Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-29
SECOND EDITION.
4 O'CLOCK r. nj.
COL. sTREIGHT SAFE IN WASHINGTON.

Iris morning, the steamer Ella, of the fot-
tia, arrived. bringing up Col. Streight, 5lst
Ind; Major McDanald, 10lst Ohio; Captain
Scarce, 5lst Ind; and Lieut. Sterling, 3oth
Ind, who recently escaped from Libby Prison,
with others, some OF whom have already ar
rived here.
These four have been together ever since
they escaped, but they did not leave Richmond
imme diately, not being in a condition to travel,
but after recuperating, they started from that
city and took north easterly direction-tray-
cling altogether at night, and laying by in
swamps, thickets OF woods, &c, during the
6ay-the north star serving as a guide. At
some OF the rivers they found boats, in which
they crossed, and at others they made RATS,
on which they poled themselves over. As
they passed along, always keeping out ofsight
OF the roads and houses, they were aided by
the slaves, some Of whom seemed to compre-
heLd instinctiyely W no they were, and would
say, i" knose yer you's some OF dem Yankees
got out sf Richmond, and better keep quiet for
deys advertised We and is looking for ye."
Several times on the road they came near being
taken, and when near Tappahannock, on the
Rappahannock river they had quite a lively
time OF it. They reached that place on the
morning of the 21st, and We're discovered near
a fodder house.
1t appears that company of rebel cavalry
in the vicinity had been stealing fodder from
a stack, the owner of which set a slave to
guard it. Col. S. and party not knowing this
fact, went to the stack to get fodder to make a
led, and were discovered by the negro, who
gave the alarm, and as soon as day broke the
whole country was aroused, ana the party
were hunted by cavalry, militia, and slaves
with dogs, but fortunately they were in a
country Astounding in swamps and hills, over
and through which they were chased unsuc-
cessfully. The dogs could not track them
through the water of the swamps, and the
briers were so thick that Col. S says even if
dog had essayed to follow them his hide would
have been scratched off.
After being hunted nearly the entire day,
their pursuers gave up the chase or got on
wrong trail, and the four went back in the
country, where they found boat in a creek
about five miles from the river, which they
took, and making their way down, crossed the
river. Here they resumed their travels and
reached the Potomac on "Wednesday night, but
there was some Is or IS rebel soldiers in the
vicinity who very nearly captured them as
they were attempting to cross the river on
the following night.
The next night these soldiers guarded the
river, and no attempt was made, but on Sat
urday the prisoners made their way up the
country and crossed the river to Blackiston's
Island, from whence on Sunday morning they
hailed the steamer Ella having on board Com.
Parker and under the command of Acting Mas
ter Mcconnell, by whom they were taken on
board and handsomely enter tanned, and they
reached here about 10 o'clock this morning.
For prudential reasons, they do not give any
details OF their escape, fearing the publication
may injure some of their friends. They relate
enough however, TO satisfy any one that even
in Richmond there many good Union men.
The various statements to the effect that Col
StreiFht had arrived at Fortress Monroe, pub
lished heretofore, are not correct and perhaps
were intended blinds for rebel eyes, and
this is the first information of his actual arri-
val within the Union lines.
Major Mcdonald, who appears to be one of
the principals in the tHnneling operation
brings with i'm the Identical piece of chise
with which the tunnel was cut out.
The parties Were twelve entire days in get
ting from Richmond to the Potomac.