Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1864-08-03
ESCAPE FROM THE REBELS.

rebels, who were taking him south to Ma
con, Ca. on the lst of July, and reached
Washington on the 2Sth. and got leave Of
absence for 20 days, and arrived home. in
Cambridge, on the 5lst. He gave us a
call on Monday. while on his way to see
his friends in Morrisville.
The railroad south Of Richmond being
destroyed by our forces, the prisoners to
be sent to Georgia were taken short
distance west, on the Lynchburgh road.
and then marched across the country to
reach the road running south, the Rich
mond and Weldon road. On this march
Capt Stafford, with lst. Lieut.. E. F. Girls
void, of Co. L. from st Johnsbury, and
I'd Lieut.. A. g. Fleury, 70. X. from Isle
LaMotte managed to slip away from the
guard, which consisted of that kind Of
troops called reserves, made up of old
men and boys. They had just crossed
Staunton River. one Of the tributaries OF
the Roanoke and were resting for short
time. The guards as we'll as the prison
ers were very much fatigued-the guards
especially being in no condition for very
active operations. The Captain took a
cup and pretended to go after water, but
managed to step behind some bushes,
wade the river, and hide on the opposite
side.
Being out of immediate control of their
captors, the next move to be considered
was how to reach friendly forces, and not
wishing to incur the risk of capture in
the direction of Petersburgh, and expect
ing to find Union troops in Lewisburgh,
in Western Virginia, they started in that
direction across the Allegheny Mountains.
At Millboro. among the mountains on
the 10th, they were seen by some Coufed-
crate soldiers acting as provost guard, and
fred upon. They Immediately separated
each one to take care for himse and
Captain Stafford has not seen his compan.
ions since. Lieut.. Fleury, however, he
learned got into our lines the day before
himself Lieut. Griswold, he learned from
some Of the citizens, was not wounded. as
they had seen some of the guard, who said
they fred upon some Yankees, but did
not hit or capture any of them. Stafford
first reached our lines at Beverly Court
House, in Randolph County. on the 23d
Communication with Washington by the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad being inter
ruptsd. he kept on in northerly direction
till BIO struck the Pennsylvania Railroad
and proceeded to Washington by way Of
Harrisburgh and Philadelphia. reaching
Washington on the 2Sth.
The Captain was in the hands Of the
rebels eight days. While in Richmond
he was quartered at Libby prison. Hi
daily ration consisted of piece Of bread
about two inches square by four in length
piece Of bacon about as big as his two
fingers, and third of pint Of bear
soup-just enough to keep soul and body
together. Others, he learned, had th,
same fare.
Through the rebel country he passed
he did not see an able bodied mai
under 6fty-6ve years of age, nor DO.
over sixteen. He inquired where the met
were. and was told they we're in the army
Among the mountains lie saw grea
many descrters. They skulk about, ant
live upon little corp neal which the,
manage to get from their families, which
usually live in the neighborhood, ant
what game they can shoot. He cam
across some union people. but they ar
obliged to keep still, though hoping tn
rebellion will be subdued before long
The people generally are tired Of the wal
and willing to have it ended on any terms
Agents of the Confederate Goverumen
had been in that part of the country. &C
tnally begging of the people to contribut
as they were able to the support Of til
army, asking them to give a little if the
could do no more, as the soldiers ma,
have food, or they would starve. He sa,
appeals to the same effect in the papers q
that section. Judging from what he sa,
and heard. be don't believe that to saw
their souls, the leaders of the rebellio