent to Ander-
sonville, Ca, and who succeeded in es-
Gaping therefrom. reached here Saturday
night, about III o'clock, and reported him
self to the Provost Marshal. The history
of Sergt McCauley since bis capture is 40
eventful one, as the following synopsis
will demonstrate:
After about two months at Anderson
vile, he succeeded in making his escape
with four others from his place of I'M
prisonmeut, s,ockade, composed of
square pines, set perpendicularly come
six feet in the ground, aud enclosed per-
pendicularly some 10 acres of ground,
and in which, when he left the last time
we're about 10000 Federal prisoners. He
escaped by means of tunnel some sixty
FIVE feet long, dug by himself and CON-
panions, with canteens broken in half
From the tupnel they took to a swamp, a
mile or two distant, where they remained
till night. After nightfa!l they resumed
their journey. travelling all night, and
finally reached another swamp.'n Flint
River, Ga, where they were surprised by
the hounds of their pursuers. The swamp
being too wide for the horses OF their
pursuers to follow them with safety, they
succeeded in escaping them by wading
through water neck deep. and made their
way TO jamestown, about twenty miles
from Columbus, GA travelling night and
day, and with very little subsistence
obtaining all they had from darkics in the
fields by which they passed. This sub
sistence consisted only Of corn bread aud
water, with which they were obliged
to satisfy themselves.
Losing their way two miles from James
town, they we're finally piloted by Negro
TO the Cbattahoochee River. After tray.
cling some ak or seven miles down its
bank in search of boat, they finally
found one, but to their chagrin. it was
held to its fastening by a strong lock. One
of the party, however, scceeded 10 pick
ing the lock, but just as they were ready
to shove off The owner made his appear
ance, not, however. in time to proven
their retreat to the bushes adjacent. The
owner of the boat followed, singing out,
"Halt, you id Yankees, or LII shoe
you r. to which, however, they paid D,
attention and succeeded in reaching TIL
thickest Of the canebreaks in the neigh
borhood,! where they were left by thei
pursuer, who thought It unsafe to follow
them further alone. He accordingly wen
for assistance, but before his return tn,
boat had been secured by two of the par
ty-Sergt. McCauley being one of them
Their pursuers, thinking to cut then
off, headed their horses for Georgetown
but to their di.may. found on their arri
val that they we're still ahead OF them
having passed some hours befor their ar
rival. As last resort they telegraphet
to Fort Gaines, at which pout the boa
arrived after dark, and was hailed by tn
guard. No answer being given. the boa
was fred into and Sergeant McCauley'
comrade wounded, and afterwards takeI
prisoner. He, however, succeeded in es
Gaping by swimming to the Alabama sid,
of the river. On gaining the other sid
of the river he was, however, captured b.
guard on the look out and taken to For
Gaines, from thence he was sent to George
town, and from thence to Andersonville
and again committed to bis prison, wher
be was received with the following re
mark from Capt, War;, in charge Of th
prison, "You id Yankee son of BIB
you tried to escape, did you2 Wen e.
you so as you can t escape" This remar
was followed by au order to place upo
him a chain and balls, which was DONE
ono of the balls being ga FOUNDER. III
other 3epounder, and also to place owe
him strong guard-all of which wa
complied with. He was also notified tina
this would be his condition until parole
or exchanged.
The sergeant, however, did not give
up SO, aud procuring file from a sourc
not prudent to give here. be loosed b
bonds, and again succeeded in escapin,
This time he made for Macon, seven mil,
beyond, where he was again capture
while saddling horse. On being take
back he was chained, with six others
one Of them a Lieutenant Of Tennas.e
regiment,-butt the file came in play aoa;,
and bis chains being loosed, he determine
TO make another attempt to escape vbs
night set in. He kept his position, no,
ever, and during the afternoon was visite
BY the proper officer, who proposed 70 !,
lease him on parole If he would promi,
not to make any further atssnpts 70 !,
cape. BE accepted the parole. and =