New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-03
NETWORK. FRIDAY DECEMBER 8, 1869

tans about twentysx Of upland and meadow and
thirteen of timber Potatoes and hay almost
the only crops which farmer could sell. The days
work in Summer began at breakfast at g. dinner
at H. and the routine usually closed about dark On
rainy days the boys kept busy threshng out corn
cleaning up the cellar barn. and doing odd jobs There
were not than two three holidays during the year
This life growing unbearable Mr.. Richardson left home
when about seventeen years old for Pittsburgh Penn He
started with definite Intentions but felt that it was
time he was beginning to do something in the world for
himself His father, having written out some instruo-
tons for his future conduct which he always carefully
preserved drove him, in his country wagon about ten
miles TO Framingham then the nearest railway depot
On reaching Pittsburgh he taught school for two or three
terms and employed his leisure in writing for the press
His first printed newspaper production appeared IN inc
Warery Magazine in Boston. When he stopped teaching
he became connected with The Pittsburgh Journal az re-
porter He probably there fromix to twelve months
and then went down the river to Cincinnati While at
Pittsburgh, too he wrote several plays one for Barney
Williams, which was frequently acted.
On reaching Cincinnati he attached himself for time
TO The Sun dead but left it to join The Unionis
His first printed production that had any extensive
circulation his report Of the Kssane forgery trial
In this the Court ordered that there should be no
account OF It, consequently he could take no notes. but
after hearing the evidence for Is 20 minutes he went
out Of Court and wrote memoranda from
memory and thus day by day gave long
which excited considerable curiosity and interest
He next became connected with The Daily Columbian OF
which he associate editor with Junus Henri Browne
He aferward the staff Of The Cincinnati Gazette for
some tlme but having made an engagement with the
Boston Journal he went out to Kansas correspondent
for that paper and lived at Sumner Kansas for about
two years. In addition TO his duties correspondent no
also acted Secretary Of the Territorial Legislature and
Acknowledgement to the Territorial Governor. HIS
book has given full description of his adventures He
1ntn ~
developed it, and described accordingly At Manhat
TAM Kansas in 1882 he joined Mr. Greeley who was then
making overland trip across the country and they
together to Denver and up into the Rocky Noun
tans Mr. Greeley continued his journey on to Califor-
mia, Richardson turned south passing through
NewMexco far the Rio Grande and visiting Santa
F6 and Taos.
In the Winter OF ls560 he East In the following
May he again Colorado correspondent Of THE
TRIBUNE and became editor OF The Western MolntaHeer,
with Col W. Knox. He remained there until after the
Presidential election in ls60, when he returned TO the
East and went through the South secret journey for
THE TRIBUNE Passing down the Mississippi TO New
Orleans, he wrote at imminent hazard to THE TRIBUNE,
describing the condition Of the South just previous TO the
breaking Of hostties and reached Charleston, c.
two days after Fort Sumter had been fired on. He had
very perlous journey North but succeeded in reaching
NewYork in safety. He next went to st. LOUIS, and
made his first campaign with Fremont in Missouri. In
1862 he was present at the capture Fort Henry and
served his bearer Of dispatches to New.York. He
in the Pitsburg Landing campaign took part in the
siege Of COrinth Of Island No. TO- and Of Fort Pillow and
also present at the capture Of Memphis After the
fall Of Memphis he appointed. in connection with
Col Thomas W. Knox, 70 the editorial charge OF The
Memphis Araldnche which he conducted for several
weeks great satisfaction Of the army. and to the
great disgust OF the old readers Of the paper The same
Fall he Cincinnati during the siege and afterward
East and remained with the Army Of the Potomac
for several months
In 1868 he was again sent West reaching the Mississippi
Is miles above Vcksburg the sd OF May in company
with Mr. r. T. Colburn of The World where he Joined Mr.
Junus H. Browne also correspondent OF THE TRIBUNE
1t very necessary for them to join Grant below
Vcksburg and the quickest and most dangerous way OF
doing would be by running the Rebel batteries
Although the danger very great they concluded
take the risk. The expedition consisted OF two great
barges of forage and provisions propelled by little tug
between them. There were IS persons on board They
were discovered about o'clock in the morning, and at
the target for all the Rebel batteries Pass
ing along unframed they were within ten minutes Of
safety when shell struck and sunk the tug killed the
captain, and fired both barges The Rebels continued
firing for about 20 minutes, and then sent out q
boat, which captured l6 sound all the rest being
drowned scalded. wounded. The prisoners were
placed under guard and conducted 10 miserable quarters
in the vicksburg City jail They were soon paroled,
but told that they must be sent TO Richmond be-
cation. They arrived at Richmond onlthe 10th OF May
and contrary to stipulation, were marched TO Libby
Prison Mr.. COlburn, however. being connected with
The World, was liberated, Notwithstanding his Abolition
procyities. Mr.. Richardson's imprisonment lasted 80
months, during which time he was IN seven different
PRISONS enduring all those trials and deprIvaons with
which the OF Southern prisons has become synoDy
nous.
He was, however constantly trying TO escape, and
often endured severer punishment when his plans
discovered His time at last and on the 18th OF
December 1864, In company with Junius H. Browne and
two others, he escaped from Salisbury prison Mr..
Browne and the others had been allowed passes TO pro-
medicine for the sick prisoners and, becoming ae-
quainted with sentinels found difficulty in passing
In and Mr.. Richardson, therefore, took Brownies
pass, and, with medicinebox under his arm. walked
Hiding in old building till night, he Joined
by his friends, and the honeward journey commenced
What the pers and suerngs OF that journey were his
pen has described Suffice TO say, they reached
Strawberry Plains Knoxville Tenn, the 18th Of
January 1865 after walk mostly by night OF about 400
miles. From Knoxville he sent to THE TRIBUNE the Gel
ebrated telegram: out of the jaws Of Ded-ou Of ne
mouth Of He'll"
The escaped prisoners were welcomed by a reception
dinner in Cincinnati and then went 10 Washington,
where they gave evidence before the Committee the
Conduct Of the War, touching the condition Of Union
prisoners in the South From Washington Richardson
10 New-York where he prepared his book, Field
Dungeon, and Escape" This work Immediately sprang
into largo circulation. and for several months was
ordered far rapidly than the publishers could sup
ply II. 1t ultimately reached sale Of about $4,000 10
100000 copies being thus among the most successful
books ever published IN America.
His health having been seriously impaired by his long
confinement in prison and the suerngs OF the escape,
Mr.. Richardson now decided West with Speaker
Cofax in 1865 the notable journey overland to San