The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1882-10-19

into Quo corner OF the prison
grounds. One day it was rumored
that vegetable soup would that day
be issued to The sick of tho prison.
A man who could crawl was not
considered sick.
A poor sick fellow noar begged
mo to take his dish and draw some
soup for him. This | undertook to
do, aud after waiting some hours |
got tho soup, aud returned quickly
to the sick man. He was sitting on
the ground, his hands clasped, and
his head upon his knees. ] spoke to
him, but ho did not answer. I
touched his head died while sitting
waiting for food in this mournful
position.
1t was quite common for men to
die thus suddenly. ln my squad |
distinctly reccollect o! men drawing
their rations and in few hours Of
ter. died. ] as a matter of hunger,
took the dead mans place in eating
tho soup, for owovor sorry ] was
for him. was to hungry to refrain
from relishing the soup.
That afternoon, with full stom.
ach, felt Ike patronizing every boz
dy, in the soup line.
About the first of October, we
learned from our guard that five or
six thousand rebel prisoners had
been landed on one of the islands, in
possession of our forces, in Charles
ton harbor, to occupy stockadc
built for that purpose. This per
hape, explained the reason why we
were not put down undor fire our
selves.
had often when low in health,
and restless under the restraints oi
captivity, turned over in my mind
the probabilities OF an escape,
The rations Of the prison were
steadily growing less in quantity,
and the extreme hegligouco or the
purposod plans Of tho rebels kept Us
frequently for twenty-four hours
without food
Restlossly seeking somo mitign-
ton of these suilerings, it appeared
to me possible that some dark night
| might crawl on my hands and
knees through and beyond the guard
There was great danger of being
shot, but there were other terrors in
prison which would thus DO left be
bind, ! made II copy of mnp oi
Charleston and vicinity, determined
to try my luck the first dark night,
favorable to such an undertaking.
Ny plans wero vague and general,
the idea of getting to tho water
and obtaining something to float
upon down the harbor in the night
being uppermost or, if | did moi
get boat or log, to get into the
city, aud trust to some of the Ger
man people for suit Of clothes, oil
concoalmont. Al any rate my con-
dition might be bettered, ard could
scarcely be made worse.
Under the inspiration of these
ideas, ono rainy night in October,
making q conidant of no one,
crawled beyond the guard. 1 could
hear their measured tramp, and one
stood 30 near to me, that | could
hear him breathe. Indeed, ]
thought myself perceived, when he
wheeled upon his heel and walked
his post in another direction, giving
mo a good opportunity to creep by.
/ got to safe distance from tn,
sontinels, then rising to my feet, run
towards the north part of tho fair.
ground, forced my way through th,
dense foliage which enclosed it
when theie burst upon my vision
with lurid glare aud about me, 4
number of camp fires, around which
soldiers gathered. "Halt ~ cam,
the sharp salutatiou, close on IN,
left. i needed not the command, but
run, steering midway between two
fires. Halt !" "Halt y simulta-
neously came the order from righ
and left Still l ran on. Bang
Bang bang! bang rang tho re,
port OF three or four rifles, aimee
true enough for me to hear the an.
CRY z-z-z-z~t Of the bullets as they
whispered death around my ears
Close upon mo. and right ahead O
me, came the order "Halt !" l halted
answering tho summons. 'Whc
goes there !" which rapidly follow
ed the command "Halt ~ NV ranIv-