Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-06-29
How RreekinridgA Eseaned,

How Breckenridge Escaped
The Havana correspondent of the New
York World gives the following account of
Tho escape of Breckenridge from the country
Gen. j. G. Breckenridge, accompanied by
bis abide camp Captain j. Wilson, his faith
full war servant Thomas, Col. Taylor Wood,
and two confederate soldiers. arrived ut Car.
denas on the 18th instant, in an open boat of
about one ton burthen, from the coast of Flo
rida. This party, after the capture of the
President of the late republic, made their
way to the St. Johns river, where they pro-
cured boat, in which they proceeded up that
river until they reached u point due west of
Indian river, near the head of navigation
At St. Johns Colonel Taylor Wood joined
the party, having been captured by the COM
mand of General Wilson, which captured the
President of the confederacy by accident, but
he made good his escape the same night.
The small boat was hauled across the coun-
try from the St. Johns to Indian river, dis.
lance of twenty-six miles, and launched for
the ocean. On reaching n point called Gil
bcres bar, near the mouth of the river, the
boat was beached and dragged across a sand
spit sixty yards, and launched in an inlet
communicating with the ocean. On this part
of the route Indian parties supplied them
with scant provisions Of "cumty," of which
they made bread. For the balance of the voy-
age they were compelled to live on shell-hsh,
caught along the shore, and turtles eggs, Of
which they also laid in stores for their voyage
across the Gulf stream
From the inlet near the mouth Of Indian
river, the coasted south fifty or sixty miles
when they beached their boats to hunt pfuvi
sions. At this time United States gunboat
or steam transport, running down south be-
tween the shore and tho FloriGa reef, OBJ
served the party, and the commander dis
patched boat from the vessel to ascertain
who they were, and what they were doing
there. As the boat began to show herself,
there was some excitement in camp, and
Thomas began to get his weapons ready for
use.
They were temporarily located on q shell
ridge, between an Impenetrable swamp and
the waters of the ocean, SO that if they lost
their boat they would perish in the swamp
TAYLOR Wood, with the cool determination of
Rough and Ready" his grandfather, Or
dered his two men to launch the boat, which
was instantly accomplished, and the others
having retired under cover Of the brush, the
two soldiers took to the oars :" with a will, y
and pulled for the advancing boat, which
they met at about one-eighth of mile from
The shore.
An officer in the stern seat Of the Gig, with
revolver in hand, hailed the boat with the
usual marine questions Taylor Wood became
Immediately the toughest 'longshore woods
man, wrecker and fisherman that ever lived
in Florida. 50" Ills men were raroled soldiers;
they had to live somehow they were hunting
wrecks, and until they could lind something
better, they were subsisting on the rather
washy charity of the sea--shell fish driven on
shore and turtles eggs, They meant to get
as far as Indian Key, or possibly Key West,
They had a boat load Of papers, if he wanted
to see them" And the ready boys pulled
forth their parole documents which were ex-
amined and found correct.
d" The folks on shore were of the same
class ; had plenty Of papers-the same-and
were trying to cook dinner, if they could find
any eggs or shells wouldn't the captain like
to 60 along shore-he would be perfectly
welcome to the best they had, and their pa
pers too" Their hospitality was declined
the dietum call right" was uttered, ant
/" give too, my boys" when away shot the
gig ON her return voyage to the steamer
name not known.
The wearied and half starved party breathcd
more freely after the interview, which hae
been rather tedious while waiting for the re.
suit. That evening they left the shore, hav
ing on board few dozen eggs, cakes ape
cuInty bread, aud few claims. so small Cha
they might pass for muscles. They reached
the banks in about thirty-siz hours, having
spoken one vessel and obtained a fresh suppl.
of water the day following their deparsur
from the Florida coast, and met with no 9th
err incident, though terribly perpexed TO
want Of food, until they reached Cardenas oil
the morning Of the 1lth--eight days-wher
they were received by the people and the au
thoriiies with great kindness, we'll fed, wei
refreshed, and serchaded in the evening.