Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-08

FROM THE FORTHCOMING WORK ENTITLED '"THE
! FIELD, THE DUNGEON, AND THE ESCAPE"
good wit will make use of anything will turn
disease to commodity KING HENRY ".
On that Sunday evening, half an hour
before dark (the latest moment at which
the guards could be passed, even by author
lied persons without the countersign), my
| friends, Messrs. Browne and Davis, went
out to the Rebel hospital beyond the inner
line of sentincls, as if to order their usual
medical supplies for the sick prisoners
AS they passed in and out dozen times a
day, and their faces were quite familiar to
the sentinels, they were not compelled to
show their passes, and Mr.. Browne left his
behind with me-
\ few minutes later taking with me a
long box filled with the bottles in which
medical supplies were usually brought and
giving it to a little lad who assisted me in
my hospital duties, Istarted to follow them.
AS if in great haste, we walked rapidly
toward the gate, while, leaning against
trees or standing in the hospital doors,
half dozen of our friends looked on to see
how the plan worked. When we reached
the gate, took the box from the boy, and
said to him. of course for the benefit of the
sentinel:
81 am going outside, to get the bottles
| filled. | shall be back in about fifteen min
utes, and want you to remain right here, to
take them and distribute them among the
hospitals. Do not go away now"
! The lad, understanding the matter per-
fectly, replied: Eyes sir :" and I attempt
ed to pass the sentinel by mere assurance
| had learned long before how far man
may go, even in captivity, by sheer native
impudence-by moving right along, with
out hesitation, with confident look, Just
as if he had a right to go and no one had
any right to question him. On several oc-
! had procured citizens clothes, thus walk
past the guards i'll broad daylight, out of
! the Rebel prisons.
| think | could have done it on this oc-
casion, but for the fact that it had been
tried successfully two or three times, and
the guards severely punished. The senti-
mel stopped me with his musket demand
ing
Have you pass, sr Z"
| Certainly, | have pass" replied,
with all the indignation | could assume.
"Have you not seen it often enough to
know it by this time 7"
Apparently a little confounded, he replied,
modestly:
"Probably l have, but they are very
strict with us, and | was not quite sure"
gave to him this genuine pass belong
ing to my associate:
HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES
Military Prison, Salisbury, n. c.,
December 5, 1865
! Junius H. Brown, Citizen, has permission to pass
the inner gate of the prison, to assist in carrying
medicines to the Military Prison Hospitals, until
! further orders
J. A. FUoUA,
CAPTAIN and Asst Commandant of Post.
We had speculated for long time about
my using a spurious pass, and my two com
rades prepared several, with skill and ex.
actness which demonstrated that, if theiI
talents had been turned in that direction
they might have made first class forgers-
But we finally concluded that the veritable
pass was better, because, if the guard had
any doubt about it, | could tell him to send
it into headquarters for examination. The
answer returned would, of course, be that
it was genuine.
But it was not submitted to any such in
spection. The guard spelled it out slowly
then folded and returned it to me, saying
"That pass is all right. | know Captain
Fuqua's handwriting. Go on, sir ex-
cuse me, sir, for OBTAINING you"
l thought him very excusable under the
circumstances, and walked out. My great
fear was that during the half hour which
must elapse before | could go outside the
garrison, | might encounter some Rebe
officer or dttdche who knew me.
Before had walked ten steps, saw
sauntering to and fro on the piazza of the
headquarters building, a deserter from oul
service named Davidson, who recognized
and bowed to me. rather thought he woulc
not betray me, but was still fearful of it.