Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-03
Az EscApED UsIox PRIsoxER-A Loxe


We had the pleasure yesterday Of meet
ing Maj. VIM Denny, otthe 51st IHdf-
ana, who has Just reached home from
two years experience of rebel inhu-
manity and barbarity in Southern pris-
ons, and from which he escaped on the
18th of February. Major Denny, then
Captain, was captured near Rome, Ga
with Col Streight and. others, while on
a raid in that region, and taken to Rich
mond, after remaining four days in At
lanta, and thrust into Libby, where he
was kept for one year, enduring all the
privations, hardships and cruelties that
rebel barbarity could invent
During his whole confinement there
he was never but once pernitted to step
outside the prisen, and that once was for
the privilege of drawing lots for the
pleasure OF being hung or shot
Major Denny drew a blank and was re-
turned to the loathsome prison, where
he remained until in May, 1864, when he
was removed to Macon, thence 10
Charleston and thence to Columbia.
Everywhere they, received the same
cruel and barbarous treatment, being
compelled TO live for six months without
single meat ration. Sorghum and
corn meal was their chief diet after
leaving Richmond. 6na
Major Denny was in the same room
with Col Streight when that officer, with
others, escaped from Libby Prison, but
was too weak to undertake the trip
While at Columbia he twice made the
effort to escape without success. The
6rst time he walked past the guard with
out being observed and was out seven
teen days and had reached point on
the Savannah river sixty miles above
Augusta, having Travelled about l40
miles, when he was re-taken, tied and
placed in Jail and returned to Columbia
On the second occasion he was able to
get but few miles away when he was
re-taken. These attempts were made
in November.
When Sherman was approaching Co
lumbia, the prisoners were placed in
box cars and started to Charlotte, and
while on their way, on the night of the
18th of February, Major Denny and
others cut hole in the side of the car
with penknives, and escaped. For eight
or ten days they lay concealed in the
woods, waiting Sherman approach, be-
ing fed by negroes, whom they always
found faithful and pretty well acquaint
ed with the nature of the war and its
. course. Wrf-f tngao1
His companions were Capt GUIDE
also of the 5lst Indiana, and an oficei
of the 9th Tennessee cavalry. IL -
Learning that Sherman had turned tc
the right, they started for East Tennes
see, distance of oyer two hundreG
miles, on foot, and nearly all the way
through an enemys countrya99 ,aA z
During the whole time they wer,
waiting for Sherman, they lay in thu
woods, and were almost constantly
drenched with rain They started OF
their long and perilous march will
heavy hearts, but with a brave deter
!, mination. In South Carolina they fount
one Union man, who concealed then
and aided them on their way, carrying
I them fourteen miles on his mules
Thence they made their way on foo
into North Carolina, guided sometime
il and fed always by faithful negroes
d Aanking the towns and travelingieb
night only, and by unfrequented paths
Z After they had got some distance, the
found Union men more frequent ~
Near Blountsville, East Tennessee
they ran across rebel scouting party
but managed to elude them, and took t
the mountains, and thence made thei
way with little further difficulty unit
they reached the Federal lines at Moss
Bridge, on the Holston. At New Marke
they found the 5lst Indiana regimen
among the first troops they met with
and the feelings of the worn out, ema
ciated, and almost naked prisoners, a
meeting their old comrades, can be bel
ter imagined than described. na
They wereimmediateIy re-clothed, an
every attention was shown them, an
they were forwarded to Nashville, whic
place they reached after journey c
nearly six weeks vwsl W
Major Denny reached Vincenne
about the middle of last week, and al
rived in this city on Saturday W
might fill columns of our paper wit
interesting incidents of his prison ez
perience, of rebel inhumanity, and of hi
perilous and tiresome journey, but tim
and space viii not permit. 7ss
The Major is now in excellent health
and is rapidly gaining strength. and
the time his furlough expires he will b
: able TO return to his regiment, anxiou
!, !. for an opportunity to settle few oil
scores vita the fendish scoundrels an
worse than harbarians, who SO cruell
y treated hi and so coWardly ASSASSIN
ated numt ers of his brother officer
Nearly year ago, while in prison, h
: received official notice of his appoin
: ment as Major of his regiment, to whic
y rank he has been fully commissioned
< dating back to May, 1864.
= JAKE BENNETT AT UNIoNTowE.--A T,
! liable gentlemen, who is we'll acquain
II x-;4L Tol-os Isn.,,,o.. s.en.... -. al