Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-01-11
A Federal Scouts Adventure.

A writer for the Detroit Free Piesl
gives some Interesting "reminiscences o
Castle Thunder, at Richmond, e,tab
lished by the Confederate government
as place Of detention for Confederat,
deserters, suspected persons. aud the
captured attaches of the Union army
One OF The occupants Of the Castle in
the winter OF l864-5, says the writer,
was Federal named James Hancock,
claiming 10 be scout attached 10
Grants army. He was captured under
circumstances which seemed to prov e
him spy, aud while waiting Tor his
case 10 be Investigated he Vas sent TO
Castle Thunder. Hancock was a jolly f.,
frollicking fellow, having wonderful
facial expression, and great powers OF
,nimicry. Ohe evening, while singing
song for the amusement of his fellow
prisoners he suddenly stopped, threw
up his hands, staggered, aud then fell
like bag Of sand 10 the door. There
was great confusion at once, and as
some ,; the men inspected The body
and pronounced 1t without life the
guards we're notified Of what had Oe-
Cured. The post suIgeon wss called
in 10 say whether IT was faint or a
case &C sudden death. He bad just
come 10 from Iony, cold ride, ana his
examination was hasty Que.
Dead as door-nail y be said. as he
rose up, and in the course Of twenty
minutes the body was deposited In a
wagon ane started for the hospital. 10
be there laid in IA heap coflin and for
warded to the bury iug-place. When
the driver reached the end of his journey
he was gone! There VAS. not tail-board
TO his vehicle, and thinking he might
have jOlled the body out on the way.
be drove back and made inquif, Of
sevesal persons if they had seen lost
corpse anywhere.
Hancock's sudden death vas part
of his plan 10 escape. While he had
greet nerve and an IRON will. he could
not have passed the surgesn under
favorable circumstances. On the way
to the hospital he dropped out of the
wagon and Joined the pedestrians On
the walk. When the driver returned
10 the castle aud told his story. de-
tail of men VAS at once sent out 10
capture the tricky prisoner, aud the
alarm was gwen all over Richmond. To
leave the city was to be picked up by
patrol; to remain was TO BE- hunted
down.
Hancock had money sewed in .he
thinning Of his vest. and he walked
straight to the best hotel registtre
himself as from Georgia put in good
nights sleep. Ia the morning he pro-
cured a change OF clothing and saUntered
around with the greatest uncoucern,
car yiDg tie idea 10 rome liat be Vas in
Richmond Oh Il gOvtInmt nt contract,
aud u Others that he was in the secret
service OF The CcL federacy. Shortly
alter dinner he Vas arrested on Main
street by squad Of proyosl troops Who
had his description TO dot. But 10 !
no sooner had they put hands Oh him
than the prisoner was seen to be cross
e yed aud TO have bis mouth dra"n 10
one side. The men were bewildeied,
aud Hancock was feeling for letters to
prove his identity,' when the hotel clerk
happened to pass and at once secured
his liberty.
Tour days after his escape from the
Castle the scout found himself out oil
funds, and while in the corridor of the
posLoffice he was again arrested. THIS
lime be drew his mouth 10 the right,
brought squint to bis left eye, and
pretended TO be very deaf. lie was.
however, taken TO the castle, aud there
\ wonderful thing occurred. Guards
who knew Hancock's face perfectly
we'll we're so confuse by lis squint tha.
40 man dared give u certain answer.
Prisoners who had becu with him fer
our months were equally at fault, and
It was family decided TO lock him up
and investigate his references. For
seven long days the scout Kept his |
mouth skewed around aud his eyes OH
he squlnt, aud then he got tired of il |
and resumed his accustomed phiz The |
minute he did this he was recognized |
,y everybody, aud the Conlederates
IdmTed his nerve aud perseverance,
ully as much as did his fellow-prson-
RS. The close OF the war gave him his
berty with the rest, but ten days long er
you'd have seen him shot as spy, /
Suspicious Symptoms.
A minister who was, perhaps, lot