The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-11-25

! lifetime was crowded into them.
Major Turner went on with his efforts 10
read the name.
There's an +. in the middle, plain
enough; that next capital looks like p
but-no, I'm id if that amt an f., too
Now l have it: Flynn. Captain Flynn
stand out therew
The corrected name was b. f. Flynn.
The two doomed Captains babe us fare
we'll manfully as they were taken away 10y
the guard; aud We were returned to oul
| confinement
The names of Flynn and Sawyer ought
to so into history; and if mental suffering
the dreadful anguish of soul endured foi
| their country, can count anything in the
making of heroes, they surely should be
honored as such. Though they were never
executed, tley lived for weeks in the hourly
expectation of the summons to go out to
| their death. Bravely did they endure it,
On leaving the prison they were taken be-
| fore General Winder, the commandant OF
| the city, who ordered them confined In
| irons. This they suffered for several weeks,
until the Richmond authorities were in
| formed by our War Department that two
Confederate officers of high rams. includ-
ing one of the Lee family, who were then
prisoners, were held as hostages for these
men, and would certainly share their fate.
Then the irons were removed, and the day
of the execution was indefinitely deferred.
They were at last returned to the Libby;
and II was joyful greeting that their old
comrades gave them.
Another remarkable incident which hap
pened before any attempt at escape was
made was the release of Lieutenant Colonel
irwin, of the Tenth \. Y. Cavalry. 1t was
as unexpected TO him as to any of us, and
happened IN n singular way. John Nor
gan's Adjutant General had been some time
before this captured in Kentucky, and
taken to Washington. His name l do not re-
member; but he was Lieutenant Colonel,
and was fortunate enough TO discover
old friends among high military authorities
at Washington. On his word of honor
that he would procure the exchange of an
Union officer OF like rank for him self, or,
failing III that, would himself return to
captivity, he was released from the Old
Capitol Prison, and sent by flag Oft to
Richmond. The result was the release
and exchange of Lieutenant Colonel Irvine.
l shall not attempt to paint the scene when
one of the prison officers entered one morn
ing in January, and, calling for Colonel
Irvine, communicated the good news,
and babe him get ready to leave at once.
We crowded around him; we wrung his
hands, some with tears in their eyes, con-
graduating him on his good fortune, and
bidding him not TO forget us.
You may be sure | will not" the good
hearted and brave man replied. I'll not
let them alone in Washington till they do
something for you.
None Of the inmates of the Libby at that
time have ever doubted that the Colonel did
all Tat man could do for us. Upon his
urgent request Secretary Stanton made him
special agent Of exchanges, and he trav-
eled several times from Washington to City
Point TO effect our Liberation. 1t was no
fault of his that his negotiations failed.
One day letter was handed into our room
from Colonel Irvine. written at City Point.
He told Us how he had labored for US. and
that he saw no present hope. But keep
up your courage, he concluded, land await
the logic of accomplished events"
From that moment the thoughts of all of
us were turned more ardently toward our
plan of escape. 1t was a good plan, and
met with "A surprising degree of success,
considering the difficulties under which n
was prosecuted. But / soon discovered
that the plan of my comrades could not be
mine. Long before / saw the outside of
the prison, the famous underground tun-
mel" was commenced; in fact, 1 worked at
it frequently myself by night, being willing
to give my comrades the benefit of my labor
while | was with them, though the work
was not likely to be of any use
to me. At the time of my capture
had received a wound from a carbine-
ball in the leg which was SO slight as to
give me no trouble till some weeks after l
reached the Libby. Something aggravated
it-bad air or water, or the debility of the
cNs ~ nd
sore and inhamed. This lasted for some
time, and then the leg grew better; but my
night-labors with the others on the tunnel
developed its weakness, and / perfectly re-
allied that | was not vigorous enough to
take my chances with them in the wild and
desperate flight, and that / should surely
lag behind and be recaptured by the cavalry
patrols. An effort "on my own hook, {"
therefore. before the general break, was
what l decided upon.
But what hope could possibly have of
getting outside the prison, past all these
guards? And what hope of evading re-
capture, if l did?
1 suppose that, considering the condition
of my leg, any of my comrades would have
pronounced my chance of escape the very
poorest of the lot. 1t so appeared TO me;
and, looking back now upon the wonderful
Oh CIRCUMSTANCES lllui utlDtu
me through, it seems as if it was an attempt
that could not succeed once in ten thousand
times.
1 was standing by the grated window, one
day, looking out into the yard, waiting till
one of the sentinels below should see me
and order me away. when lady passed on
the other side of the street, followed by a
negro. She saw me at the window, and
with a quick motion of her hand put aside
her shawl, giving me glimpse of small
Union flag in the bosom of Ler dress, in
stantly covering 1t again. 1t was a pleas
ant and unusual incident; but / did not
dream of hearing more of ii. Less than n
week after, a negro was allowed 10 come in
among Us TO sell fruit; and / recognized in
him the same who was following the lady.
We had many opportunities to exchange
money with the guard~, and / had long be-
fore broken one of my gold-pieces. l
offered the negro purveyor Confederate
BILL lie looked me in the face, and with "A
significant grin handed me large sweet
potato. The guards were always watching
us at such times: but this transaction,
which was certainly mystery to me, did
not excite their suspicious. When both
guard and negro were gone, / examinedthe
| potato. Contained in cavity in the GEN.
ter Of it was a small piece of writing paper,
! folded into the smallest possible compass.
| 1t was closely written, and without sigma