Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-11-25
A REMARKABLE ESCAPE.

Among the many gallant officers whom
the State of New York gave to the Union
army was Captain John +. Porter, of the
Fourteenth Regiment New York Volunteer
Cavalry. 1t was not my good fortune to
meet him until April, 1864, although We
we're both serving in the Department of the
Gulf, and on the same day, June IA, 1868,
each of us had an experience before the
Confederate citadel of Port Hudson, the
memory of which will be lifelong. Mine
related TO the sanguinary and unsuccessful
assault, when the columns of Grover and
Weitzel were hurled against those impreg-
nable Notifications; his to captivity there
begun, which, with his subsequent expert
ence in Richmond, and his daring and
wonderful escape, will make q narrative
which the whole unpublished records of
individual heroism in the great struggle
may be well challenged to excel. He bears
the remarkable distinction of having been
the first Union officer who escaped from
Libby Prison. Captain Porter is as modest
as daring; and, well knowing that the mar
rative would always remain unpublished if
he were depended upon to write it, his old
friend and comrade prays him to take no
offense if he essays the task, putting the
narrative in the first person, as its intense
interest seems to demand:
Early on the morning of June IA was
sent out with my company up the jackson
road, to watch for the appearance of the
enemy's cavalry, it being expected that
they would take advantage of our assault
on the works to make dash at our lines.
About two miles up the road we were sud-
denly surrounded and taken prisoners by a
battalion of gray-coats who dashed out Of
the woods on both sides of the road.
regret that the limits which are prescribed
for this account will not permit me to relate
the hundred interesting incidents of that
day, when / was held captive, with my
company, almost in sight of the Union
attacking columns, and listened to the
clamor of the assault; nor the incidents of
the following two weeks, as We were slowly
transported TO Richmond in close and filthy
cattle-cars. / find it necessary to save
space by beginning, at once, with my con-
fnement in the Libby; first mentioning
that before we were searched there in the
gSSSs ESSd Be PF Htdsea tS sseeGaeeT BsnSa p qs
buttons of my coat three double eagles
that were in my pocket. To these three
gold pieces, and the forethought that sug-
gested their concealment, l was finally
indebted, in q great measure, for my es-
cape.
At the time when the doors of the old
tobacco warehouse closed upon me almost
two hundred Union officers were inside it,
of every grade, from Brigadier down.
They had been captured in every part OF
the military situation, represented every
loyal State, and all arms of the service,
and had collectively fought in the greatest
battles of the war, up to that time. Those
of the number who are best known
to fame were General Neal Dow,
Colonel Streight, and Lieutenant Colonel
Irvine. We were confined in large
rooms upstairs, with guards in the Lalls,
guards outside, and regular visit and
roll-call twice day by the commandant.
What saw and heard in that place would
| fill book. That l suffered, l need not
say; bad food, and little of it; bad air,
| filth, vermin, and the dreary, irksome con-
| finement, need hardly be named in proof
| of that. Yet our captivity was somewhat
lightened by the friendships that grew up
within those dreary walls. Those of us who
were confined in the same room could talk
together, although subject to constant
watch. Some of us worked very cautiously
| for long time to remove several bricks
from the partition wall between us and the
next room, when we could stealthily con-
verse with its occupants. In this way
discovered some old friends, and cheered
myself and them by giving and receiving
| information from home.
During the first few months OF my i'm
| prisonment, there was very little whisper
| ing among us on the subject of escape
| The season progressed; and when General
| Meade withdrew from Mine Run, we un-
derstood that there was to be an invest
| ment of Richmond that winter. Then oul
hopes and our talk turned to that will
the wisp, exchange" All, how many pool
hearts grew sick and weary, how many
brave men have died, waiting for that Eopt
| Deferred Time passed; there was no ex'
| change; we realized that we must not pu
great faith in the ability of our Govern'
| ment to liberate us. After this, over oul
miserable rations, or in the darkness o.
winter nights, as we lay shivering on th,
cold floor, sustaining our dropping spirits
with what fort ttude we could command, W.
began to consult together about the chances
of escape, and to watch narrowly by day
for some way TO accomplish il. Our wit
were sharpened by hunger and suffering
and still more by that yearnihg for libert!
that is all in all to the poor prisoner; ant
every plan that offered the faintest CLEAN
of hope was examined and discussed, be
fore one was finally adopted.
One of the incidents of our imprison
ment, which occurred before our plan o
1 escape WAS Il Gun hCNcI iCSui
without a quickened pulse. All the Cap
tains among the prisoners were one da
ordered into q room together-some fifty o
us. There we were met by Major Turner
the commandant. wLo produced cigar
box containing paper slips, each bearing
the name of one of us. He informed II
that two of us were to be selected by lot TO
immediate execution, in retaliation for th
hanging of two Confederate Captains as al
legged spies, by General Burnside. What on
emotions we're upon this announcement,
shall not attempt TO describe; who coul
describe them? The first name drawn wa
that of Captain John w. Sawyer. The brav
fellow stepped aside, folded his arms, an
looked at Turner with a defiant smile. Tn
commandant looked at the next slip drawn
and hesitlted.
"What the deuce is this name, anyway
he said.
We stood Whiting in sickening suspense
Lets see," he continued. Captain
B. Is that B2- No, j.; j. F.
and now what next-P2-"
My exnct initialsl Had the haltor bee
that instant put round my neck, and III
trap sprung beneath my feet, my mentO
tortures could not have been greater
| Thara voa No other among tho hftV wit