The Indiana State sentinel., 1885-06-10
A WAR STORY.
How q Band Of Confederates on Northern
Soil Made a Narrow Escape-Bayless w.
Hanna's Connection Herewith.

Hanna's Connection Herewith.
Frankfort, KY, Letter.
The following rather romantic incident CT
the late war has been known to the imnle.
diate friends of the two gentlemen con-
cerned for several months, bat this Is the
first time it has been given to the puolic
and will be read with much interest By
Large number Of Kentuckians and Iudiani-
ans, not for the sake CT the incidents aions
bat also on account OF the prominence Of the
parties
1t viii be remembered that toward the
close Of the war plan was sst afoot TO
liheIate and the Confederate prisoners
in Northern prisons, and let them
commerce operations in the rear
of the Union armies. Q lit9
a number Of leaders in the Oonfederacy were
engaged in working up the plan, and among
others was young man nemed Castlsman,
who had himself escaped from prison aud
succeeded in reaching Canada, the nearest
point of safety, where he and ten others were
assigned TO certain duties in the scheme or
liberation. They lett Canada one st time
on their respective missions, agreeing % meet
at Indianapolis, Ind, on q certain day and
report progress. and arrar &c their iuiuAe
movements. Before the day eff meeting ar
rived, however, young CGstlemsn was cap
tuIed and condemned to be shot, aud, IN
stesd Of going to Indianapolis to meet his COM
redes he was taken there under guard to have
lar ded there the very day agreed upon with
his friends, and while waiting at the de-
pot another train came in and ho
saw them descend from the cars and peer
cautiously about as If looking for him.
He knew they must leave indianapolis at
OF cs or their capture was inevitable, but he
was powerless 10 warn them himself, for that
would cause them to be suspected, and thus
bring about the very thing he wished to
avoid. just then his guard moved away
little distance, and he determined to take
desperate chance and ask some one of the
many strangers gathered in the depot to
warn his friends. Casting his eye over the
throng he finally selected a man with kind
and benevolent c0untenance, who was stand
ing few steps away. IL the stranger proved
unfuendly it would be equal to an order Of
| arrest to ask him to give the warning, bat he
| felt that If they went unwarned they would
| be arrested any how, SO he took the chances,
desperate as they were. and sauntered casu-
| ally up to the man snd said
II beg your pardon sir, but am in rather
| an unfortunate situation, being conde emned
TO be shot in a few days, and, although you
ara a stranger, 1 want you to do NE
favor"
II will do il with great pleasure" replied
the stranger, "if can do 80 consistently"
"Dos you see that small group of men
stan ding over there" said Csstleman, point
| ing at the same time with his hand. We'll,
soon be in similar condition to mine, and
/ want you TO go at once and tell them to
| leave. Will you grant this request to man
who has but few more days to liver
II will" said the stranger, and before
young Castleman was taken from the depot
| he had the pleasure of seeing hs comrades
| hoald the tram in obeyance to his message.
Through the influence of friends q respite
| of thirty days was granted Oastleman. and
before that tine had expired the Southern
armies had surrendered, peace reigned again
and all prisoners were set 1T liberty. he
| never learned the name OF the stranger who
aided him in saving his friends from arrest;
/ but some months since Hon, Bayless w.
| Hanna, the recently appointed Minister to
| Persia, was in the parlor at tAlex4ner's Hotel IN
| Louisville talking to come friends, when
! Adiutant General John B. Castleman Of this
| State walked 10. Gen. Castleman gszsd
| very intenily at Judge Hanna for several
minutes, and then, slowly walking up to
! him, said:
| IF am not mistaken, ycu are the man
/ who did ne great favor about twenty
| years ago. 1 don't know your name. bat
| have Eever forgotten that facs." He then
| related the circumstances written above, snd
| when he finished Judge Hanna said
Il am the man, and l am delighred to
| see you again, and under more favorable
| circumstances this time, see."
or course they related the incident over
| and oy er sgain in all its details, and 10 was
much enjoyed by ali those present.
| IL Gen. Castleman could arrange meet
| ing of his ten comrades (if living) aud
| Judge Hanna it would be a NEST enjoyable
| occasion, for It would certainly afford them
| much happiness to thank Judge Hanna for
Eavirg them from arrest, and probably exc
| cutiOn.