, 1881-01-02

Charleston, s. C. On his way to Charleston he
jumped OF the cars while they were running at
o a9d e Tas oh ap
jumped at the same moment; and. after Foster
was able to travel, the two started through the
swamps for Beaufort, where our own forces
It was about 10 o'clock at night when they
escaped, and they wandered through the swamps
within less than hnlf q mile Of Rebel camp.
Hero they concealed themselves in clu1np OF
bushes until night But during the day they
their rotl-call, and were visited by come dogs
that licked their hands, but offered them no vio-
lence. When night came on they retreated
swamps.
The second day. early. in the morning, they
undertook to flank the Rebel camp; but, their
tracks being discovered D. puck Of bloodhounds
wero put after them Tint soon ran them dowr1.
While IN the sWamps they had nothing to
cat except somo dry corn-brend that was in
their pockets when they jumped from the ears
When the Rebel guard came up they leveled
their guns ut Foster, who was nearest them, and
asked him II 10 surrendered: The Captain TT
uuarmed." They were then marched to the
Rebel camp, and thenext duy sent to Charleston
and put in cell in jail, under the fire Of our
own guns
Here, for nearly two months, Capt. Foster and
more thnn 1000 other officers Of our army werc
under fire. Shot and shell frequently tore
through the building In which officers were
1ncarcerlted. But worse enemy than even
the Rebels then made its appearance. The vel
being endangered, the prisoners were sent to
Columbia.
Here were 1000 officers in camp guarded by
Rebel soldiers, with Il dead line marked by
stakes, fifteen feet t,.sde Of tho guardline. II,
BY accident Or otherwise, ono OF these impris-
oned officers stepped beyond the dead line, the
It was in September, 1854, Just one year from
the battle Of Chickamaugl, and after year OF
great sunerinRs and privaton, that Capt. Foster
year, tho Rebel surgeons, believing the Captains
case hopeless, had ordered him carried into the
hospital OF the incurables.
A third of that year he WAS bare-headed and
bare-footed- True clothes had been sent him
under q flag Of truce; but the gnaw1ngs OF
hunger had compelled T. the q exchange C Of these
was appeusing its "honah" BY starving their
prisoners of-war. The prison-camP at Column
trees Within camp being soon burned up, the
prisoners after that were marched in details.
under guard, without the camp. where they
cut logs for rude cabins, and carried them with
One day, about month after reaching Colum-
ba. q detail was made to go intot the timber to
to escape. Some Of them dug holes in the
ground, and covered their comrades with leaves
aud brush; nnd these remained in their hiding
places until dark. when they crawled on their
hands and knees long distances before daring to
While the detail was out, Capt Foster marched
rolled to 70 for firewood. The guard Ieveled his
gun, as the Captain had passed the dead-iine;
but Foster looked him steadily In the eye for
moment, and then turned his back and walked
into the woods He passed straight on for nearly
quarter of mile, then secreted himself in
some bushes until dark, when he started for our
lines in Tennessee.
His faithful friend, Capt. Grafton, OF Ohio,
was with him again in this escape.
For sixteen nights these four- sore. haggnrd
men wandered towards tho North Star No
friend was more friendly than dark night and
black fucc.
But fute was against them; for, when only
seventeen miles from our lines In East Tcnues-
see and after going full zoo miles, they were
again captured, and sent back to their old quar-
ters at Columbia. s,.
Here Capt. Foster remained until within one
month Of the final scene ut Appomattox, when
ho was pnroled and sent to Annapolis, Md:
It is hardly necessary to say that Capt Foster.
after all his bitter experience with the Rebels
is not lover Of their Northern allies, but IS
| stalwart Republican, L. q. WHITNEY,
106 Fifth avenue.