The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-08-31
TREED BY BLooD#ouNDs.
By mn Andersonvllle Prisoner.

| was among the first batch of
tprisoners sent from the oyercrowded
prisons of Richmond to Anderson
vile. AT that time there was moth
ing dismal in the place, and the pris-
toner's received fair rations and were
lhumanely treated. 1t was the Gus
tom to permit gangs of us to 60 our
gevery second morning after wood,
each gang of from six to ten prison
rvs being in charge of from one to
three guards. 1t was hardly to be
supposed that any of us, ragged,
Epenniless and in the middle of the
F'onfederacy, would make a dash for
liberty, and we were given consider
( tble latitude while outside the stock
lesde. On several occasions / wan
,[nsed quite osst of sight of the guards
and took my own time to return, and
this seeming carelessness ON their
part finally gave me the idea of seek
ing to make my escape. lii4's
A fellow-prisoner was well acquain-
ted with that portion of Georgia,
and, while he would not join me in
an attempt to escape, he advised me
in case ! was determined to try it,
to make for Alabama across the pine
barrens and then head for Tcnness-
ee, 1t was a long and perilous Jour
ney, but there was chance that 1
might, get through. / had d $40
greenback concealed in one of the
buttons of my blouse, and for five
days / laid aside a portion of my ra-
tions. Then, one morning when my
gang was to go out, l placed the sur
plus food in my pocket, bade my
friend goodbye, and marchedmt de-
termined to brave all the risks ofan
escape. We proceeded to a point
about quarter of a mile from the
stockade, and while the guards sat
down on logs orr stamps, We began
gathering fagots. / at once edged
away for the woods, and was no soon
er concealed by the pines than l
started off on my trip. The gang
would be granted half an hour at
least, and ] ought to be two miles
away, and probably was, before / was
missed. / made this distance at a
fast walk, and then covered two or
three miles more at dog trot? !
expected to hear the report ola can
non to signify my escape, but none
came, and l hurried along hoping
that the gang had been marched
back without my absence being dis
covered. This, as | afterwards as
certained, proved to be the case.
headed slightly to the nosthwest,
calculating to pass near Columbus,
ON the State line. l travelled five
miles before came to creek, and
in this l waded for about half mile
before taking to the barrens again
| was in pretty good condition, and
my purpose was to push ahead as
fast as possible until l had put fif
teen or twenty miles between me and
the prison pen. | did not rest a mo
ment for fully four hours, and / knew
that l travelled at least seventeen
miles in this time. Five miles from
the first creek Icame to another, and
| waded down this for about mile,
although there were several spots
wher. the bed was almost dry of wa
ter. At noon l sat down under .
tree to rest, / had just crossed I
highway, and from where / sat
could see log house about half :
mile away. l was not only very
hungry, but very tired, and | pre-
sumo sat there TOR an hour. Twas
about to get up and continue my
journey, when / heard the distant
bark of bloodhounds. 1t had hardl,
reached my ears before q second bari
answered it. Ihad never heard thaI
bloodhounds we're used to run dowr
escaping prisoners, and, therefors
, had no idea the dogs were after me
The last mile travelled before resting
was across the edge of a swamp
!, There was not much water, but tn,
ground was damp, The dogs hat
just struck this piece of ground wheI
!. | heard their cries. Presently the,
gave tongue again, and thereafter a
intervals for the next quarter of al
hour. They were bothered to picl
up the scent, but were slowly ap
preaching me. I had risen to m!
feet to start off, when colored mai
came running up from the highwa,
and called out:
"Am you one o dem Yankees fron
An'ersonville?"
!, "Yes,r answered without hesita
, tion. sift
Den climb a tree quick, for d
: bloodhounds am on yer track" q
He ran away at this, and l start
: ed off at my best speed. Ihadmad
5 about eighty rods. when the hound
called out in voice that meant the
had sighted me. There was tree
all about me, and turned aside an
'shinned" up one about the size Q
, my body, having to 90 fifteen fee
before | found place to rest. / wa
hardly up before the dogs were a
the foot of the tree and making th
, most determined efforts to reach m'
/ was safe from them, however, an
after about fifteen minutes waitins
four cavalrymen rode up and ! wa
ordered to come down. l was mad
i to take 'dog trot' all the way bac
!, to the pen, and upon arriving ther
> / was sentenced to wear chain an
clog for thirty days, and was not a
: lowed outside the stockadc again VI
til exchanged.-Detrot Free Pres
e WIVESl MOTHERS! DAUGHTERS
$ BE YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN