The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-24
.A0eAas AIT si aO

,Aboute O'Clock in the evening of the 9tb
inst, che prisoners started out. They di'
vided themselves into equals Of two, three
and four, and pushed for the Union lines -
The apurtares was 80 narrow that but one
man could get through at time, and each
squad carried with them provisions in q
hayersack. Many Of them were dresser in
citizens dress, and as all the rebel guards
wear the United States uniform, but little
suspicion conldibe excited even il the iugi'
tiyes had been accosted by the guard.
Once out they proceeded up% the street
keeping in the shade of the buildings, and
passed eastwardly through the city. go
! A description of the route passued by
this party and of the tribulations through
which they passed, will give some idea Of
the rough time they all had of Colonel
Kendrick klhad beforsleasing the prison map
ped out his course, and concluded that the
best route TO take was the one toward Nor
folk or Fortress Monroe, as there were fewer
rebel pickets in that direction. They there
fore kept the York River Railroad to the
left andimoved toward the Chickahominy
River They passed through Boar Swamp,
and, crossed the road leading to Bottom
Bridge. Sometimes they waded through
mud and water almost up to their necks,
and kept the Bottom Bridge Road to their
left, although at times they could see and
hearthe cars travelling over the York River
Road. "a ioi- -'v -.-., --., ..t
While lassipg through the swamp near
the Chickahomipy, Col. Kendrick sprained
his ankle and fell. Fortunate, too, for him
and his party was that fall, for while he was
living there one Of them CHANGED to look up
and saw in direct line with them swamp
bridge, and In the dim outline they could
perceive that parties with muskets were
passing over the bridge. They therefore
moved some distance to tho south, and af
ter passing through more of the swamp,
reached the Chickahominy about four miles
below Bottom Bridge. Here now was a
difficulty. The river was only 20 feet wide,
but 1t was very deep, and the refugees were
worn out. CHANGING however, to look up.
Lieut.. Bradford saw that two trees had
fallen on either side of the river, and that
their branches were interlocked. By crawl.
ing up one tree and down the other, they
reached the east bank Of the Chickahominy
and Col Kendrick could hot help remark
ing that he believed Providence was on
their side, else they would not have met
that natural bridge.
h Fhey subsequently, learned from negro,
that had they crossed the bridge they had
seen, they would assuredty have been cap
tursd, for Gen. Turner, the keeper of Libby
Prison, had been out and posted guards
there, and, in fact, had alarmed the whole
country, and got the people up as vigi
lance committee to capture the escaped
prisoners.
After crossing over this natural bridge,
they laid down on the ground and slept un-
til sunrise on the morning of the llth.
when they continued on their way, keep.
ing eastwardly as near as they could. Upto
this time they had had nothing to eat, and
were almost famished About noon, on the
18th, they met several negroes, who gave
them information as to the Whereabouts Of
the rebel pickets, and furnished them with
food. a..
q Acting under the advice Of these negroes
they remained quietly in the woods until
darkness set ia, when they were furnished
with comfortable supper by the negroes,
and, after dark, proceeded on their way,
the negroes (who everywhere showed their
friendship to the fugitives) having first di-
rected them how to avoid the rebel plckets.
That night they passed camp Of rebels
and could plainly see the smoke and camp
fire. But their wearied feet gave out, and
they were compelled to stop and rest, hay.
ing only marched five miles that dav.
They started at daylight on tho 18th and
after moving awhile through the woods,
they saw negro woman working in field
and called her to them, and from her re-.
ceived directions, and were told that the
rebel pickets had been about there looking
for the fugitives from Libby. Here they
laid low again, aud resumed their journey
when darkness set in, and marched five
miles, but halted till the morning of the
18th, when their journey was resumed.
When about fifteen miles from Williams.
burg the party came upon the main road,
and found the tracks of large body Of
cavalry. A piece jof paper found by Cap
Jones satisfied him that they were Union
cavalry; but his companions we're suspicious
and avoided the road, and moved forward.
and at the Burnt Ordinary" (about ten
miles from williamsburg awaited the re-
turn of the cavalry that had moved up the
road, and from behind fence-corner where
seoreted, the fugitivcs saw the flag OF the
Union supported by squad of cavalry,
which proved to be a detachment of Col.
Spears llth Pennsylvania Regiment, sent
out for the purpose of picking up escaped
prisoners. Colonel Kendrick says his feel
ings at seeing the old flag are indescribable.
The party rode into Williamsburg with
the cavalry, where they were quartered for
the night, and where they found eleven
Others who had escaped safely. Col Spear
and his command furnished the officers with
clothing and other necessaries.