Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-03-03
THE ESCAPED UNION OFFICERS.
ArrivaI of Caioasi sireight.

Arrival of Caioael Streight.
Fifty-two of the Union officers who es-
capped from Libby Prison have now ar
rived within our lines. The latest arri-
walls are:
Colonel Streight.
Colonel Charles W. Tilden, 10th
Maine.
Major J. II. Hooper, 18th Massachu-
sets
Captain b. +. Fisher, Chief of Signal
Corps, Army of the Potomac.
Captain ii. b. Chamberlain, 81 New
York.
Lieutenant Randolph, 9Th United States
Artillery.
Col Strcight was announced as among
the first who arrived two weeks ago; but
we were informed ut the time that this an
nouncement was a ruse, to throw the rebels
off the scent. Col. Strcightwas twelve days
in making his way through. The follow
ing account is given of his adventures:
Colonel Streight knew nothing of the
digging of the tunnel until few days
before it was finished He was the fifth
to 90 out, and it was ght squeeze-the
Colonel is somewhat aldermanic in figure
but he managed to get out Dressed
in citizens clothes, and his haversack well
stuffed with dried beef, tongue and crack
ers, he essayed adicu to Rebellion. PurA
suant to previous agreement that they
should keep separated as much as possible
he started in company with Capt. Cham
berain. 1t was about 8 p. NJ, when he
left the prison. Passing up Canal street
about 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 a good many; but they did so with
out exciting suspicion.
Going by the Notifications, they saw
no one. Taking northcasterly course,
they continued their journey, proceeding
slowly and cautiously, of course, until
four o'clock A. NJ, when they halted in
dense wood close by the Chickahominy
swamps, and remained the next day.
Several times during the day squads of
Rebels sent in search of the missing pris-
oners passed close by them, but happily
without discovering their place Of con-
ecalmcnt At dark they started again on
their journey, crossing the Chickahominy
on fallen tree, and as good luck would
have it. cncountering no pickets.-
They got into terrible thicket, and
this night 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
poetical 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 strik-
ing for the Pamunkey river. The de-
tours they had to make to keep themselves
under cover of the woods, and swamps to
traverse, made the journey slow, and day
light only found them midway between
the Chickahominy and Pamunkey. The
next day they passed in swamp. Rebel
scouts were still prowling about: but they
lay low and quiet, and we were not discov-
cred. They suffered greatly from cold.
Next night they reached the Pamunkey,
near Pipcrs 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
degree of GOODNESS making swimming it
an mpossbilty-wasn now the question,
and it was difficult one to solve.
Thus far they had abstained from COM
ing in contact with any one, white Or black.
They were compelled to call in contra
band assistance, 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. This
negro turned them over to another negro
who piloted them fifteen miles down the
opposite bank of the river. AS good
many of the Rebel soldiers, and particu-
larry the cavalry living in this vicinity
and Gloucester county, were home Oh
furloughs, they still had to move with ex-
cecding caution. But the kindness Of
the negroes saved them from capture
lDcy WCIc pTouSut uoWh W loih iaiNoi
and set across by skitl at Bigclow's Ian
ding. From here they went down the
river, passing West Point in daylight.
Here, seeing no one save negro soldiers
on picket was the first positive assurance
of reaching our lines. After the trying
ordeal they had gone through, it was
deenly gratifying to see the Stars and
Stripes again It Williamsburg, which
they reached in twelve days and one hour
from the time of leaving hiv.:mond.-l
They were kindly taken care of by Major |
Wheeling, Provost Marshal From here
they were removed in ambulances. They
took their journey now to the camp of the
First New York Mounted Rifles, where
Lieutenant Col Patten and all the officers
and men We'd in acts of kindness to them
They remained there from Monday noon
until Tuesday evening, when they were
brought to Yorktown, and thence came
as stated, by steamer to Fortress Monroe.