Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-08-26
A REBEL REMINISCEVCE.
How a Johnny Reb Escaped from a
Northern Prison
Cincinnati Enquirer.

small sum of money | was en-
abled to employ 'washerman, good
natured individual from the eastern
rart of Kentucky Among his collec-
ton of soiled 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 prls-
oners when they first entered the
prison. Occasionally, as in this IN
stance, such piece of dress, worn as
Undertaking, escaped notice. 1t at
once suggested itself that Il full federal
uniform might be acquired by piece
meal, through the agency of this wash
erman. \ bargain was struck with
him. The progress of the growth of
this uniform was watched with an inter
est hard to describe 4 dingy old cap
without rim was hunted down, a rim
procured from some other quarter, and
the whole on its temperance from a
regenerating babtism of sOapsuds was
good enough for holiday. Button by
button, patch by patch, the uniform be-
came complete OF course these arti-
Giles had to be concealed very carefully
to escape the occasional and irregular
but thorough searches made by the
authorities for connaband articles.
How to utilize the uniform A short
time before prisoner had escaped III
citizens clothing by walking uncon-
cernedly out. 1t was concluded to risk
a similar method only as a last resort.
In the meantime | provided myself
with pass, with the forged signatures
of the captain and commanding colonel
of the forces outside Thus equipped
| concluded to conceal myself in an
ambulance, or substitute myself for a
| sick man when the sick were conveyed
to the hospital distant from the prison
proper several hundred yards. AS a
rule guard was placed or the step be-
hind. | watched the habits in this re-
spect, and seeing a guard seat himself
| by driver, | prepared for action. [
had donned my uniform, and, with
trousers rolled up, cap in my pocket
and Il blanket around me, to conceal
the cOlOrS | was sailing under, | follow
ed the ambulance from bivouac to
| bivOuac until the best opportunity pre-
scented itself, viz: when the full cOmpli-
ment had been taken in, and they were
ready to drive off. The order to 90
was given, and my friends lifted me in.
[ lay on the floor, but not without the
remOnstrance Of Il 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
| rnah n hn
a weather eye on us but to my close
observation he occasionally gives his
attention to fly on the horse, and
while in his pride he dexteriously
snapped one off with his whip, the sick
man from barrack seventy-seven arises,
but leaves his bed behind him ,crouches
in the back step, dOns his cap, and
presently steps off into a knot of feder-
ais, full forty yards away from the hos
pital and a hundred yards from the
| prison.
The next tussle with adverse circum-
stances will be at the bridge
"Hello therew
''Hello yOurself!'
won't you ride?"
"Certainly.'
|
wagon. The bridge was mile away.
We chatted pleasantly about the 6
rebels" and [ gave him, in reply to his
many questions, good deal Of absurd
information. Finally, [ protested to be
tired and told him L 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 Il soldier inside, but he is asleep
now"
"All right; never mind. Go ahead"
''Hellor' | say, care we across the
bridge? | want to get out here" and
with thanks | dropped out, remem-
Der, from the tail piece.
[ had the address of certain lady
III 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 communication, it was said, with
a few of them. The house was found
without difficulty after Il short walk.
The lady responded in person to my
knock | presented my card. The re-
ply was startling. Under some excite
ment she abused the Yankees for their
surveillance over her, and their send
ing spies to entrap her. She accused
me of playing that part. She had
never helped the confederates. 1t 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. Yet all this time she
would occasionally relent and brush
away tear of pity. Finally she gave
me food and so, and | was instructed
to go to the next station of the Chicago
and Rock Island railroad and take the
Z P. NJ. train. My plan was to go to an
intersection of the road and take a
train to Bloomington, ILL.,, where I had
| friends.
| sank into Il seat of the car, and
when | aw0ke 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 50 was paid out. A
two mile walk at Chicago brought me
to hotel. 1t was l o'clock at night.
| sat by the stove, dozed away indus
triOusly to keep off conversation, which
was sometimes forced upon me- The
remaining 81 was applied to two enor-
NOUS meals during the day. | was in
constant danger of arrest as 4 deserving
federal soldier. had to get to Bloom
ingtOn. and that night. or be without