The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-02-17
TIcenty Months IN Southern Pris-
ON8.

MesSrS. Brown and Richardson, the
Tribune correspondents who made then
escape from the rebel prison at Salisbury.
after twenty months detention in seven oi
the rebel prisons. one after another. have
furnished history of their experience.
which is very interesting. The plan and
manner of their escape is thus described
by Mr.. Richardson:
For sixteen months we had been con-
stantly trying to escape. Again and ayair,
we almost compassed it: but at the vital
moment some unexpected obstacle ALWAYS
intcrposed. We were only detected in
the very act; then a few days eonfine-
ment in a cell was the penalty paid for it
1t seemed as if Fortune would never tire
of prosecuting us: but we always deter
mined TO continue our endeavors until we
either gained our liberty or lost our lives
On Sunday afternoon, October Is. when
1 put on extra under-clothing for the pos
sible mountain journey, it was without
the least expectation, almost without the
faintest hope of success. l had made the
same preparation at least fifty times be-
fore.
Both 'Junius' and our esteemed collab-
orator. Mr.. William +. Davis. of the
Cincinnati Gazette, had been furnished
with passes to visit, during the day, a rebel
hospital. outside the fence and the inner
line of guards. to order in medical sup
plies for the prisoners. The infexible
rule was to exact paroles whenever passes
were granted: but in the confusion al
tendant upon the great influx Of prisoners,
the authorities had neglected 10 require
them. None of us would have given pa
roles. in any event but my friends had
the good fortune not to be asked for them.
On that Sunday evening, half an hour
before dark. lthe latest hour they could
pass the guard) they both went outside rs
usual 10 the rebel hospital A few minu-
teS after, taking in my hand Il great box
full of the bottles in which medicines Were
brought in. l too, walked rapidly up TO
the gate. while dozen friends in the Sc
cret. were looking on to see the result l
attempted TO pass the sentinel, but he
halted me and asked:
Have You pass, slr!'
Certainly have pass / answered
Haven't YOU seen it often enoug il TO re-
member by this time ?
Very likely he answered. a little non
plussed; but | was not quite sure. and
our orders are very strict"
Thereupon exhibited TO him the gen.
uine pass belonging to NV colleague.
whose iace was 50 well known TO the SEN
tinel-ihough not his name. As the event
proved-that he had been able to 90 out
without showing ii. The soldier exanlin-
ed it. reading slowly and with difficulty.
Guards will permit JuniuS H. Browne,
citizen prisoner. to pass the inner gate. 10
bring in medical supplies and then re-
turned ii, saving: All right sir: that
pass i> correct, for l know Capt. Fuqua'
handwriting.
Once outside. | hid the medical box be-
hind fence. and found refuge in little
outbuilIing until dark. My two friends
there joined me and we walked through
the outer gate into the streets in full View
of a guard. who. seeing Us come from the
rebel hospital. supposed us TO be surgeons
or their assistants.
The same writer gives the followin.
description of Dan. Ellis. a noted guide.
who services TO escaped prisoners have
been most valuable:
We had been for months familiar with
the name of Dan Ellis, 4 famous guide,
who has done nothing from the beginnin.
of the war but escort persons through tu
our lines. Ellis Is :; genius. and his life
Is 4 romance He has taken through
more than four thousand refugees. never
losing but one man. and he was LOST
through his own indi>cretion. The party
had lived eight or ten days. in winter,
among the snowy mountains, upon p;irch-
ed corn. dan declares that parched Corn
Is just rs good to travel on as the most luxu-
riouS food, if a man only thinks SO; but
feel bound to say that have tried il, and
don't think SOY The man in question
finally revolted. and declared he would
have an honest meal, if he got captured
So he Went to a house, obtained the meal
and did get captured. Early in the war.
when our lines were at Louisville and
Lexington, Kentucky, Ellis conducted
party after party ofrefugees to those point,
; four and five hundred miles through the
Cumberland mountains.
He is wary. vigilant and sleeplcss as al
Indian, and knows every secluded patti
and every Union man through an immense
range of country Again and again We
were told, far back on the journey, IF you
once fall into the hands of Dan. Ellis and
obey his orders you are perfectly safe
We did fall into his hands $50 miles from
our lines, in peculiarly dangerous local.
ty, and to us he was like the shadow of /:
great rock in a weary land. He was Jus
starting for Knoxville with 40 Union refu
gees. United States soldiers returning t,
duty from their homes within the enemy
lines, rebel deserters and escaped prisoners
Some twenty of them were armed an,
forty mounted. The moment he overtool
us on the road, and was told who w
were, he said; BOYS. here are some pris
oners escaped from Salisbury, almost worl
out with the journey. Get down off you
horses; we can't afford to ride and le
these men walk" From this point, ,thougl