The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-03-22
VOL. XLIX.

natural thing under the clrcnmstancss-I
tried to get away from the city. 1 reached
the outskirts, and saw at . distance Q rebel
patrol. I turned back, unobseryed, aud tried
another road, and still another. The result
was the same. The roads out of Richmond
were all guarded. These patrols did not
dare, to face, because I bad reason to believe
that there was sergeant or an officer Win
each OF them, and that would have 70 un,
dergo q scrutiny from them which Wouia
probably reveal my real character. NY ieg
was growing painful, and knew that ! nad
not the strength, after my long impfiSon.
ment, to lurk in the woods, and TO travel Dy
night 10 eyade the rebel pickets and patrois'
There was nothing left for me bat to return
to Richmond and seek the protection OF my
unknown friend. i did 1t; but never yet
took such unwilling steps as those WEIGH
carried me back TO the capital OF my enc"
mics. st .
| found the house Of the lady with little
difficulty, and was welcomed by her in way
that left me no doubt of her fidelity to, the
Union cause. For more than month that
noble woman concealed me, watched over
nv safety, and at last made my escape sure,
doing it-as I presume she did 10 behalf OF
others-without hope Of reward-for pure
love of the cause and its soldiers. The state.
mepts ahas I am now about to. make will
sound strangely, and may be doubted bot
they are entirely truthful. The house
of nv benefactress was the headquarters
OF a branch organization of Loyal League,
which she informed me embraced the names
of several thousand in Richmond. l know
1t to be fact. that these men had arms con-
cealed in various cellars and garrets in the
city, and in the previous spring, at the Time
of the battle OF Chancellorsyille, wnen
Stoneman was raidipg down toward Rlcn-
mond with his heavy cavalry columns, they
only waited the certainty of his coming TO
| rise, arm themselves, open the prison. doors,
and take possession of the city for him.
And, strange as 1t may seem, during my 30
iourn at this house was introduced in the
person of one OF its visitors to man IN
thorough sympathy with the Union cause,
who was high official in bureau of one
of the departments Of the Confederate GOV
ernment. At bis suggestion accompanied
him one day as his orderly. riding horse
which he procured for me, on tour OIL In"
spection of the defencss of the city, withra
board of examination, including seVeral
| generals The information which acquired
| during that days ride l reduced TO writipg
after my escape from Richmond, making
| plans from memory of the most important
| works; and these had the satisfaction OF
delivering personally to Secretary Stanton,
at Washington. $, :.
After had been week in the house OF
| my fast friend the widow became perfectly
| confident of her good faith, and tried to wait
| patiently for ny final deliVerance.> Sne nao
formed a plan of escape that satisfied me
well, and seemed quite feasible. She de-
| signed to get me place as driver in one
of the great forage and supply trains that
| often went to Northumberland county; and
| az her true character was not at all suspected,
nor those of the many Influential friends who
came to her house, the plan seemed likely TO
succeed. The chief difficulty was with the
| passport; but that she hoped to arrange
with little management. .......
One morning the widow brought me the
gratifying intelligence of the escape of Colo
mel Streigbt and bis companions through the
| tunnel. That was an exciting time 10 Ricn-
mond, and was compelled to keep close to
| the house for weeks. The Confederate cav
| airy chased the fugitiyes hotly over the Pc
! ninsula, and many were recaptured and re-
turned to their old hateful quarters, while
others succeeded, by herculean exertions and
| through dreadful fatigue and exposure, in
| reaching the relief parties that were sent out
from Fortress Monroe at the first intimatien
of their escape. I knew now that L must
| have been hunted down among the first,
and felt that had acted wisely In not cast
ing my lot with them. Dahlgren's raid oc-
| Cured about this time, and excited the wild.
eat apprehensions. Richmond fairly boiled
| with excitement, and military scrutiny
became so rigid that my friends de.
clared that I must defer all thought
of getting away until the departure
| of another train. This I reluctantly,
but still wisely, consented to do. But at
last the loug-exrected day came, and, fur
nisbed with passport bearing the name OF
Moses Parish "a real person, who was unable
to 60 with the train on account of sickness,
and whom I was to personate), bade fare
well to my kind deliyerer and walked over
to the RENDEZVOUS with bold air.. The Of.
fieer in command Of the train scrutinized my
passport, and then me, and put me through
severe catechism. had expected this, and
was we'll prepared for it.. My story was that
I was native OF Baltimore, who had enlisted
in the Union army, and had deserted and
found my way to Richmond after the battle
Of Charlottesville. I answered all his ques
tions promptly and consistently; and be a
last told me to mount my wagon, and he
would "see about me-"
81 don't know you," he said, g and there
fore put no confidence at all in you. If
catch you trying to get across the Potomac
Pll put bullet through you; so look out,
/ bad been training and disciplining my
self for the dangers that must ounter II
this bold effort TO escape. had thought O
all the ways by which aroused suspicion anC
the effort to discover might approach me
and was therefore able to appear perfectly
cool and "at home" in this situation. We
left the city, a great empty train full bait .
mile in length. with several companies ,oi
cavalry ss escort, and wound along slowly
toward the Southern Potomac. There was
Iincident enough, and excitement, too, every
day whileI stayed with this train, to make
! q story of itself; but nothing happened to
l tring me into danger until we reached, the
] Pamunkey. The water was, high, and the
/ whole train crossed on boats. I was leaning
on the rail looking into the water, when a
resourdtng slap tell on my back and loud
voice exclaimed: j. y. - q 'a,;l -
..Hallo, Porter! who'd have thought to
see you here - = ! *, 70. 4.
| may remark here that for two weeks be-
| fore T left Richmond the widow and my
friends there bad called meTnothing bu,
| Moses Parish. The idea was continually in
my head don't recognize your own name.
turned now, slowly and deliberately, and
| faced my kind friend tae train: master.
"That's not my name, slr, )" said, but
Pm on hand for duty" -. Us j
y . ~Sr aud g.