The National tribune., 1883-03-29
" Gods CountrY.n

We begin in the present issue of THE
TRIBUNE an Ohio soldiers story of very
remarkable prison escape. The incidents
as we have reason to know, are au-
thentic, and the narrator is still living. His
experiences, like those of Conrade New
lin and his party, who escaped from the
same prison-Danville, Va-some months
later, illustrate anew the old saying that
truth is stranger than fiction" 1t would
be difficult to find anywhere in the litera-
ture of travel and adventure more excit-
ing succession of hazards and perils than
were encountered in the course of these
flights from prison, and they show, as moth
ing else could, how intense must have been
the privation and suffering which prompted
them. Under ordinary circumstances Union
prisoners would have been content to await
the certain course of events, since it was
to be supposed that they would ultimately
be exchanged under the rules of war; but
the certain course of events,n as they
well knew was much more likely to lead
to their release by death than by cartel If
any further evidence, indeed, were wanted
of the brutality, exposure, and the privation
to which our ex-soldiers were subjected In
Southern prisons than is furnished by the
appalling death rolls of those infamous pens
it might be found in the number of escapes
that were attempted under circumstances
that rendered success well nigh hopeless
from the start. There is phrase univers-
ally employed by the inmates of rebel pris-
ons, which contains, it seems to US, the sever
est reproach that could be put upon their
speaking of the North. For them geograph-
zeal divisions had ceased to exist; State
lines had lost their meaning. When they
spoke of the North they referred to it as
Gods country"-a figure of speech by
appalling contrast between the land they
had left and the scene of their captiv-
ity. As day after day their suferings
increased, as the shadow Of death erept
nearer and nearer and their hope Of release
grew fainter and fainter, Gods country,
took on, IN their eyes more and more
beautiful aspect. The glories Of Paradise
as described by ST. John were not more en-
| trancing than the pictures which their fancy
painted of that happy region beyond the
line of the rebel pickets. What wonder
that they called it Gods country when it
possessed for them the most priceless of Gods
blessings-hfe love, and liberty!
It was toward Gods country that every
escaping prisoner set his face 1t was the
hope of reaching it at last that put courage
into his heart to brave the thousand dangers
Of the flight, and strength in his lettering
limbs to bear him On the way. Think of a
sick and starving man, tracked by blood
hounds, and pursued by devils, pushing his
way three hundred miles through an ene-
my's country, with no other guide save the
North star, and no other beacon save the
friendly moon, hiding by day in the thickest
of the forest, at night fording rivers and
scaling mountains, now begging morsel of
food from some sympathizing contraband
now forced to subsist Ike beast on wild
roots and berries, haunted always with the
fear of being surprised by enemies or be-
trayed by strangers, but still plodding on
with feet shoeless aud bleeding and clothing
rent and rain-beaten, ana at last staggering
into the Union lines, like one risen from the
dead! Is not that picture to soften the
heart of Congressman and bring tears to
the eyes OF the Nation? All, Gods conn
try had a real existence for our veterans
in those days, but it Is Gods country nc
longer. Those brave spirits who starved
and suffered in Southern prisons that THEN
comrades st The front might the more quickly
and surely yanquish the armies of the Con-
feders.cy, are to-day forgotten, and while
Congress votes millions for the improvement
of the Mississippi River, they are left to
battle single handed still with poverty
and disease. BY the memory of Gods
country as it was TO them when rebel
host hung between, let usnot relax Cur par
pose. comrades, until it becomes 10 them all
thar the gratitude of prosperous Nation
can make it!
>-
II Commander IN citef Yan nerpoan is
ail1iag to dorote Il 'ea5td ger 10 TIC asora. Of