Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-03-09
Narrative Of the Escape Of Col.
Strefght.

The following Is an account of the thrill
ling escape of Colonel Streight, whom the
rebels detained with so much vigor.
But the day of liberation from prison
approached for Col. Streight. He knew
nothing of the digging of the t;1nnel until
few days before it was finished. He
was the fifth to go out, and it was q tight
squeeze-the Colonel is somewhat alder
manic III figure-but he managed to get
out. Dressed in citizens clothes, and his
haversack well stuffed with dried beef,
tongue, and crackers, he essayed an
sdieu to rebeldom. Pursuant to previous
| agreement that they should keep separa-
rated as much as possible, he started in
| company with Captain Chamberlain. 1t
was about 9 P. NJ. when he left the prison.
Passing up Canal street two squares, they
turned to the left and went into Second
street, thence going to the right and
keeping on the east side of the town.
At this early hour in the evening it was
impossible not to meet and pass good
many; but they did so without exciting
suspicion. Going by the Qualifications,
they saw no one. Taking a northeaster-
ly course, they continued their journey,
proceeding slowly and cautiously, of
NItAAoNF 0AAlA4 \ A. Ne NiCA4 NuCN IdAlEu III
dense wood close by the Chichahominy
swamps, and remained the next day
Several times during the day squads OF
rebels, out III search of the missing pris-
Oners, passed close by them, bat happily
without discovering their place Of con-
cealment. At dsrk they started again on
their journey, crossing the eChickahominy
on fallen tree, and, as good luck would
have 1t, encountering no pickets. They
got into a terrible thicket, and thienight
accomplished only FIVE miles. They lay
in this thicket all the second day, and
the frequent firing of guns about them
materially dissipated whatever of poetic
al enjoyment they might otherwise have
derived from their wilderness lodge
Thus far they had slept but little in the
day but nevertheless on the third night
they made another start. now striking for
the Pamunkey river. The detours they
had TO make to keep themselves under
cover Of the woods, and swamps 20 trav-
erse, made the journey slow, and day
light only found them midway between
the Chickahominy and Pamunkey. The
next day they passed in a swamp. They
suffered greatly from cold. Next night
they reached the Pamunkey, near Piper's
ferry, and some ten miles above the
White House. How to get across the
river-which here, although not very
wide, is deep and dangerous, and the
weather meantime had reached a degree
of GOODNESS making swimming an impos-
sibility-was now the question, and it,
was difficult one to solve. Thus far
they had abstained from coming in con-
tact with any one, white or black. They
were compelled TO call in contraband as
sistance, and in accomplishing this were
four days. At length they got negro,
and the negro got boat, and in this way
they got across the river. And now good
fortune smiled on them. The negro
turned them over to another negro, who
piloted them fifteen miles down the op-
posite bank of the river. As good many
OF the rebel soldiers, and particularly the
cavalry living in this vicinity and Glou-
cester county, were home on furlouehs,
they still had to move with exceeding
caution. But the kindness of the ne
groes saved them from capture. They
were brought down to York river and set
across by skiff at Biglow's Landing
From here they went down the river,
passing West Point in daylight. Here,
seeing no one save negro SOluleIS Oh 'iCA-
ct, was the first positive assurance of
reaching our lines. After the trying or
deal they had gone through it was deeply
gratifying TO see the stars and stripes
again at Williamsburg, which they reach
ed in II days and one hour from the time
of leaving Richmond.
The stories of the remaining prisoners
are likewise full of thrilling interest, al
though in substance similar to that of
Colonel Streight.
The North star and negroes were their
guides, and love of liberty was their sup
port and sustenance.