The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-06-07
THRILLING NARAFIyE.
Escape Of a. Michigan sOldies
from a Rebel PrisOn--1O Days
Adventures i'm GeOrgia.

The following is the narrative of AL
fred J. skinner, of West Novi, Oak
land county, a member of Company l
52d Michigan Infantry, who, after
months imprisonment in the South, sue.
ceeded in making good hisescape:
On the 4th of April, 1854, we were
to go immediately to City Point, as an
exchange had been expected. We
were now confined in Dmville, Va,
where we had been five months. The
night before we drew what was allow
ed to us for three days rations, yet ma.
ny of the boys eat all they drew that
night and the next morning, saying that
they were going to fill up for once, and
that they conki go without till they got
TO our lines. There was no such thing
as sleep that night, as the boys were so
much excited with the hope of once
more getting into the land OF civlllza-
ton. We fell into line and were
marched out OF prison ut 4 A. NJ, the
boys making Danville ring with their
cheers. We then went OH the ears to
Branch Station, where we changed, ta-
king ears for Petersburg, instead of GO
ing to Richmond. We arrived there
about midnight and were mt once mar
ched through the city to the depart
ment Of the Charleston road. Here
some OF the boys made up their mind
that they were not going to City Point
at all, but many OF the boys would not
believe but that we were going to City
Point till we got nearly TO w eldon, n.
| {. We drew no rations till the night OF
| tile fourth day, many of the boys be.
ing nearly furnished, while on every
couItenance could be seen pictures OF
gloom and disappointment.
\ We arrived at Augusta, Ga, the
morning of the 10Th. Hero the train
stopped, and the guards that were
| guarding the train were relieved by the
city home-glards for the time being
At about | ! O'Clock the prisoners drew
two dayes rations, which consisted of q
ehunk ofacom bread, not much larger
than a mans fist, which / eat at one
meal, and did not have enough at that
and a pound Of bacon. 7 Soon after We
1 drew our rations the guard drew theirs
They got crackers. As soon as they
got their rations they came among Tia,
prisoners to trade crackers for trinket,
made by the boys in prison. | ther
put on a secesh coat which i had pre-
yiously procured for the purpose. anC
went among the prisoners as one, of the
/ og1I.lr1S In a cb II 4,
gel outside the guard lines without be
ling recognized even by any of ,ou
boys, of whsm there were Us on th,
tram. j then passed through the towI
and outcabolIt mile to the neares
woods, where | concealed myself I,
await darkness, as i considered it safe
to travel by night than by day. 1t wa
a bitter cold night, and us a matter o
course, / was it apoor condition to trav
1 cl. | took the Millageville road, whicl
runs IN nortll-westerly direction, an,
crossed the Atlanta railroad at the frs
station, 10 miles from Augusta. Their,
1 found a large fire burning, and bein;
tired and cold, sat beside it. In
short time | was joined by man VIII,
escaped from the train at Ar. NJ. III
was a member of the lst Tennessee
and dressed in full rebel uniform. w
remained by the fire till 81 next morn
ing, when the man in charge of the dc
pot came and woke us and said tn
train was coming that was going t
Augusta, adding that we must have ha,
a hard time of it. We answered in tn
affirmative, and passed round the dc
pot on one side and the Tennessean o.
the other, and ! saw no more of him
] then took the railroad, travelled ii
sunrise and concealed myself in th
woods. In the afternoon ] started o.
again in search of some means Of pre-
curing provisions, as / had not had any
thing to eat since my escape. Toward
night1 saw n negro at work in fiel
some distance from house. wen
to him and stated to him my condition
He promised me faithfully he wo'd no
betray me, but would bring me sup
ply OF provisions as soon as,it becarn
dark, so that he shonId not be discoy
cred. So | concealed myself and A
waited bis retufn. Il had not long 4
wait after dark before I hoard him M
lproachirig, and supposing it all righ
remained quiet until he came and spok
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