New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-04-23

Ihsr.lshe would conceal mo faithfully unti
/ could Hnakogood my escape
This Vas . ray Of hope that lent en-
couragement to me. Considering tn,
condition of my leg, it seemed reall,
providential; and went to work, system
atically and with energy, and yet with th,
caution that was then q second nature Il
rs, to devise ways and means for an es
cape. The plan that I adopted, and il
which I succeeded, was simply to collec
together articles enough to make the uni
form Of . rebel soldier, to put them on
and to quietly wear them out of tn,
prison. Nor was it so difficult to obtair
this kind of clothing as might be sup
posed. Most Of our officers had on.
or two gray garments which they hai
purchased. as their own wore out, O,
obtained in some way, from the negroes
and soldiers to whom they had access
and as cold weather came on they coulG
do 80, and wear that kind of clothins
without suspicion. I made nv plar
known to number of the officers. anG
speedily had the coveted disguise stowei
away behind some movable bricks in the
WALL l was troubled for some time tc
get gray cap, but that obtained of one
OF the guard with the help of one of sew.
eral gold pieces which had concealed in
the lining of my blouse after my capture,
before l was searched. Then borrowed
q razor and pair of scissors which had
been jealousy concealed by some of my
| comrades, and with my preparations as
nearly made as they could be, waited
for the morning that I had selected for
attempted escape.
This is simple narrative Of facts:
therefore will omit any statement of how
felt at this critical time. It was yery
early in the morning, and not a soul was
stirring in the Libby, save the guards
who tramped back and forth heavily in
the halls, above and below, when went
to the window, and with the help of q
little water that was left in my can, and
trusting great deal to the sense of feel
ing, shaved off the long, dropping NOUS
tache and luxuriant beard which my seven
months confinement had given me. Next
I shaved my hair almost as close as
convict's, and with the help of little
Of ink that we had among us I dyed my
naturally light eyebrows. After this 1
put on my gray suit, buttoning the coat
up tight to the chin, that I might look
something like an orderly without side
arms, and then I waited patiently near
the door. In about an hour the morning
allowance of food was brought in; and
this was my time walked straight out
of the door and passed the guard in the
hall. I passed him with firm step and
an erect bearing, He looked carelessly
at me and said not word Descending
the stairs passed another guard in the
lower hall in the same way. Acting in
exact pursuance of the plan had formed,
went into the prison Office at the end of
the hall and asked the clerk the time.
"Pretty near seven," he said, looking
at his watch, and then indifferently at
me. I saw he did not know me, but it
was with some difficulty that I succeeded
in keeping tho discovery out of my face
when recognized in this same clerk an
old friend, whose acquaintance with me
dated back before the war, and who left
situation in . wholesale house in New
York to enter the civil service of the Con.
federacy. But was cool, and, as I saw
the perfection Of my disguise, grew con-
ident. From the Office walked to the
door, and here I met Major Turner, the
just entering. I saluted |
him promptly, and boldly walked out be-
tween the muskets that guarded the door.
In two minutes more 1 was out of sight of |
he hateful Libby.
Exulting in my freedom, did the most |
natural thing under the circumstances:
.ried to get away from the city. Preached
he outskirts, and saw at distance rebel
patrol. I'turned back unobserved, and
ried another road, and still another. The
'esult was the same; the roads out of Rich
nond were all guarded. These patrols
lid not dare to face, because 1 had reason
o believe that there was sergeant or an
fcer with each of them, and that I would
ave to undergo a scrutiny from them
vhich would probably reveal nv real
My leg was growing painful,
nd I knew that had not the strength.
fter my long imprisonment, to lurk in
he woods and to travel by night to evade
he rebel pickets and patrols. There was
othing left for me but to return to Rich
loud and seek the protection of my un-
nown friend. did it; but never vet
'ok such unwilling steps as those which
arried me back to the capital of my ene-
lies.
I found the house of the lady with little
ificulty, and was welcomed by her in a
ay that left me no doubt of her fidelity ,
the Union cause. For more than q .
lonth that noble woman concealed me, !
atched over my safety and at last made ,
y escape sure, doing it-as presume ,
le did in behalf of others without hope :
reward, for pure love of tie cause and :
J soldiers. The statements that am s
wv about to make will sound strangely, :
I'd may be doubted, but they are en- =
rely truthful. The house of my bene- !.
ctress was the headquarters of branch
ganization of loyal league, which she
formed me embraced the names of sew
al thousand in Richmond. I know it
be fact that these men had arms 7
ncealed in various cellars and gar .
is in the city, and in the pre- y
Gus spring, at the time of the battle a
Charlottesville, when SLOVENIAN was v
lding down toward Richmond with his o
avy cavalry columns, they only waited @
e certainty Of his coming to rise, arm Il
emselves, open the prison doors, and =
Re possession of the city for him. And, II
'ange as it may seem, during my So cl
i'm at this house I was introduced in n,
, person of one of its visitors to a man Ct
thorough sympathy with the Union ia
use, who was high official in bureau &c
one of the departments of the Confed- OF
tie government. At his suggestion I .!
him one day as his orderly, s "1
ing horse which he procured for me, OF
a tour of inspection of the defenses of vi
} city, with board of examiners, in m
ding several Generals. The informa- liz
q which / acnnirad dnrino that DAVIS | III