The Goldsboro star. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1881-18??, 1882-02-05
A Federal Scouts Adventure.

"A E6ucTAl SCUu6S Auv6uUIcs
l A writer for the Detroit FIRES Pres
gives some interesting "reminiscences o.
Castle Thunder, at Richmond, estab
lished by the Confederate government
as place of detention for Confederate
deserters, suspected persons, and the
captured attaches of the Union army
Ore OF the occupants of the Castle ir
the winter of 1S64-5, says the writer,
was O Federal named James Hancock
claiming to be a scout attached to
Grants army. He was captured under
circumstances which seemed to prove
him spy, and while waiting for his
case to be investigated he was sent to
Castle Thunder. Hancock was jolly,
rollicking fellow, having wonder
full facial expression, and great
powers of mimicry. One evening, while
singing song for the amusement Of his
fellow.prisoners he suddenly stopped,
threw up his hands, staggered, and then
fell like bag of sand to the floor. Their
was great confusion at once, and as some
Of the men inspected the body and pro-
nounced it without life the guards were
notified of what had occurred. The
post surgeon was called in to say whether
it was q faint or case of sudden death.
He had just come in from long, cold
ride, and his examination was a hasty
one.
"Dead as door-nail p he said, as he
| anI fv, fhn nf 4x,n ~
minutes the body was deposited in a
wagon and started for the hospital, to be
there laid in a cheap coffin and for
warded to the burying-place. When
the driver reached the end of his journey
he was gonel There was no tail-board
to his vehicle, and thinking he might
have jolted the body ont on the way, he
drove back and made inquiry of several
persons if they had seen lost corpse
anywhere.
Hancock's '.sudden death" was part
OF his plan to escape. While he had
great nerve and an iron will, he could
not have passed the surgeon 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 to the
castle and told his story, detail of men
was at once sent out to capture the
tricky prisoner, aud the alarm was
given 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 the
lining of his vest, and he walked straight
to the best hotel, registered himself as
from Georgia. aud put in q good nights
sleep. In the morning he procured a
change of clothing and sauntered
around with the greatest unconcern,
carrying the idea to some that he was
in Richmond on government contract,
and to others that he was in the secret
service OF the Confederacy. Shortly
after dinner he was arrested on Main
street by squad of provost troops who
had his description to dot. But lol
DO sooner had they put hands on him
than tho prisoner was seen to be cross
eyed and to have his mouth drawn to
one side. The men were bewildered,
and Hancock was feeling 'for letters to
prove his identity" whenthe hotel clerk
happened to pass and at once secured
his liberty.
Four days after his escape from the
Castle the scout found himself out OF
funds. and while in the corridor Of the
postofice he was again arrested. This
time he drew his mouth to the right,
brought squint to his left eye, and
pretended to be very deaf. He was,
however, taken to the castle, and there
a wonderful thing occurred. Guards
who knew Hancock's face perfectly we'll
we're so confused by his squint that no
man dared give certain answer. iris
oners who had been with him for four
months were equally at fault, and it was
finally decided to lock him mp and in
vestigate his references. For seven
long days the scout kept his mouth
skewed around and his eye on the
squint, and then he got tired OF it and
resumed his accustomed phiz. The
minute he did this he was recognized
by everybody, and the Oonfederates
admired his nerve and perseverance
fully as much as did his prison
ers. The close Of the war gave him his
liberty with the rest, but ten days
longer would have seen him shot as a
spy.
Poor MANS Sour. Put one ounce of
butter into saucepan with three large