The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-09-03
A Rebel ReminIscence.

In order to give anything like 8
graphic account of the escape from
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 ''washerman, q
good-natured individual from the east.
ern part of Kentucky. Among his col
lection of solid garments one day dis
covered a Federal blue blouse, worn by
some of his patrons as a shirt. It 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 a
piece of dress, worn as underclothing
escaped notice. It at once suggested
itself that a 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, a rim procured from some other
quarter and the whole on it's reappear-
ance from regenerating baptism OF
soapsuds was good enough for 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 prisoner had escaped in
citizens clothing by walking unconcern-
edly out. It was concluded to risk q
similar method only as last resort. In
the meantime provided myself with a
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 co]ors was sailing under, I followed
the ambulance from bivouac to bivouac
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 a
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 hundred from
the prison.
Hello therep'
Hello yourselfw
'sWon't you ride?"
Certainly"
1t was an old farmer, with covered
wagon. The bridge was mile away.
We chatted pleasantly about the e
rebels, and I gave him in reply to his
many questions, good deal of absurd
information. Finally, professed to be
tired, and told him 1 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: 81 have q
soldier inside, but he is asleep now"
ssA1l right; never mind. Go ahead. .
ssHello!, I say, .sAre we across the
bridge? want to get out here and
with thanks I dropped out, I remember,
from the tail-piece.
I had the address of certain lady in
the city of Rock Island, whose name it
may not be proper to mention even at
this time. She had been of great service
to the prisoners and was In secret COM
munication, it was said, with o few of
them. The house was found without
difficulty after short walk. The lady
responded in person to my knock. I
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 the
Confederates. It was all false, etc. I
pleaded with her and protested; gave
names, but this any spy could do; / had
no token; and no words would do. Yet
all this time she would occasionally re-
lent and brush away a tear of pity.
Finally she gave me food and $40 and I
was instructed to go to the next station
of the Chicago g. Rock Island Railroad
and take the P. NJ. train. My plan was
to go to an intersection of the road and
take train to bloomington, ILL.,. where
had friends.
I sank into seat of the car, and when
awoke from pleasant dreams it was late
at night, and / was informed that we had
passed the station. There was nothing
for it then but to continue on to Chicago,
for which all the money in hand except
SO was paid out. A two-mile walk at
Chicago brought me to a hotel. It was
/ o'clock at night. sat by the stove,
dosed away industriously to keep off con-
yersation, which was sometimes forced
upon me. The remaining 50 was APP
piled to two enormous meals during the
day. I was in constant danger of arrest
as deserving Federal soldier. had to
get to Bloomington, and that night, or
be without food or lodging, or fare worse.
I went to the depot. Is there none to
trust? Not q face that peered into an
swered the question. Iconcluded to try
the engineer or fireman. They were
sorry; could not let me ride on the ten.
der or help them at stoking. The con-
ductor referred me to the Provost Mar.
.y,oJ - &1,e c;fv wba sswo1.1d oivo ma 3