The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-10-24

Of them, Hogan, was chief scout OF the
Army of the Potomac, and was the guide
to Dalghren's expedition, and was cap,
tured at that time. He was sentenced
By the rebels to be hung as spy, but in
consequence of our government threaten
ing to execute a rebel Major in case his
sentence was carried into execution, he
was sent from Richmond to Andersonville
where be was very soon detailed as hos
pital Steward. The other three were
scouts from Sherman's army. They made
their escape on Saturday the 9Th of Oc-
tober about o'clock in the evening.
Their FIRST act was to steal Gen. Wlnder's
stallion, which he valued at $500 in
gold, and three other valuable horses,
two belonging to the General, and the
other to the Col. of the 55th Georgia, and
with these they made their escape. Their
daring so iucenseG the rebels, that every
effort was made to recapture them. The
country was secured with packs of hounds
in every direction, but at noon on the
9th no traces had been discovered of
them. They probably made their way to
Sherman's lines The rebels had three
packs of blood hounds, 6 in pack. These
had at this time returned completely y
exhausted by their exertions in this pur-
suit. The guard were also fatigued, cha
grined and disheartened. Thinking no
more favorable time would present itself
to escape, myself, Charles NJ. Smith of
Conway, and A. A. Craudall, 58th Penn
sYlvania, from Ulysses, Pa, made the
attempt. We made our arrangements
some time previous, laying in such arti-
cles as we thought me might need. !
procured s bunches of matches from a
contraband, at different times at 81 per
bunch. | also laid in a small stock of
medicines in case we should be taken
sick on the journey. Knowing that we
should be hOtly pursued by the hounds.
| from time to time saved up quantities
of turpentine, Oil of Black Pepper, Cap.
sicuu and simple cerate, with which ]
prepared an ointment, which efectually
prevents the hounds from following the
track. We also had small supply oi
provision, which We disposed about our
persons. With these preparations We
started from the Hospital a: noon. had
permission to pass myself and any one il
my ward, and on this I passed out Smith
!. as water carrier. Crandall went out on
the pass of hospital Steward, which
: pass was returned to him by another hos
: pital Steward who went out at the same
time. No suspicion was excited in the
guard, as We were frequently in the habit
of going QUITO visit the burial gard. TC
/ this place We directed our course. The
! rail road ran very near this place Thi:
We crossed and entered the woods making
!, our way northwest from Andersonvile
At dusk we were about three miles out.
side the plckets, the location of which !
had previously aseertained. We had
: covered our feet with the ointment, aud
our clothes with turpentne, so that We
, felt sure the hounds at Audersonvile
: could not follow our trail. But the coun
r try around was swarming with coDfeder,
ate Pickets aud citizens, who were always
: on the lookout fCr escaped prisoners, We
) had several narrow escapes that afternoon
: frequently coming out upon road near
, confederates. In such cases We dropped
/ into the bushes where We remained qui
etly until the danger of detection had
) passed At dark we pushed northwest
. as fast as our legs would carry us,wishing
to cross the river Chatahoochie between
, Columbia and Fort Games near the juno
ton Of the Flint and Cbatahoochie,w which
there forms the Apalachlcola river, and
which was about $50 miles from Ander.
sonvilIe. We had no compass, but Gran
dali was an old back woods hunter and if
he could catch glimpse of star, could
easily direct our course. We travelled all
night aud at daylight we went into a
thick swamp, and slept and waited until
the next evening. We had restricted
ourselves to three biscuits day, and a
small piece of bacon.
The next evening We again started on
our course, travelling all night and meet
ing with no adventures. The next day
! we Iald Dy, ana tue next evening resumed
our course.
On the night of the 18th We took to
the road, and 10 passing house disturbed
the Inhabitants and they and the hounds
were soon in pursuit. We Immediately
took to the bushes and put on our "water
proof blacking," after which we felt COM
paratively safe. At the fall of Atlanta
the Governor of Georgia gave the State
Militia months furlough This had
just expired, aud we found that the roads
were unsafe for US, on account of these
soldiers returning to their regiments.
Their curses were both long and loud
against the government for their con-
scription, and many were the expedients
to -; a.