The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-22

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the intrepid Charlie was brought back to
his prison quarters.
This daring attempt led to increased
vigilance on the part of the sentlnels,
and rendered our hero an object to be
watched and dreaded. But his darling
object was not to be abandoned, and his
third attempt exceeded his previous one
in strategy and execution.
With a chosen few, he conceived the
project of scaling the parapes, attacking
the sentinels with rocks, and breaking
for the Canadian shore, the lake being
frozen over.
Scaling ladders were made as secretly
as possible, and bright moonlight night
selected for the attempt. There was
only one pistol obtainable, and this fell
| BY lot to the possession of Lieut.. Wheel
er. of Morgan's cavalry. The others
armed themselves with rocks. Lieuts.
Pierce, Wheeler and J. B. Knowles, of
Louisville, KY, were the first toget their
ladders in position and attempt the as
cent. Our hero, however, was the only
one who gained the parapet. A rock in
his hand was as true as rifle bail,
thanks to his base ball experience. With
it he felled the sentinel. His cousin,
Lieut.. Bowles, was shot on the ladder,
and his body fell inside. His dying
words to Charlie were to push on and
leave him to his fate. Lieut.. Wheeler
and the sentinel in front of him fired at
each other simultaneously, and singular
", both missed, when the Lieutenant
slid down to avoid another shot, he hav-
ing no other means of defense. Lieut.
Pierce speedily pursued his way over the
natural bridge Of ice on the lake, under
constant fire from the sentinels, until
he got beyond the range of their guns.
At the same time the guns Of the fort
opened with solid shot, for the purpose
Of breaking the ice, while the signal guns
could be heard for miles around booming
on the still.air. Unheeding the cold, for
his heart beat high at the prospect of
once more being with his comrades in
the field, and proving with his sword the
faith that was in him, he gained the strip
of land twelve miles distant, and pur..
sued his way through the woods until
daylight, when he was halted by some
farmers, with shotguns in close proxim-
ity to his body. Those fellows, when
aroused by the alarm-guns, were ever on
the alert to capture an escaping prisoner,
and claim the reward. They had no or
binary one in Charlie Pierce, and hun
CRY, chilled and footsore, he was speedily
marched back to his old quarters. The
gallant fellow often said that he felt more
chagrined and discouraged at being
brought back by civilians than if cap
tured by regular soldiers. But his forti.
tude soon returned, and his mind con-
stantly dwelt upon the one darling object
of escape.
1t was not to be wondered at that
Charlie now became an object of the
strictest surveillance on the part of every
agent of the enemy. His every move
ment was watched, so that his sole reli.
ance was upon strategy for his fourth at
tempt.
Procuring g. Federal uniform lit was
supposed from some one connected with
the hospital), he carefully concealed it
in his bunk. With a piece of wood, of
which there was plenty, be manufactured
gun stock; with lot of fruit cans, which
he procured from the hospital, he manu-
factured barrel, and a piece of the
handle of camp-kettle was wrought
into lock. After five months incessant
labor, he completed his task, and during
that time he was exceedingly reticent,
confning himself in his bunk as much as
possible, keeping his own counsel, like
good general, but working like beaver.
As piece of workmanship, it was pro.
nounced by all who saw it marvel of
mechanical ingenuity and skill. He was
fortunate enough to find an old rusty
bayonet, which he soon made look like
polished steel, and how he stained the
gun to make it look real, no one but him
self knew; but that it did look so the
sequel will show. Having everything in
readiness, how put them to use? The
guard must be brought into the block at
night, so that he could fall in with the
men and march out with them. Confd.
ing his intention to only trusted few of
his messmates, he requested Lieut.. Mi
chael Long (now living in New Orleans)
to inform the guard that an attempt
would be male to break out that night
from block eight. The Lieutenant was
thanked for the information the senti-
mel called, Corporal of the guard" the
Corporal carried the information to the
officer of the guard; the guard was dou.
bled for the emergency, and an inspect
ing party was soon going the round OF
the prison. While passing through block
eight, Charlie, with his Federal uniform
and improvised gun, quietly fell in with
them. Not finding anything suspicious
in that block they were marched out
All the other blocks were visited without
any discoveries being made. The guard
was then formed in line for inspection.
The Lieutenant in command, examining
the accouterments of the men, discov-
cred that Charlie had no cartridge. box,
when the following dialogue took place !:
Lieutenant of the Guard-How is it.,
sir, that you have no cartridge-box?
Charlie-Well, Lieutenant, ne fell in
outside in such a hurry declare | for
got it.
Lieutenant-Well, you are fine SOL
der! No cartridge-box Suppose the
rebels were to attack US while we are in
here among them? Let me see your
gun, sir
The Lieutenant proceeded to an inspec-
ton of arms, still upbraidiDg the delin-
quent soldier.
Charlie, seeing that his last effort was
defeated, Strengthened himself, brought
his gun to inspection arms" in true
military style, and passed it to the officer.
Of course, its weight told the tale. The
ruse was discovered, and by neglecting
the cartridge-box, the easiest of all to
make, our hero was again defeated in his
plans. By permission of the Lieutenant,
however, he was allowed to make the ex-
pertinent of passing the sentinel at the
gate, which he did without ellciting any
surprise. He was then taken before Col.
Charles w. Hill, of the One Hundred
and Twelfth Ohio. then commandant of