The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-18
..co,onc, Harry white. Come Forth"

..co,onci Harry White, Come Forth.
A CONFEDERATE ACCOUNT OF HIS AIrhNrihD
ESCAPE FROM PRISON.
tFrom Judge ouid's article In Phsiaae'pn'" "e'"S
Times.l
,rb.re was one incident in the course OF
deliveries which was quite dramatic, though
Very nainful to one Of the parties, Penn
sylyania colonel. In the beginning OF the
war surgeons were regarded rs Don-com-
hatsnts. and not subject to detention on
either side. 4 difficulty, however, arose
between the two governments about one Dr.
Rnckner. who was held in confinement on
the charge Of murder and other hiSh crimes.
iTbe limited States demanded his release,
ami falling to secure it, put DR.. Green, a
Confederate surgeon, in confinement IN re-
ta,iation. This led to the detention OF all
SURGEONS on both sides. l made vigorous
efforts to restore the old practice, and at
length succeeded. Accordingly DAY was
fixed for the delivery OF all surgeons OF botn
sides at City Point, and all the tederal sur
reons were directed to be sent from tue
Libby and put on board the 1iag-ol-trtce
steamer. I accompanied the party. When
we were nearing the steamer New YORK L
nerceived that q signal was flying for me to
come 20 the shore with my boat. / did SO,
and found there communication stating
that Colonel Harry White, commanding one
of the Pennsylvania regiments, had dls-
e1,ised himself as 4 surgeon and was then on
hoard nv boat. Immediately directed the
prisoners to be drawn up IN line on the
shore and made them an address, IN "nlch
Secounted the efforts had made to secure
the immunity OF their class, and stated that
an officer Of the line not entitled to exchange
or release was among them disguised as i
surgeon. T then raised my voice ana
shouted: .'Colonel Harry White, come
forth He stepped in front at once, ana
in q few words claimed that lie mad the
right TO resort to any stratagem to eject his
release. I replied that / was not there TO
dispute or affirm what he said, but that he
must return to Richmond under arrest. 1t
was heavy blow to him, struck at mo-
ment when he was sanguine OF his liberty.
Two minutes more would have placed him
on the New York, where be would have
been safe even ii his disguise had been
there detected. He had been long time IN
captiyitv, and extraordinary efforts had
been made to secure for him special ex-
change. He had been elected as Republl-
can to the Pennsylvania Senate, winch,
without him, was equally divided between
the war and anti-war parties. His presence
was needed 10 effect an organization ana
working majority in that body. l had
learned these facts from more than one
quarter, and was not disposed to assist in
giving aid and comfort to the war party.
was under no duty to release Colonel White,
as the exchange Of officers had ceased. SO
obstinate was /, that when the Federal
agent offered me Major General and sew
eral officers OF lower grade for him, l de-
clined to accept. I might have specialized
to great advantage on him if | had been SO
disposed, and the situation in Pennsylvania
would have warranted it. II every officer
and man had have been a Harry White,
there never would have been any difficulty
about exchanges. Indeed, ii the anxiety
manifested about him had been distributed,
instead of making him the reservoir OF all,
it would have been better for good many
peop!e. =: