The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1880-08-28
A Rebel Reminiscenee.

Rock. Island Prison, which am about
to relate. it will be necessary for me to
use the first person. Being in the pos
session of small sum of money, was
enabled to employ a "washerman, q
good-natured individual from the east
ern part of Kentucky Among his COL
lection of solid garments one day dis
covered Federal blue blouse, worn by
some of his patrons as a shirt 1t must
be remembered that all articles of this
nature were taken away from the pris-
oners when they first entered the prison.
Occasionally, as in this instance, such Q
piece of dress, worn as underclothing,
escaped notice. 1t at once suggested
itself that full Federal uniform might
be acquired by piecemeal, through the
agency of this washerman. A bargain
was struck with him. The progress of
the growth of this uniform was watched
with an interest hard to describe A
dingy old cap without rim was hunted
down, rim procured from some other
quarter. and the whole on its reappear-
ance from regenerating baptism of
soapsuds was good enough for a holiday.
Button by button, patch by patch, the
uniform became complete. OF course
these articles had to be concealed very
carefully to escape the occasional and
irregular, but thorough searches made
by the authorities for contraband
articles.
How to utilize the uniform? A short
time before q prisoner had escaped in
citizens clothing by walking unconcern-
edly out. 1t was concluded to risk 3
similar method only as last resort. In
J. III Il.
pass, with the forged signature of the
Captain and Commanding Colonel of the
forces outside. Thus equipped / con-
cluded to conceal myself in an ambu-
lance, or substitute myself for sick man
when the sick were conveyed to the hos
pital, distant from the prison proper
seven hundred yards. As rule guard
was placed on the step behind. l
watched the habits in this respect, and,
with trousers rolled up, cap in my pock-
ct and blanket around me, to conceal
the colors was sailing under, followed
the ambulance from bivouac to biyouae
until the best opportunity presented
itself, that is, when the full complement
had been taken in, and they were ready
to drive off. The order to go was given,
and my friends lifted me in. I lay on
the floor, but not without the remon-
STRANGE of sick and querulous fellow,
who said the ambulance was full. We
halt at the gate; word passes, "All
right" sounds assuringly in my ears and
the ponderous gates shut.
Here We are in beautiful gravel road ,
bowling along the guard keeps q
weather eye on us, but to my close OBJ
servation he occasionally gives his atten-
ton to fly on the horse, and while In
his pride he dexterously snapped one off
with his whip, the sick man from barrack
seventy-seven arises, but leaves his bed
behind, crouches on the back steps, dons
his cap, and presently steps off into a
knott of federals, full forty yards away
from the hospital and a hundred from
the prison.
Hello therer'
Hello yourselfP'
Wont You ride?"
Certainly.
1t was an old farmer, with covered
wagon. The bridge was mile away
| We chatted pleasantly about the g.
rebels" and / gave him in reply to his
many questions, good deal of absurd
information. Finally, / professed to be
tired, and told him I would lie down
among his sacks in the wagon. / pre-,
tended to sleep. The horses hoofs sound
and the wheels rumble on the bridge.
He is stopped by the guard. A pleasant
word passes, when he says: Il have q
soldier inside, but he is asleep now"
"All right; never mind. Go ahead.
sHellol" I say, care we across the
bridge? want to get out here and
with thanks dropped out, l remember,
from the tail-piece.
/ had the address of certain lady In
the city of Rock Island, whose name j,
may not be proper to mention even al
this time. She had been of great service
to the prisoners and was in secret com
| munication, it was said, with few oi
| them. The house was found without
| difficulty after short walk. The lady
/ responded in person to my knock.
presented my card The reply was
| startling. Under some excitement she
abused the Yankees for their surveillance
over her, and their sending spies to en-.
| trap her. She accused me of playing
that part. She had never helped tht
| Confederates. It was all false, etc.
pleaded with her and protested; gave
names, but this any spy could do; / had
no token; and no words would do. Ye
| all this time she would occasionally re
lent and brush away a tear of pity
Finally she gave me food and $40 and
was instructed to go to the next station
of the Chicago 4 Rock Island Railroad
and take the Z P. NJ train. My plan wa
to go to an intersection of the road ant
take train to Bloomington, ILL.,, wher'
| / had friends.
/ sank into seat Of the car, and whel
I awoke from pleasant dreams it was lat
at night. and I was informed that we ha,
passed the station. There was nothing
for it then but to continue on to Chicago
for which all the money in hand excep
50 was paid out. A two-mile walk 0
Chicago brought me to hotel. 1t wa
l o'clock at night. I sat by the stove
dosed away industriously to keep off cor
versation, which was sometimes force
upon me. The remaining SO was az
piled to two enormous meals during th
day. l was in constant danger of arres
as deserting Federal soldier. I had
get to Bloomington, and that night, {
I went to the depot. Is there none
trust? Not face that l peered into al
swered the question. concluded to II
1 the 0DR1lttI VI nESkildB- 1H61 wei
] sorry; could not let me ride on the ter
2 der or help them at stoking. The COZ
ductor referred me to the Provost Ma
shall of the city, who would give me
! pass" etc. He would not let me go otl
! srwise ON any condition; pushed me 0
Q | the platform. The train was moving of
! ssAll aboard!' The invitation was a.
cepted at once.
My plan was to get some one on Il
train to pay my fare. After a turn or {
through the cars a benevolent-lookin
: gentleman was selected. The case vi
: explained to him. A Federal soldie
, | an invalid, with a furlougIi from Ii
. commanding officer, had left Rock Islam
!. with the design of fspending the Christmi
4 | holidays with friends in Bloomington
: The misshap of missing connections WI
+ stated. The gentleman regretted his i
!, ability, etc. In the meantime the forge
furlough was examined by others, WI
!, were attracted by the conversation
( Finally one gslitleman-a kindly, bl
+ profane good Samaritan said he woul
4 be -- il he wouldn't help soldier wi
! had fought for his country. This semi
7 ment was echoed around, and In q fe
!. minutes IS was made up-more ths
d enough for the fare.
4 But the end was not yet. a kn
4 gathered around me, and had to pa
: an ordeal of questioning had assums
a fwe