American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-11-02
VOLUME |.
The Anderson lille Prisoners.


at Andersonvile, Georgia, from February
till SeptemberLa Mr.. Stone, of Vermont
and Sergeant Cook of the 7th Michigan
cavalry. Both are highly intelligent and
we'll educated men. Sergeant Cook has
already returned to his regiment, now IN
sheridan's army, and Mr.. Stone intends
TO return in few days. He is staying
for short time, to recuperate, with his
brother. L. P. Stone, Esq, of this city
Sometime in September last large
number of the prisoners were removed
from Andersonville to Charleston, Savan-
nah and other places, the rebel authori-
ties, doubtless, thinking that Sherman
was getting too close for safety. The
prisoners, before leaving, were assured by
the rebel officers, "on the honor of sold
iers," that they were to be immediately
exchanged; but these two men put no
faith in their promises, and resvolved, II
possible to escape from the train
The train f,r har!eston, on which they
were put, consisted Of sixteen box cars,
in each of which there were about sixty
prisoners. The guards occupied the tops
of the cars. After passing Macon Anew
miles. and while the train was running
round curve, these two men Jumped
off Mr.. Stone managed to keep his ieet
when he struck the ground, but Mr. Cook
fell violently, but received no injury.
After running short distance. they threw
themselves down, just as the guard fired
an Intellectual volley after chem. But as
The tram was in motion, and as it wasnow
nearly dark, noattempt was made to re.
cap;mc them.
they were nov IT. liberty, but s;jli IA a
terrible prelicament. Too weak, hall
starved men, without food or money, lar
from the Union line, in the midst of enc
mes. But they had counted the cost aud
laid heir plans. Being highly inteIli-ent,
they knew he direction of Atlanta, aud
they knew that Sherman was there; 50
they at once set of in that direction, go
ing through the forest as much as posi-
BILE, and avoiding the roads aud dwell
ings.
For six days they travelled, guided by
the sun when it shone but sometimes,
in cloudy weather, finding themselves a
second time in the same place One
night they slept, without knowing it,
within Hoods outposts; but fortunately
they were not discovered, although they
saw, from their hiding place, rebel officers
riding to and fro. When they saw the
coast clcarthcy slipped out of that dan
gcrous place, and resumed their travels.
At one time they were kept in greatanxie-
ty, and on double quick pace, for nearly
half day by what they took to be the
baying of blood hounds, which they sup
posed were following their trail. But in
this they were happily mistaken.
About the fifth day out they fell in
with negro, bright, active fellow, who
was like themselves, trying to make his
way to She,mans lines. OF course he
became their companion, their man Fri
day. From this on they travelled more
utiously-frst one of the white men,
then about twenty PAGES in the rear, the
negro, then the other white man twenty
PAGES in his rear This was done, 50 that
if danger should assail either from the
front or rear, the negro might have a
chance to escape for it would have been
death to him to be caught in such a place
aud in such company. :
So they travelled until the night of the
sixth day. They now caught the sound
o.' drums in the Yankee army. A little
after dark they came to a lonely cabin
aud determined if possible to get some
thing TO eat. Nh Cook was left OUT as a
guard, while MIR. Stone, with the negro
as his servant, boldly entered and profess
ell to be rebel officer scouting around
N some important service. The inmates
of the cabin consisted unly OF an old man
IN old woman and two or three girls
Soon the two men were in quite friendly
conference on the subject OF the war, and
. Mr. Stone having had access to rebel ia
pers at Andelsunville, was better posted
as to Hoods movements than the old
man. Presently the old lady proposed
20 get him and his servant some supper
WHICH was OF course, thankfully accept
ed After eating, he said he had a man
outside holding the horses, and would Ike
to give him some. All right; so he took
poor Cook as much as he could carry in
both hands, and then returned Theold
man gave him cautions as to the way he
should go, so as to avoid Sherman's pick.
cts, and thus enabled him to form a good
idea ms TO his route. Finally Stone asked