The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-03-11
dflistellal1epus.
The Escape from Richmond.


ming, contains long account of tho escape
Of the Union prisoners who have just reached
Washington from Richmond. Alter exca.
waiting the tunnel, which has been already
described, their operations were as follows !:
About half past eight o'clock on the evening
OF the 9th. the prisoners started out, Col. Rose.
Of New York, leading the van. Before starting.
the prisoners had divided themselves into squads
Of two, three and four, and each squad was to
take different route, and after they were out
to push for the Union lines as fast as possible.
II was the understanding that the working par
ty was TO have an hours start OF the other pris
oners, and consequently, the rope ladder In the
cellar was drawn out Before the expiration
OF the hour, however, the other prisoners be.
came impatient, and were let down through the
chimney successfully into the cellar.
COMING INTO THE LIGHT. 90
Col. w: ?. Kendrick. Of West Tennessee,
Cap:. ID. J. Jones, of the lst Kentucky cavalry,
and Lieut.. r. Y. Bradford, of the ID West Ten
nessee. were detailed rs n rear guard, or rather
to go out at last. and from q window Col. Ken
drick and his companions could see the fugitiyes
walk out Of a gate Mt the other end Of the en-
closure OF the carriage house, and fearlessly
move of. The aperture was 80 narrow that but
ono man could get through ut time, and each
squad carried with them provisions in hayer-
sack. AT midnight false alarm was created,
and the prisoners made considerable noise in
getting to their respective quarters. Proyiden-
TALLY, however, the guard suspected nothing
wrong. and in few minutes the exodus was
again commenced. Col. Kendrick and his COM
panions looked with some trepldation upon the
movements OF the fugitiyes, as some of them,
exercising but little discretion, moved boldly
out Of the enclosure into the glare OF the gas
light. Many Of them were, however, in oiti-
zens' dress, and as all the rebel guards wore tho
United States uniform, but little suspicion could
be excited, even ifthe fugitivcs had been accost-
ed by guard. .a.
"uALr.pAsr TWO AND ALL's WELL"
Between one and two o'clock the lamps were
cxtingushed IN the streets, and then the exit
was most safely accomplished. There were
many officers who desired to leave, who were
so weak and feeble that they were dragged
through the tunnel by main force, and carried
to places Of safety, until such time as they would
be able TO move on their journey. At u O'Clock,
Capt. Jones, Col. Kendiick, and Lieut. Brad
forl passed out in the order in which they are
named. and as Col. Kendrick emerged from the
hole, he heard the guard within a few feet Of
him sing out, "Post No. 4. hall. past two in the
morning and all's WELL" Col X. says he could
Etobt tut tculptoiou VI cuyiuSs hot ~
we'll rs you think. except for the Yanks." 1t
Bradford was entrusted with provisions for the
squad, and in getting through he was obliged
10 leave his haversack behind him, rs he could
not get through with II upon him.
Once out they proceeded up the street, keep.
ing in the shade of the buildings, and passed
castwardly through the city.
EXPERIENCE or THE PARTY.
Col. X. had. before leaving the prison, map
ped out his course, and concluded that the best
route to take was the one toward Norfolk or
Fortress Monroe, as there were fewer rebel
pickets In that direction. They therefore kept
toward the Chickahominy River. They passed
through Boar swamp, and crossed the road
leading to Bottom Bridge. Sometimes they
waded through mud and water almost up to
their necks, and kept the Bottom Bridge road
TO their left, although ut times they could see
and hear the cars travelling over the York river
road.
While passing through the swamp near the
Chickahominy. Col. Kendrick sprained his au-
kle and fell. Fortunate, too, was that for him
and his party, for while he was lying there, one
of them chancei to look up, and saw In direct
line with them a swamp bridge, and In the dim
outline they could perceive that parties with
muskets were passing over the bridge. They,
therefore, novel some distance to the south,
and after passing through moro Of the swamp,
reached the Chickahominy about four miles be-
low Bottom Bridge. Hereno was difficulty.
The river was only twenty feet wide, but 1t was
very deep, and the refugees we're worn out and
htgued Cnsncing, however, TO look mp, 1t
Bradford saw that two trees had fallen on eth
er side Of the river and that their branches were
interlooked. BY crawling up one tree and down
the other, the fugitves reached the east bank
of the Chickahominy, and Col. Kcndrick could
not help remarking that he believed Providence
was on their side. else they would not have met
that natural bridge.
They subsequently, learned from friendly
negro that had they crossed the bridge they had
seen. they would assuredly have been recap
tured, for Capt. Turner, the keeper Of Libby
prison, had been out and posted guards there,
and in fact had alarmed the whole country, and
got the people up as vigilance committee, to
capture the escaped prisoners.
Amer crossing over this natural bridge they
laid down on the ground and slept until sunrise
on the morning OF the ilth. when they contin-
ucd on their way, keeping castwardly as near
rs they could. Up to this time they had moth
ing to eat. and were almost famished. About
noon OF the llth. they met several negroes who
gave them information as to the whereabouts Of
the rebel pickets, aud furnished them with food.
THE OLD rLAa IN sI1Hr.
When about fifteen miles from Williamsburg,
the party came upon the main road, and found
the tracks Of large body Of cavalry. A piece
ofpaper found by Captain Jones satisfied him
that they were Union cavalry; but his compan-
ions were suspicious, and avoided the road, and
moved forward, and at the "Burnt Ordiniry"
(about ten miles from williamsburg) awaited
the return Of the cavalry that had moved up the
road, and from behind fence corner where
they were seereted, the fugitiyes saw the Gag Of
the Union supported by squadron Of cavalry,
which proved to be detachment Of Col Spears
Eleventh Pennsylvania regiment, sent out for
the purpose Of picking up escaped prisoners.
Colonel Kendrick says his feelings at seeing the
old flag are indescribablc. ~
The party rode into williamsburg with the
cavalry, where they were quartered for the
night, and where they found eleven others who
had escaped safely. Col. Spear and his CON-
mand furnished the officers with clothing and
other necessaries
At oil points along the route the fugitiyes de.
scribe their rcceptiOu by the nevroes \. yuo~f