Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-07-02
From the Wisconsin State Journal
Remarkable Escape of Lieut.. Col. johnson, Of
the 18th Wisconsin.

From the Wisconsin State Journal.
Remarkable Escape Of Lieut.. Col. johnson, of
the 18th Wisconsin. 10:
We had the qualification of meeting Lieut..
COL JOHNSON, of the 18th Wisconsin, in our
sanctum this morning
COL JOHNSON was taken prisoner at Chick
amauga last fall, and spent the winter and
spring in Libby Prison at Richmond.
After Gen. BUFFERS force landed south of
Richmond, the rebels began removing the
prisoners south. Col. JOHNSON was among a
lot sent on the 18th of May to Danville. At
ter remaining there a few days he, with
large number of others, was taken to Green's
boro, in South Carolina, put on train and
started southwark. This was on the 18th of
May. That evening as the train stopped to
take on wood at a station in South Carolina,
COL JOHNSON, Capt. HoNEYCUTT and Lieut..
ROGERS, of the I'd East Tennessee regiment,
effected their escape through hole in the
floor of the car. A guard was standing near
by them and saw Capt. HoNEYcUTT as he was
bending down to get through the hole. He
supposed, however, that he was lying down,
and his attention was diverted by the other
prisoners who talked with him while the
three effected their escape. They first thought
of lying down on the road bed, but feared
the brakes were so low they would be hit by
them. They therefore resolved to take their
chances of running, but as the one in advance
ha inst
a man. Fortunately it proved to be negro
who, after a sudden exclamation of surprise,
apparently comprehended the nature of their
situation, and passed on without paying them
any further attention. They were, however,
so much startled by the occurrence that they
returned under the cars. The bed of the
road was sand. They got between the ties,
scooped out the sand as much as they could,
lay on their backs, taking up the least posi-
BILE space and took their chances! Some
seven or eight freight cars passed over them,
the brakes coming so close as to scrape the
buttons off Col. JoHNsoN's coat A guard on
the rear car saw them, but, they suppose,
thought them dead. The alarm, however,
was raised, and the train began to slack up,
when the fugitives took to their heels. They
were fred after but not hit, and soon hid
themselves in the woods near at hand.
They had with them small piece of corn
bread the size of mans fist, and about a
pound of dried apples. This was all the food
they had for five days and nights. They
travelled toward the northwest at night. On
the fifth night, hunger so far overcame their
fears that they went to negro house, and
there were Hospitality received, fed with
corn bread, bacon and eggs, and their haver-
sacks filed. They found the negroes invaria::
bly, friendly and faithful. Col. j. says they
trusted no white man until his character had
first been endorsed by a negro. They
stopped at the residence of one white man in
South Carolina who was loyal to the core,
who fed them beautifully, and gave them val
liable information and advice in regard to
their journey. Thus they proceeded, travel
ing by night, and avoiding settlements as
much as possible, through North Carolina and
across the mountains into East Tennessee,
coming into our lines at Strawberry Plains
on the 10th of June, after traversing nearly
three hundred miles of the enemy's country.
They saw many loyal white men and women,
as well as black, and encountered many in
teresting adventures. reL ft
Col. JOHNSON has promised to write us
sketch of their experiences, which will be full
vr interest, as they passed through a region
of country not yet penetrated by our armies.
In Washington county, Tenn, they fell in
with three other refugees like themselves,
two belonging to Indiana regiments and the
other one GEO. VERHAAsEN of the oath Wis
consin. These prisoners had escaped from
Richmond and had staid four months conceal
ed and protected by loyal citizens in Guilford
county, North Carolina.
Col JoHNsoN's privations and trials have
told very little upon him. He is in excellent
health, and looks good for many more cam
paigns. Capt. HoNEYCUTr will be remembered
as the writer of letter, widely published, to
Mrs. LINCOLN, asking her to send him a box
of provisions at Libby Prison. He is now
where he can get his regular rations.
tf-s~-st rs
WAR-vEssELs IN THE NORTHERN LAKEs.-In
1917 treaty was made between the United
States and Great Britain to the following
effect: That-neither power should maintain
naval force upon Northern Lakes, except that
each might have one vessel of not more than
100 tons, and armed with one 1S-pound gun,
on Lake Ontario and the same on Lake Cham
plain, and two vessels of like tonnage and ar
mament on the upper lakes. This treaty was
liable to discontinuance after the specified
time, upon six months notice by either par
ty. thereto. The House Naval Committee.
have instructed their chairman, Mr.. Rice, to
report joint resolution proposing that the
United States shall now give that notice.