The union Democrat., 1869-08-21
Release Of nn Ark~n-inn 81 fser n Scjouru Of
six aud iLalfI Years im n Military Pri-
s0n an Evemtful History.

The Jacksonport Ark. Herald of July
20th saws: The oh saying tha: truth is
stranger than fction," was fully verified last
Tuesday on the arrival of the steamboat Nd-
toma. for among her passengers was III. II. .
Lee, inl mery citiz"n If Madison, s.. Frau
els county. in this State, but v ho has been "a
prisoner, in elIse confinement. for the past
six years and a half. ST. close was his con-
tinement thar he never WAS allowed the priv-
lege If communicating with the eoutside world,
not even his own family. who were in the
greatest distress at his sudden aud mysre-
rious disappearance, and thar. too. at q time
when their worst fears were heing daily real
'zsd. From short conversation had with
Mr.. Lee, we learned the following leading
points connected with his detention in phi
son in the Srate nf Wisconsin. and in free
America In November. 1862. Mr.. Lee
went to Memphis. then occupied hy Federal
troops, for the purpose Of securing snne sup
plies. He was arrested and thrown into the
Irving bl,ck. thea occupied NJ a prison. lie
remained there one night and that evening.
with ether prisoners. was shipped on board
the st. Ctond. en- route for Camp Douglas.
in Illinois. Arriving there. the officer in
charge of the camn inquired what were the
was arrested for ppcn,sting in Confederate
money. The camp officer declined 70 receive
him. rs there was no law forhidiing specula-
uon in money Of any kind. The Lieutenant
having Lee in custody said they would take
him TO Rex Island then. as they would take
any one there. lie was accompanied l.y
seven men ~ guards. and they concluded I"
have a grand spree hefnre returning to Mem
phis f'r active du'y. So they went To Mil
waukee. Wis. aud were going to put Lee in
jill t'r sat" Keeping. until they had visited
Iheir friends and finished the spree laid uur
for themselves. IN The mean time Lee had
resolved on escaping, in which determination
he WAS heartily joined and assisted 10y one of
the guards having him in charge. They
made their escape. hut were pursued and
captured after few shnts had been exchang-
ed. Mr.. lie was then ;i,pri>onei in the
Milwaukee" Jail. anl there kept in cluse con
fnement for twn years ani half wrhuut he
ing brought to trial. At the end nf that time
he was taken nus and sentenced (wirhout a
trai) :" four years. Imprisonment in branc!.
of the State Pr >on at Madison, State uf Wiz
consin. His health was gnod all the time,
hrt he came near freezing with the first three
winters. The fourth he Jared better The
time came at last for his release. and with a
heart full "f thanks to God for the preservation
of his lite his irSt Thought and purpose was 20
seek his wife and child. lie went 10 Cincr-
natl and there r,et with al OLD scLonl-mate
who told him of tho death nf his wife--his
child he knew nnrhing of. Cluld il he p,,ssi-
bic? lie left there Immediately for Memphis
arriving there he was received as one risen
from the dead hy his many friends. ,nd from
one of them he received the inyiul tidings
that his wife and daughter. now u grown
ycuns lady. were not only living, hat we'll
and t"ing well. Tears ofj"v were shed. and
renewed thanks TO Almighty Gnd for His pro-
tecting care filled the heart of the released
captive. The swiftness Of the telegraph was
commanded to flash the glad tidiuss 10 the
dear wife Of his heart. informing her that
him for whom she had muurnad as dead still
lived. and wurld meet her in jackson on the
18th instant. They met. and such meet.
ing as it was never occurred within our
knowledge. The l"y Of the vile at the sight
Of her restored husband was too great, and
swoon after swoon followed in rapid success
sion.