Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1871-03-22
HOW | ESCAPED CONSCRIPTIONs

LIS there no hope, or must / make II,
my mind to enter the army ~
Such was the question I asked m,
guardian, after a vain effort of som.
two months to leave the confederacy al
she only way OF avoiding ain involun
tary entrance into the southern ser:
vice.
During that time, we had made APP
plcatlon to almost every blockade run
ming steamer leaving the port of Will
nington, but with the same result One
was full, another "would be glad to
take you, only our papers have just
gone to headquarters, and it is too
late" and all had some excuse or other,
as a result of which my mind was about
made up to quit trying, and either at
tempt to run the gauntlet of the coast
guard to the United States feet off the
harbor, in a sail-boat, or to allow my
self to be eonscripted, and make the
best OF it.
NY question was answered with all
the encouragement possible not a very
heavy amount, though. As result OF
which, upon making my next daily
visit to my guardian, my feelings may
be described as of the /" blueish y or
der
Changed, though, when his first
words were: tWell, John, the Grey
hound leaves tomorrow, and Captain
Rogers says he viii take you. Hurry
to headquarters for passport, for il
you don't get it before Gen. Whiting re-
turns from the forts you may say good
bye to your chances"
Trouble again, since from the facts
that his four sons, all of military age,
had beforetimes become as strict as
their health" and that he was known
as union man, my guardians name
was on the black list. Therefore, un-
less application could be made to some
staff officer to whom his name was un-
known, We could spare ourselves walk
to headquarters, which would only re-
suit In harm. An acquaintance, clerk
In the city commandant's employ, aid
ed in the attempt. An ignorant young
captain, persuaded by much fattery, at
length gave way, and con condition
that your friend, so soon as he may be
able enough to serve his country, will
return, gave the desired piece of paper.
1t was the last year of the war.
Every boy old enough to fire gun was
being enrolled and hurried to the de
fence of some of the many threatened
points. Being young looking and
keeping sixteen, when in fact several
years older, I had SO far escaped, with
fair chance of final deliverance be-
fore me, [ was,-well, say, elated.
Next morning, bright and early, [
was aboard ship, where all was ready
for the start, except that our first en-
glneer had not vet returned from
Richmond, where he had been seeing
some prominent officials. Duties both
on imports and exports were very
hlgh.l The steamer was bran new,
Clyde built, very long, very low, paint
ed light blue color, and evidently in
tended for great speed. If this, her
maiden trip, were successful, the
profits would not only pay her first cost
but nice sum besides. The cargo,
then all aboard, consisted of some 700
bales of cotton, few barrels of tur-
pentine, to fire the ship in case of
threatened capture, and over d hundred
thousand dollars IN coin belonging to
the confederate government, and bound
out to pay interest then due on bonds.
The crew, mostly English, numbered
40. The Captain, confederate naval
officer, though we sailed under English
colors, and the other passengers, Pol
lard, of editorial fame, Belle Boyde,
the spy, and her two servants.
One o'clock, full tide, and no engi-
neer. Can't leave to-day" says the
captain, and tomorrow night is the
last one dark enough until next month y
Previous to this, our passes had been
examined, and found O. K Ship
searched by guard no one found
trying to escape, and everything was
lovely. Now, guard still remaining, we
amuse ourselves trying to keep cool
Thermometer, 100 degrees
The order of the day it seemed was
to retire early. I upon the cotton bale
with the stars for covering, and Pollard
Capt r. and Miss Belle into the sim
gle room serving as cabin What do
l want that for ~ said the famous spy,
In reply to the captains offer to hang a
curtain between her end of the room
and his. Sure enough, what did size 2
At ten, considerable confusion for
ward aroused everyone. The guard had
discovered, concealed in the cotton, two
men,-English mechanics they proved,
that, unable to obtain passes, had
hoped by this means to escape the hard
times and probable conscription conse-
quent upon remaining longer in the
South.
Poor fellowsl They were carried di-
rect to what they were fleeing from.
Would my turn come next? In course
of nature, morning came; with it We
went, the missing engineer having re-
turned the previous afternoon. At Fort
Anderson, L miles from the city, and
almost as many from the Fort Fisher
inlet, out of which we were to pass, we
anchored to wait for dark Also to al
low another and more thorough search
for stowaways. This time, bayonets
were punched into every hole large
enough for bayonet to go into, and
an internal mixture poured where one
could not go, the nature of said mix
ture being to cause death by strangrlla-
ton in a few minutes unless the person
upon whom it was operating came at
once into open air, or as was usually
the case, made himself known by a vio-
lentfit of sneezing Gts first effect, whence
Its name, sneezIng m1Xture), and was
pulled into view. One poor creature,
more dead than alive, rewarded our
friends for their trouble, and we were
forbidden to proceed and ordered back
to unload, such being the law. An APP
peal was taken from this order to the
higher officer who commanded that en-
tire section of forts and defences, and
small boat, containing the order, adj
peal, an apology, a statement that
accidents will happen" &c, request
to be allowed to go out that night, and
several baskets of rare wine (the gener-
ais weakness), was sent to Fort John
son, his headquarters, and after long
trip of six or eight hours returned just
before moon-set, bringing word "that
as Capt. Rogers was one of whose 10y
atty there could be no doubt, we might
go as desired"
At half-past 10 every light out, and a
gale of wind blowing, we ran by Fort