The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1864-03-17
Narrative Of an Escaped Prisoner,

!, IHrouSH Cne klndneSS or Mr.. Hiram
d Brink we had the privilege and pleasure
at his residence, on Saturday last, of talk
: ing with one of the Union officers who's
, recent remarkable escape from the Libb,
$ Prison at Richmond, has excited so muci
interest throughout the country-throw
ingt he rebel John Morgan's exploits
f entirely in the shade We allude tc
: Captain Charles Roman, of the 9Sth Hi
nois Volunteers, who was on his way
West to visit his friends, intending after
the expiration of thirty days furlough
to rejoin his regiment.
Capt. Il. is an unassuming, modest, in
telligent young man, not yet twenty five
we should judge. Although looking
quite well, and rapidly improving, he has
not recovered from the effects of his re-
cent terrible hardships and exposures
We have no time, nor space, to give the
many interesting and thrilling incidents
narrated by this gallant officer, and can
only briefly allude to them.
He was captured on the 10Th of last
September, at the battle of Chickamauga,
while acting as aid to General Whitaker
falling into an ambuscade while recon
noitering the enemy's position. His
chivalric captors very coolly stripped him
of hat, coat and boots-or rather ex-
changed the latter for an old pair of bad
ly worn shoes. They also confscated his
watch and money, except portion of it
which he dextrously managed to slip from
his wallet They strongly threatened to
hang him to the nearest tree, unless he
would reveal the position of our troops
but he refused to give them the informa-
tion. He, with the other prisoners, was
in great peril, during the progress of the
battle, from the frequent shells sent from
our side After the battle the prisoners
were put in freight cars, and started for
Atlanta. Watching his opportunity, he
jumped from the train while in motion,
and made for the woods, and endeavored
to retrace his way towards the lines of
the Union army. Becoming nearly
starved, and very much exhausted, he
made his way to slave cabin, trusting
TO find true find true friends, who would
render him assistance. Nor was he dis
appointed. With an unerring instinct,
he was recognized by its occupants as
Union soldier-was refreshed and fed,
furnished with dilapidated hat, part of
blanket, and pair of butternut colored
Confederate pantaloons, and sent on his
vay rejoicing. And here, for the benefit
f our Copperhead negro hating friends,
We will record that while Captain r. a.
oided the white inhabitants during all
lis journeyings, he always implicitly trus-
ed the negro slaves, and never once had
is trust betrayed.
He had not proceeded far, before he
card to his horror, at a distance, the bay
f blood-hounds which had been put up
n his track. sThis somewhat accelerated
is steps, and coming upon negro chop {
ing wood, the slave suggested an expe-
lent for turning the hounds from the +
cent. Quickly breaking off quantity
f pine boughs, he rubbed the soles of
is shoes with them, and scattered them
lickly about, telling Capt. r. to trample
n them, and then push off in another a
irection that when the dogs came to the v
Dot, they would probably lose his track, |
nd would very likely get on his (the ne b
ro's) trail and follow him-but being f
ear his cabin, he could reach it before f
s could be overtaken. A bloodhound Q
such has been it's training-when pur-
ling white man, if the trail has been
ossed, even at right angles, by negro,
i'll leave the first and go after the lat
Capt. r had not proceeded far before tt
, heard, from their peculiar yelping, that II
re dogs had lost the scent of their prey. O.
wo of the pack probably took after the
gro but very soon he heard the third
ming in his direction. Coming up
ith him the savage beast attempted to
eze him, but only succeeded in grabbing
e leg of his pantaloons. Having a
out, but fortunate blow he stunned 81
e hound, and by repeated blows soon
spatched it. Fearing the other dogs
ight again find the trial, he did not stop h
bury or scalp his dead rebel assailant. p1
1shing towards our lines, becoming W
arly famished, he stopped at house hi
d asked for food. Being taken for
the occupants were prepar-
g meal for him; but during the prep cl
alton, he discovered three rebel patrols lc
ming up the road. He attempted to al
cape, but being discovered and overta- OF
n, he gave himself up-just week at
escaping from the cars.
He was then taken to Richmond, and SIT
in Libby Prison, where he pc
s nearly starved, until the rebel au nc
critics allowed the prisoners to receive
xes from home; after this they Jared
city we'll until recently, the rebels now