Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-09-09
(PUBLIsHEp BIZ REorEsrN

AGuIesSee, COMMENCING ABOUT lulS llule last
year, and closing after the seige of Knoxville
in the latter part of November, was one oi
| the most actively prosecuted, and upon the
whole, well managed, Of any during the war.
With force not at any time exceeding 20,-
600 men, a large portion of country was sue
cessfuIly occupied and its advantages held
| from the rebels for long period, aud the ut
| most efforts of the enemy, under the leader
ship of one of their very best Generals, to
dislodge cur army, was finally disastrOusly re-
pulsed, and the important position held and
secured to the Union.
But the campaign had its blunders, and to
one of these we are indebted for what we
shall directly relate. This blunder consisted
10 the sending cut upon an expedition from
Knoxville to Jonesboro, by order of Col. f os-
| ter, commanding a brigade of mounted in
fsntry, detachment Of the Tooth Ohio Regi-
ment, less than three hundred in number,
through the enemy's country, and in the very
face OF army of seven or eight thousand,
that had only a short time previous been
driven from Knoxville.
This detachment started upon the expedi-
tion to Jonesboro on the 8th day of Septem-
Der, and for a considerable distance found no
enemy, though as the sequel proved, the enc
my were all about them. Arrived at TilfOrd
Station, however, they found force, appar-
emily in waiting for them, of some six or
eight hundred, and sharp fight ensued, last
ing for several hours, in which the rebels were
handsomely whipped and made precipitate
retreat. The little Federal force went on in
pursuit, and was permitted to quietly drop
down at Limestone Station, where it was lit
orally surrounded by a force of several thous-
aad, and after an Intellectual struggle, 238 men
and l6 officers were taken prisoners, among
The latter Captain W. W. Hunt and Lieut
Jaquett, of Co. E, Tooth o. v l., about 20,
perhaps, ont of the entire detachment, max
ing their escape. No time was lost by the
rebels 10 removing their captives to that hell
0 the Federal prisoner, Libby; and in a few
days the entire force was quartered in the pes
tilential dungeons of that never to- -be-forgot-
ten prison.
There was nothing especially remarkable
during their stay in Libby Prison different
from what has been related so often. The
great study of every prisoner is to devise
means to escape; and the newly-made captives
directed their first thoughts to this end. On
one occasion, Capt. Hunt and four of his fel-
lew officers succeeded in so far influencing one
Of the guards as to be permitted to pass him,
and effort made to get out, but the
party was halted by the second sentinel, and
beat hasty retreat to their cell.
But their entire prison life was not to be
spent in Libby; and the appearance of Gen.
Buffers army almost at the gates of Rich
mond early in the spring, with the prospect OF
Grant not being much behind him, suggested
the necessity of removing the Federal officers
TO more secure position. Accordingly on
the 5ih of May last, the drum beat a wild
alarm through the halls of Libby, and an Or
der was read to the prisoners, notifying them
to be prepared for removal at two o'clock 10
the morning of the 9th. Shortly after the
hour named the prisoners were all ready, and
before daylight were on board the ca:s-stock
cars, many of which had not been ceansed since
the cattle had been removed, and 60 or 40 pris-
oners were huddled into each csT-and en-
route to Macon, Ga. On the following day
they arrived al Danville, and here made
stay of two or three days, when they again
started for Macon, arriving at the latter place
on the 10th of May.
Along this route, Capt Hunt, whose pur-
pose to escape became more determined with
every mile he penetrated rebel territory, made
another effort to gain his liberty. 10 this end
he bad cut large hole in the rear Of the car
be was in, using a saw made of case-knife,
and between Augusta and Macon, be and
Capt. Blair crawlsd out of the hole unob-
served, and started across the country with
view 10 making Sherman's lines. They trAv-
elled FIVE days and nights-chiefy during the
highland made about seventy miles of their
route, passing through swamps, over marshes,
and through briars and underbrush, finally
striking the Augusta and Atlanta Railroad,
at Warreuton, Ga. Here their fondest hopes
were doomed to be blasted. Some rebel sol
diers-home guards-had learned of their
presence ia the vicinity and went in pursuit
of them with those terrible aids of the South
ern -bloodhounds, Capts Hunt
and Blair discovered their pursuers, and re-
treating into the woods, hid in the thick
underbrush, but their case was hopeless, aud
when an opportunity offered, to save them
selves from the dogs, who would have torn
them to pieces they surrendered themselves to
the soldiers. This, as may be imagined, was
terrible blow to them, but they were stout heart
eu Ileo NQQ lLelF nope uiu uOL lOIeahO bHSiH'
They were at once taken back to Augusta,
and from there directly to Macon. At Macon
they found from SEQ to 900 Union officers, and
this number was 10 few weeks increased to
l 200. They were "droved," so to speak, in
a large field, with rough sheds to shield them
from the weather, which they themselves had
built They, however, had better food aud
water than at Libby, and were generally more
comfortable.
There was nothing of special interest trans
pired here until the 29th Of July, when an
order came for the removal Of six hundred Of
the prisoners to Charleston; probably to be
placed under the FIRE Of the Federal guns
Accordingly the number designated were got
ready and started for their new destination.-
Here was presented to Captain Hunt an
other opportunity to make an effort Tor his
liberty, and he set to work to take advantage
of it. During the evening he communicated
his design to Lieutenant Jaquette, who al
once Joined him, though much reduced in
strength by long period OF sickness that
weuld have deferred almost any other man
from undertaking so perilous an adventure
A third officer was also taken into the ss-
cres and WAS to have accompanied them, but
at the fiual moment failed.
About midnight Captain Hunt and Lieuten-
ant Jaquett took position at the door of the
car to watch a favorable place upon which to
! Jump. Tho guards, seven in number, had
fallen nsleep and the train was moving lazilY