The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-08-14
CAPTOR OR PRISONER.
An Incident OF Monocacy Battle, July, 1856
Eirst Saro,t p Rrooks CLARK of Co TOT


First Serg't B. Brooks Clark, of Co. K, 10th
VT, afterwards Second Lieutenant,) had one
of the most thrilling adventures ever listened
to. At least two nights have / sat around the
bivouack or picket fire and listened intently
while he narrated it. 1t would form volume
of itself, but / must allude to only a few facts
that now occur to me. He could not keep up
in our retreat from Monocacy, July 8, 1864,
and was left alone, resting occasionally as his
strength required.
Hearing troops coming behind him, he hid
in the woods while over 500 Confederate cavalry
rode by, having about 200 of our men as prison
ers.
The next day he saw two Confederate cav
alrymen coming, and he passed round very
large tree just fast enough to be hidden from
view.
Coming up with another straggler Ia member
of another regiment), the two joined their
fortunes together. Soon they captured Con-
federate soldier, or officer, / have forgotten
which. They could not travel on the pike, as
the enemy were coming and going. Through
fields, into swamps and forests, over fences,
they tried to journey parallel with the Balti-
more pike. The prisoner was an elephant
their hands. Day and night one OF them must
watch him constantly. They did not dare to
let him 60 Free as he would cause their imme-
diate capture the country around them being
alive with the enemy Once they were seen
and chased by two men and a dog. Darkness
happily came to their relief, and they hid in
dense forest. Once Clark went to a farm house
for provisions. Climbing the fence in the rear
he came suddenly upon squad of Confederate
cavalry dismounted, eating breakfast around
the back door. They saw him and pursued,
but Clark outran them. After one day and
night of this uncomfortable anxiety, the other
soldier threw up his interest in this unproft-
able partnership and ran off, leaving Clark
OH atxyIfl ftar aha1 ua1lye
couraged and told his prisoner he would give
up and surrender to him rather than continue
to fight the Southern Confederacy alone Clark
reached out his gun to his adversary. Instantly
the thought of Andersonville prison and its
horrors flashed into his mind, and before his
enemy could reach out his hand to take the
gun, Clark drew it back to himself, saying, No;
I'll die before will surrender" So he watched
through the long hours of Monday night alone.
Tuesday he reached Baltimore, and even in the
outskirts of that city came near being betrayed
and given up to the enemy (who were close at
hand while at house getting cup of water.
In Baltimore he reported at once at the office
of the Provost Marshal, and supposed that he
at least would be thanked for contributing one
prisoner towards depicting the enemy's army.
Alas for blasted hopes! Both we're ordered to
be locked up together; one for being traitor
! to his country-the other, for struggling. This
reused Cark's ire. He grasped his loaded rifle
and swore that he would shoot the first man
that attempted to imprison him with that rebel,
t to bring in whom he had suffered so much.
His tongue was loosened and he exercised a
Yankees privilege of freeing his mind to his
| lordsliip, the Provost Marshal. The only reply
to Sergt Clarlls argument was, " Go back to
| yonr regiment" and he did Clark was true
| patriot, brave and faithful, and was promoted
! to be Second Lieutenant, Co. E. Aug. 8, "a, but
was MORALLY wounded at Cedar Creek, Oct 10,
/ '64, and died.-GEo. T. DAVIS, Burlington, Vt.