The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-15
SICK AND IN PRISON.
The Dark Side of the Soldiers Life.
Prisoners Stories.

1fOIn Inc pTlSOu dt
is taken from the paper recently read by him
before the Illinois State Prisoners Association
From Charleston we were taken to Columbia,
S. c., where we were placed in an open space
in the outskirts of the town, with guard
thrown around us, but with nothing above US
but the heavens. Here we were kept until the
26th day of November, 1864. On that day
Captain Brady, of the Fourth New Jersey,
Army of the Potomac, and myself, safely passed
our guards, under cover of a company of Off
GERS who were on their parole and granted 0ne
privilege of cutting logs to build the41A
shelter.
Bidding them goodbye as soon as we reached
the coverof the wood and out of sight of our
guard, we commenced our long march to free
dom. Whether we would succeed we knew
not, but we had strong faith and fergent
hope.
We Travelled thirty miles that night, but
before the sun rose upon that sandy, wooded
country, we withdrew from the road, and got
into a thicket of brush, and dropping on the
ground were soon in a dreamless sleep. knew
nothing more till awoke about II o'clock and
found myself the center of a group of negroes
men, women and children-gaZing with OPEN
mouthed wonder at the strange beings before
them, whom they had often heard of, and who
had been described to them as monsters with
horns tails and blue bellies-live Yankees.
Brady had awakened before / did and had
secuted in quest of food. Soon he found
darkey, told our situation, and in short time
the kind hearted creatures furnished US with
food in abundance. That day and night we re-
manned hid by the negroes, as our feet were
sore and we too weary to march. The next
night, after the sun had disappeared, we pro-
eeeded, one marching in front, and one six
PAGES in the rear. We were out ten nights,
and in that time travelled one hundred and
eighty miles, and nearly every night came
near being recaptured, Itseemed that dangers
crowded upon Us on all sides
TWO EXCITING ADVENTURES.
I viii mention two of our adventures. One
morning, Just as the first faint blush was mount
ing the eastern sky, we came in sight of house
on the road we were travelling, and, having
been without water all night, proposed to
Brady that we should go past in hopes of find
ing SOME. When near the house pack of dogs
rushed ont, whose hideous yells made us trem-
ble Fearing they might arouse the inmates,
we ran back into the woods, and, concealing
ourselves under the fallen branches of large
tree, soon fell asleep. We did not awake until
about IL o'clock. Our first thought was water.
We looked around and shortly discovered two
negroes coming along the road in an old wagon
drawn by three mules. / ran across the road
and stopped them aud told them was Yam
kee officer escaped from prison, fan explanation
that always secured from the negroes heartfelt
sympathy and hearty co operation,) and thatwe
were peIisling with thirst and faintwith hunger;
but they were strangers in the neighborhood,
and were on their way from Augusta to some
place away OF, and SO, with many kind wishes
oa their part, let them go, and started back
t. our hiding place. As passed along came
IN sight of the house As | ran | glanced at
the house, and to my horror saw two white
men standing at the gate looking straight at
ne. Then they started on a run toward me-
Changing my direction, | ran toward a swamp
that was near and got out Of their sight, and,
doubling got back TO our hiding place and crept
IN under the branches. | told Brady was dis
covered. Soon the two men, who were dressed
III Confederate uniform, with long black hair,
and reyolycrs buckled around them, came in
sight and, passing within thirty feet OF Us, went
in the direction | had ran, towards the swamp,
and after hunting around for about half an
hour came back, and passing closer to US than
/ before, we heard one of them say: Tom, that
/ looked ike a Yankee" With quaking hearts
! we saw them 90 back to the house, and sup
posed the next thing we would hear would be
| the yell of the hounds on our track. Soon we
saw two women coming toward the place where
/ we lay concealed Stopping before the fallen
| trees they said, pointing: There they are"
! and then, Strangers, bent you'uns Yankees"
/ Yes said We, and asked who those tail, lank,
! lantern jawed, long butternuts were. They
said: They are brothers, deserters from the
y
/ "you-uTs" to come right along up to the house.
1 We followed the women, and as we nearei the
/ gate two .Johnnies came out and gTasped our
/ hands and the old father and mother welcomed
/ US, and they sent their two little boys, one up
and one down the road, to stand as pickets.
Then they all went to work and cooked US a
! splendid meal of squirrel pie, sweet potatoes
and corn-pone; made us map of the road Sc
far as they knew it, and at 10 o'clock that night
sent us on our way rejoicing. These were the
/ only white persons We met on our Trip God
bless them!
VOYAGE IN A DUG-ouT.
We had struck the Savannah River about
| twelve miles below Augusta ami hearing moth
ing Of Shernan's army, had taken an old dug.
out and went down the river forty miles in one
| night, intending to make GU, way to the coast
| and get to our feet at sea. At break of day we
had landed on heap Of drift-wood to dry oul
clothes by fire which w. lighted, it having
rained all night. After eating our last remain
! ing Tnorsel of food, and Just as we were about
to start we heard the distant mulled roar o.
cannon. Hastily eTlbarking once more We
continued on down the river, from whence The
sound came, seeking place to land. swamp.
appearing on either side. Not until 10 O'Clock
did We succeed in landing, and then just before
the river made sharp bend to tlM left. VIZ
entered small creek, and ascending a shor
distance, drew orr dug out under some bushes
and landed. By the heavy cannonading, W.
knew battle was in progress somewhere. W.
secuted for plantation, got into the negro
quarters, and saw an old negro who told III
that Mars Wheeler and Mars Fitzpatrick were
fighting on Bear Creek, eighteen miles away
and that just round the head of the river
where we had left it, was arebel fort with ,00t
troops. He hid us down by the creek, theI
went after some food. In about an hour he re
: turned, supplied, and said we had scarcely got.
ten out of sight when squad Of rebel soldier
rode up to his quarters. We lay here until
o'clock that night, and then started of through
the woods in the direction of the firing 1t wa
} not more than an hour or so before we wer
lost in the wood. We heard hounds baying OF
to our left. Judging that the negroes were OF
possum hunt we made in the direction of tn
: aound. Soon we came TO a large plantation
} with the cheerful FIRE (for it was the 18th day 0
December) shining into the gloomy woods
Thanking the house we got around into th
negro quarters, and came IN on several who wer
talking about the fight. Making known on
condition, we persuaded two lusty young fel
: lows to undertake to guide US through to oul
array. Placing them some distance aheal
Of US, with instructions to throw stick bacl
over their shoulder in case any danger TYas dis
covered, we started. About O'Clock IN TIL
morning, while going along a sandy read
) We heard the stick fall near us. Over til
; rail fence we climbed and lay down In th
D corner. We soon heard the clatter Of saber
; and the tread Of horses feet, and voices dc
manding Of the negroes what they were dom
auf af that time faf ,1tg oh The e,aarroer