The Camden confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1861-1865, 1864-05-04
J. II. RERSHMAN.
An Interesting Narrative Of Escape
from the Yankees.

An Interesting Narrative OF ESCAPE
from the Yankees. -
\ contributor to the Southern ConJcd'
eracy underS5the refreshing soubriquct OF
oMint Julep," relates the following ad'
venture:
The officers, numbering, perhaps, two
hundred and forty, captured in the eu
parc,nents at Lookout Mountain and Mis-
sionary Ridge, reached Johnson's Island
in Lake Erie, on the 18th day of De-
ccmbcr last. On the Sth day. ct Feb
ruary following, three hundred and slgh'
ty 9f,,ns, chosen alphabetically, were
shipped to Point Lookout, Maryland, to
partakc of the hospitalitics Of General
= Butler, publican. No one was wheed'
led by the Yankee promises of speedy
exchange, circulated to prevent es"rts
to escape, yet no one could divine what
our fate would be- Whispered forebod'
incs that we were to be the victims OF re-
talia,iou stole dapkly and swiftly through
the throng. pressing around the prison
gate, yet, . long worn ana weary with
the lifclcss monotony Of JOhuson's Is
land, that the refreshing odcr of change,
ofncw scenes surrounding, fired every
heart with an tagcrncss to be off. Names
commencing with the talismanic first
lincs OF the alphabet were in as high re
putc as five dollar bills after the promu!
CATION of the new currency law. llad
the songsman Of Avon been with us hi
would have felt that ;hcrc is soncia ~
in name. We babe sad faces farewell
the dear little craft, Bird of the Isle,
turnci the prov toward Sandusky City
and broke the crashing ice with q gcnu
inc Yankee impudeuce. Evcry&feIlc"
carried a big loafof bread under his ash
and bright little fountain Of Joy il
his heart.
TIE entire day was consumed in trans
porting the requisite number over to tbs
city, and on the cvsaing Of the sceon'
day we were aboard the cars and wills
tling away at a glorious speed to "Mary
land, my Maryland" Every one la,
some secret s.hemc for escaping; ever.
one was confident OF success every eye
was bent eagerly upon every. relaxation
of Yankee vigilance, and scrutiaizcl
closely every opening t. pure Mr ant
blessed freedom. But tho windows werC
forbidden to be raised, aud every move
ment of our boys, even the stirring upol
our seats, while the train was dashing OF
at break neck speed, was watched will
d catlikc iealousy. Away went the cars
and away went the hours, but blue coats
and bayonets were still around US. Tho
hope We had nursed so tendelry foldc1
its wings. Great God to be free, to bt
free! He alone who has leen in thF
Yankees power, even for brIet hour
can love freedom arightly. The car:
had not stopped their speed. | was sit
ting near window. Capt. james Cub
bins, of the 9th Louisiana regiment, WI:
sitting jost behind me. Our scheme
were the same, but We. had exhauste'
our supply of whiskey in frui'l"Ss et
forts to intcxicatc the guards, and aw'
had exhausted every eXp"dient that in
genuity could suggest, but we were still
prisoners. He tapped me on the shoul
der aud said; "JuIep, follow me-"
lie lay with his head on his companion
lap, with his head against the window
and as the sentinel near by turned ava
he raised the window wish his foot
thrust his legs through, his friend lifte
him gently, he gave a spring aud VA
out. The window closed, the seat VA
empty, and he was free, but the lanke
no wiser. Away went the cars la
few minutes another scat was empty
and Julcp stood upon mother earth an
touched his hat to the swiftly dcpartin.
train. According to agreement, on
steps wcro Immediately turned towar
each otLer, but the night wore away
and by some mysterious means we ncve
met. About breakfast time, weak au
sore from the shock Of the fall, [ entere'
house. After few minutes ramblin
conversation, having discovered that m.
host was Democrat, divulgod my SC
. cret, partook of an excellent breakfast
and slept the doy away in peaceful SC
curity. The lady of the house hac
never seen . genuine rebel before, an(