The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-03-12

guards there, and in fact had alarmed the
whole country, and got the people up as
vigilance 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 IItb, when
they continued on their way, keeping east
wardly as near as they could. Up to this
time they had nothing to eat, and were al
most furnished About noon of the 1Ith
they met several negroes, who gave them
information as to the whereabouts of the
Rebel Pickets, and furnished them with
fo0a
Acting under the advice of these friendly
negroes, they remained quietly in the woods
until darkness had set in, 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 directed them how to avoid the Rebel
pickets. That night they passed camp
of Rebels, and could plainly see the smoke
and camp fires. But their wearied feet gave
out, and they were compelled to stop and
rest, having only marched five miles that
day.
They started again at daylight on the 18th,
and after moving awhile through the woods
they saw a negro woman working in field
and called her to them, and from her receiv-
| ed directions, and were told that the Rebel
pickets had been about there looking for
the fugitiYes from Libby. Here they laid
low again, and resumed their journey when
darkness set in, and marched five miles,
but halted until the morning of the 18th,
nh ba rroo ropunaad
At one point they met negro in the field,
and she told them that her mistress was a
Seccsh woman, and that she had son in
exec edingly hungry, and they determined
boldly approaching the house and inform
ing the mistress that they were fugitives
from Norfolk, who had been driven out by
Butler; and the Secesh sympathies of the
woman were at once aroused, and she gave
them of her substance, and started them on
their way with directions how to avoid the
Yankee soldiers, who occasionally secuted
In that vicinity. This information was ex- !
ceedingly valuable to the refugees, for by
it they discovered the whereabouts of the |
Union forces.
When about fifteen miles from Williams
hHA " ING parry SaL4O uDOA LILO maui ECau,
and found the tracks of large body of cav
airy. A piece of paper found by Capt. |
Jones satisfied him that they were Union |
cavalry; but his companions were suspi-
cious, and avoided the road and moved for
ward, and at the Burnt Ordinary" (about
ten miles from williamsburg awaited the
return of the cavalry that had moved up
the road, and from behind a fence corner |
nh uara CaorntoJ 30 -
the flag of the Union, supported BY a squad
ron of cavalry, which proved to be a de-
tachment of Col. Spears Eleventh Penn
sylvania regiment, sent out for the purpose
of picking up escaped prisoners. Col Ken
drick says his feelings at seeing the old flag
are Undesirable.
The party rode into Williamsburg with
the cavalry, where they were quartered for
the night, and where they found eleven 9TH
ers who had escaped safely. Col. Spear
and his command furnished the officers with
clothing and other necessaries.
At all points along the route the fugi-
tives describe their reception by the negroes
as most enthusiastic, and there was no lack
of white people who sympathized with them
and helped them on their way.
From these officers we learn that there is
a wide spread Union feeling in Richmond.
JEFF. Davis is held in detestation, but all +
who do not heartily indorse the Rebel Gov
eminent are spotted and watched. There
are at this time eighteen persons confined
in Castle Thunder on charges of attempts
to assassinate the Rebel President. These
prisoners also confirm the report that an at
tempt was made to burn Jeff.'s mansion,
and that one morning his servants found
coffin upon his porch.
In their escape the officers were aided by
citizens Of Richmond-not foreigners or
the poor classes only, but by natives and
persons of wealth. They know their friends
there hut very rrnrnrly v-itLL0id auy Iu1u-
ton of their names. Ofthose who got out
of Libby there were a number of sick ones,
who were cared for by Union people, and
will eventually reach the Union lines
through their aid.
The officers also report the fact that Some !,
time ego, through the aid of citizens, they
obtained communication with the soldiers
on Belle Island, and there was to be con-
certed movement to escape. The soldiers /
had been furnished with arms, which they Il
had secreted. The officers at Libby were
to secure the guards there and in concert
with the Belle Island men; but, just as the
affair was ready to be carried into execution,
the project was exposed. Suspicion at once
rested upon certain Union Lieutenant
Colonel, who was in favor with the Rebel
authorities, had the freedom of the city, and
moved about at will in the hospitals and
elsewhere. He had been suspected for
some time, and one day was accused Of ex-
posing the affair.
The indignation of the officers whose
plans had thus been thwarted through the
perfdy Of las they believed) one of their
number, cannot be described. Some cried
ont Ill.,. lii hnrc. liz - Il